Point a hughesnet broadband satellite dish

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This tutorial will explain how to point or re-peak A HughesNet broadband Internet dish. With a DW6000, DW7000, HN7000, or a HN700S modem. This tutorial assumes that you already have a HughesNet dish properly installed and a modem properly commissioned. This tutorial will be helpful in cases where the dish has been bumped or otherwise has been misaligned and just needs to be realigned.

1 Tools needed
2 Part One: Locating and Maximizing the Satellite Signal.
- 2.1 Azimuth Adjustment
- 2.2 Elevation Adjustment
3 Part Two: Maximizing the Cross Polarization of the Dish.
4 Images
5 Troubleshooting tips
6 Bibliography
7 Amazon's Related Products
8 See Also

[edit] Tools needed

A half inch wrench
A compass
An OPI
A computer
A HughesNet modem
A pen and paper
A level

The pointing at a HughesNet broadband Internet satellite dish is a two part process. The first part consists of locating and maximizing the signal from the satellite. The second part consists of maximizing your cross polarization of the dish.

Warning!! - Pointing of a Hughesnet Satellite dish by a non-certified person may void your warranty and may violate your agreement with the Hughes company. Do so at your own risk!!

[edit] Part One: Locating and Maximizing the Satellite Signal.

Using the level make sure that your mast is perfectly plumb. If your mast is not level it will be very difficult if not impossible to find the satellite signal.
Connect the OPI as shown in figure one
Activate the antenna pointing program by typing in the address http://192.168.0.1/fs/registration/setup.html then click antenna pointing.
Make sure the enable OPI check box is checked click next
On a piece of paper record the azimuth, skew, and tilt settings listed.
Click the "show signal strength button" a popup window will appear displaying your current signal strength.

Go out to the dish set the elevation on the dish to the angle given on the piece of paper.
Using your compass roughly point the dish in the direction given. For help with this see the tutorial How to Use a compass

[edit] Azimuth Adjustment

Slowly sweep the dish from side to side while watching for the signal on your opi to go higher than 30.
If you cannot get your signal above 30 then adjust your elevation up or down by 1°. Then repeat these side to side sweeping and elevation adjustment until a signal higher than 30 is reached.
If your signal goes to 30 and stays at 30 many may be locked onto the wrong satellite. If this is the case then recheck your compass heading, and start over.

[edit] Elevation Adjustment

Loosen one of elevation lockdown nuts just a little, so that when you loosen the other nut there will ba a little drag from the first nut.
Brace the dish with one hand as you loosen the second lockdown nut
Push up on the dish untill you see the signal drop below 30
Slowly lower the dish until the OPI you reads the maximum signal, You may have to push up and lower it down several times to get the highest signal.
Once you've obtained the peak signal at elevation then tighten down all nuts.
To verify your peaked signal, gently push and pull at each of the four corners of the dish, one at a time.
If your signal in raises then your signal is not maximized, re-peak the dish.

Once you have peaked the dish you it is time to maximize the cross polarization of the dish

[edit] Part Two: Maximizing the Cross Polarization of the Dish.

On the computer close the signal strength window and click the Next button
Click the manual button, click ok
A pop-up window will appear that will eventually give you a number and a "Pass" or "Fail" message.
Your OPI should say 02 XX, the 02 is the Cross-Pol mode if it blinks it indicates a fail, if it is solid it indicates a pass\
The xx is the number that you are cross pol is at. Adjust the skew of the dish by one or two degree incriments to maximize your numbers.
You must pass this test in order for your modem to work.

[edit] Images

Fig 1. OPI Connected to a DW7000 System	Fig 2. Activate the antenna pointing program	Fig 3. Make sure the enable OPI check box is checked
Fig 4. Maximizing Signal Strength	Image:HughesNetACP.gif Fig 5. Auto Cross-Pol (ACP)	Image:HughesNetManCross.gif Fig 6. Manual Cross-Pol

NOTE: This page is currently undergoing a major edit. As a courtesy, please do not make edits to this page while this message is posted, in order to avoid edit conflicts.

[edit] Troubleshooting tips

My OPI only blinks 8L8 or 8H8 at me.
My OPI will not go higher than 30
I don’t have an OPI can I still point my dish?

[edit] Bibliography

( ISBN 1402076592 ) Broadband Satellite Communications for Internet Access
( ISBN 0471784036 ) Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
( ISBN 0971677719 ) Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd Edition

[edit] Amazon's Related Products

( ASIN B0001654GS ) DirecWay 23" x 39" Satellite Dish Contour Cover Set
( ASIN B0006FS2MW ) Cyber Power 1080 10 Outlet Surge Protector
( ASIN B0001D3K8A ) Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster