HughesNet is one of the largest satellite internet service providing companies in the United States which uses geostationary orbit satellites to offer internet connection throughout the country. Given the satellite-based nature of its service, one common question is: is HughesNet satellite internet and does it need a satellite dish to install the internet? In brief, the answer is yes, and it is because a satellite dish is required to provide HughesNet service.
A Satellite Dish can be defined as a dish antenna that is used to transmit and receive signals from satellites in space.
A satellite dish is a parabolic metallic reflector that is used to capture and focus signals from orbiting satellites. Its dish shape and metallic surface converge the satellite signals to a tiny feed horn that brings the signals to a receiver. The receiver decodes the signals and converts them into video, internet, voice, or any other usable format. Satellite dishes are of various dimensions, with the smallest being 18 inches across up to 10 meters or even more for big commercial dishes. They might be anchored on a roof, the outer wall of a building, or even a vertical stand-alone post.
The reason behind the Use of Satellite Dishes in Satellite Internet
HughesNet, being one of the satellite internet services operates through the application of satellite technology which can be described as very tall broadcast towers. The satellites have transponders that receive signals as transmitted from the uplink station on the surface of the earth. The satellites also respond and re-echo the signals back to the surface of the earth in a wide coverage area. To obtain these signals from such fast-spinning satellites, one needs to use a satellite dish that has a modem attached to it.
The dish must then be well positioned and well oriented towards the satellites to be able to receive the dish. A compatible modem enhances the signal converts it into internet data and transmits it through the cables to routers and wired or wireless devices. As a result, HughesNet service cannot function because there would be no communication with the satellites without a satellite dish installation that has been properly aligned for the reception of the signals.
The Pros and Cons of Getting HughesNet Satellite Dish Installation
Installing a HughesNet satellite dish system involves several key steps:
- Site Selection – To determine the most appropriate place in which to install the dish, where there is a clear and direct line of sight to the southern skies where HughesNet’s satellite orbits. This place should not have overhead trees or other structures that may hinder signal strength or interferences. Accessibility to cabinets, control panels, and other interior installations is also of concern; as well as correct grounding of cables.
- Dish Erecting – Proper installation of the dish on your roof, on a wall, or a pole using appropriate mounting equipment provided for that purpose and that can handle winds. Installing cables conforming to local building codes along the exterior of structures to avoid risks such as fire, and short-circuiting among others.
- Phase 3: Signal Acquisition – Fine-tuning the TV dish by taking accurate readings in terms of elevation, azimuth, and skew and fine-tuning it to point towards the HughesNet satellites. This is done while observing signal meters By doing this, the state of the economy and the reactions of the market to certain indicators are analyzed.
- Modem Connection – Attaching the specific satellite modem to the dish structure and other outdoor wiring devices and cabling the inside to connect your router for internet household use.
- Activation and Testing – This involves activating your new HughesNet service account, which may involve turning on your modem and router, followed by speed tests and usage tests to ensure that everything is working as expected on all your connected devices.
However, Do-It-Yourself satellite television installation is sometimes feasible if the individual is familiar with the assembly of the satellite dish. Still, the majority of owners rely on professional installation services provided by HughesNet's relevant dealers and technicians for proper operation. Adjustment and testing of the equipment and other related systems are other related activities that require the services of the installers because they possess the necessary tools and knowledge to perform all these tasks.
HughesNet Gen5 employs advanced satellite dishes, but the performance of this service provider has remained impressive.
The current HughesNet Gen5 service has a newer dish technology that can tap into additional capacity on newer, higher-power satellites that have been put into orbit in the last few years. The new Gen5 dishes are wider and thicker but adopted a lower profile than the old dishes in the shape of an ellipsoid. They have enhanced signal processing features and offer higher internet connection speeds than the previous generations. However, even in using such a technique, they require the same manner of positioning and adjustments as the traditional dishes.
Therefore, even with the changes and showing that HughesNet satellite internet is accessible to even more residents of rural areas, having satellite dishes installed properly, with antennas pointed toward the sky, is unavoidable. These bowls and dishes can be said to make up the ‘last mile,’ physical connection that transports HughesNet service from the orbital satellites to the customers’ homes. Of course, these are essentials that cannot function appropriately without cables connected to modems and routers; satellite internet is out of the question here.
