Satellite Internet is faster than ever before, with Viasat offering speeds of over 100 mbps.
How does Satellite Internet work?
Satellite internet is a service that beams internet from your provider to a satellite in space, and then finally to a dish at your home. This technology is perfect for users who live in rural areas that don’t have wired internet services, such as cable internet and DSL internet available.
Satellite internet uses a satellite dish at your home, about the same size at a satellite TV dish, to provide you with internet services, even in hard-to-reach rural areas.
Sitting over the equator, satellites can send and receive signals through “spot beams” that cover most of the US. As long as you’re within one of these beams and other users aren’t using all the data capacity, you can get satellite internet service.
Data transfers from your home internet devices to the satellite in space and then to the Network Station back on Earth—and back. All of this happens in milliseconds.
Satellite internet uses a satellite dish at your home, about the same size at a satellite TV dish, to provide you with internet services, even in hard-to-reach rural areas.
Sitting over the equator, satellites can send and receive signals through “spot beams” that cover most of the US. As long as you’re within one of these beams and other users aren’t using all the data capacity, you can get satellite internet service.
Data transfers from your home internet devices to the satellite in space and then to the Network Station back on Earth—and back. All of this happens in milliseconds.
The rural high speed internet problem.
Rural areas of the U.S. have had less internet access than urban areas. High-speed wired connections are less common, and wireless phone service and signals are weaker than in cities – or absent altogether. Even as rural America’s wired-internet speeds and mobile-phone service have improved, the overall problem remains: Cities’ services have also gotten better, so the rural communities still have comparatively worse service.
National standards have not helped: As people, businesses and governments need and want to do more online, the FCC-set minimum data-transmission speeds for broadband service has climbed. The current standard – at least 25 megabits per second downloading and 3 megabits per second uploading – is deemed “adequate” to stream video and participate in other high-traffic online activities.
A related issue is that fewer rural Americans are online: 39 percent of rural Americans lack home broadband access – in contrast to only 4 percent of urban Americans. And 69 percent of rural Americans use the internet, compared to 75 percent of urban residents. That means less participation in the culture, society, politics and economic activity of the 21st century.
National standards have not helped: As people, businesses and governments need and want to do more online, the FCC-set minimum data-transmission speeds for broadband service has climbed. The current standard – at least 25 megabits per second downloading and 3 megabits per second uploading – is deemed “adequate” to stream video and participate in other high-traffic online activities.
A related issue is that fewer rural Americans are online: 39 percent of rural Americans lack home broadband access – in contrast to only 4 percent of urban Americans. And 69 percent of rural Americans use the internet, compared to 75 percent of urban residents. That means less participation in the culture, society, politics and economic activity of the 21st century.
Rural Internet options
Covering these longer distances may be easier with wireless technologies, including satellite broadband, short-distance radio links and mobile-phone data.
Satellite broadband has a satellite dish on the customers home that connects with an orbiting satellite linked to a faster internet connection back on Earth – is technically available anywhere in the country.
Fixed wireless, often referred to as 5G, requires customers to be within sight of a service tower, much like a cell phone service, but still require a "line of sight" in order for the technology to work. Speeds can be up to 100 mbps per second or sometimes even faster. Satellite broadband and fixed wireless are used mostly in rural areas, but account for less than 3 percent of the U.S. fixed broadband market.
Satellite broadband has a satellite dish on the customers home that connects with an orbiting satellite linked to a faster internet connection back on Earth – is technically available anywhere in the country.
Fixed wireless, often referred to as 5G, requires customers to be within sight of a service tower, much like a cell phone service, but still require a "line of sight" in order for the technology to work. Speeds can be up to 100 mbps per second or sometimes even faster. Satellite broadband and fixed wireless are used mostly in rural areas, but account for less than 3 percent of the U.S. fixed broadband market.
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Satellite Internet FAQs
What equipment will I need for satellite internet to work?
To use satellite internet, you’ll need an internet-ready device (like a computer, tablet, or gaming console), a modem/router, and a satellite dish. You probably already have internet-ready devices at home, and your satellite internet provider can set you up with a modem/router and satellite dish.
Which modems and routers work with satellite internet?
Viasat has their own modem because satellite internet modems don’t have industry standards. While they also have modem/router combos, you can buy your own router, and almost any newer router will be compatible.
How fast is satellite internet?
Viasat has a wide range of data plans with maximum download speeds from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps. All HughesNet Gen5 plans come with up to 25 Mbps. Most satellite internet plans have 3 Mbps upload speeds, but vary based upon your location in the U.S.A.
How can I get high-speed internet in rural areas?
Satellite internet is available in almost every rural area in the US. Satellite internet plans come with download speeds from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and 25 Mbps is the current FCC standard for high-speed internet.
What is satellite broadband?
Satellite broadband is another term for high-speed satellite internet. The FCC standard for broadband requires a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps.
Is satellite internet good for gaming?
Because of the distance satellite internet data has to travel—22,000 miles to outer space and back twice—lag is unavoidable. Any game that requires rapid response, like Call of Duty and other first-person shooters, will be unplayable with satellite internet delay.
Is satellite internet a good option?
Satellite internet is a great option when DSL internet, cable or fiber internet aren’t available. It comes in high speeds up to 100 Mbps, but it can be a bit pricey. Data caps and lag associated with satellite internet make it less than perfect as well, but it can get the job done and is certainly better than no internet at all.
Is satellite internet better than DSL?
Depending on the provider, DSL and satellite internet speeds are on par with each other. Satellite is more widely available, but DSL usually has higher data caps. In rural areas, DSL will tend to be much slower than Viasat satellite internet.
Can you stream with satellite internet?
Yes, it’s easy to stream with satellite internet. You may notice some lag if you’re skipping around the video, but once a show starts streaming, it will download at a normal pace. Both Hughes Network and Viasat have options to help you save data when you stream so you don’t use up your data allowance too quickly.
What uses less data YouTube or Netflix?
Watching Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video. This can create headaches for Netflix members that have a monthly bandwidth or data cap on their Internet service.
Is Viasat unlimited data?
The launch of a new satellite paves the way for higher speeds as well. Viasat now offers several new choices for unlimited data plans. ... Those “hard” caps are gone with our new Viasat Internet plans. Now customers can choose from among three or four unlimited plans, differentiated by speed and video streaming quality.
How many GB is a 2 hour movie?
The short version is that it depends on the quality of the content you're streaming. From their Help page: “Watching movies or TV shows on Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video.”
What app uses the most data?
The apps that use the most data typically are the apps that you use the most. For a lot of people, that's social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and YouTube. If you use any of these apps daily, change these settings to reduce how much data they use.
Do I have to take a contract with Viasat?
No. While it does require a one time, up front, $300 fee, you can Visat service with no contract.
Does DIRECTV offer satellite internet?
No. DIRECTV partners with Viasat to offer internet and video bundles. Call us for more information.
Does DISH TV offer satellite internet?
At one time DISH did offer satellite internet on its own to bundle with its satellite TV product. Its was a good service, and when you bundled it, and offered a good price point. DISH has since stopped offering satellite internet, and now offers DSL in some areas of the country.
To use satellite internet, you’ll need an internet-ready device (like a computer, tablet, or gaming console), a modem/router, and a satellite dish. You probably already have internet-ready devices at home, and your satellite internet provider can set you up with a modem/router and satellite dish.
Which modems and routers work with satellite internet?
Viasat has their own modem because satellite internet modems don’t have industry standards. While they also have modem/router combos, you can buy your own router, and almost any newer router will be compatible.
How fast is satellite internet?
Viasat has a wide range of data plans with maximum download speeds from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps. All HughesNet Gen5 plans come with up to 25 Mbps. Most satellite internet plans have 3 Mbps upload speeds, but vary based upon your location in the U.S.A.
How can I get high-speed internet in rural areas?
Satellite internet is available in almost every rural area in the US. Satellite internet plans come with download speeds from 12 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and 25 Mbps is the current FCC standard for high-speed internet.
What is satellite broadband?
Satellite broadband is another term for high-speed satellite internet. The FCC standard for broadband requires a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps.
Is satellite internet good for gaming?
Because of the distance satellite internet data has to travel—22,000 miles to outer space and back twice—lag is unavoidable. Any game that requires rapid response, like Call of Duty and other first-person shooters, will be unplayable with satellite internet delay.
Is satellite internet a good option?
Satellite internet is a great option when DSL internet, cable or fiber internet aren’t available. It comes in high speeds up to 100 Mbps, but it can be a bit pricey. Data caps and lag associated with satellite internet make it less than perfect as well, but it can get the job done and is certainly better than no internet at all.
Is satellite internet better than DSL?
Depending on the provider, DSL and satellite internet speeds are on par with each other. Satellite is more widely available, but DSL usually has higher data caps. In rural areas, DSL will tend to be much slower than Viasat satellite internet.
Can you stream with satellite internet?
Yes, it’s easy to stream with satellite internet. You may notice some lag if you’re skipping around the video, but once a show starts streaming, it will download at a normal pace. Both Hughes Network and Viasat have options to help you save data when you stream so you don’t use up your data allowance too quickly.
What uses less data YouTube or Netflix?
Watching Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video. This can create headaches for Netflix members that have a monthly bandwidth or data cap on their Internet service.
Is Viasat unlimited data?
The launch of a new satellite paves the way for higher speeds as well. Viasat now offers several new choices for unlimited data plans. ... Those “hard” caps are gone with our new Viasat Internet plans. Now customers can choose from among three or four unlimited plans, differentiated by speed and video streaming quality.
How many GB is a 2 hour movie?
The short version is that it depends on the quality of the content you're streaming. From their Help page: “Watching movies or TV shows on Netflix uses about 1 GB of data per hour for each stream of standard definition video, and up to 3 GB per hour for each stream of HD video.”
What app uses the most data?
The apps that use the most data typically are the apps that you use the most. For a lot of people, that's social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and YouTube. If you use any of these apps daily, change these settings to reduce how much data they use.
Do I have to take a contract with Viasat?
No. While it does require a one time, up front, $300 fee, you can Visat service with no contract.
Does DIRECTV offer satellite internet?
No. DIRECTV partners with Viasat to offer internet and video bundles. Call us for more information.
Does DISH TV offer satellite internet?
At one time DISH did offer satellite internet on its own to bundle with its satellite TV product. Its was a good service, and when you bundled it, and offered a good price point. DISH has since stopped offering satellite internet, and now offers DSL in some areas of the country.
