HughesNet is one of the widely used satellite internet services which is situated as an ideal choice for customers who live in regions that have no access to cable or fiber optic broadband connection. However, how much does it cost to have HughesNet Home Internet Service in your home? This guide can also help explain the various pieces of equipment, monthly fees, and installation costs that you might encounter when subscribing to HughesNet satellite internet.
Upfront Equipment Costs
The upfront equipment you need for HughesNet includes:
- Satellite Dish: $299. 99
- HughesNet Modem: $99. 99
- Standard Installation Kit: This offer is entitled to $99. 99
Hughes Net offers this equipment for use but you purchase it at a certain price and then you are hired to return it after use. This sums up to a total of $499. 97 in equipment fees for you to receive your HughesNet services.
You can also buy a better Wi-Fi router from the retailers or set up a HughesNet voice phone adapter for a few extra dollars. However, the above-mentioned is the bare minimum hardware, to begin with, to have a functional ITS.
Professional Installation Fees
There are also other costs that you will incur with HughesNet such as the installation costs that are incurred for professional installation of the satellite dish and modem.
The pricing for the basic professional installation ranges from $199. 99. This is on condition that one can place the satellite dish through a roof or pole mount in any accessible place at home.
Additional charges may apply if:
- Some of the layout of your home may necessitate additional cabling or hardware
- The satellite dish must require a non-standard mount or location
- You want more equipment installed like a Wi-Fi router
For instance, the installation of an underground broadband cable attracts an additional cost of $200. Some may necessitate extra or complex pole mounts, which could be about $100 above standard professional installation fees.
However, the majority of homes may pay $199. 99 for the installation fee, others are likely to pay more due to the customized installation costs.
Although it has been mentioned that there are no monthly fees involved in using the system, it needs to be said that there are one-time activation and setup fees.
You’ll also pay two one-time fees when signing up for HughesNet:
- $99 Activation Fee
- $49. 99 Setup Fee
The engaging fee involves the process of installation of the equipment on the HughesNet communication network. And the setup fee is payable once to configure and set up the account and the processing fee is charged periodically.
When a customer chooses HughesNet and subscribes to its services for the first time, they are required to meet two other one-off fees that sum up to $148. 99.
Monthly Service Plan Cost
In addition to all the above, equipment, installation, and activation costs, you are likely to incur every month for your chosen HughesNet internet package plan.
HughesNet has three principal tariffs to offer to residents with data speeds of up to 25 Mbps. Their monthly prices are:
- 10GB plan: $59. 99/month
- 20GB plan: $69. 99/month
- 30GB plan: $99. 99/month
The data download on these tariffs is capped at 10GB up to 30GB of data per month. In case you go beyond your plan’s allowance, you will be limited to a speed range of 1-3 Mbps.
This way the cost of the service can range from $60 to $100 per month according to the required data limits and internet speeds.
Total HughesNet Installation Cost
When you add up all the upfront expenses, installation fees, and first month of service, getting HughesNet installed generally costs:
- Equipment: $499. 97
- Professional Standard Install: It is so much more affordable to purchase the software from this online store, and its price is $199. 99.
- Activation & Setup Fees: The total price for both parts will be $148. 99.
- First Month of Service: More than 60 but less than 100
This sums up to between $909. 95 and $949. 95 for all the items that you will require to set up your HughesNet connection on the entry-level plan.
For instance, if you go for a quick service plan or if you have to pay high installation charges, the total installation cost will be above $1000. Even those customers with relatively elaborate satellite dish installations can easily be charged $1,500 or more for the entire installation.
Ways You Could Reduce The Cost of HughesNet Installation
While HughesNet installation costs can seem high, there are a few ways to lower your total fees:
- Ask about promotional offers: HughesNet has been known to sometimes bundle discounts on the equipment and installation for new customers.
- DIY satellite setup: Another benefit of do-it-yourself is that you can install your system with ease, and this can cost you $200 or more less than professional installation. However, it can only be done if one has the necessary skills in putting up satellite dishes.
- Bundle phone service: HughesNet offers like from other home phone service providers can only be accessed when you subscribe to the bundles.
- Pay fees over time: Some equipment may cost less when paid in installments and you may not need to pay extra to have them installed since they can be factored in the monthly subscription fee.
However, for this case, since HughesNet satellite internet is more expensive, the general prices and professional installation start from $999, which means you can cut on overall charges and spread the payments over a long time.
In general, HughesNet provides good and stable internet connection for rural regions, but the satellite technology and equipment, including installation, are a bit more costly than cable and DSL. But for those people living in rural areas with no wired internet available, HughesNet is still one of the most favorable internet providers on the market.
