Hughesnet Garbage...What To Do???

[John_N_Terry]

OK, I have a few questions for any of you who may be familiar with Satellite Internet...

We are fulltimers and work off grid most of the time guarding gates for petroleum drilling rigs. Cellular internet is NOT an option for us, so please don't even suggest it...plus we are already caught in the 2 year trap with Hughesnet.

My questions is this...we have the new Hughesnet HN9000 modem and dish which is NOT pointable by the user...thus we will have to have an installer come out every time we move (usually about every 6-8 weeks by my calculations) to re-aim our dish. I am experienced in peaking our Dish Network and can do that in about 3-4 minutes, and I've read that the older Hughesnet systems can be peaked by the user...is there any truth to this?

Would it be worthwhile to purchase an older unit that I can peak myself? Does anyone here have any experience peaking Hughesnet?

[Route 66]

There are lots of tripod users on Hughesnet and hopefully they will reply.

There's always a MotoSAT/Datastorm like I have, but that's much more expensive.

[segjag]

I may be able to be of some help. send me an email and I will reply. segjag@yahoo.com

[John_N_Terry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by segjag I may be able to be of some help. send me an email and I will reply. segjag@yahoo.com

EMail sent...

[John_N_Terry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Route 66 There's always a MotoSAT/Datastorm like I have, but that's much more expensive.

Yea, I thought about that until I actually started looking at prices...

[PandK]

Several years ago we purchased our unit from Maxwell (http://www.rvtripod.com/Scripts/default.asp )
or here
http://maxwellsatellite.com/
Check their web site to see if they have a tripod or dish to help out. I moved ours MANY times with minimal problems.

[FlyingDiver]

Your problem is that service using the HN9000 modem is all spot beamed. Not only does it require an installer to set it up, it also requires changes on the back end (Hughes computers) to move you to the correct beam for your location.

If you can change service (and equipment) to the older 7000 series modems, you can do the pointing yourself and never need to contact Hughes at all.

joe

[John_N_Terry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver Your problem is that service using the HN9000 modem is all spot beamed. Not only does it require an installer to set it up, it also requires changes on the back end (Hughes computers) to move you to the correct beam for your location. If you can change service (and equipment) to the older 7000 series modems, you can do the pointing yourself and never need to contact Hughes at all. joe

That's what I was thinking...time to find a 7000S...EBay, here I come.

[John_N_Terry]

Wait...before I go spend who knows how much on a 7000s, can I just plug in the new modem and hook up the new dish and expect (after peaking) to be able to surf the net, or do I have to go through some more changes within hughesnet?

[gpearston]

I have been looking in to Hughesnet and I am glad I ran across these posts. I keep finding conflicting info - does anyone know (have used) the Hughesnet service in Southern Alaska?

Thanks for any insight

[JRL]

Glenn,
Take a look at the forums on this site, Datastorm Users - The Premier Site For Mobile Satellite Internet and TV .
LOTS of good info on Satellite Internet.

[gpearston]

Jim - thanks, I will give them a look. I appreciate the suggestion.

[John_N_Terry]

OK, I have my solution...it came from a local installer who shall remain nameless. They agreed to sell me a DAPT unit and train me to be a certified installer...even gave me my own installer ID...now I can point my 9000. Don't recommend the 9000 system to anyone to use in an RV...unless you want to get certified. Unfortunately I didn't find out what I was up against until I was already into my 2 year contract by 6 weeks.

I point my Dish Network easily...but this 9000 is another animal altogether.