posted
I am using Ground Control as my VAR and want to upgrade to the 7000. Will this combination work? F1/D1/DW7000. Will I need additional software? Will I need to upgrade the F1 circuit board etc.? I have temporarily suspended service until January and would like to do the hardware change at that time. Will I need to change from the sat 99? Is there and advantage to change to a different satellite?
Posts: 26 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I made this same change a month ago (although I then found a good deal on a used D2 so I then moved over to that).
The F1/D1/DW7000 combo works fine. I didn't find that the D1 was that much of a "kludge" as others have said (maybe it is from a D2/D3 'press one button' standpoint), but the only D1 procedure change is that you will deploy as normal, wait for the GPS numbers to show on the DataStorm Administrator page, and then run the Point 4020 Utility (available on this web site under Articles). You keep the DataStorm Administrator software on your computer and ditch the Direcway stuff. Point 4020 is the only new software you need. All the F1 circuit boards are fine -- the UCB upgrade is only a D3 issue. Changing satellites, even just transponders or gateways (which you will do, at a minimum), is a crap shoot as you probably know. You should talk to Ground Control and the other VAR's about what satellite they can put you on and what the service will cost (not all the same) before you do anything. Look for deals on a DW7000 (I bought mine on ebay), but before you buy: a call to Hughes with the serial number can confirm that the modem is decommissioned with no balance owing. The current version (HN7000S) is pretty much only available new ($$$$). The only scary part of the whole process is when you decommission your DW4000 -- the point of no return! (I 'cheated' and made the switch to a new VAR with the DW7000 before I closed my old Ground Control DW4000 account, just in case (GC doesn't pro-rate your final bill anyway so it didn't cost anything for the 'insurance').)
John
-------------------- "Always gone yet always at home."
Fulltiming in Monaco Windsor towing Jeep Grand Cherokee F1 Datastorm | D2 | DW7000 | 117/990 | Vista Ultimate 64 Posts: 138 | From: Full-time RV'ers | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thanks John that clears it up for me. Keeping the 4000 for one month as insurance sounds like a good idea. I have BOW and wanted to stay on sat99 or something that will work. Our motor coach is sitting in Casa Grande waiting for us to return from Minnesota after the holidays. We are going to Q" when we get to Arizona so maybe I can find a used D2 at that time.
Posts: 26 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I have a used D2 on hand. You can call me and we can talk. I allso have a new and used 7000 in stock.
-------------------- Steve O'Bosky Dealer/Installer Datastorm/MotoSat TV 559-901-9044 sro54 at yahoo.com F1 DataStorm |D4|7000S|99W/1370|Linksys WRT54GC Windows 7 premiumSee our location Posts: 1082 | From: Visalia, CA | Registered: May 2003
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posted
The description of what is needed for a D1 is not correct, in that there is a different, critical, Direcway software component that must be on the host computer. It is called "4020 Installer Software" and must be installed using a 4000 receive modem. Anyone making the switch to a 7000 and staying with the D1 should keep at least their receive modem for possible installation of the software on a new computer in the future.
Is the reason that I didn't need the "4020 Installer Software" is because I didn't move the rig after the DW7000 was commissioned? I did stow a couple of times and redeploy with the D1 using just the DataStorm Administrator and the Point 4020 program.
John
-------------------- "Always gone yet always at home."
Fulltiming in Monaco Windsor towing Jeep Grand Cherokee F1 Datastorm | D2 | DW7000 | 117/990 | Vista Ultimate 64 Posts: 138 | From: Full-time RV'ers | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
If you didn't move, you didn't need the Point4020. The Datastorm Administrator won't run if there is no Direcway software on the computer, so you had something there. With regular Direcway software it might have gone up, but it would never have found any satellite. If the satellite was found (meaning that the Datastorm Administrator showed a signal quality), there's only one way that can happen with a 7000. The Datastorm Administrator can only get it from Direcway software, and the only version of Direcway software that can "see" a 7000 is the 4020 installer software.
I guess since I've uninstalled both the D1 and Direcway software, I can't say what was on the computer at the time. Most likely the Direcway programs were there but not running (taken out of the start-up files and folders). So maybe Point 4020 found the 4020 installer software.
Oh well, onward with the D2!
John
-------------------- "Always gone yet always at home."
Fulltiming in Monaco Windsor towing Jeep Grand Cherokee F1 Datastorm | D2 | DW7000 | 117/990 | Vista Ultimate 64 Posts: 138 | From: Full-time RV'ers | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Thanks Bill and Steve for the info on a used D2. When I get to Arizona after Jan 1. I might need one if you still have any.
Posts: 26 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I can search and lock on to sat 99. I do this with my 4000 temporary suspended thru Ground Control. I can still get DIRECTV with the BOW. Does this mean I don’t need the 4020 installer software?
I can then call Ground Control, or another VAR (to get service) and get a key for the Dw7000 and commission the new modem.
Then I can leave the F1 and D1 on sat 99, remove the 4000recieve and transmit modems and connect the new dw7000. (I keep the receive modem for future set up)
I should then be able to stow and deploy the F1 with the D1 using my Data storm administrator.
Posts: 26 | Registered: Dec 2003
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-------------------- Michael Day F1|D3|7000 5.8.0.72|Currently no Hughes|1 Laptop: XP Home|1 Desktop:Vista, 1 Win7|Cradlepoint 1400|Verizon MiFi 4GLTE| Newell Coach, PT Cruiser Turbo Find Me Here (Map) Donations Help Support This Site Posts: 2814 | From: Everywhere (home is Austin, TX) | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Thanks everyone, I have the software on my desktop,the 7000 and will give it a try when I get to Casa Grande after New Years.
Posts: 26 | Registered: Dec 2003
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