The ripper tripper

Electronic engineer Hans here in La Paz took the Hughes HN7000S modem out of the Fuso Szulc.
Opened it and was surprised to see all the oxidation on the inside of the metal housing.
Obviously the result of spending so much time near the ocean.
His theory is that the electronic circuits are possibly affected by the salt and humidity.

Hans is now trying with all the knowledge and expertise he has to try to repair the modem.
To find out what components are malfunctioning to replace them if possible.
And that would be swell.

Because a new Hughes HN7000S modem costs $ 800 ex tax, shipping and handling.
An incredible price.
Same strategy obviously as the US company Dometic has with its Seitz Heki RV products.
In a recent posting it was explained how Dometic sells parts of Seitz Heki products for prices hundreds of percents higher than what they sell for in Germany.

Modems are sold in a package: a customer pays one price and gets a modem, the satellite disk, a router, all cables and installation included.
Modems as such are not really sold.
Usually they last several years.
Until a new model comes out and customers upgrade to a better system and change their whole digital internet exhibitionism.
New disk, new modem, new router, etc
Therefore, if by chance a modem stops working, good luck.
Hughes can sell it for the price they like.
And make a real profit.
Like the ink cartridges strategy of printer manufacturers.

Inside a Hughes HN7000S modem is hardly anything.
60 % of the space is empty.
There is just one rather small motherboard with a bunch of electronics.
A battery that is welded to the motherboard and irreplaceable.
And it is clear also now that the reset button on the back of the modem has been disabled by Hughes.

$ 800 for this damned thing.
Two years old.
How not to feel cursed?

Fortunately there is one HN7000S in a shop in Cabo San Lucas.
A miracle by itself.
So, if Hans can't fix it, the Fuso Szulc goes to Cabo for costly modem replacement.

Nevertheless in an excellent mood.
Seeing friends in La Paz and enjoying high speed internet connection.
To SKYPE for hours with the "Queen of dreams".



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