About HughesNet

HughesNet (formerly known as Direc Way) is the latest brand name of both one way and two way satellite broadband Internet service and technology in Europe and United States of America owned by HughesNetwork Systems. Originally this service called as Direc PC and it was available only as one way satellite broadband Internet option, as uploading was completed with a dial up modem connection. The original Direc PC customer service was launched in October 1996.

Technology of HughesNet: - It offers broadband Internet service conveyed via satellite. The current system use by HughesNet is Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) platform for two way broadband Internet service through satellite. Earlier Direc Way (former Direc PC) used a conservative dial up modem for uploading (return) path. HughesNet uses conservative Ku-band satellites on different types of geosynchronous satellites.

The satellite Internet system of HughesNet uses Ku band satellites of FSS type for transmitting data from the Internet connection of the HughesNet network operation center to the personal computer of its customers. In contrast, main competitor Wild Blue uses B band transmission.

Equipment: - HughesNet systems use a dish of fixed-mount 0.74 meter attached to a building or pole. Some farthest northern location needs for a larger .98 meter dish in order to ensure the tolerable signal strength.

On the customer end, modem of DW3000 USB standard were used if the setup is one way, if the setup is of two way customers system then DW4000 USB modem were used. The newer modems are DW6000 and DW7000 that have many improvements over the older versions. The improvements include automatic software upgrades, a smaller box, Ethernet connection in place of USB, and IP routing as an essential firewall. HughesNet is also familiar with the use of RVers, as it provides a near-broadband.

HughesNet is available in South and North America. In order to use HughesNet in Brazil you’ll have to connect your system through a special antenna on satellite.

HughesNet services are also available in European NOC that covers Europe, African countries and the Middle East; also in India. HughesNet is available via iWav in Africa. This broadband Internet service is offered by Afsat Communications.

There are some problems in the signal processing of HughesNet because it uses satellite system and it criticized for it many times. The points of criticizers are Network latency (unsynchronized service), Fair Access Policy, Whether, and high prices.