| 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
- 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 229-938-0830. 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 Either Net port?
A:Many PCs can be upgraded with a EtherNet port, however, we recommend upgrading your PC to meet all of the requirements listed above. Q: Can I use a card adapter?
A: No. The DIRECWAY System is only available with a Ether Net connection. Q: Do I still need a dial-up modem and telephone line?
A: NO need for a PC modem and connection to a telephone line to activate your system for the first time. 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. Read our Installation Instructions. 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 Now 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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