posted
On Feb. 27th I was unloading groceries when my cell phone rang and a voice named Joe Acker said it was Real Time Communications, and I was causing interference with another satellite (not at ground level). My first reaction was WHAT?, and we did not get off on the right foot. Mainly because I've never read of this phenomena in these forums, coupled with the current issue of provider change over. I thought it was a bogus call. Plus I immediately caught a contradiction in his explanation and called him on it. And the system had been up 24/7 and not moved for over two months without issue with some high wind days here in south Texas.
He said RTC had received an email from HughesNet NOC that my SAN and S/N were causing interference and they wanted me to readjust the antenna. He did have the correct modem numbers supplied by NOC.
So I hung up and did a RePeak (thank you Don Bradner) then called Don Marr for some added insight on this. He told me it was rare but has happened to some of his clients, particularly fixed installations.
Later that day I again talked to Joe Acker at RTC tech support and had a much better conversation with him. He said many of their clients have oil field and off shore installations and this happens from time-to-time. In fact, he had four installations that were causing interference that day reported by NOC. Three in Texas and one in Colorado.
The bottom line is with some alignment issues you don't know whether your transmit lobe is not "right on" and subsequently causing interference to another uplink on the bird until someone complains and NOC investigates. I saw this several times in my career with terrestrial microwave and radio systems. You have to troubleshoot these conditions at the receive end -- in this case the satellite.
So, it's been five days with no further complaint. I now make it a practice to RePeak the antenna following heavy winds.
posted
Interesting Chuck! About four months a year I'm in places where there is no cell phone reception or even land lines. If my sat was bothering the system, how would they get ahold of me to tell me to repeak?
posted
They would not need to get a hold of you (assuming you also had no e-mail contact). If your system was interfering and they were unable to contact you to correct the issue they would simply shut down your service. It would be their expectation that somehow you would then get in touch with them!
[ March 03, 2012, 06:23 AM: Message edited by: Bill Adams ]
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15677 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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posted
"If your system was interfering and they were unable to contact you to correct the issue they would simply shut down your service." That is exactly what Joe Acker said. But they did call me, and from our discussion that is RTC's normal protocol.
After further communication with Don Marr he told me the RePeak command in the Dsadmin program does NOT readjust skew. Skew amount is determined only by the GPS coordinates at the time of deployment. Also the controller does not have to be on, but must have power to it to hold the skew brake in place. My D3 always has power.
So back to the original issue, performing a RePeak theoretically did no good, but I have not heard from anyone in six days. And our service never was interrupted.
The mystery deepens!
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
That's not necessarily true. The re-peak likely did do some good. Skew is not the only thing that effects your antennas performance. If the antenna azimuth and elevation were out of peak specks then adjusting these would bring your signal back within the guidelines.
-------------------- Bill Adams Winegard Company Posts: 15677 | From: Traveling the Western US | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Thanks Bill. I was thinking the same thing since (as stated before) I've run into this with microwave systems. But they don't have skew adjustments because the antennas are always in the same plane.
I had discussed the Skew issue with Don because it was brought up by RTC.
All the above is good to know.
-------------------- Chuck & Elva, Wheel Estate Travelers Safari Serengeti | Ford Van, M&G Sys | Scooter See Us Here F1/2W|D3/v3.9.4|HN7000s|83W/990/30 Msps/V/H|SD BOW-A|2 Linksys WRT55AG/CAT 5/WPA2|Droid VZW Tether/Wilson Amp Posts: 102 | From: Fulltime Wheelestate | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Bill Adams: (assuming you also had no e-mail contact).
When I'm in the Black Hills of SD and the UP of MI the sat is my only contact with anybody. Under those circumstances I sure do hope they email me before stopping my service, LOL.
posted
Tried to commission a DW7000 with RTC today. Unlike MotoSat RTC is unable to commission a DW7000. It must be a HN7000s for them.
-------------------- Don Marr WWW.OREGONRV.NET 541-683-5361 See where I am Country Coach Concept 40' F1 - D3|7000s|99W|LinkSys wireless with 1000mw WiFi amp & Ext. antenna Posts: 3364 | From: Eugene, OR | Registered: Jun 2004
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posted
Where do we go if we need to commission a DW7000??? I put mine on vacation at the beginning of the month and will want to re-instate service at the end of next month. Will I have to re-commission the DW7000 to do this? Thanks.
posted
You probably should call RTC to see if it is possible since it is a reinstatement from Vacation rather than new service, but otherwise...
It has been many years since Hughes would initiate new service for a DW7000. The fact that Motosat could is a bit of a mystery, so it is not mysterious that RTC cannot. The number of Hughes VARs that service mobile accounts is small, so you might want to simply call. The only one I can think of is Mobilsat (often confused with Motosat, but not related), so you might start with them. Be prepared, though, to find the answer is "nobody can do it."
The advantages of the HN7000S to Hughes is the reason for this. They are routinely available, new and used.
posted
I took my DW7000 off vacation last Tuesday with RTC and had no problems. It was so nice to talk with someone who appeared to care.
-------------------- Mike & Elaine Fulltiming it & enjoying life F1 Datastorm w/2 Watt BUC| D3 3.9.6T | DW7000 | 91/985 | Secure Wireless See our current location Posts: 144 | From: Any where USA | Registered: Jan 2005
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