Hughesnet is one of the most established providers of satellite internet services in the United States. As the availability of cable or fiber broadband connection remains a luxury for most people living in rural or remote regions, satellite internet from Hughesnet remains the only or the best bet for getting the internet speed that is comparable to that which you would get in an urban city. But, how the service works and how it gets linked to your house is something that needs an explanation. Here is the breakdown of the Hughesnet equipment, installation, and how the satellite signal penetrates the house.
The Hughesnet Satellite
Hughesnet uses a group of satellites that revolve around the Earth at about 22,000 miles in the geosynchronous orbit to deliver Internet connection in the continental United States as well as a part of Alaska, and Hawaii. These high-powered satellites employ transponders, antennas, and converters to acquire the internet signals from Hughesnet’s communication gateways on the ground and in turn broadcast the signals over a vast area on the ground.
The satellites operate effectively as a ‘go between’ to transmit signals from customers’ residences to the satellites that are Hughesnet gateways connected to the Internet backbone. This is in contrast to the cable or fiber that offers a wired infrastructure that enables a straight wired connection to each home. On the positive side, satellite technology is preferred because it is capable of covering very large areas that the ground infrastructure cannot cover.
Getting Connected Equipment
If you sign up for Hughesnet service, the company will ship you all the equipment you need to connect to the satellite including:
- Satellite Dish Antenna – This type of antenna is oval-shaped and measures 2 feet or so in diameter. To operate effectively, it has to be oriented such that it faces southwards for optimum reception of signals from the Hughesnet satellites.
- Modem & Receiver – This is a unit known as the Hughesnet modem and receiver where the satellite data is converted to internet connectivity at home. It has a special Ethernet port that allows it to connect to your router or computer.
- Modem & Accessories - The foil cables are used to connect the dish to the modem while the mounting equipment is used to support the dish during installation. It also has threaded rods, and brackets for the installation of the satellite dish outside as required.
Installing the Satellite Connection
Hughesnet equipment is not easy to come by, and this is just the beginning of the process. It is therefore important to ensure that the satellite internet installation is correct to ensure that there is a good connection to be used. There are usually two options for installation:
- Self-Installation – Hughesnet, videos, and installation instructions are included with the equipment for clients who wish to install the equipment themselves. Yet, it can be challenging to properly locate and orient the dish.
- Professional Install – When purchasing the AC unit, most customers get the unit installed by professionals. There are independent installers all across the continental United States authorized by Hughesnet to come and install the dish and also ensure that the connections are well-aligned to offer the best speeds.
The installer will:
- Choose a proper location for the satellite dish, preferably, if it is pointing towards the southern direction. This often entails suspending it on the roof or a pole outside the building, usually to the rear.
- Make sure that the antenna is facing the correct direction and is situated towards the Hughesnet satellites. The angles and rotation need to be adjusted and that made a major difference.
- Pull the coaxial cables from the dish to the house to the modem point as a means of connection.
- Screw all the cables from the dish to the modem and the receiver box as one unit.
- Ensure that the modem is well connected to the WiFi router or computer arrangement in place.
It takes 2-4 hours to complete all these changes and the most time-consuming part is to identify the right dish spot and get the position correct.
To connect to the Satellite, one must link to the Satellite Signal.
Once everything is properly installed, here is how the Hughesnet equipment delivers the internet signal:
- The satellite dish pulls in signals that are being transmitted from the Hughesnet satellites that orbit the Earth. The dish converges or intensifies the signals into narrow beams directed toward the LNB (Low Noise Block downconverter).
- The LNB increases the strength of the radio signals and translates the signals from the microwave frequency range to lower frequencies which can travel through the coaxial cable.
- A coaxial cable transports the satellite signals from the LNB into the house, and it connects to the rear part of the Hughesnet modem.
- As for the modem and the receiver, they translate the radio signal to Internet data packets and ethernet connections that computers can process.
- 5)From the modem, you can plug in devices directly to it using an Ethernet cable or to a WiFi router hub, which will cover the wireless connection all over your home.
- Any internet data that is sent back from your devices is transmitted through the modem back up to the satellite dish which then transmits signals back up to the Hughesnet satellites and at higher frequency.
That whole back-and-forth bi-directional communication happens almost simultaneously to provide today’s modern broadband internet speeds, even with the satellites being 20,000 plus miles up in space! Hughesnet uses important satellite and broadcasting technology to provide good speeds to internet users across the United States who otherwise have no means of accessing the internet.
Staying Connected
Due to these reasons, establishing a Hughesnet satellite connection requires more hardware and installation than the current cable or DSL broadband solutions. However, once installed the system has well-proven and constant internet connectivity with no loss of connection. For instance, simple things like clearing the dish of snow in winter or removing any interference from the line of sight of the satellite for the Hughesnet system are all you will need to do to ensure that your system operates optimally season after season.
And so while the process that delivers internet from space satellites down to homes across rural America may appear somewhat miraculous, Hughesnet has the means and the method that converts dependable satellite internet access into a reality.
