Satellite internet has a pretty bad reputation when it comes to its speed and reliability, compared to other types of internet connection. Some of that is no doubt deserved, some of it … maybe less so. But there are things you can do to make sure you’re set up to squeeze as much speed and reliability out of your connection as you possibly can.

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HERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR SATELLITE INTERNET SPEED:
● There may be alternatives. Double-check that there isn’t a DSL or cable line nearby for you to tap into. If you want to know for sure, use the ZIP-code finder at Reviews.org. And there are even some alternatives, depending on your location, using 4G or mobile hotspotting.

- Link to the ZIP-code finder on Reviews.org: [ Ссылка ]

● Use Viasat instead of HughesNet. Or vice versa.
- This isn’t supposed to be a review, so I won’t go into detail. In a nutshell: Viasat offers higher speeds at higher prices, Hughesnet’s advertised speeds are slower, but it costs less.
- As far as performance, your mileage may vary, usually based on your location, but generally: Hughesnet gets high marks from the FCC on delivering the speeds they promise, although that FCC report was from all the way back in 2017. Anyway, Viasat did okay in that same report, and these days we prefer their plans and pricing over Hughesnet’s.
- If one isn’t working, and you’re close to the end of your contract, maybe try switching.

● Optimize your router placement:
- Either a central location or close to where the most devices are.
- For example, at my house we spend more time upstairs, but we do more intensive streaming downstairs, where we have the TV, PC
- Use a mesh wifi system, but be aware it might not work as well as advertised on a satellite connection.

● Get your own router:
- They may make you pay for the equipment lease, but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to use the router they sent.
- Check to make sure it’s compatible. And KEEP YOUR RECEIPT in case it doesn’t work.

● Use ethernet whenever possible:
- Wifi these days is pretty good. But it’s never as reliable as hardwiring your connection.
- Even with a solid, fast connection, your signal will lose some strength going through walls and over any distance. So if you’re working with a MAX speed of, say, 25 Mbps to the router, you’ll lose some of that just by nature of how wireless signals work.

CONCLUSION:
Ultimately, it’s about having patience. The reliability issue that’s such a common complaint with satellite internet is a product of the technology itself. Yes, there are legitimate criticisms to make about plan structures or customer service or whatever. But when it comes to the speeds you’re getting, I hate to be the guy constantly doing the devil’s advocate thing, but there may be nothing more that you OR ViaSat or HughesNet can really do about it.

The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel for satellite internet users. Amazon has applied for FCC approval to send thousands of satellites into low-earth orbit to provide more universal high-speed coverage. That could be a few years out, but! SpaceX has a similar plan, and they’ve already started launching their satellites, and OneWeb is estimated to be available in 2021. So, fingers crossed, maybe satellite internet as a concept and as a reality, will start to improve soon.

- Link to OneWeb: [ Ссылка ]
- Link to the 2021 HughesNet Satellites Article: [ Ссылка ]

For now, hang in there, try a few tricks to squeeze as much speed and reliability out of your connection as you can. Switch providers if you need to, get your own router and put it in the best place possible, and if you can, wire your devices with ethernet instead of relying on wifi.

If you have any tips or tricks to share that I missed, hit up the comments, dispense some wisdom!

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