Satellite Internet

I'm going to be in the boonies for the summer without convenient internet connections. I was considering getting the sat tripod system. Does anyone have that? If so I have some questions:

1- Can you get TV signals with it using what used to be called a bird on a wire. I already have Direct TV.

2- Does the company do the initial set-up or is it a DITY? I assume that finding a satellite is done with computer software. Is that true?

3- Do you use it at home as well as on the road?

Any adise would be helpful.

You would probably get the best info over on www.datastormusers.com . They have a Tripod Users forum and a few of the dealers are on there also.

Basically:

1. Depending on which internet satellite Hughesnet assigns you to, you will probably be able to use a BOW to get TV also. There are some of the internet satellites, such as the one I am on, that you cannot use a BOW to get TV because the angle is too great. I am assigned to Horizons 1 which is at 127W. That is too much separation for a BOW to work to catch the DIRECTV bird at 101W. But with most of the other internet satellites it would be possible to use a BOW for TV.

2. If you buy from a dealer he will probably commission the satellite modem and then ship you the whole setup. It would be your responsibilty to set it up unless you could find a tripod dealer that was near your location. Hughesnet will not do an install on a tripod since they do not offically sanction tripod users. Some folks have Hughesnet install it at their stick house and then they buy their own tripod and an extra dish and just move the modem back and forth. Even that is a bit tricky now since Hughesnet latest modem, the HN9000, is a spot beam modem and cannot be used out of the home area. There are several web sites that have tutorials on setting up a tripod system and the www.datastormusers.com has several computer utilities that help calculate the azimuth, elevation, and skew for pointing the dish and for uploading your location information into the modem. There is also a utility to help you fine tune the signal.

3. Yes a lot of folks use the same service at their house. Some have a fixed dish at their house and some set their tripods up at home. I have a fixed dish at my stick house and a tripod and extra dish in my RV. I also have an automatic dish on my RV but always carry the tripod in case of trees in the way.

You can also find used systems for sale but be careful. First, Hughesnet no longer lets individuals commission modems, used or new. The have to be commissioned by an authorized installer/dealer. There are also a lot of older series modems being sold with used systems that Hughesnet will no longer let be commissioned. And remember, Hughesnet's newest modem, the HN9000, is a spot beam modem and cannot be used as a mobile system. So you have to be careful about which modem you get, new or used. The best choice is the HN7000S which is the latest in the series of modems that can still be used nationwide.

Mel Linville
'05 DSDP & Jeep Liberty

I just took my Hughes Net system out of service a couple of months ago. I am a camp host and I was able to purchase high speed Internet through the campground cable system.

I went through Maxwell Satellite to get my service and it worked relatively well. The speed is annoying as it is just a bit better than dial up. However, if you have no other choice it works. The cost to get a complete tripod system and documentation and an account set up is about $1600. The monthly fee is about $70.

The training manual from Maxwell is excellent and their tech support was very good as well. Set up took a little practice but was generally easy after a couple of times.

Hughes was requiring a two year contract with a $250 early disconnect fee which is a downer.

As I said earlier, I have the complete Maxwell Satellite setup that I am planning to sell to cover my disconnect fee. I am sure that getting set up with Hughes Net would be far less than the full free through Maxwell Satellite.

I just do not foresee needing Hughes Net in the future given that most military campgrounds have wifi.

Curt

I also have DirecTV with HDTV and a DVR. I am not sure that the bird on a wire is still an option. So I have had a small satellite farm whenever I set up.

There is a support group on Yahoo devoted to Tripod users. A lead can probably be otained from Datastorm users www.datastormusers.com . I use a Hughes setup, transfering the modem between mobile and home use. Easy to use (once you learn the how to set it up). Monthly rate 69.99, does a very good job, considering your alway mobile. Sat. TV probably should be set up using it's own dish, makes things a little easier. Hughes does not give mobile support, but the forum on Yahoo will. You can get a used system and set it up yourself, this is what I did without any contract or obligations from Hughes. Do not get a 9000 modem, spot beamed only. 7000S, is the latest modem you can move. Got any questions I might help with, feel free to email me.

gesuhan