Hughesnet install using super buddy

I've got a question concerning the cross pol alignment procedure using the super buddy on hughesnet modems. The operation manual from applied instruments says this:
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9. OPI and DiSEqC Monitoring

The OPI/DiSEqC Screen serves two similar purposes. First, it simulates the HughesNetTM
Outdoor Pointing Interface used to check cross-pol alignment of the HughesNet transmitters.
Second, it decodes and displays other DiSEqC commands received on the IRD port of the meter.
OPI Simulation
When OPI messages are received it displays them on the screen just like the OPI device.

HughesNetTM Cross-Pol Check Procedure

1) Align the dish using the receiving LNB just as you would a normal Ku band dish using the
Super Buddy Run Screen.

2) Connect the modem and PC to the transmit and receive cables and run the HughesNet
software.

3) Using the PC’s internet browser, access the HughesNet modem setup screens. Ensure that
the OPI display is enabled and display signal strength. The signal strength must be
displayed on the PC to generate the display shown on the meter.

4) Return to the dish and connect the Super Buddy into the receiver cable. The Super Buddy’s
LNB port should be connected to the LNB and the IRD port to the modem’s Rx port.

5) Go to the Super Buddy OPI/DiSEqC Screen. This screen displays the numbers transmitted
from the modem just like the OPI device.

6) Adjust the dish to peak the transmitter cross-pol quality number. The higher the number, the
better the quality.
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This implies hooking the super buddy up to a live (powered on) modem, now I've seen warnings also on this forum I believe against fiddling with the cables with the power still on, so I've been disconnecting the power (at the switch) before disconnecting cables and aiming the dish using super buddy, this works like a charm but getting the highest IRD and signal strength possible doesn't mean your cross-pol is optimal ...does it?

Then there is this warning from applied instruments in their pdf on hughesnet installs:

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Other Notes:
-It is NOT recommended to keep Super Buddy meter in line while checking modem status due to
attenuation from our circuitry.
-If you are going to use OPI feature in Super Buddy meter, be sure to have already turned on the OPI
feature in the HughesNet software on the PC. Then press the MENU soft key in bottom right corner of
LCD screen. Scroll to OPI/DiSEqC and press Enter.

==========================================================

What do you guys think they mean by checking modem status?

So in short I'd like to know what the safe procedure is for optimizing cross-pol on hughesnet equipment using super buddy (without calling them on the phone while optimizing;).

Quote:

Rotating the polarisation near the optimal position will make so little difference to the signal quality it is not possible to peak up the polarisation by adjusting for the best signal.  You will have better success if you misadjust the polarisation significantly so that the the signal quality is distinctly degraded and the degradation obviously varies as you alter the polarisation angle.  Note the exact degraded quality and the reading on the polarisation scale. The polarisation scales on Hughesnet yokes are excellent.  Repeat on the other side of the polarisation peak, adjusting till you get the exact same degraded level. Then half the angle between the two scale readings and you will be very accurately set.  It is important that you choose a significantly degraded level, measure and get it exactly the same either side and the half the two scale readings.  It does not work well if there are varying carriers on the opposite polaristion, e.g. TDMA.

Quote:

An alternative to the above halfing method between two degraded signals, is to use the spectrum mode.  If you misadjust the polarisation you should be able to find cross-pol signals that rise rapidly with small misadjustments. Look in the gaps between carriers on the wanted polarisation. Because the cross-pol signals vary rapidly with small movements it is not too difficult to set the polarisation to the centre of the deep null.
If your Hughesnet network has an automated cross-pol measurement facility use that to check the final result. We don't have that here in Europe.

Note: Inserting anything into the LNB cable interferes, perhaps only very slightly, with the normal operation.  If you want a safe approach to receive signal monitoring I would put a splitter in the LNB cable with the DC pass on the modem to LNB side.
Available from http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Order/Switches/Splitters.htm
An asymmetric  10 dB splitter with the 10dB/DC block on the monitor port would hardly affect the signal into the modem. Such an isolated monitoring approach precludes the use of any DiSEqC, tone or DC voltages sent out by the SuperBuddy.

Best regards, Eric.

Eric Johnston wrote on Nov 4^th, 2010 at 11:12am:

I've read a bit about these approaches (some also written by you I think and I'll be sure to try them out, sounds easy enough except for the spectrum analyzer part.

I don't have a SB, but I do have an OPI - so I'm laboring under a small knowledge gap here. But with my OPI, no splitter is required - either to read ACP data or SQF data. I gather that the SB model you have emulates the Hughes OPI. You should know then that the modems will not return ACP data to an OPI (or SB emulation) when there is no ACP server on the other end. That's reportedly the case in your area, so the SB OPI emulation feature will do you no good optimizing transmitter isolattion. You have little choice but to do manual copol/crosspol - either using Eric's instructions above, or directly with the hub/NOC by phone or data link.  But - unless it's because of the splitter - I don't know why the modem is not sending SQF data to your SB OPI emulation

FWIW, the actual Hughes OPI works equally well with DVB-S or DVB-S2. They're hard to find anymore, having been replaced with a more expensive device (also proprietary) that they call the DAPT (see http://cgi.ebay.com/HughesNet-DAPT-DiSEqc-Antenna-Pointing-Tool-Kit-w-Sq-/320612... ) . Not that it will do you much good over there, I mention it merely as a point of interest.

//greg//

Quote:
Tried sending a copy to the email address listed in your profile, it doesn't accept attachments over 100k. Do you have an alternate email address?

//greg//

Make sure you get the voice codec too. It converts the numerals to audio and sends it to your speakers.

//greg//