Move Hughesnet Dish?

**pennysgeek** · 03-17-2009 04:48 PM

Hi Folks. I've got a husghesnet dish that I need to move 50 - 75 yards to a different building. My question is, how do I do this and re-point the dish to receive the signal again. I don't have $125 plus just sitting around to pay a hughesnet tech to come out, move it and re-point. Is there some software I can install on my Mac or Pc that will let me do this? Just how hard is it? BTW, we just upgraded to the HNS 7000 modem because HN said they no longer supported the 6000. I was at first told a tech would bring it out and install it but he was NOT authorized to move the dish at that time. Ridiculous! They would have him come back again just to reinstall after moving it. I installed the new modem but need the dish moved the 50-75 yards to a different buidling.

Also, what software do you guys suggest for a fap monitor? I work on a MacBook Pro and my wife has a Dell Inspiron 9300 laptop. We've had to re-arrange our schedulles to the 1am -6am non-fap period so that we can use some decent bandwidth to upload/download whatever large files we need.

Thanks.

**grohgreg** · 03-17-2009 05:49 PM

Obviously a certified installer is the best way to go here. But if you're in the least bit handy with electronics, you can move this yourself for the cost of a little hand-held device. All (responsible) HughesNet installers have used them for years. It's called an OPI - Outdoor Pointing Interface - I got mine on the internet, for ~1/2 the current price of an installer visit.
outdoor pointing interface - Google Image Search

//greg//

**pennysgeek** · 03-17-2009 07:41 PM

Hi Greg and thanks for replying. Mind my asking where you bought yours? The average price I'm seeing is $89.95.

**grohgreg** · 03-17-2009 08:31 PM

Got mine through a local dealer/installer coupla years ago. But I'm pretty sure ninety bucks is (or was) full retail. Froogle just pointed me at this one:
Hughesnet / Direcway Satellite finder/meter OPI - eBay (item 140307385070 end time Mar-19-09 14:27:58 PDT)

. I'm sure you can find better than $90 deals if you look hard enough.

//greg//

**Stargazer** · 03-17-2009 09:45 PM

I thought professional installation was required (or someone with certification number) before they will activate a system. I was thinking about buying a used one and putting it in myself so that I would not have a contract in case something else came here or in case I can get my wireless internet service back into my area.

**grohgreg** · 03-17-2009 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Stargazer

I thought professional installation was required (or someone with certification number) before they will activate a system.

The OP question regards moving an already activated system. Technically a certified installer is required to (re)point the dish because of how critical it is to get the transmitter isolation optimized. But practically, anybody with a modicum of mechanical aptitude and a working OPI can move a dish a few yards.

Since you're already an installer, you have the working knowledge of Ku-band. What you need is the OPI plus a SAN and PIN from Hughes. They're numbers that have to be used as part of the Satellite Based Commissioning. Note of caution: don't buy any used system that that starts with the letters DW. Hughes won't commission DW3000/4000/6000 modems anymore, and are soon to drop support of the DW7000. The HN7000S is their current Ku-band system, which is pointed as described above. The HN9000 however is Ka-band, and employs entirely different pointing tools.

//greg//

**grohgreg** · 03-17-2009 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by pennysgeek

.... need to move 50 - 75 yards to a different building.

Forgot to mention; there is a maximum length that you can run cables between the modem and dish. And the same grounding requirements exist regardless of location. If you're going to do this yourself, you better outline your cabling and grounding plan here first - before doing something that might not work.

//greg//

**The Tate** · 03-18-2009 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by Stargazer

I thought professional installation was required (or someone with certification number) before they will activate a system. I was thinking about buying a used one and putting it in myself so that I would not have a contract in case something else came here or in case I can get my wireless internet service back into my area.

If you buy a used system when you call to get an account number Hughes will generate a work order for a reinstallation. You should not pay anything at that time but to the installation company at the time of the install. If you know which satellite you need to go to and can get it in without the installation company you will only pay the first months bill when the modem is activated.

**pennysgeek** · 03-18-2009 01:08 AM

Thanks guys for all of your comments and suggestions.

I think I'm going to wait and let HN send an installer out here. It all sounds a bit too complicated and more trouble than its worth.