The HughesNet National Network Operations Center - Information Page and Video

I'm sure if you told them you were coming, Amanda or someone could get you in. :)

Also, the manufacturing plant there was a must see. A lot of folks don't realize it but HughesNet gear is proudly assembled in the US. We toured the facility where they actually build, test and ship the modems and radios.

We also toured the repair facility where they receive returned modems and radios, determine failures and causes, recondition and update them, and send them back out.

While we were there, the repairs director happened to mention that an unusually high percentage of radios were being returned because the installers were stripping the hex-head screws that hold the feed throat onto the radio body when changing the radio's polarity setting (adjacent beams have opposite polarities and the radio throat needs to be flipped 90°).

This was happening because the screws could not be easily removed or inserted using a standard, straight-on hex key.

We discussed solutions with the director and, within a day, HughesNet had already sent out a tech bulletin advising all their installers where they could acquire a hex key with a ball end that works at an angle, the same tool they were using in the repair facility. They hadn't realized that install techs weren't carrying that tool already.



Now, THAT was impressive...