Internet through DTV

[kurt at verruckt.org]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Kedrovsky" <greg at iglesia-del-este.com>
To: "kclug" <kclug at kclug.org>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2003 9:35 PM
Subject: Internet through DTV

Would anyone have a friend that works either in sales or (better yet) as
a tech for DirecTV? I have a couple of questions that I can't get
answers to.

I live in Costa Rica and will be moving to a new house here in a few
months. In my new location, there is no broadband access, only 19k
dial-up. The only Internet server provider here is the government
(socialism does not work, I don't care how much dope you smoked with
your philosophy professor). There will never be broadband access where
I'm moving (small suburb 5 minutes outside the capital city). That's
just how things work here.

I have "broadband" access where I'm at now: cable modumb at 128k down
and 32k up. Wow. Screaming speeds that impress the masses.

I do, though, have DirecTV.  :-)  I bought it for my wife a few years
ago so that she could have NFL Sunday Ticket and keep up with her
favorite sport, and with the Chiefs. (Go Chiefs.)

Right now my DTV access is through Mexico (service to all of Latin
America). What I would like to do is sign up for DirecTV in the States
(preferrable in KC to see if I can get local channels, too) and get
broadband access through DirecWay:

  http://directv.direcway.com/

I don't know what speeds they offer, but I'm sure it would be a wee bit
better than 19k dial-up.

My assumption is this:
 1. I can sign up in the States using a permanent address in Cameron,
 MO, and then they give me the "decode card" to plug into my equipment.
 2. I redirect my dish to pick up DTV-USA instead of DTV-LA. Voilá.

What I need to know, though, is this:
 1. Will I need additional equipment for my DTV set up (I already own
 the dish and the black box)?
 2. Does DirecWay require additional equipment, or does it use the same
 stuff at DTV - dish and box?
 3. Can I get whatever kind of satellite coordinates I need to have a
 DTV representative here in Costa Rica realign my dish? (It's amazing
 what you can get done in the world with a smile and a $50.00 tip.) :-)

Because of the nature of my questions, DTV is reluctant to respond.
Let's just say for now it's "curiosity." I'm not really planning on
doing it. I just wanna know if it's possible. And, if it were possible,
what would one need to do to make it happen (hypothetically)?

If you wanna answer off list, that's fine. Or, if you wanna answer on
list and give me other alternatives to accessing the net via broadband
satellite, I'm all ears.  :-)

Thanks.

-Greg

--

I used to work for Pegasus before they sold their broadband division to
Earthlink. Its all the same thing, (Direcway, Pegasus, Earthlink, etc)they
all went through Hughes. Now, as for getting it Installed, you will need a
"certified" installer to install it. Not because its a difficult install,
but because They dont want 'joe blow' to do it. They control this by issuing
installer id's. If its not aligned correctly, it can damage the sattelite
when your dish transmits. The installer will call in once he has the dish
pointed, and then the NOC will then send a signal to enable your transmitter
temporarily, and then have it send test signal back to the sat. IF its all
good, then they leave it enabled. The problem is... they can TELL where
you're at. At least by coordinates. So the Cameron Mo address wont do you
any good. As far as I know, none of those companies sell outside of the
cont. US. You can check, but I know Pegasus doesnt (they sold their service
to Earhtlink). Try Direcway, and Starband, and Earthlink and see. Maybe they
do. As for the equipment, its completely different. A bigger dish, and a big
ole' transmitter. Now, if you have Directv, they just add the TV transponder
to the arm on the dish. This arrangement is called 'bird on a wire' (dont
know why). I can point you to where to buy equipment, and I could probably
get you the pointing software, but as for the ID to phone the NOC, you'd be
SOL. Another problem (forgive my assumptions) is that you cant use LInux.
Yes, thats right. There was talk of a new device called a dw4020 that used
ethernet, and had the software already in it. AFAIK its never been released.
The "modems" use usb to connect, and have a habit of burning up from heat
(poor design). So a winbloze box would have to be your gateway. The best
advice I could give you would be to goto www.copperhead.cc and join the
forums. There are alot of good people there. Also, dsl reports had a very
active sattelite forum as well. As for which company you go through, IF you
have a choice, I would REALLY go with Direcway. They basically ARE Hughes,
and seem to really be slow to help out their resellers with patches, etc. If
you can live with the cost, and the latency, then its not that bad. Latency
is averages about 700. The range is about 400-1300. The speeds were anywhere
from 600kbs-1.3mbs. 1mbs was about the average. Uploads were the killer.
Anywhere from 30-125kbs (remember, its an unlicensed transmitter so its
limited by the FCC).

Check those sites and sure, if you have any more questions id be more than
happy to help you out.

Kurt

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