Requirements

In order to effectively implement a remote observation program, a high rate of data throughput is required. Ideally, the remote observer should have the illusion that he/she is logged in to a local terminal at the telescope. In order to provide this throughput, it was decided to provide a dedicated 56 kbit/s physical between JAC and ROE. A 56 kbit/s line was chosen for several reasons. Although a full T1 channel, operating at 1.536 Mb/s would be ideal, the cost of such a line would be approximately $2,000,000 per year, versus approximately $125,000 per year for the smaller bandwidth. A 56 kbit/s line could transfer a 20 Mbyte image in approximately 6 minutes, which was felt by the observing community to be adequate. A satellite link would also be more expensive, and would introduce additional propagation delays. The major consideration in choosing a link was, in the end, relative costs.