Hughes Network Spaceway Technical manual

MobileInternetSatellite.com
Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide
June 2016

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com

MobileInternetSatellite.com
Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide
Version 1.6

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Table of Contents i
Table of Contents
Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide
Introduction 2
Step 1 – Getting the Cables to the Modem (first time only) 4
Step 2 – Unpacking the Boxes & Checking the Contents (first time only) 5
Step 3 – Setting Up the Modem & Router (first time only) 6
Step 4 – Connecting to the Modem & Getting the Pointing Parameters 7
The System Control Center (SCC) Home Page 7
System Status Page 8
System Information page 9
Advanced Page 10
Advanced Page After Clicking Installation Parameters 11
After Clicking Submit Installation Parameters 12
Advanced Page After the Reboot 13
Getting the Pointing Parameters 14
Getting the Pointing Parameters (Continued) 15
Step 5 – Setting Up the Tripod, Offset Adapter, & Hardware Set 16
Installing the Stanley Keeper (SK) - (Please Ignore If SK Is Pre-installed) 16
Assembling the Hardware Set 17
Assembling the Hardware Set (continued) 18
Orienting the Tripod and Checking for a Plumb Mast 19
Step 6 – Putting the Reflector Mount on the Offset Adapter Mast 20
Step 7 – Attaching the Reflector to the Reflector Mount 21
Understanding Azimuth, Elevation & Tilt (Skew) 22
Right-hand or Left-hand Polarity 22
Step 8 – Checking the Azimuth Base – Setting the Elevation & Tilt 23
Checking the Azimuth Base 23
Setting the Elevation 24
Setting the Tilt (Skew) 25
Step 9 – Changing the Polarity 26
Step 10 – Connecting the Arm and Radio to the Reflector 29
Re-plumb, Add Ballast, and Check Plumb Again! 29
Step 11 – Connecting the Cables and DAPT2 Meter 30
Step 12 – Pointing the Antenna 31
Pointing the Antenna with the DAPT2 Meter 32

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Coarse-Pointing Phase 33
Fine-Pointing Phase 34
Step 13 – Validating Your Alignment 36
Step 14 – Getting Online 38
Status Page - Online! 39

BJ Consul
© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com MobileInternetSatellite.com 1
MobileInternetSatellite.com
Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide

2Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
Introduction
The objective of this document is to provide instructions and guidelines for assembling
your HughesNet Spaceway satellite system and mobility kit and getting it online. The
document describes a proven approach to setting up a Ka-band system. However, you
may find other ways of doing some steps, which you prefer. The important thing is that
the alignment passes the validation and you are able to get online.
Call if you have questions.
The following tasks will be described in this document:
Step 1 Get the cables to the modem (First time only)
Step 2 Unpack your boxes and check the contents. (First time only)
Step 3 Set up the modem and optionally the router (First time only) and power on.
Step 4 Connect to the modem, get the pointing parameters, and power down
modem.
Step 5 Set up the tripod, offset adapter and hardware set.
Step 6 Put the reflector/dish mount on the offset adapter mast.
Step 7 Attach the reflector to the reflector mount.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 3
Step 8 Check the azimuth base and set the elevation and the tilt.
Step 9 Change the polarity, if necessary, based on the pointing parameters.
Step 10 Connect the arm and radio to the reflector.
Step 11 Connect the cables and DAPT2 meter. Power on the modem and verify it is
in pointing mode.
Step 12 Point the antenna.
Step 13 Validate the alignment.
Step 14 Wait for State Code 25 = Online!
Some troubleshooting hints are provided at the end.
Now, let’s cover the task that should be dealt with first: getting the cables to the
modem.

4Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
Step 1 – Getting the Cables to the Modem (first time only)
You need to think about how the cables that comes from the satellite dish outside
will connect to the satellite modem, which is typically inside.
Shown above is the most common method of solving this problem. Here is a
description of the dish-to-modem path:
• The short pigtail cables (1) are attached to the transmitter and LNB, on the arm.
• The other ends connect to the long coaxial cables (3) using barrel connectors (2).
• The other ends of the long coaxial cables are typically connected to an exterior
coax connector (4), which is installed on the side of the RV. Two 1/2” holes are
drilled in the RV for the installation. Be wary of existing coax connections,
because the coax and/or connectors may not support Ka-band frequencies!
• The short inside cables (5) are connected to the back of the exterior coax
connector (from inside) (4) at one end and to the modem (6) at the other end.
Although the above describes the most common installation, other approaches are
possible. For example, some mobile users prefer to put the modem and a wireless
router in a utility trailer, with easy access for cables. The user will connect from
within the RV via Wi-Fi.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 5
Step 2 – Unpacking the Boxes & Checking the Contents (first time only)
The exact number of boxes and the contents of each box can vary, based upon the exact
items ordered. Here are the items for a complete mobile satellite Internet system:
• Spaceway Satellite System:
—Box 1: The reflector
—Box 2: The reflector mount, the modem, and the cables
—Box 3: The assembled arm and radio
• Tripod Assembly: The tripod will be in a box by itself, with the Stanley Keeper
pre-installed. The offset adapter, adapter hardware, and ballast strap will be
packaged separately.
• Dish Alignment Items: Torpedo level, Sighting compass, Squinter & DAPT2
• Tools and Leatherette Tool Bag:
—[Socket-3/8" Drive-1/2"- 6 Pt] & [Socket Extension-3/8" x 3"]
—[Hand Ratchet-3/8" Drive] & [Ratcheting Combo Wrench-1/2"- 12 Pt]
—[Ball Hex Driver-3mm - 5 1/2"] & [Screwdriver-Phillips #2]
• Optional: System knobs, coax connector box, cable tools and wireless router.

6Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
Step 3 – Setting Up the Modem & Router (first time only)
Setting up the modem and optionally the router is pretty simple. Shown above is the
front and back of a HughesNet HN9000 modem. Also shown is the correct way to
connect power to the modem.
The following connections (from top to bottom) are shown on the modem:
• Ethernet connection - You can connect a computer directly to the Ethernet
connection on the modem, as shown. Or you can connect a wireless router to this
Ethernet connection and connect your laptop, tablet or smart phone wirelessly.
• Power connection - The power supply is between the DC power cord which plugs
into the modem and the AC power cord which plugs into the surge protector. We
recommend unplugging the AC power cord from the power supply, to remove
power. Unplugging the power connector from the back of the modem can cause
problems when plugging it back in.
• Coaxial cable connection- The Interfacility Link cables (IFL/coaxial cables) connect
to the two bottom connectors on the modem, Sat In (blue) and Sat Out (red).
Connect the router or laptop to the Ethernet port with an Ethernet cable. Plug the
DC connector into the power connection on the modem, but do not yet connect it to
AC power. Connect the coaxial cables to the bottom two connectors on the modem.
Now, connect the modem to AC power.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 7
Step 4 – Connecting to the Modem & Getting the Pointing Parameters
Now that your modem is set up and powered on, you need to open Chrome or FireFox
on your computer, tablet, or smart phone and type 192.168.0.1 to connect to the
System Control Center (SCC) in the modem. The Home page is shown above.
The System Control Center (SCC) Home Page
There are many useful links here, including connectivity and self-test, links to
customer service and any additional services you ordered, a link to restart the
modem and general help info. Also shown is the status of your bandwidth usage.
Note In the first days of your HughesNet subscription, your data downloads won't
impact the available data. Because your Internet-connected devices may trigger
some large non-HughesNet software downloads initially, for the first 10 days of
your HughesNet subscription, as your data meter goes down reflecting your usage,
HughesNet will constantly reset it so that your account will have enough data for
those downloads. The data limit associated with the HughesNet Service Plan you
selected will not go into effect until after the first 10 days.
Click on System Status to see the page shown next.

8Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
System Status Page
Shown above is the System Status page, when the modem is offline. When you are
online with no issues, The System Status light will be green.
Note the State Code of 27. This state code indicates there is no beacon. This simply
means you are no longer receiving a signal from the Network Operations Center
(NOC).
This can occur with severe weather at either your location or the Gateway that
connects you to the NOC. However, if you have just moved to a new location and
are preparing to set up your system, this State Code is normal.
Pay attention to the State Code, because it can provide you with detailed analysis of
what is happening. A document is available in the downloads section, which lists
all possible State Codes.
If you click on System Info you will see the page shown next.
Note The three lights shown in the middle will not be shown before the modem is
commissioned.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 9
System Information page
Shown above is the System Info page, when the modem is offline. When you are
online with no issues, The System Status light will be green.
The System Info page contains identifying information for your account and your
system hardware.
Click on the icon circled at the upper right, to go to the Advanced page. Although
you can’t really tell, the icon is a little wizard.

10 Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
Advanced Page
The Advanced page shows you some basic system and status information.
Note the State Code of 27 is again shown. Remember that this state code indicates
there is no beacon being received, which means you are no longer receiving a signal
from the Network Operations Center (NOC).
Click Installation on the left and then on Installation Parameters (if link is
present), to start the setup process. You should then see the screen shown on the next
page.
If instead of the screen shown above, you are presented with the Pointing Page, just
click on Modify Installation Parameters and then on Reinstall, to get to the page
shown next.
Note The blue inset near the lower right is actually located at the upper right
corner of every Advanced page. There is a link to the Home page at 192.168.0.1
and a link to restart the modem.
It has been cropped in order to allow more space for the main part of the pages
shown.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 11
Advanced Page After Clicking Installation Parameters
You should now be looking at the page shown above.
Configuration information for your site will be shown. The first item is the site
name, which comprises the characters HNS followed by your Site Account Number
(SAN).
If you ever inadvertently change or delete any of these values, just click Use values
from last successful registration, to restore them. You can then proceed to enter your
current longitude and latitude, as indicated below.
Entering Longitude and Latitude
Enter your current longitude and latitude in degrees and minutes (to three decimal
places).
Click on Submit Installation Parameters, to get the pointing parameters you will
need to point your dish correctly.

12 Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
After Clicking Submit Installation Parameters
After you click Submit Installation Parameters, you will see the following
message:
Installation complete. Terminal will reboot momentarily...
Wait about two minutes and if the page still hasn’t reloaded, click the refresh button
on the browser or hit F5 to refresh the page.
You should then see the Advanced page again.

© 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide 13
Advanced Page After the Reboot
The Advanced page is again displayed. Note that the modem passed its power on
self-test and is attempting to establish a downlink from the satellite. Of course, it
will not be able to do so, until the antenna has been properly pointed.
Click Re-Point Terminal to continue and get the pointing parameters.

14 Spaceway Quick Start Setup Guide © 2016, MobileInternetSatellite.com
Getting the Pointing Parameters
After you click Re-Point Terminal, you will see the following message:
Warning This action will necessitate re-pointing. This can only be done with a
DAPT, and the system will be unusable until re-pointing has been accomplished.
Are you sure you want to proceed?
Click Continue with Re-Point.
The modem will again reboot and you will see the following message:
Re-pointing will begin after reboot. Terminal will reboot momentarily...
Wait two minutes and if the pointing page still hasn’t loaded, click the refresh button
on the browser or hit F5 to refresh the page.