HughesNet
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HughesNet (formerly DirecWay) is the brand name of the one-way and two-way satellite broadband Internet technology and service in U.S. and Europe owned by Hughes Network Systems. The service was originally called DirecPC and was only available as a one-way satellite Internet option, as uploading was accomplished with a dial-up modem connection. The original consumer DirecPC service launched in October 1996 [1] [2].
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[edit] Technology
HughesNet offers Internet service delivered via satellite. The system is a VSAT platform for two-way Internet service via satellite. In the past, DirecWay (and the former DirecPC) used a conventional dial-up modem for the return (upload) path. HughesNet uses conventional Ku-band satellites on a variety of geosynchronous satellites.
The HughesNet satellite Internet system uses FSS-type Ku band satellites for transmission of data from the HughesNet network operations center's Internet connection to its customers' personal computers. In contrast, competitor WildBlue uses Ka band transmission.
[edit] Equipment
HughesNet systems employ a fixed-mount 0.74 meter dish attached to a pole or building. Some extreme northern locations require a larger .98 meter dish to ensure adequate signal strength.
At the customer's computer, the DW3000 USB modem were used with one-way setups, while DW4000 USB were used on two-way customers' systems. The DW6000, DW7000 and HN7000S modems are newer products that have several major improvements over the older DW4000, including automatic software upgrades over the network, a smaller box, an Ethernet connection, as well as rudimentary IP routing as a basic firewall. In the DW6000/DW7000/HN7000S modems, all system functions are controlled via web applications, so that any connected computer with a web browser can use the HughesNet system, regardless of what operating system is used.
HughesNet is also in fairly widespread use among RVers, because it offers a near-broadband connection to the Internet from almost anywhere in the US, including remote areas where no other method (e.g., cell phone) is feasible. There are two ways of using HughesNet in mobile applications, both employing the same 0.74 meter dish, LNB, and modem used in fixed installations.
1. MotoSAT manufacturer of the Datastorm Mobile Satellite Internet System, designed to automatically-aim the Hughes antenna directly at a satellite in the Clarke Belt. This system is mounted on the roof of any vehicle including motorhomes, trailers, 5th wheel trailers; for private, business and government. Installation cost begins at about $5,000. The MotoSAT mobile system is officially sanctioned by HughesNet.
2. Several vendors offer tripod-mounted, manually-aimed portable systems for $1,200-$2,700. The dish is mounted on a large portable tripod, and must be aimed by hand each time it's set up at a new location. An experienced user can be online within 20-30 minutes of arriving at a campground. Most tripod-mount systems use adapted surveyors' tripods, but Dustyfoot (probably the largest vendor of these systems) uses a specially designed tripod that's more rigid and more durable.
HughesNet does not officially support the use of tripod-mount systems, but they have done nothing to discourage their sale, and thousands are in daily use[citation needed]. Although technical support is not available from HughesNet, resellers provide support, and the DatastormUsers website hosts an active community of users who also provide support.
HughesNet sales associates claim there is an FCC requirement to be "2-way microwave transmission" certified to actvate a 2-way satellite setup. This is true, but not actively enforced. The FCC insists that it is the responsibility of HughesNet to monitor operation of their system. The FCC has no license for operators of fixed or mobile earth stations. HughesNet systems are typically 1 watt, however some are 2 watts or 4 watts depending upon the upstream maximum data rate and class of service.
Several additional options are available for the HughesNet service to allow faster service. All of these plans require a .98 or 1.2 meter dish. Speeds up to 500K up and 2MB down are available.
[edit] Name change
On March 27, 2006, as part of Hughes' divestiture from DirecTV, DirecWay officially changed its name to HughesNet. The previous DirecWay name was fully retired on April 22, 2006. As part of the sale of its shares in DirecTV to News Corporation, News Corp. also purchased two of Hughes' planned satellites, SPACEWAY-1 and SPACEWAY-2, and retrofitted them to support DirecTV only. HughesNet retained SPACEWAY-3.
[edit] Criticisms
[edit] Network latency
All satellite Internet providers have been criticized for their high network latency, which makes the service unusable for many applications. A prominent example is network gaming. Multiple players connect their gaming consoles or personal computers to the Internet and participate in an online game (e.g. Counter-Strike or MGS Portable Ops) to compete against each other. The communication and synchronization between each player is highly important. These games require the possibility of reacting quickly to events occurring in the game (for example, attacking an opponent). With a latency of 1.5+ (increases as bandwidth is used) seconds, normal gameplay is seriously affected, and makes gameplay almost impossible or very annoying. Other applications such as instant messaging, Voice over IP or video conferencing also suffer due to the increased latency. Such applications typically require a near-realtime performance (with the exception of instant messaging) to provide a minimal quality of service and facilitate natural communication. Further effects of network latency include an overall reduction in throughput and reliability. However, general web browsing or e-mail applications remain largely unaffected.
[edit] Fair Access Policy
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The Fair Access Policy (FAP) is outlined in the HughesNet Terms and Conditions. The FAP is a policy that limits the total amount of data that can be downloaded by a user within an allotted amount of time. The most basic HughesNet plan allows users to download 200 megabytes ( This limit increases depending on which plan the subscriber is using ) during any rolling 24 hour period, before the throughput is limited to significantly less than 56K dial-up modem speeds for a period of 24 hours upon the condition that "bandwidth intensive activities are minimized". If not, the throughput can continue to be limited beyond 24 hours. While a user's usage can be checked, the information is not timely, not showing any information on the amount of usage for the most recent two hours. No warning is given that a user's throughput is about to be limited when the 200 megabyte limit is about to be reached. The terms of the Fair Access Policy are subject to change at any time at the discretion of HughesNet. They currently are subjecting their Customers to what is recently been termed as "soft throttling", which is the execution of their ability to degrade the Customer speed down to 60 kbit/s or less however not officially stating the Customer as being subject to FAP. This can happen when, at the complete discretion of Administrators at HughesNet, they note that a Customer is consistently using more than 50% of the contracted amount of bandwidth being paid for. Unfortunately any consumer using more than half of the amount they paid for will experience significant decrease in download speeds. A tell tale sign of this can be seen by simply performing a speed test using the HughesNet or any speed test provider, the Consumer will note decrease in download speed and a substantial increase in upload speed by as much as 300%. In this way the Consumer will have access to the contractual amount of bandwidth, however it simply is all in the wrong direction. According to HughesNet, the download/upload limit is based on a virtual "bucket" containing 200MB or more dependent upon the plan, that gets used up by downloads and uploads. It is, at the same time, being refilled at a rate that is estimated to be about 18-50 Kbps. If the user is judicious about their downloading they will never hit this limit. However, once the "bucket" is emptied, the users downloads speeds (only) are throttled back for approximately 24 hours, leaving the user with downloads speed of about 30 kbit/s for the duration. (This speed rating comes from user measurements, as HughesNet now refuses to disclose any rates after violating the FAP.) Downloads and uploads are not monitored between 3am - 6am EST.[1]
[edit] Price
Satellite Internet can be more costly when compared to other forms of Internet access. For the "HughesNet Home" 700/128 kbit/s plan described above, installation is $399.98 up front, and basic service is $59.99 monthly (as of April 2008). An upgraded service with higher bandwidth is available for $69.99 monthly, and another plan with even more bandwidth for $79.99. Customers are required to pay for parts and installation[2];however, recently they added in a credit check resulting in a higher monthly payment by 20 dollars in order to avoid the upfront hardware fee. Mobile systems are even more expensive, ranging from $1,200 to $6,000 in equipment costs.
[edit] Weather
HughesNet uses Ku-band frequencies, which can experience signal degradation during very heavy rain. This rain fade can cause degraded performance and outages in the HughesNet service, although it is rare and when it does occur, it usually resets itself within a few minutes.
[edit] Commercials
Throughout its history, HughesNet has run a series of television commercials featuring actress Margaret Easley. Each time the name of the service has changed, a new commercial has been filmed. The central message of each commercial is fairly consistent, stating to viewers that anyone in the continental United States can have Internet access and "all you need is a clear view of the southern sky." Most of the commercials are 60 seconds in length, but there have also been 30-second variants as well as 30-minute infomercial-length variants which are broadcast both on normal DirecTV channels as well as on DirecTV channel 227, a channel that DirecTV uses solely for its own infomercials.
One of the commercials had a demonstration of the service with web pages moving very fast, but if one looked at the program bar of IE, it says it is working offline. This means that they weren't connecting to the Internet when loading the pages, but browsing from their cache. As of May 2006, an older DirecWay commercial is hosted and viewable on Margaret Easley's website.
[edit] Satellite Transponder Footprints
Hughesnet is available in North and South America. There is a North American footprint that implies in order to use Hughesnet in Brazil you will have to connect through a different antenna on the satellite.
HughesNet services are also available from their European NOC covering Europe, Africa and the Middle East; and in India. In Africa, Hughesnet is available through the iWay broadband service provided by Afsat Communications
