When DirecTV first introduced DirecWay it opened up the world of high speed internet access to virtually everyone in the continental United States. Initially, DirecWay was a 1-way system, which meant that the satellite could communicate directly with your PC, but your PC could not communicate directly with the satellite. A conventional modem had to be used through a dial-up connection in order to send requests to the DirecWay Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC would process the request and send the data to your computer via a high speed link from the satellite. Since page and file requests consist of small amounts of data that are easily handled by a conventional modem, this arrangement worked out pretty well, however, the fact that a phone line and dial-up connection was still required proved to be a huge drawback when compared to other high speed alternatives.

The current DirecWay system is a vast improvement over the original concept. Satellite communication is now 2-way thereby eliminating the need for a dial-up connection. This amazing breakthrough allows DirecWay to compete with other broadband internet providers by offering a system that is not only "high speed" but is also "always on".

It Travels with you! - DirecWay is also the ideal solution for RV's and Boats. All you need is a special tracking antenna to get a High Speed Broadband internet connection while on the road or at sea!

• You must be within the contiguous 48 states or Puerto Rico.
• You must have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky.
• You must be able to mount the antenna at least 5 feet off the ground as per FCC regulations.
• You must have a computer that meets the minimum requirements (see tables below)
• Money (unfortunately the best things in life are not free)

The dish antenna used for DirecWay is much different than the standard DirecTV dish. Since DirecWay is a true 2-way service, the antenna must be able to transmit as well as receive. The size of the DirecWay dish is approximately 26"x39" as compared to the standard 18" DirecTV dish. If you are a DirecTV subscriber and do not want to add an additional antenna to your roof, you can purchase various upgrade kits that will enable the DirecWay antenna to also receive DirecTV signals in both Standard and High Definition, but these are an extra cost option to the standard system.

Installing the DirecWay dish is definitely not for the average do-it-yourselfer. It is much larger and heavier than a standard satellite TV dish, and must be precisely aimed in order to ensure proper operation. Also, because the antenna will be transmitting signals, the FCC requires that it be mounted at least five feet off the ground. To cover their butts and reduce the number of customer service calls DirecWay insists that the installation be performed by a qualified professional. Standard installation is however included in the price.