Satellite internet might not be the fastest connection type among other options, however, they still provide good enough speeds that will let you host a movie night for your friends and family.
Of course, you want to be aware of a few very important things if you plan to binge-stream; data caps and latency are a couple of them. Read this blog to find out how these factors affect your streaming experience and also see this guide to see if HughesNet is good for Netflix.
Why data caps are important for streaming on Satellite Internet?
Satellite Internet providers like HughesNet and Viasat slow down your download speeds once the data limit has been reached. The speeds usually go down to 1-5 Mbps, which makes a huge difference in streaming.
HughesNet packages have a rather straightforward approach when it comes to data caps. You get 30 to 100 GB of data every month, depending on the plan you choose. After that, the speeds go down from 25 Mbps to 1-3 Mbps for the remaining billing month.
But, HughesNet packages have one advantage over other providers. You get an additional 50 GB of data each month to utilize at 25 Mbps. In order to access it, you need to utilize HughesNet Bonus Zone hours, which are from 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. local time.
Why is Latency important for streaming on Satellite Internet?
Although satellite internet providers are infamous for having high latency (also known as ping), this shouldn't significantly impact your video streaming. The latency is measured when data is sent from your device to your internet service provider, the streaming service, and then back to your device.
That travel time takes a long time since Viasat and HughesNet provide your connection through satellites hundreds of miles above Earth's orbit. Because of this great distance, satellite internet providers generally have considerable latency.
However, excessive latency mostly impacts online activities like gaming, where the delay between pressing a button and that push being registered in the game might determine the life or death of your character.
Is HughesNet Fast Enough for Netflix?
Yes, HughesNet internet plans provide adequate speeds for streaming.
Netflix recommends the following speeds for streaming the latest and fan-favorite releases:
- Standard Definition (SD) = 3 Mbps
- High Definition (HD) = 5 Mbps
- 4K / Ultra HD = 25 Mbps
All internet plans by HughesNet come with 25 Mbps of download speeds, which implies you can easily stream content up to 4K on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming sites.
How much Data is required for streaming with Satellite Internet?
Naturally, the amount of data you need for streaming each month depends on your online activities as well as how frequently and in what quality you stream content.
Regardless of how often you stream, we advise using SD (standard definition). This is due to the fact that HD or 4K consumes 2.5 to 8 GB of data every hour.
If you have a satellite internet service with a little data cap, you will use up your data allotment more quickly than a marathon runner would eat up a protein bar after a run since higher video quality consumes far more data.
Data Used by streaming videos in SD, HD, and 4K
The amount of data used by streaming per hour is mentioned below in the table. Lower video quality uses less data while high-quality video streaming uses a lot more data as can be seen in the following table.
| Video quality | Data usage per hour |
|---|---|
| SD | 0.7 GB/hr. |
| HD | 2.5 GB/hr. |
| 4K | 8 GB/hr. |
Which HughesNet Plan is best suited for streaming?
HughesNet offers three amazing internet plans—30GB, 50GB, and 100GB—all feature download speeds of 25 Mbps, making them ideal for streaming. We advise you to anticipate how frequently and in what quality you will watch shows and movies when deciding which plan is ideal for you.
The number of streaming hours you can roughly watch on each plan when watching in low, SD, and HD is shown in the table below.
| HUGHESNET Internet PLANS | 30 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Definition | 45 Hours | 75 Hours | 145 Hours |
| HD Video Streaming | 15 Hours | 25 Hours | 40 Hours |
| 4K | 4 Hours | 7 Hours | 13 Hours |
What is HughesNet Gen5?
Not all areas in the US are covered by high-end internet providers, especially rural and far regional areas, which make the installation of wiring extremely difficult and expensive. But, in today’s world of interconnection, everyone needs to have a high-speed connection.
The company has solved this problem of serviceability by introducing the all-new EchoStar XIX Satellite to offer HughesNet Gen5 Internet, which offers services almost all across the country. In addition, the technology has raised the base speed of each internet plan up to 25 Mbps, previously 15 Mbps.
Features of HughesNet Gen5?
There are several advantages that consumers should be aware of in addition to the 25Mbps that HughesNet Gen5 internet services offer.
- Unbeatable coverage: HughesNet provides satellite Internet, so you can expect to find connections in most remote areas of the US. There is an alternative to utilizing mobile data for those in distant places.
- A built-in Wi-Fi function is available on the Built-In Wi-Fi Gen5 Modem.
- Better Speeds: HughesNet Plans provides a faster Internet connection compared to the majority of satellite internet providers, allowing you to stay connected and carry out your regular online tasks.
- No hard Data Restrictions - The majority of satellite internet companies impose hard data limits that abruptly disconnect you from the internet. With HughesNet Internet Plans, this is not the case because you may continue using the internet past bandwidth limits. Unfortunately, with slow internet speeds.
Which HughesNet Plan Should I subscribe to?
Most of you are looking for a plan that provides high-speed Internet at the lowest possible monthly cost. HughesNet Plans seem to be in a better situation, even though that is not the case with many providers. Given that HughesNet Internet Plans provide the same download speeds, data caps should be taken into account based on your monthly internet usage.
HughesNet provides Internet packages with 30GB to 100GB of data allotments. It is recommended to get the 100GB internet package if you don't want to suffer from poor download speeds after data allotment has been reached. But, bear in mind that even with this plan, you can't watch Netflix all the time and remain entertained for an entire month.
The last step is to demonstrate how long each of the plans can last. Check out the table above to see the number of hours you can stream with each plan. This will help you choose the best-suited plan according to your needs.
FAQs
Is satellite internet good for Netflix?
HughesNet Internet provides up to 25 Mbps of download speeds, which is enough bandwidth to stream Netflix in SD, HD, and even 4K.
How much data does Netflix use on HughesNet?
Streaming movies and shows on Netflix consumes a lot of data. It uses around 1 GB of data per hour in SD and up to 3 GB an hour in HD.
What is HughesNet good for?
HughesNet is one of the best satellite internet options in rural areas where there are usually no other providers. It provides adequate speeds for browsing, streaming, and even gaming.
Does Netflix work with HughesNet?
Yes, Netflix works quite well with HughesNet since it provides up to 25 Mbps download speeds, which is more than enough recommended by Netflix for SD, HD, and 4K streaming in Netflix.
