| What is HughesNetTM? |
| HughesNet is the high-speed Internet solution that’s available to everyone in the contiguous US with a clear view of the southern sky. HughesNet uses satellite technology, not your phone line, to give you a super-fast, always-on Internet connection. HughesNet gets you online instantly, lets you surf and open pages faster and download files in a fraction of the time it takes on a dial-up modem.
|
 |
| What connection speeds will I typically get with HughesNetTM? |
| With the HughesNetTM Home service plan, you may enjoy download speeds up to 700Kbps, with typical speeds of about 500Kbps to 600Kbps during peak times. Upload speeds, which are capable of reaching 128Kbps, are typically 70Kbps to 80Kbps during peak hours.
With the HughesNetTM Professional plan, connect your home office to the Internet with maximum download speeds of up to 1.0Mbps, with typical speeds about 650Kbps to 750Kbps during peak times. Upload speeds, which are capable of reaching 200Kbps, are typically 100Kbps to 125Kbps during peak hours.
|
|
| What are my computer system requirements for HughesNetTM? |
HughesNetTM lets connect your computer to the Internet whether you are running a Windows® or Macintosh® operating system. In order to ensure you get the most out of your Internet experience, HughesNet has developed these minimum requirements:
- Windows 98SE or higher
- Mac OS 10.1 or higher
- Network capability (10/100 Ethernet pre-equipped)
|
|
| How quickly will I be up and running? |
| On average, most customers are installed within 2 weeks of their order. When you place your order today, your name will be provided to a certified HughesNetTM installer, who will contact you within 5 days. You and the installer will then work out a mutually agreeable date and time for your installation.
|
|
| How fast are HughesNetTM services for your home? |
| The HughesNetTM Professional service plan provides download speeds up to 1 Mbps and upload speeds up to 200 Kbps. The HughesNetTM Home service plan delivers download speeds up to 700 Kbps and upload speeds up to 128 Kbps. All Internet technologies (satellite or land-based) share available network bandwidth in one way or another; therefore, actual speeds may vary.
Stated speeds are not guaranteed. Actual upload speed will likely be lower than speed indicated during peak hours. Download speeds may also be temporarily slowed in cases when patterns of system usage exceed the download threshold for an extended period of time. See the HughesNet Fair Access Policy for more information. If you choose to run VPN over satellite, your data speeds may be reduced by as much as 50-75%. Despite the high speeds available through HughesNet, time-sensitive applications, such as multi-player twitch games, are also not recommended over HughesNet.
|
|
| Do I still need a dial-up modem and telephone line? |
| No. There is no phone line or dial-up data modem required to use your HughesNetTM service.
|
|
| Can the HughesNetTM certified installer set up my home network? |
If you’d like, you can inquire if this option is available through your installer when you set your installation appointment. However, home networks are not included or supported by HUGHES® technical support. Multiple simultaneous users may degrade service. Uninterrupted service and stated speeds not guaranteed.
|
|
| Why is there a requirement that the HughesNetTM system be professionally installed? |
| The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that trained professionals install any satellite system that both sends and receives signals.
|
|
| How can I contact Customer Support when I have a question or problem? |
| If you are a “Powered By” or VAR end user, please contact your billing provider.
For HughesNetTM Technical Support or Customer Service, please log on to www.myHughesNet.com where you can chat with our technical support staff, check your usage, test your satellite speed, or browse our online help files. This site will also enable you to view your account status, online invoices, and activity history. Telephone Customer Service and technical support is also available toll-free at 1-866-347-3292.
|
|
| Can I run HughesNetTM on a small network? |
| Yes, you can connect multiple home computers and laptops to a single HughesNetTM Internet connection. Home networking equipment may be required and is not included with your HughesNetTM system. For network setup, support, and configuration, contact your network hardware manufacturer and/or operating system software developer (HUGHES® is not responsible for home network configuration or management).
Please understand that all computers on this network will be sharing a single connection. Simultaneous use of high-bandwidth applications by multiple users may result in degradation of speed and is subject to the HughesNet Fair Access Policy.
|
|
| Can I run a VPN over HughesNetTM? |
| HughesNetTM Home Service plan is not compatible with VPNs.
You may use a VPN with HughesNet, but you will likely experience reduced speeds as much as 50-75%. You can restore your connection to full speed by simply disabling your VPN client when your session is over.
|
| Can I put this HughesNet system on a boat or in an RV? |
A: HughesNetTM Home and Professional service is available for non-mobile (fixed) locations. To receive mobile high-speed Internet service, please contact one of the following Value Added Service providers:
Ground Control www.groundcontrol.com
1-800-773-7168
MobilSat www.mobilsat.com
1-757-312-8300
MotoSAT www.motosat.com
|
|
| What is transmission latency? |
| Latency refers to the amount of time it takes a packet of data to travel across a network. With satellite service, that data must travel up to the satellite and back (about 45,000 miles). This round trip adds about a half-second delay to the total time your computer takes to communicate with a Website or host server. Therefore, time-sensitive applications that require fractions-of-a-second user inputs (such as multi-player “twitch” games or real-time equities trading) are not recommended with HughesNetTM.
|
|
| If I already have DIRECTV® service, do I need to get a new dish for HughesNetTM? |
| Yes, the HughesNetTM system requires a unique dish in order to send and receive information via satellite. You cannot use your DIRECTV® dish for HughesNetTM high-speed Internet service.
|
|
| What if my computer did not come with a Network Interface Card (NIC)? What can I do?
|
| Many computers can be upgraded with a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC). If you are comfortable with opening your computer and installing hardware, most Ethernet NICs can be self-installed. Check with your computer manufacturer for more information on the right Ethernet NIC for your system. Make sure your NIC is configured for "auto-negotiate."
Also, if you have an available USB port on your computer, you can purchase a USB Ethernet adapter. This may be easier to install than a PCI card in your computer. For a laptop, you can purchase a standard PCMCIA card that provides an Ethernet connection, or you can purchase a USB Ethernet adapter as well. We recommend that you upgrade your computer to meet all of the requirements listed above to get the most out of your Internet experience.
|
|
| Fair Access Policy Overview |
| It’s important to know that all high-speed Internet Service Providers utilize “Shared Bandwidth Technology." Simply put, that means everyone shares one "ultra" high-speed connection in order to get a high-speed connection at each of their homes. However, in some cases, as few as 5% of the users can consume as much as 50% of an Internet Service Provider’s bandwidth, making the service run slower for everyone else!
We here at HughesNetTM understand that your connection is important to you and you expect fair and equitable access when you go online. We couldn't agree with you more! Our Fair Access Policy has been established to protect you, and other consumers, from that small percentage of users who try to take advantage of the shared connection by downloading abnormally large amounts of information in a short period of time. Our Fair Access Policy prevents this from happening, and makes sure that you get your "share" of the connection.
The Fair Access Policy helps HughesNetTM assure that its subscribers receive equal access to our high-speed Internet service. We want you to get the service you pay for! For further information about FAP, read more details at fairaccess.HughesNet.com.
|
|
| Can I directly connect a Mac using HughesNetTM? |
| Yes, HughesNetTM is compatible with Mac OS 10.1 or higher. 10/100 Ethernet connectivity is also required.
|
|
