What Is Satellite Internet?

On October 4, 1957, history was made when the Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space: Sputnik I. Since then, satellites have changed the world for the better, bringing advanced technology to all corners of the earth.

For example, you can now receive internet signals through the use of satellites. While the technology was lacking in the past, in recent years, providers have really stepped up in their offerings, making it a viable option today.

So is satellite internet a good choice for you? Where can you get it? Plus, which internet service providers (ISPs) are good to use?

Read on, as we'll give you all the important information you need to know to decide whether or not satellite internet is optimal for your situation.

What Is Satellite Internet?

As we've pointed out above, satellite internet is where you get connected online by the signals sent from a satellite in space. Because a satellite in orbit can cover a wide area on earth, this is why the coverage for this type of internet is practically 100% of the United States.

This makes satellite internet a great choice for people who live in urban areas, as they'll have limited internet choices. For instance, the average internet user usually goes for either cable or DSL internet. This is because not only are these options high-speed, but they're also affordable and most of the country has coverage.

However, there are a select few places that don't receive either type of internet. In that case, satellite internet can be a lifesaver, especially if you need to work digitally from home.

How Does Satellite Internet Work?

So how does dish internet work?

Well, first of all, there's the satellite orbiting over the earth. Each provider will have their own specific satellite.

When you subscribe to an ISP, they'll give you a modem and install a satellite dish on top of your house. Whenever you connect on your computer, it'll request a signal through the modem, which then goes through the satellite dish. The satellite dish then sends the request up to the orbiting satellite.

Once the satellite gets the request, it then sends its own signal to the provider. The provider projects their service to the satellite, which then sends it back to your satellite dish. The signal then travels through the dish into your modem, and then your computer.

It may sound like a whole complicated process, but in reality, everything happens so fast that you don't even have to think twice about getting connected.

Is Satellite Internet Reliable?

In general, satellite internet is reliable. However, because it depends on a relay of signals through multiple channels, it should be quite reasonable to expect that service may not always be fast or smooth.

Also, because the internet signal is being transmitted through the air, there's a higher chance that the signal will run into interference with something while on the way to and from your computer. As a result, you might experience periods of time where you'll get stutters in your connection.

As far as speeds go, you can get up to 100 Mbps in download speeds. However, latency is a different story; while you might get fast speeds, the latency may be so bad that for hardcore gamers, it's impossible to get a decent session in.

Data Caps

Nowadays, many ISPs don't have data caps, which means you can surf online for as much as you want. This allows you to download as many files as you want, as well as stream videos without worry.

However, some ISPs do still have data caps. When it comes to satellite internet providers, this is definitely the case.

So even if you find a plan that offers high speeds, do note that you still have to be very careful when you're connected. If you aren't mindful, you may end up hitting your data cap early on in the month.

If you do reach the maximum amount of data allowed, two things will happen. For one, your internet speed will slow down dramatically. Secondly, you'll have to pay extra for the additional data you use.

In some cases, you'll be able to purchase extra data and/or use the internet during off-peak hours that don't count toward your data cap. You'll have to check with your ISP to see exactly what they offer.

Satellite Internet Versus Cable

If you're lucky enough to have other options available where you live, you might be wondering how satellite is like compared to cable internet.

With cable internet, you'll get online by internet signals sent through coaxial cables. These are the same ones used for cable TV, so if you're able to receive cable TV where you are, then you'll most likely be able to get cable internet.

The signal is sent through a modem, which is connected to your computer. If you want to have wireless internet in your house, you'll also have to get a router that broadcasts the signal.

In general, cable internet will give you faster and more reliable speeds. It also typically has cheaper prices. However, if cable lines haven't been laid in your city, then you won't be able to get this service. This pretty much leaves you with only satellite internet as an option.

Satellite Internet Versus Other Types of Internet

You now know how satellite internet compares to cable internet. But how does it fare when compared to other types of high-speed internet?

Take a look below to see how satellite internet stacks up to cable, DSL, fixed wireless, and fiber optic internet.

DSL Internet

As we've mentioned above, the average internet user usually goes for either cable or DSL internet. DSL stands for "digital subscriber line" and doesn't use coaxial cables. Instead, it uses telephone wires.

If you're a long-time internet user, you might remember the days of dial-up internet. Not only was it very slow, but it also took up your telephone line. This meant you had to sign on and off often, or else you'd tie up the phone line for the entire duration of you being online.

DSL gets rid of this annoying problem. While it does still use telephone wires to connect, it does so with unused lines. As a result, you can conveniently surf online and use your landline to make calls simultaneously.

DSL can be more reliable than cable internet because of their singular connection. Cable internet uses a coaxial cable connection that's shared with others, so speeds can drop if you're online during peak hours. With DSL, that won't happen, since you're connected through a single telephone line,

Fiber Optic Internet

Fiber optic internet is the cream of the crop. It uses the latest in technology to bring you such fast speeds, it can be up to 100 times faster than DSL or cable.

With this type of internet, it uses fiber optic cables instead of copper ones to relay internet signals. This means light passes through these fiber options, giving you smooth and outstandingly fast speeds.

But because this technology is so new, you won't find it in many places. Mainly, you'll get service in bigger American cities.

Otherwise, you'll have to wait for an ISP to bring this service to your area. It takes a huge investment to do, so you'll probably see the bigger names arrive first.

Fixed Wireless Internet

Fixed wireless internet can possibly be an option if you're in an urban location. This is because all you need is to receive the internet signals.

Fired wireless internet works through the broadcast of radiowaves from a base station. To get these radiowaves, you'll need to install a receiver from the ISP. Once the receiver is in, it'll start communicating with the nearest base station to get you connected.

With this type of internet, you don't need a router or modem. Instead, you just turn on your device, search for the network, and hop online. While this can be very convenient, it does come with its caveats.

Extreme weather conditions can affect the signal strength, which means service can cut out at inopportune times. Other things (like trees) can also interfere with the signal. Fixed wireless internet is also usually more expensive than other internet options.

Satellite Internet Reviews

While there are many satellite internet providers out there, certainly none come close to the services offered by HughesNet and ViaSat. These are the 2 biggest names in the industry, which means they offer the most bang for your buck.

Read on to find out more about both companies to see which one's right for you.

HughesNet

As expected, HughesNet covers all 50 states in the US. They serve over 308 million Americans, with a coverage of 33,131 zip codes in the nation.

The biggest states they cover include California, Texas, and New York. As far as top areas served goes, HughesNet covers Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, Brooklyn, Chicago, New York, and Miami.

HughesNet's top speed isn't too impressive; it's 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. However, if you aren't doing anything too digitally intensive, and it's just you and/or another person in the household, then 25 Mbps should be sufficient.

Data caps start at 20 GB per month and go all the way up to 50 GB per month. You'll get an additional 50 GB per month to use between 2:00 am and 8:00 am.

Depending on the plan you subscribe to, expect to pay anywhere between $70 to $150 per month. Setup costs $100 and you'll also have to pay $10 per month for equipment rental in the first 6 months; this goes up to $15 afterward.

ViaSat

ViaSat Internet is formerly known as Exede. They also have coverage in all 50 states and serve around 308 million customers.

Like with HughesNet, ViaSat's greatest coverage is in California, Texas, and New York. The major cities they serve are also Los Angeles, Houston, San Antonio, Brooklyn, Chicago, New York, and Miami.

However, their top speed is much higher than HughesNet's. You'll get up to 100 Mbps for downloads, although this will be in select areas.

For their packages, you can select either 12 or 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. Prices range from $50 to $150 per month.

What's great is although most of their packages have data caps (ranging from 12 to 50 GB per month), they do offer a package that has no data cap. After you've used 100 GB, then the speed may slow down a little.

For the other plans, you can either buy more Priority Data after you've hit the cap or just connect at much slower speeds. Do note that you can use the internet from 3:00 am until 6:00 am without it counting toward your data cap.

HughesNet vs ViaSat

When it comes to HughesNet vs ViaSat, they're pretty similar, as far as speeds and prices go.

However, if you want "unlimited" data, ViaSat wins in that aspect, as they have the Unlimited Silver 25 plan. On the other hand, if you want more off-peak hours to use your internet, HughesNet wins for this category, as their off-peak hours are 6 hours, as opposed to just 3 hours with ViaSat.

In the end, you'll have to weigh up the pros and cons yourself to see which one works better for your personal situation.

Get Connected With Satellite Internet

As you can see, satellite internet can be a wonderful option if you live in the outskirts of town and barely get any reception for other types of internet. Considering satellite internet pretty much has coverage all over the United States, you won't ever find yourself disconnected from the internet.

While satellite internet isn't as great as other types of broadband internet, plus it's more expensive in some cases, it still can be completely worth it when you're able to get online, no matter where you're located. So give satellite internet a look and choose the ISP that suits your need and budget.

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