What
are the PC system requirements for DIRECWAY?
How fast is DIRECWAY?
Is DIRECWAY faster than DSL or Cable Internet?
What are the main differences between DSL/Cable and
Satellite Internet?
Do I still need a dial-up modem and phone line for
DIRECWAY Two-Way?
Does DIRECWAY support VPN (Virtual Private Networking)?
Can I share the DIRECWAY connection with other computers
at my location?
Are static IP addresses available with the DIRECWAY
service?
What is latency?
Does DIRECWAY have any restrictions on the use of
their service?
Is there a difference between DIRECWAY and DIRECPC?
Can the DIRECWAY Two-Way service be mounted to an
RV or mobile vehicle?
What
are the PC system requirements for DIRECWAY?
The
minimum PC requirements are:
- Pentium
II 333 MHZ or faster
- 64
MB of RAM (Windows 98SE and Windows ME)
- 128
MB Ram (Windows 2000, Windows XP)
- 20
MB of free hard drive space
- One Ethernet port
- Professional
installation required
- CD-ROM
drives
How
fast is DIRECWAY?
Satellite
Internet access through the DIRECWAY network is several
times faster than dial-up Internet access. Most users
can expect download speeds from 200Kbps - 400Kbps
and upload speeds around 50Kbps. For most home users
this speed is sufficient for downloading files, web
pages and sending/receiving email. For users that
frequently use streaming audio or video service, DIRECWAY
offers a significant improvement over dial-up service.
Is
DIRECWAY faster than DSL or Cable Internet?
High-speed
Internet service providers use a wide array of network
designs and technology to provide high-speed service
to customers, making a standard speed for DSL, Cable,
or Satellite unknowable. DIRECWAY offers the most
speed for the least cost in areas not served by DSL
or Cable. For most users there are few differences
in DSL/Cable Internet and Satellite Internet.
What
are the main differences between DSL/Cable and Satellite
Internet?
Most
DSL/Cable Internet services cost less than DIRECWAY,
but are limited in their availability. DIRECWAY is
available nearly everywhere in the United States.
DSL/Cable service have lower latency times - usually
around 50-150ms - while DIRECWAY service produces
latency times between 500-600ms. This half-second
delay can cause problems for applications such as
VoIP (Voice over IP), VPN (Virtual Private Networking)
and on-line gaming.
Do
I still need a dial-up modem and phone line for DIRECWAY
Two-Way?
No. The new DirecWay 6000 modem can activate and commission
your system over the satellite, eliminating the need for a phone line or analog modem in your PC.
Does
DIRECWAY support VPN (Virtual Private Networking)?
No.
At the current time, DIRECWAY does not support VPN
connections although many users have been able to connect to remote networks using popular IP sec VPN clients such as Cisco, Nortel and Microsoft PPTP. (Note: IP sec VPN connections will operate at reduced speed; approximately 50-100 Kbps)
Can
I share the DIRECWAY connection with other computers
at my location?
Yes,
customers can use router based networking or ICS (Internet Connection Sharing)
software that comes with Windows to network the connection
to other PCs. Please note that DIRECWAY technical
support does not support networking and that all connections
on a network are subject to the Fair Access Policy,
as networking may increase bandwidth consumption.
Are
static IP addresses available with the DIRECWAY service?
No,
DIRECWAY service currently
uses dynamic IP addressing. Static IP addresses are
not available. If your application requires a static
IP address, please see information on StarBand
Small Office service.
What
is latency?
Latency
is the time it takes data to travel from your computer
to the Internet and back. Latency on DIRECWAY service
is typically 500-600ms, compared to 50-150ms for DSL
and cable modem service. This delay can be problematic
for VPN (Virtual Private Network), VoIP (Voice over
IP), on-line gaming and other latency sensitive applications.
Does
DIRECWAY have any restrictions on the use of their
service?
To
view DIRECWAY's Fair Access Policy, click
here.
Is
there a difference between DIRECWAY and DIRECPC?
No,
Hughes Networks, the manufacture and operator of DIRECWAY
decided to change the name of the product as of January
1, 2002. DIRECPC is now branded DIRECWAY; they are
the same system and the same service.
Can
the DIRECWAY Two-Way service be mounted to an RV or
mobile vehicle?
No,
DIRECWAY Two-Way service cannot be mounted on an RV
or mobile vehicle.
