It is getting bigger with more and more people embracing the idea of cutting off cable and satellite TV services. But, the internet connection is crucial, and it has to be stable and fast to have great streaming. For those people who can hardly access the internet or have a limited choice of their internet service provider, Hughesnet offering satellite internet services may seem incredibly attractive. However, is it possible to stream videos with Hughesnet Gen5? Here are answers to the essential questions that arise when learning about it.
What is Hughesnet Gen5?
Hughesnet Gen5 is a new release of satellite internet service that has been developed by Hughesnet. It provides download speeds of 25Mbps, which is a lot faster compared to the old satellite internet packages. Hughesnet promotes Gen5 as the one that supports the streaming of HD videos. However, there are some important exceptions.
Speed Cap and Data Limits SPEED CAP AND DATA LIMITS refer to the ability to limit the speed and amount of data that the user can access when using the Internet.
However, Hughesnet employs a restrictive data quota and reduced speeds after the allowance is exhausted for all its plans. The service in question, known as Gen5, promises download and upload rates of 25Mbps, which is only the case if the user does not exceed 50GB of data transfer in a month. Once one crosses 50GB, the speeds are reduced to between 3 to 5 Mbps during peak daytime hours of 8 am to 2 am.
Secondly, Hughesnet internet plans have a fixed amount of data usage that can range from as little as 10 GB for the cheaper plan to as much as 150 GB for the highest plan. You won’t be able to stream at 4G speeds after using up your monthly data allowance; instead, you’ll get speeds of 1-3Mbps until your next bill cycle begins.
These throttle speeds alongside low data make it difficult to stream videos in high definition with reasonable consistency. This means that, although you are allowed to stream video, you are restricted by the usage caps and slower connection speeds.
Streaming Quality
For streaming video, the minimum bandwidth that should be expected is 3-5Mbps for smooth Standard Definition and 5-10Mbps for High Definition. Watching movies in 4K quality is possible only if the speed is at least 25Mbit/s.
When using Hughesnet Gen5 at the frequent usage time, one should be able to stream a standard definition video but the quality may not be very smooth. Streaming HD will most probably fail to operate at a reduced time where speeds will reduce to as low as 3Mbps. Advanced activities that will not be possible to perform at all include streaming 4K video.
It could still be unpredictable when subscribing during off-peak periods where full 25Mbps speeds are offered and streaming may be affected by congestion on the network. Satellite internet is based on the principle that all the customers in a particular geographic location are allocated bandwidth from a single satellite. It simply means that the more usage that is given for a certain speed the pace will gradually decrease.
Types of Streaming
While Hughesnet advertises streaming support, certain types of streaming perform better than others:
- On-Demand Streaming: Preferences should be able to stream through Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ during low-traffic hours. Nevertheless, it will not be as Hi-Definition as High Definition and the video will more often be in Standard Definition. Each hour of the video also costs roughly 1GB of data, so there is also a time limitation to prevent data usage limit.
- Live Streaming: Streaming live events has more variance, that is, the speeds may vary more than in the case of other types of media content. Interactive applications such as video conferencing, gaming, and remote desktop functions will not perform well with the high latency associated with satellite internet.
- Downloading Videos: Streaming bandwidth is limited, but Hughesnet uses a tiered pricing scheme where any data transmitted during the hours of 2 AM and 8 AM are not included in the data cap. That way, you can download Movies and Shows with the use of the overnight data and avoid using data for the peak hours.
Streaming with Hughesnet is a good experience as it offers several tips that customers should adhere to.
If you want to stream on Hughesnet Gen5, keep these tips in mind: If you want to stream on Hughesnet Gen5, keep these tips in mind:
- Stick to SD quality when possible: In terms of data usage, SD quality has been considered to be more appropriate than HD since it reduces the quantity of data needed and performs better at throttled speeds.
- Download overnight for daytime watching: Free downloads of entertainment programs to be enjoyed during the offline times should be downloaded during the overnight “free zone”.
- Limit concurrent streaming: When multiple users are streaming high-definition video, it is improbable that the process will be effective, if even possible. Take turns streaming.
- Disable auto-play: Sometimes, with streaming services, as soon as one video has finished the next one starts to play immediately. So that no more unwanted application consumes data, it should be turned off.
- Check usage frequently: Do a quick check on how much data you have used to avoid the situation where you almost exhaust your data only for your internet speeds to be slowed down.
In conclusion, is streaming an option with Hughesnet Gen5? It does, but only when respecting the streaming time and regulation of video quality standards. This inconsistency and limiting bandwidths ensure streaming is only a shadow of cable or fiber optic home internet. For light streaming though, Gen5 satellite internet might just do the job. Review your requirements and measure the quality of the stream at different periods of the day. By understanding expectations and applying limits one can stream on Hughesnet Gen5 satellite internet successfully.
