HughesNet Frequently Asked Questions
For your convenience we have provided the answers to the questions we are most often asked about HughesNet High Speed Satellite Internet:
- What is HughesNet?
- Does HughesNet offer speeds fast enough to support my home and business use?
- What kind of connectivity does HughesNet offer?
- How do the download and upload speeds provided by HughesNet compare with other internet services?
- What is the best HughesNet plan to support my business?
- How do I subscribe to HughesNet high speed internet for my personal or business use?
- Do I need a specific operating system to use HughesNet services?
- Does HughesNet work with a Mac computer?
- Is it possible to run a small network with HughesNet?
- Will a certified installer from HughesNet help me establish my home network?
- What happens if my computer does not have a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
- Will a PCMCIA card work with HughesNet on my laptop?
- Do I need a telephone line and a dialup modem for satellite internet?
- I already have service from DIRECTV. Do I need another satellite dish to get HughesNet internet?
- I am a DIRECTV subscriber. Can I bundle this service with HughesNet internet service?
- Can I install the HughesNet system myself or do I need a professional installer to do the job?
- How soon after signing up can I have my HughesNet internet service?
- What is the meaning of transmission latency?
- Does a VPN work with HughesNet satellite internet?
- When I use a VPN why does my internet service appear to slow down?
- Will HughesNet service work on my boat or RV?
- I subscribe to HughesNet for my personal use. Will Customer Support help me when I have a question or an issue?
What is HughesNet?
HughesNet is a satellite internet company that provides high speed broadband to anyone within the contiguous U.S. even if you are outside the range of DSL or cable networks. You must have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky. HughesNet does not require a phone line to provide high speed internet to your home or business. It is a wireless service using satellite equipment and technology. It is available at any time of the night or day for instant access to the internet and fast download speeds. It supports all your home and business needs.
Does HughesNet offer speeds fast enough to support my home and business use?
HughesNet allows you to surf the internet and transfer files in a fraction of the time it takes with a dialup connection. It is perfect for both home and business use. The Home service plan provides sufficient download speeds up to 1000 Kbps and uploads speeds up to 128 Kbps. The Professional service plan lets you download at speeds up to 1.2 Mbps and upload at speeds up to 200 Kbps.
If you are looking for super-fast speeds, the HughesNet Elite service plan gives you everything you need. With download speeds up to 2.0 Mbps and upload speeds up to 3000 Kbps you can run a small business. For larger businesses with greater speed requirements, the HughesNet ElitePremium service gives maximum download speeds of 5 Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 300 Kbps. Business-critical information can be transferred in seconds between you and your partners, suppliers and customers.
For your information, download and upload speeds may vary for any type of service offered by HughesNet similarly to any type of satellite or land-based internet service shared by multiple users. The service may slow down during peak hours and resume stated speeds during normal hours.
Note that when you have exceeded your download threshold for an extended length of time your service will slow down until your next time period cycle. Read more about this in the HughesNet Fair Access Policy. Choosing to run VPN over satellite will affect your data transfer speeds up to 50-75%. During periods when your speed is affected it is not recommended to participate in time-sensitive applications or multi-player twitch games.
What kind of connectivity does HughesNet offer?
HughesNet offers instant connection to the internet that is always “on”. During normal hours with the HughesNet Home service plan you get download speeds up to 1000 Kbps and upload speeds up to 128 Kbps. During peak hours it is common to have download speeds in the range of 650 Kbps to 750 Kbps and upload speeds around 70 to 80 Kbps.
The HughesNet Professional plan is designed for home business use with normal download speeds up to 1.2 Mbps and upload speeds up to 200 Kbps. Higher traffic periods will affect these speeds giving you about 800 to 900 Kbps download speeds and anywhere from 100 Kbps to 125 Kbps upload speeds.
The HughesNet Elite service plan offers the best speeds typically with download speeds capable of reaching 2.0 Mbps and upload speeds up to 300 Kbps. During high volume periods these will drop to 1500 Kbps for downloads and 185 Kbps for uploads.
How do the download and upload speeds provided by HughesNet compare with other internet services?
HughesNet services are comparable to the services offered by other high speed broadband providers. You have all the functionality you would with DSL or cable such as viewing web pages, using email service and transferring large data files. HughesNet upload speeds are ideal for browsing the internet and shopping online, although they may not support the demands of hosting complex websites.
What is the best HughesNet plan to support my business?
HughesNet can accommodate your home and business needs with a vast range of solutions that offer scalability and innovative technology. Whether you have a home business office or telework from home HughesNet can supply the download and upload speeds you need. For small offices that require more intensive internet functionality HughesNet Elite, ElitePlus and ElitePremium services support a commercial setting with up to 10 concurrent users.
How do I subscribe to HughesNet high speed internet for my personal or business use?
Order your high speed internet service online through this website.
Do I need a specific operating system to use HughesNet services?
You can use high speed satellite internet service with both Windows and Macintosh operating systems on virtually every type of desktop or laptop computer. You will need the following minimum properties to guarantee the best possible HughesNet experience:
Windows 98SE or higher or Mac OS 10.1 or higher and Network capability (10/100 Ethernet pre-equipped).
Does HughesNet work with a Mac computer?
Absolutely! HughesNet is completely compatible with Mac OS 10.1 or higher. You will need 10/100 Ethernet connectivity.
Is it possible to run a small network with HughesNet?
One of the greatest advantages of HughesNet high speed satellite is the capability to support multiple users in a home business or small office environment. You may require additional wireless routers or other equipment that is not part of the standard HughesNet equipment. You will need to contact your router or equipment manufacturer for assistance with configuring it to the HughesNet system.
Please note that all the computers using the network will be connected to a single connection and this may affect the download and upload speeds of the service. Please also refer to the HughesNet Fair Access Policy.
Will a certified installer from HughesNet help me establish my home network?
HughesNet does not cover the support for home networks although you may inquire about the possibility through your installation technician when you establish your appointment for installation. Please not that multiple users on a single connection can degrade the quality of the internet speed.
What happens if my computer does not have a Network Interface Card (NIC)?
You can upgrade most computers with a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) yourself if you are confident with installing hardware. Your computer manufacture can tell you the appropriate Ethernet NIC for your system. Your NIC will need to be configured for “auto-negotiate.”
You also have the option of using an external USB Ethernet adaptor if your computer has a USB port. It may simplify the process if you are unsure about installing new technology on your computer. You can use a USB Ethernet adaptor or a standard PCMCIA card for your laptop computer. For the best possible HughesNet experience it is recommended you meet all the listed requirements for your computer.
Will a PCMCIA card work with HughesNet on my laptop?
HughesNet provides you with an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the modem. Yes, you will need a PCMCIA card or a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card to connect to the HughesNet Modem.
Do I need a telephone line and a dialup modem for satellite internet?
The HughesNet system and equipment does not require a phone line. It delivers high speed internet to you via a satellite. The data is collected by a satellite dish and transmitted to your modem using coaxial cable.
I already have service from DIRECTV. Do I need another satellite dish to get HughesNet internet?
You will need a satellite dish specifically designed for sending and receiving satellite signal for the internet. DIRECTV dishes are capable only of receiving Satellite Television transmissions.
Although HughesNet and DIRECTV work in partnership for their marketing campaigns, each company provides a unique service for its customers.
I am a DIRECTV subscriber. Can I bundle this service with HughesNet internet service?
You can be billed for both services on the same monthly invoice but there are no specially priced packages for subscribing to both services. HughesNet and The DIRECTV Group use their partnership for the purpose of marketing but are not affiliated in any other way. You may also choose to be billed separately for their services.
Can I install the HughesNet system myself or do I need a professional installer to do the job?
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) only professionally trained technicians may install a satellite system that sends and receives signals.
How soon after signing up can I have my HughesNet internet service?
For the most part a subscriber has signed on for HughesNet high speed satellite services their service is up and running within a couple weeks. You will be contacted by a certified HughesNet installer within 5 days of placing your order to determine am appointment for your system installation.
What is the meaning of transmission latency?
The length of time required for a packet of data to travel across a network is referred to as “latency.” Internet data transmitted to and from a satellite must cover around 45,000 miles. The entire trip causes a half-second delay to the total time used for your computer to exchange with a host server or website. It is the reason time-sensitive internet applications such as real-time equities trading or multi-player “twitch” games are not suggested for satellite internet subscribers.
Does a VPN work with HughesNet satellite internet?
When running VPN over satellite the speed of your data may be decreased by up to 75% so it is not an ideal configuration. If you choose to do this anyway, disabling your VPN client once the session has ended will restore your normal internet speeds.
It has been discovered that SSL-based VPN products work more effectively over satellite internet that IPSEC-based VPN products. Please contact a Satellite Internet Specialist today using our toll-free number for questions concerning using a VPN product with the HughesNet system.
If you have questions directly regarding your VPN product you will need to contact your product manufacturer.
When I use a VPN why does my internet service appear to slow down?
Complex acceleration methods are used to ensure high-speed performance for HughesNet satellite internet. The quality of the performance depends on the ability to access data packet header information and this is blocked with the use of IPSEC-based VPN products. These products create their own secure tunnel through the HughesNet system by encrypting the data. The HughesNet acceleration mechanism cannot process the encrypted data which results in reduced performance.
Will HughesNet service work on my boat or RV?
The HughesNet service is specifically designed for fixed locations. However a Value Added Service provider may have the ability to help you get the HughesNet service through a Mobil Satellite Internet System for your boat or RV.
I subscribe to HughesNet for my personal use. Will Customer Support help me when I have a question or an issue?
HughesNet offers you the convenience of chatting online with technical support staff by logging onto www.myHughesNet.com. You can go online to test your satellite speed, check your usage or search through the help files. You can also check your online invoices, account status and activity history. Toll-free technical support and Customer Service is available 24/7.