The DirecWay DW4000 SRS (Satellite Return System) was the first 2-Way satellite internet
system
Hughes put out on the home user market. Released at the same time as the DW3000,
these were the first systems to bear the "DirecWay" name. Prior to these systems, "DirecPC"
was
the name under which Hughes marketed home satellite systems.
The
DW4000 uses a .74m satellite dish which is identical to the DW3000 dish .. with the exception
being the DW3000 dish does not have the transmitter hardware on the arm of the dish. (See pic.)
The
DW4000 consists of two modems stacked atop one another, connected together via a 25-pin cable in the rear of
the units. The top modem is the IRU (Indoor Receive Unit), the bottom is the ITU (Indoor transmit
Unit). They connect to the users
computer via the USB port. This system requires special DirecWay software
and drivers to be installed on your computer to operate.
When properly tweaked, downstream speeds averaged
around 900+ kbps, Upstream varied from around 35-85+ kbps. These systems
are no longer sold new, and Hughes would not commission/activate
one for a customer today. (New or used.) Alike the DW3000, networking the DW4000 was a bit tricky.. but it could
be done.
The IRU is a DVB compliant satellite adapter that can be used alone, in the one-way configuration, or together with the ITU
for two-way operation. The DW4000 ITU is designed to be an add-on capability to a standard receive-only DirecWay IRU. When the
ITU is installed and configured, the user will have the ability to select the satellite instead of the modem as the outbound route.
Because
the ITU is connected to the IRU through the ITU-IRU interconnection cable, only one USB port on your PC was required to operate
the DirecWay indoor equipment.
DW3000/DW4000 Data Sheet :
You can download the complete Hughes
DW3000 / DW4000 Data-Sheet by clicking
on the image
to the left.
File is in Adobe PDF format. (Size 131k)
