Overall, Hughesnet is one of the most popular satellite internet providers although it serves customers that do not have access to cable or fiber optic internet. Considering getting Hughesnet yourself? One of the frequently asked questions is how long it takes for Hughesnet to be installed. This article seeks to explain the entire process that one is likely to encounter during a standard Hughesnet install.
Hughesnet Setup Overview
The time needed to complete the typical Hughesnet installation can take between 3-5 hrs on average. However, the installation process also depends on your specific case or situation. The main steps include:
- Site survey – Determine the mounting of the satellite dish and the cable routing plan
- Equipment setup –This involves mounting the satellite dish and putting cables, modem, and hardware.
- Local area network setup, troubleshooting & optimization – Organize cables, check internet connection speeds, and optimize the network
Time taken actually to install will vary with your home layout, the wiring system as well as the work of the technician. However, if you want to get an average idea, you should be ready to invest at least half of the workday for the standard installation. Some jobs may call for a second trip to complete or perhaps other jobs need additional trips.
Arrival & Site Survey
The installation process starts when the HughesNet technician comes to your home or any place you prefer. They will explain who they are, describe the installation plan, and request access to certain parts of the home. This site survey allows them to:
- Locate the ideal position that would allow installation of the satellite dish in a way that best gets a view of the southern sky.
- Plan out intelligent cable positioning from the dish to the modem’s intended location.
- Consult for any complications such as the incorporation of holes to accommodate cables that may be passing from one floor to the other.
Areas to survey are your roofs, the outer walls of your house or office, your basement, your garage, and the room that houses your modem. This planning stage takes thirty minutes to one hour depending on the complexity of the work.
Equipment Setup & Installation
After the site survey, it's time to install the physical hardware, including:
Satellite Dish Mounting
The tech will install the Hughesnet satellite dish outside your house on the roof or any other wall. They will orient it towards the southern sky to optimize the connection as required for the given task.
Cabling is required from Dish to Moden.
The installer will drill holes to run cables from your satellite dish to where the modem is to be installed, which is mostly the office or drawing room. This means both the cable that connects to your dish and an independent grounding wire as shown below.
Modem & Hardware Hookup
After that, if the cables from the dish to the modem location are present, the tech is going to connect your Hughesnet modem and also all the other leased equipment like your WiFi router.
The time it takes to set up the equipment depends on the intricacy of the wires, including the process of concealing wires around objects within the walls and the layout of the homes which takes between 1-3 hours.
Configuration & Testing
At this step, all necessary hardware components are installed, and the PC is connected to the internet and other devices. Steps include:
- Hooking all the system cables from the satellite dish to the modem.
- Subjecting hardware to optimization tests to confirm they function effectively
- How to set up a basic connection for internet browsing through your modem and wireless network
Your Hughesnet technician will also introduce important features of your system, for example, how to point your dish and what signals your modem lights are giving. The configuration and testing phase brings the total time taken to about 30-90 minutes more.
Wrapping Up the Installation
After your new Hughesnet connection has passed your internet connection test, the entire installation is said and done. Your tech will tidy up the mess, or at least leave the area free of debris or tools before they leave. Thus, it is wise to have the installer set up your household devices to connect with WIFI before they leave.
The final walkthrough and cleanup usually lasts between 15-30 minutes. And that is the beginning to completion of Hughesnet satellite internet installation which can take about 3-5 hours.
After Your Hughesnet Installation
Following your successful Hughesnet install:
- Ensure you conduct speed tests on the devices connected to the internet to check whether you have attained the promised speeds by the plan.
- Create a Web account for your online preferences and to actively pay your bills in the future.
- You should visit Hughesnet customer relations if you have any problems with the speeds, interruption of the connection, or any other difficulties.
Compared to fiber internet that is now common in urban areas, satellite internet like Hughesnet is slow but it is fairly good for rural internet services. As long as the amount of usage is controlled to the extent that it does not exceed the allowed data cap, it is a good option.
Hughesnet satellite internet requires 3-5 hours of installation, contributing to the intricate process of getting the service going. But the ability to break free from slow dial-up or hotspot internet is a worthwhile goal that makes all that effort count. You will then be able to stream, browse, or use connected smart devices with a reliable Hughesnet satellite internet connection.