As the number of people who stopped watching cable and satellite TV expands , internet-based TV streaming has gained more popularity. Platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or Disney +, among others, provide you with an endless list of TV shows and movies without the need of cable subscription.
However, to stream TV over the internet requires something fairly fast and reliable in terms of internet connectivity. In a world where a large number of regions cannot register for cable or even fiber optic internet, satellite internet from Hughesnet is the only option left. However, let us not get carried away and ask if Hughesnet is actually good for streaming TV. Let’s look at these more closely.
The Basics of Hughesnet
Hughesnet offers broadband satellite connectivity in the rural regions of the United States through satellite terminals in the space. It can go as high as 25 Mbps when it comes to download speeds, however, the average speeds range between 10-15 Mbps.
However, there are some cons with Hughesnet internet service and one of them is that they offer relatively limited data quantity. The caps may be anywhere from 10 GB to 50 GB a month depending on the plan that is chosen. However, if you use a lot more than this you get slow speeds reduced to as low as 1-3 Mbps. For those who heavily stream, the hours of High Definition content watched per day can easily reach the data limits provided.
The amount of bandwidth required to stream live TV.
When receiving video streams online, the quality of video that can be streamed directly is limited by the connection speed and bandwidth. Here are rough estimates for internet speeds needed to handle various video qualities:
- SD (480p) Video Streaming: 2-3 Mbps is a fair amount of bandwidth needed for a serious game that is intended for real players to play.
- HD (720p) Video Streaming: This ranges from 3-5 Mbps.
- Full HD Streaming (1080p): This should range from 5 to 10 Mbps.
- 4K UHD Streaming: It is essential to maintain a minimum of 15 Mbps, although a more suitable bandwidth should be at least 25 Mbps.
So based on the requirements for streaming in high definition for multiple devices, your home internet connection should be at least 15-25 Mbps or more. As much as its top speeds are only 10-15 Mbps on average and data caps are incredibly limited, Hughesnet has not been able to capture that vision fully.
Consuming Content Under Hughesnet Data Buckets
With 10 Mbps download speeds in the faster Hughesnet plans, those are still realistic numbers, but avoid 4K streaming. However, those limited data plans practically rule out such excessive and long binge-watching sessions.
Here's an estimate of how long 10 GB, 20 GB or 40 GB of data would enable streaming from popular services before hitting the data cap:Here's an estimate of how long 10 GB, 20 GB or 40 GB of data would enable streaming from popular services before hitting the data cap:
Netflix:
- SD: This means that a user can surf for 33 hours per 10 GB.
- HD: 13 hours per 10 Gigs
Hulu:
- SD: 23 hours for any 10 GB.
- HD: One serving size is 10 GB and it has 7 hours usage time.
Disney+:
- SD: This is further brought out in the following formula: 40 hours per 10 GB
- HD: 14 hours of usage of every 10 GB.
Thus, unless several individuals are using that fixed data allowance, it does not make sense, for a user with a Hughesnet allowance to stream total daily television for over an hour or two. One would need to stream at lower resolutions or only watch one to two episodes of a series per day if they really want to make that allowance last.
Guidelines to Use While Streaming Under Hughesnet Data Plans
If Hughesnet is your only option for rural broadband, here are some tips to work with its limits for streaming TV:
- Select lower quality options if possible - Streaming options should be set to 480 or 720 pixels.
- Download when possible - Some services provide the option of a show or a movie to be downloaded and watched later. Most carriers apply this rule to overnight or anytime speeds are faster in the data allowance cycle.
- Limit the number of connected devices – Do not let multiple family members watch different streaming services at the same time. Have them take turns.
- Turn off auto-play – This will help to prevent auto-play options that result in data being consumed very quickly through video streaming binges.
- Check out antennas – Although an antenna may not stream live network affiliates from your area, it can broadcast live or record broadcast TV without the internet. Limit the usage of the streaming technology to only cable television networks and streaming services that own original content.
Overall Assessment
In today’s common usage of the term, Hughesnet now has plans with speeds of up to 25 Mbps, but the speed you get is 10-15 Mbps during peak hours. Which can, in turn, may help stream or SD or HD video. However, very low data plans with 10GB to 50GB per month significantly restrict the ability to stream for anything other than occasional and limited use. Getting to watch several hours of shows or sports in HD using streaming services daily is not possible anymore, especially if you care to remain un throttled to 1-3 Mbps with no streaming allowance after the limit is reached.
Because of the very limited data usage, especially at high speeds, although when under these limits the speed of the Hughesnet internet is rather decent, this service is mostly recommended for casual streaming in standard definition and other regular web usage. For daily streaming of heavy videos in HD and with better or more options, Cable or Fiber optic broadband are much more useful without limitations on data for most stream TV lovers. Broadcaster TV reception using an antenna enables one to tune in live channels to complement the streaming when Hughesnet data restricts internet use.
