Satellite Internet Idea and Question

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:39 pm

Okâ€¦ this came up in another thread, but is now a question that seemed to deserve itâ€™s own topic.

I have satellite internet. This works great now that Iâ€™ve switched to another provider with actual service and support. But before I digress into a long-winded diatribe on the pitiful previous provider, I should get back to my idea.

I had to buy the dish from the original provider, and now that Iâ€™ve switched I have said dish stowed away in the rafters of the barn, since it seemed like it could be very useful at some point. Soâ€¦

Would it be possible to use this â€œoldâ€

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:03 pm

If its directtv and directway - No. The transponders are different. The dish looks the same and is identical if you have a 3 channel DIRECTTV dish.

You could simply take the spare dish and take the transponder off the fixed dish (one screw and set nut) and disconnect the cable. Of course this would render the house without tv or internet.

But if you were taking the receiver and modem to use in the desert the house would be without it anyways.

good luck have fun.

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:10 pm

Ahh, yes. I guess that info would have helped.

The current provider is Wildblue. The one whose dish is in the barn covered in bird crap is Hughes.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:04 pm

I had wildblue, and, it was pretty good, IMHO. I only dropped it when DSL came available in my neighborhood.

I'd bet, any "dish" will work, as far as a parabola goes.......

but, I might also say that you need the specific modem, and, maybe, pickup, to work with their software........
since it's an up/down thing.

Those are just my thoughts, but, I think it'd work, as long as you have the wildblue pickup and modem.

the satellite does not care where you are, just your access code......

Good luck

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 10:52 pm

How would one go about aiming the dish once its setup?

Hmmm... maybe I could just make a high power focused beam microwave goose cooker.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 5:24 am

you need to know the elevation and azimuth of the satellite.
I know the dsl sat. aiming parameters are tighter than the dishnetwork.
IIRC, you can get a signal strength screen on a laptop, (probably a downloaded software), then, set the antennae as close as possible and move it until max signal is found.

That's how they did it here, anyway......

good luck

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:39 am

I closed ABC Networking Sacramento in 2006 and I was authorized to sell and install both starband and directway at the time.

Unless things have changed you cannot get a connection to the Sat unless you are an installer. If the dish is not correctly alligned with the sat there can be splatter that can wipe out other users, so back then either an automatic system like they have for RV's or you have to have an installers license to get commissioning to connect to the sat.

(actually with the 2 way dish there are 3 settings, not two (elevation and azimuth) that need to be correct, if I recall the 3rd is called "tilt")

Oh, to aim the dish, you first find your location and point it close, have your signal finder in line and listen for the fast beeps, look at meter and get that signal as high as you can)

oh, you don't want to stand right infront of these dishs, they are not the same as the direct tv dish that only receives. You can be hurt!

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:03 am

good info, WD.

would it not work, though, if you already had it up and running at your house, modem and all, and then, took it out there and re-set?
I bet there's a signal meter downloadable somewhere........or, just move until it hooks up?

wedeliver · Post by **wedeliver** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 9:06 am

ygmir wrote:good info, WD.

would it not work, though, if you already had it up and running at your house, modem and all, and then, took it out there and re-set?
I bet there's a signal meter downloadable somewhere........or, just move until it hooks up?

If I recall part of the commisioning of the dish is to issue the login info, user name, password, so perhaps since you have that info you might manage a connection. I think I recall a PIN be necessary also.

Signal meters to find the sat can be expensive (couple hundred) for a pro installer quality meter that really makes finding the correct sat easy.

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 10:16 am

The directway simply uses the same satellite that Directtv does. Punch in the lat / long or zip code into the receiver in the setup menu at home. Tells you degrees above level, and the bearing in magnetic to use. You need a compass on playa and the bracket is graduated in degrees.

Hughes, and Trimble systems are similar in the set up menus, and tell you the same information respective to their satellites.

Some systems are locked to prevent amatuers from accesing.