Hughesnet is an internet service provider that uses satellite technology to deliver high-speed internet services across all 50 states of the US. It is significantly popular in rural and remote areas because of its availability and ability to provide internet services almost everywhere.
It offers a download speed of up to 25 Mbps and an upload speed of up to 3 Mbps. Besides that, it ensures connectivity for rural customers and offers them the opportunity to stay connected to the world. However, many people consider Hughesnet a bad option for internet services.
To see the reason behind that, we will be looking at the types of internet connections available in the US. This will not just provide insights related to the current topic but also help with understanding the internet services better.
Types of Internet Connections
In the US, there are several types of internet connections available from Dial-Up to Fiber Optics. These connections mostly depend upon the customer’s location. We will be looking at the 5 most used and widely available internet connection types to keep it brief.
- Fiber Optics
The first and the most advanced internet connection that is available for customers in the US is fiber optics. It is more reliable, faster, and cost-effective compared to all other internet options. However, the quality of services varies from provider to provider.
With fiber internet, customers can get download speeds of up to 1 Gig (1000 Mbps) for under $100 per month. The best part about having a fiber connection is that you can get an upload speed that is generally the same as the download speed. Moreover, if connection latency is a concern, you will be glad to know that fiber has the lowest connection latency.
The only problem with Fios is that currently, it is not widely available. Even in the states where Fios is currently available, not everyone has access to it.
- Cable Internet
The second option for internet services is the cable connection which is available in almost every state. For those customers who can’t have fiber optics, cable internet is the second option on their list. That is because cable connection is also capable of offering download speeds of up to 1000 Mbps.
On the other hand, if we compare it to fiber, cable internet doesn’t have faster upload speeds. The maximum upload speed that customers generally get with a cable connection is up to 35 Mbps. Although that is slow, it can still take care of customer usage such as gaming, uploading and sharing files, and live to stream.
Just like fiber optics, cable internet has an availability problem as well. Although it is available in almost every state, it is limited to metropolitans and towns that are near the cities.
- DSL
Digital Subscriber Line or the DSL is the third type of internet connection that is available in the US. It uses phone lines to provide internet services to its customers.
The good thing about DSL is that it is available mostly in rural areas and towns, allowing rural America to get internet services at good prices. But, one major problem with DSL is that the speeds are not consistent across all the areas.
Even the same service provider that is serving more than one area might offer different speeds due to bandwidth limitations. On top of that, the prices are almost the same even though you are getting a slower speed compared to some other area.
However, some people still prefer it over the satellite internet or the fixed wireless just because it is a territorial internet connection. In addition to that, DSL generally offers more data per month than the satellite connection.
- Satellite
Satellite internet connection is among the most widely available internet options across all the states. The biggest advantage it has over other connection types is the availability and mainly targets those people who want internet services but do not have any better options.
With satellite internet, customers get a download speed of up to 100 Mbps while the data is limited as per the plan. Once customers cross that limit, their download speeds are reduced instead of charging them any extra amount.
In comparison to DSL and fixed wireless, satellite internet generally offers better speed. Contrarily, it also costs more than both of them.
- Fixed Wireless
The fifth and the last connection type that is used to offer internet services, especially in remote areas, is the fixed wireless. To some extent, it works like mobile internet where you get the internet services from the nearest tower and receive signals via the antenna installed on your roof.
Fixed wireless connection can offer download speeds ranging from 1-30 Mbps in general. However, the exact speed depends upon the area and the clarity of line of sight between the house and the tower that transmits signals.
Why is Hughesnet Internet Slow?
Since now we know the types of connection, it would be easier to understand why the Hughesnet internet is slow or considered bad. Mainly three reasons contribute to this perception.
First of all, Hughesnet internet is a satellite internet connection. It uses the satellite in space as a medium to transfer signals to and from the network center to the customer’s home. The distance between the satellite and the dish antenna is over 22000 miles, which increases the latency of the connection. So, despite the 25 Mbps download speed, customers still consider it slower because of its latency problem.
Secondly, customers’ speed gets reduced when they go over their monthly allocated data limit. That speed is between 1-3 Mbps and is actually slow.
Lastly, if you have previously had a cable or fiber optics internet connection, you are used to having fast internet with a download speed of over 100 Mbps. So, when customers have to sign-up with Hughesnet after that, the internet connection seems slower in general.
The Final Take
Hughesnet satellite internet is mainly for people who live far from cities and do not have any internet services out there. In such areas, having an internet connection is a huge thing in itself. However, the major problem is speed reduction which makes Hughesnet’s internet slower for customers. To avoid that, customers can either purchase data tokens or manage their data properly by scheduling and utilizing the 50 GB additional data offered during the bonus zone.
