Hi there rlh24  (and please accept my apologies for not getting to you sooner than I did)!

There are several satellites "up there" with different transponders in each of them.  Each Satellite has a specific "footprint" so that certain satellites and their transponders are more effective in certain areas than others.  There is no set rule-of-thumb as to which "bird" (satellite) will be the absolute best choice for any one area ...especially when you consider that all of their "footprints" are interlaced within each other (especially over the North American Continent)!

In a nutshell, when you "fire up" the DW6000 for the first time it will methodically search out each transponder on the "bird" you are aimed at, yet your DW6000 comes PreProgrammed to operate with a specific satellite on a specific frequency.  (If you gave it to somebody five states away it would be worthless because of this programming). 

Only the boys at NOC can reassign a new transponder frequency to you, and only they have the machine that can download the new data to your 6000 in order to retrain it to use a different frequency.  99.9% of the time you are using the "primo" configuration for your geographical location.  Occasionally, the system will goof and assign the wrong satellite or transponder to a customer that has persistant problems.  It is only at those times that it is possible to request that DirecWay "move" you to a new frequency.  You are currently using the very best one that Sat-Mex5 has available, because it has a wonderful footprint that is effective no matter where you are in North America (or even as far south as The Caribbean ...you just need a 1.2m dish to "see" it)!

Since you say you are in Maryland, I am confident that you are getting the best transponder for your area available, because your NOC is located in Germantown, Maryland ...and they are the ones who are keeping Sat-Mex5 "turning and burning."

Kapish?

Cheers!

*You could certainly ASK to be placed on a new satellite.  You only need to be able to "see" it in order to use it, but you have to have a pretty strong arguement before they will allow you to switch ...and bear in mind that it would involve them having to download an entirely new set of instructions to your DW600's ....and then pray the sucker will boot after they do it.  In many cases, I have seen the poor owner get stuck with having to buy a different DW6000 (that was decommissioned properly), just to get commissioned with NOC again.  While we are on that topic ...NEVER buy a satellite system or modem from anyone until you are sure (call DirecWay) that it has been properly decommissioned - - or you'll find yourself with a DW4000 or 6000 that they will refuse to recommission until the original owner decommissons it.  (Sticky, sticky ...sticky)!

Well, the exact frequency isn't an "even" 1300 ....it is something like 1305 or so.  The ones who are on it are quite happy with it, and there is another one (1260?) that has next to nothing for net-congestion at this time.  But, give it 3 months and they'll all be maxed out.  That's how DWay works! (it's a very irritating way for them to be conducting business ....they are chasing the money trail and to hell with the customers)!  I'll see if I can't dig up that info as soon as I am able to log into DWay.  Right now it isn't responding for me ....as usual....

I'm using 1202MHz, yet I am pretty sure that it is reserved for Commercial use only (G4R).  It gets congested, yet the speeds stay UP because it is a 'pricey' account with a bit of extra bandwidth to fall back on ...but over the past two days I've had periods of speeds less than 50 ...and I'm not impressed seeing that it cost me $1300US up front plus $134.00US per month!  grrr...

Para Vida!

Thanks for all your help The Reverend. You have posted lots of useful information.  I just got off the phone with Executive Customer Support Tech, I am suppossed to get repointed to Horizons 1 tomorrow. He told me it is just a few degrees west of satmex5, located at 127 long. If that is correct I will have no problem with the line of site. I sure hope this is a smooth transition.

I have read your pointing up article and will pay attention when the installer is here tomorrow. I wil be sure to be "best buddies" with the installer. Thanks again. You are just full in information. I will let you and this forum know how all this turns out.

Hey there rlh24!

TY for the info, and I am well-pleased you had a headache free transition.  Hats off to your installer for that one!  You are on the least used Transponder available, so you shouldn't see too much variation in your speeds throughout any day.  I'm still amazed that you have been moved to H1 considering your location.  (Horizon 1 was originally placed to service Hawaii, Alaska, and part of the west coast.  But, after they commissioned the 'bird', they discovered it had an 'awesome' footprint ...so perhaps alot more people will find themselves being moved to H1 over the next few months)?  Time will tell.

Thanks again and Cheers!

"The Rev"

Hey there rlh24!!!

I sure do have a "secret" setting!  When you run the programme, set it up like this (the only thing that you should be changing is to be turning the Time Stamping to YES (on) ...which helps make up for the latency which is horrible with satellites!

Cablenut just does not work correctly with DirecWay in any manner.  I've messed with it in everyway and decided it is solely for "ground broadband" ...and nothing more.

Here are the settings I use:

Tcp Receive Window  0
Window Scaling  No
Time Stamping  Yes
Selective Acks  Yes
Dial Up (RAS) MTU  (blank)
Path MTU Discovery  YES
Black Hole Detection  NO!!!
Max Duplicate ACKs  2 (and only two)!
TTL  64

If you are using a Router, you'll want to apply these changes (in Adapter Settings) to:  Realtek TRL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC (or whatever your NIC is)
If you are NOT using a router, then you just bring up whatever it has detected in that box, then set your MTU to 1500 (all of DirecWay works on 1500, make it 1480 if you are not using a DW6000, otherwise keep it at 1500, click on Save, then exit.

You may wish to write down what's in each box JUST IN CASE it trashes your connection ...that way you can go back in and reset, save and escape the error very easily ...BUT >>>>LEAVE THE TIME STAMPING SET TO "YES"     That is the #1 "secret" of why Dr. TCP kicks up most all satellite speeds because it allows extra time for the latency (and other mathematical things too complicated to get into)!  LOL

Cheers!  Hey...lemme know how it works out please?  TY!

The Reverend.

*PS:  I am well-pleased that it's working out so very well for you!  That's an amazingly low SS to have and still be connected, so there ain't NUTTIN' wrong with yur dish!  lol  (I love it)!