Viasat is a satellite company that delivers internet services; these services are particularly important in rural areas where broadband connections are not established. Roku is one of the best streaming devices that is available for purchase now and offers simple accessibility to leading streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, etc. One that is often asked is: does Roku support Viasat satellite internet? Yes, Roku will work with Viasat satellite internet, although there is much to discuss.
How Roku Works?
Before proceeding further, let me explain how Roku works First: Roku streaming players are devices that plug into your TV and enable you to view many streaming content channels, programs, and apps. This content is often transmitted through an internet connection. Well, for Roku to perform its operation it just requires a proper internet connection that is fast and continuous.
The Roku streaming device can allow the user to connect to the internet through an Ethernet cable or a Wireless connection. The majority of buyers set up their devices to work with WiFi in their house or apartment, which belongs to Roku. The only thing you need to bear in mind for the Roku device is that it should be connected to a WiFi network established at your home and then you are good to go to watch the movies on Netflix, HBO Max, or any other app of your choice.
Viasat Internet Connection Types
Viasat offers three different satellite internet plans with varying speeds:
- Bronze 12 Plan: download speed up to 12 Mbps
- Silver 25 Plan: downloads up to 25 Mbps
- Gold 30 Plan: download speed of up to 30 Mbps
On the positive side, the unique selling proposition of Viasat is that it seeks to offer internet services to those in rural regions across the United States because of its satellite connections. Nonetheless, satellite internet is reportedly more prone to variations and fluctuations in speed than cable or fiber optic networks.
Thus, when Viasat says that the speeds are ‘up to’ 25 Mbps or 30 Mbps, for instance, this means you may not always receive these amounts consistently. Sometimes, there can be a reduction in the speed, or else, some variation in the latency issues which halt streaming.
Is Roku Compatible with Viasat Satellite Internet Service?
Yes, Roku devices may also work with Viasat satellite internet as they do with other internet service providers. Like with any other home internet service provider, the connection of Roku to the Viasat home WiFi network is very straightforward.
But you may still encounter unusual buffering or stream interruption while streaming shows or movies with Roku through a Viasat connection. This is even more so if you have other devices in your compound that are also using the internet at the same time, which could limit the bandwidth at your disposal.
As we know, streaming can take quite a lot of bandwidth, and depending on the speed, one may get limited quality.
The recommended download speed for streaming services typically ranges from 5 to 10 Mbps for a single stream, especially for streaming in high definition. If several people in a household are using the internet and streaming at the same time, then 25+ Mbps is preferable.
According to the Viasat official site, the speeds it offers should be enough for streaming Roku. However, the presented actual speeds received over satellite internet introduce a certain level of inconsistency when it comes to the streaming process compared to streaming using cable/fiber connections.
Roku User Guide for Viasat: Basic Guidelines
Here are some tips to get the best streaming experience using your Roku device with a Viasat satellite internet connection:
1. Ensure that your Roku device is connected to your Viasat home WiFi if you want the best internet speeds. Instead of Viasat high-speed internet, which has slower satellite Ethernet adapters, WiFi provides much better performance.
2. Ensure your streaming quality setting on Roku is on medium or auto-adjust setting. This helps it avoid attempting to stream shows in full HD which might slow the buffering.
3. Ensure that other CPU-intensive applications that consume much bandwidth are shut down on devices connected to the Viasat WiFi. The usage of downloaded songs or videos or running system updates on other devices connected to the network eats up your available bandwidth.
4. One of the most recommended precautions that users can take before downloading any movies or shows is to do so when the speed is at its best. Some apps have a download option that can be downloaded via a WiFi connection only. ; After that, you can watch them at your leisure, without having to stream them live again.
5. Some shows are binge-worthy, and it is wise to watch them all at one time rather than at different intervals. Hence another plan is to avoid activities such as streaming of shows that require high bandwidth at certain times of the day when satellite speeds are slower.
Despite the drawbacks, satellite internet presents some difficulties for streaming Roku for a long time, but proper network management is possible to enable the viewers to watch their favorite programs. Observing these can boost efficiency when connecting to a Viasat streaming platform. If available in your locality, try to shift to the higher Viasat plans that offer faster connections that will improve the streaming capacity.