oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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In Baja Sur and loosing your Starband signal?
Our Starband internet has been going off-line frequently for the past few days. More specifically, the synch drops out and the Ebno has dropped to 4
which is marginal, I guess.Throw in some clouds and fog, and we drop to only 2 lights on the modem - no synch or tx. Anybody else having this problem?
I've been told that Starband tweaked something in their system about 10 days ago which has impacted those of us on the edge of their reception range
(Baja Sur and South).
We've already upgraded to the larger 1.2 meter dish and a 2 watt transmitter to try and improve performance which was working ok until their recent
changes.
We've been told that the even bigger 1.8 meter dish ($700), and a stronger 4 watt transmitter ($1000) might improve our signal. This would be the 3rd
upgrade we've had to make to our system after Starband has tweaked something on their end which has pushed us closer to the edge of reception.
There's no phone reception, cell service, or prospects for dsl where we live so we absolutely need internet for daily living and emergency
communications. But should we dump another couple thousand in to Starband equipment, when there's no guarantee they won't tweak something again next
month and throw us completely out of reception range? Or (and I didn't think I'd ever say this) do we consider switching to Hughes and learn to deal
with their FAP restrictions and slower speed than we're used to with having with upgraded Starband plan?
Input? Observations?
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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it may be just the heat
we slowed in the afternoon recently (hughs)
the wire from your radio on the antenna may be hot and creating resistance
i have NO solution
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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I know this had been discussed ad naseum, but not only have I gotten good service all of these years with Hughesnet, but I suspect that they have
clearly emerged as the leader in the industry. We have some new people in our area that has gone with the upgraded system and she is able to run her
business with VOIP, internet, and all of the connections needed, so that may be something to consider.
It is an interesting afterthought, but when I was trying to decide what to put in when I moved down here, most of my decision was made on purely
the basis of personalities and only because Wayne Davy was a good friend did I end up putting in the Hughesnet system. But I have to say that I
have talked quite a bit with Alan Thompson at http://www.bajasatellite.com and he impresses me as one of the best informed people in the field in Baja and he may be able to advise you as to
which direction to go in.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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Oladulce
I would try swapping out the lnb and the transmitter. Sometimes one or the other are to blame. Also check and make sure you have voltage up the the
antenna. Sometimes you have a bad connection at either the modem end or the antenna end. If all that checks out, then your only other option is to
call tech support. At least they are in Virginia and not Pakistan.
There is one other option that maybe might help. Starband sells a Buc transmitter that is supposed to boost the signal. My dealer sent me 3 of them
but I have never used them so I don't have any experience with them. Maybe ask your dealer what he thinks.
Hope this helps
Larry
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
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We have had Starband for about 7 years and there are times of the year when we lose the signal for while (yesterday for 12 minutes at 4pm lost sync,
then everything), usually late afternoon.
I should add that it has been foggy here all week, but the system never faltered - as a whole the system has never worked better.
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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Here's comments from the 2 Starband dealers I contacted:
- "Starband made some changes to the way it transmits on G18 123 West about 10 days ago. This would provide you in Baja Sur a weaker signal. If
your signal was already marginal, your reception may be below acceptable now."
- "Recently Starband made some changes to the transponder that Mexico customers are using in an effort to improve performance on that transponder.
The net result is that signal strength has dropped by about 1 db or possibly more. This effectively reduces the cushion that customers with 1.2 meter
antennas have before they go offline in very cloudy or otherwise bad weather. Customers with smaller 1 meter antennas are even more marginal."
We'll call Starband tech support tomorrow, but we're loosing confidence in Starband. This is the 2nd or 3rd time they've tweaked something in there
system and we've had to buy new equipment to get our signal back. Don't know if their changes impact all of Mexico or just southern Baja but we must
not be a very large portion or their client base because they keep pushing those of us on the edge, off the ledge.
Thanks for your comments.
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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Know this is an old thread but I would be intersted to hear how it turned out for you.
Most likely what you're dealing with is a low signal issue but probably not a bad transmitter, especially if you recently replaced it.
Starband has had to make some satellite changes, possibly due to some cost-cutting measures, and seems to be surrendering some business on the
fringes. Max could speak to this better than I because we don't do much with Starband.
Things to check on any Sat Internet system:
What type of cable? Is there a model number? We see a lot of poor cable used in Baja.
How long/how old are the cables?
Cable buried in the dirt?
Any kinks in the cable?
Corrosion on any of the connectors?
Dish properly grounded?
Any moisture in the feed horn?
When was the last time the dish was aimed?
Any slop or play whatsoever in the dish or mount?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Speaking of satellite connections... anyone hear from BAJABUS (MAX) lately??
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
Member Is Offline
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We were in contact with Max (Bajabus) a bunch a few months ago when trying to resuscitate our Starband. Sounds like he's doing great, is busy, and
still makes trips to BCS where he has many customers.
BCS tech- we are one of your HughesNet customers now although we've never exchanged Nomad names. (You met husb. BigWooo in the Bodega parking lot in
Cd Constitución to exchange equipment a couple months ago).
No we never got an improvement on Starband. The poor reception was all due to they changes they made on their end and Starband tech support confirmed-
"wow your signal there is pretty bad I'm surprised you've had any reception". The only option for our location was to try switching to the larger
dish and the cost was another $1000 dollars by the time we got it here.
We were already so close to the edge of Starband reception, we got the impression our location isn't a high priority and if they made any more changes
all the equipment investment would have been wasted.
We've had HughesNet for a few months and it's ok. Like Starband, it's still about a 50/50 chance that Skype will work and someday we may bite the
bullet and go with a VSAT system to have reliable phone service and some of the other internet perks.
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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RE: HughesNet and Skype
Oh Hey!
I guess I already know how it turned out for you 
A few notes about HughesNet and Skype:
Main cause with afternoon fade is the number of other HughesNet customers who typically "pile on" in the afternoons. Some things you can try...Make sure nothing else is running on your computer - No other applications running in the background. This includes Email,
browsers, updaters, etc. If you know how to access your Task Manager for Windows (CTRL+ALT+Del) Shut down all non essential processes. (This will
take some research on what's non-essential)
Make sure only one computer is on. If you have multiple computers, shut the other ones off.
Bypass your router completely and connect your PC directly to your HughesNet modem.
Get the highest HughesNet service plan you can afford. The most common problem with Skype is mainly with the upload speed, which is always lower
than the download speed. Most common complaint is that you can hear the other person but they cannot hear you, and this is a sure fire indication the
upload speed is not enough.
Test your up and down speeds frequently, and a different times of the day and week. Use only the HughesNet speed test at http://consumer.performancetests.hughesnet.com/. On the Speed test page, select "I just want to measure download and upload speed."
These are the only test results that HughesNet Technical Support will accept as valid. The web site will save a history of your tests so you can track
your system over time and spot performance issues. If you consistently see low results, then you may have an equipment problem..
More HughesNet Satellite Internet System tips on our web site:
http://www.bajasatellite.com/hughesnet-satellite-internet-sy...
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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Don't forget that for the next week we all have solar flare interference.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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RE: Sun Outage
Ahhh...
That reminded me:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=55451&pag...
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