Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ogicse!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero!obrien
From: obrien@aero.aero.org (Michael O'Brien)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Use of TCP/IP with satellite delays
Keywords: satellite
Message-ID: <88084@aerospace.AERO.ORG>
Date: 9 Oct 90 21:29:05 GMT
Sender: news@aerospace.aero.org
Reply-To: obrien@aero.aero.org (Michael O'Brien)
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation
Lines: 15

Someone recently asked a question about use of TCP/IP over a satellite
link, and since I've never worked in that realm, the ground got mushy
under my feet.  I'd like a reality check.

I seem to recall that TCP/IP is perfectly usable over a satellite link
that has reasonably high bandwidth, but 300msec propagation delays.
Adaptive retransmission and multi-packet frames get around this problem,
no?  Of course, char-at-a-time telnet will lose no matter what, but
mail and file transfers should move acceptably, right?

More specifically I'm talking about something like a KA9Q implementation
running via satellite radio link from a research vessel at sea.
--
Mike O'Brien
obrien@aerospace.aero.org