Q: What are my PC system requirements?
A: The minimum PC requirements for DIRECWAY® are:
Pentium II 333 MHz or faster 64MB RAM (Windows 98SE and
Windows Me); 128MB RAM (Windows 2000 and Windows XP) 20 MB
of free hard drive space
Analog modem — used for commissioning the account and
occasional troubleshooting
One available USB port and a CD-ROM drive
Q: What operating systems are compatible with the new
DIRECWAY System?
A: Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.
Q: What is DIRECWAY broadband by satellite?
A: DIRECWAY is the new solution for everyone who is ready
for high-speed Internet access. DIRECWAY satellite
technology makes high-speed Internet available to everyone
in the continental U.S., as long as you have a clear view of
the southern sky.
Q: Is DIRECWAY a one-way or two-way system?
A: DIRECWAY uses the DW4000 two-way system. The DIRECWAY
DW4000 Two-Way System allows you to send and receive
information via satellite (a.k.a. satellite return). There's
no need for the expense of a second phone line or hassles
with logging in when you want to get onto the Internet.
Q: How can I/where can I purchase the DIRECWAY product?
A: You can order by calling 1-866-819-0167.
Q: If I already have DIRECTV service, do I need to get a new
dish for DIRECWAY?
A: The DIRECWAY system requires a unique dish in order to
send and receive information via satellite. You can add the
ability to access DIRECTV® programming to the DIRECWAY dish
by purchasing a simple DIRECTV upgrade kit. It is your
decision whether to keep your existing DIRECTV dish on your
home, or to utilize the one-dish solution from DIRECWAY.
Q: How fast is the DIRECWAY System?
A: The experience with DIRECWAY high-speed Internet is
astonishing. When comparing typical activities with a
dial-up service, the difference in the amount of time you'll
be waiting for what you want is night and day.
You can download software upgrades in just minutes, versus
up to an hour. There's no more waiting for Web pages to
fully finish loading; they are typically done within a
couple of seconds. Getting your favorite song can be done in
less than the song's length rather than three times as long.
As you can see this is a huge improvement... and broadband
by satellite is the only high-speed Internet technology
that's available everywhere in the continental U.S.!
Q: How fast is DIRECWAY compared to other high-speed
services? Aren't they faster?
A: Everyone's Internet technology is based on shared
bandwidth, so sometimes one option will allow you to do
things in less time than others. But because everyone uses
shared bandwidth there's truly no definitive answer.
Q: What if my computer did not come with a USB port?
A:Many PCs can be upgraded with a USB port, however, we
recommend upgrading your PC to meet all of the requirements
listed above.
Q: Can I use a PCI card adapter?
A: No. The DIRECWAY system is only available with a USB
connection.
Q: Do I still need a dial-up modem and telephone line?
A: You need a PC modem and connection to a telephone line to
activate your system for the first time. After that there is
no phone line requirement for normal operation.
Q: What is transmission latency?
A: Latency refers to the time it takes for signals to travel
to and from the satellite. This typically creates a
sub-second lag. For this reason, DIRECWAY may not be ideal
for playing some "twitch-games."
Q: Why is there a requirement that the DIRECWAY system be
professionally installed?
A: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that
trained professionals install any two-way satellite system.
Q: Can I put this system on a boat or in an RV?
A: No. The DIRECWAY system is for fixed installs only.
Q: Can I run DIRECWAY on a small network?
A: Yes, customers can run DIRECWAY on a small network using
such software as Microsoft ICS. Please understand that all
computers on this network will be sharing a single
connection, and are subject to the Fair Access Policy.
Companies should consider DIRECWAY Small Business service to
accommodate more demanding needs.
While we will support your main connection to the DIRECWAY
system, any customer using third-party Networking software
(i.e., Microsoft ICS) must direct all support related to
questions to the Third Party for software support.
Q: Is DIRECWAY compatible with my Mac?
A: DIRECWAY is not currently compatible with Mac, UNIX, or
Linux Operating Systems.
DIRECWAY Professional
Q: Can I run DIRECWAY Professional on a VPN?
A: Running a VPN client over a satellite network is not an
ideal configuration. Although most VPN clients will work,
your speeds will be affected significantly. While average
download speeds are slightly better than dial-up, they will
be reduced from typical DIRECWAY speeds by as much as 50 to
75 percent. Average upload speeds are comparable to dial-up
performance. It is recommended that those accessing secure
information over a VPN via DIRECWAY Professional do so on a
limited basis. To optimize your performance, simply disable
your VPN client while surfing the Internet, and enjoy the
full speed of DIRECWAY. When you need to access information
from your corporate LAN, you can enable your VPN client,
keeping in mind that you will see a reduction in throughput.
At this time, HUGHES does not endorse or support any VPN
products. Customers that run VPN products do so at their own
risk and will not receive any support from HUGHES regarding
troubleshooting, configuring, optimizing, or maintaining a
VPN connection.
Q: Why does the service slow down when used in conjunction
with a VPN?
A: Our communication satellite is located over 22,000 miles
from Earth. Each data packet must be sent down separately
and acknowledged by the remote site. This process is very
time-consuming. In order to expedite the delivery of data
packets to our end-users, HUGHES has developed a patented
technology for aggregating those packets and sending all of
them down simultaneously. VPNs encrypt each data packet,
which prevents our technology from aggregating the data
packets and reduces the throughput significantly.
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