HughesNet Fusion vs Elite: This piece is titled “What’s the Difference?”
So, when it comes to satellite internet providers, with a specific focus on markets where cable and fiber optic internet is not available, HughesNet is one of the most recognized service providers. HughesNet offers two main residential internet plans: Fusion and Elite as two of the most successful clans. However, what would be important is the distinction between the Fusion package and the Elite package. Here, the author will discuss the two HughesNet plans so that you can be in a better position to determine which among them is the better one for your use.
Speeds
The monthly quota and internet download speed are the two main features that define the difference between Fusion and Elite plans. Here's a breakdown:
HughesNet Fusion Speeds:
- 25Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload
HughesNet Elite Speeds:
- This offers a download speed of 50Mbps and an upload speed of 5Mbps.
As you can now tell, the Elite plan is much faster, particularly in download speeds of 50Mbps which are way better than the 25Mpbs offered in the Fusion plan. The upload speeds are also higher in the Elite service at 5Mbps as compared to 3Mbps in Fusion. This means then that for one, the Elite plan is more appropriate for households with numerous connected devices or for activities such as video streaming and gaming which require higher speeds.
Data Usage
In addition to faster speeds, the Elite plan also comes with a higher data allowance than the Fusion: In addition to faster speeds, the Elite plan also comes with a higher data allowance than the Fusion:
HughesNet Fusion Data:
- 50GB daytime data
- Extra 50 GB of data at night time.
HughesNet Elite Data:
- 100GB daytime data
- 50GB of bonus nighttime usage
Both plans come with an additional 50GB of bonus data that can be used during the night for most nights between 11 pm and 5 am depending on the provider Both of the plans have a higher daytime allowance of 100GB for elites compared to 50GB for fusion plan. This makes the Elite plan more suitable for people with heavier internet usage and those households that use the internet for streaming, gaming, or using applications such as Zoom or Skype during the day.
Equipment & Installation
Regarding the equipment, all HughesNet plans are equipped with the same modem/WiFi router for creating your network connection. Also, the company offers standard installation from a certified technician in both plans.
Pricing
Of course with the faster speeds and extra data allowance, the Elite plan does come at a higher monthly cost: Of course with the faster speeds and extra data allowance, the Elite plan does come at a higher monthly cost:
HughesNet Fusion:
- $59. 99 per month
HughesNet Elite:
- $79. 99 per month
However, as I mentioned earlier, the Elite plan provides better performance and has more data allowance as compared to the Fusion plan, but this will cost an additional $20 more per month. This can accumulate over a year or multiyear contract where the extra cost of owning the vehicle is easily justified.
But both such plans do have a 2-year customer agreement requirement and the equipment is simply leased out. There are also promotional price-slicing options that may, for example, take a certain percentage off the subscription price for the first three or six months of service to cover the costs of setup. Comparing these promos can help make the Elite plan more affordable in the short term and may be useful in discouraging greater use of Wi-Fi with the consequent depletion of battery life.
Ideal User
While deciding whether to go for Fusion or Elite, one ought to be mindful of how many people will be using the connection and what activity is carried out on the internet. It is believed that the basic Fusion package should suffice for 1-4 users who only need to surf the Internet, check mail, and watch low-intensity videos. However, those households that have more people or are streaming videos in high-definition format daily, playing video games, and requiring VPN networks at their workplace should switch to the Elite plan.
The Elite plan is also useful for rural plots farmer’s houses, or any place that requires internet coverage for a large area for instance data acquisition from sensors, machines, and monitoring gadgets. This means that at a faster speed, more devices can easily connect within reach as compared to the slower speed.
Finally, HughesNet Elite does offer a superior service than the basic Fusion plan but unfortunately, it will set you back by an additional 20-25%. Determine if the additional megabytes and higher speed are necessary for the average monthly Internet usage in your home before concluding whether it is too expensive or not. One way that direct comparisons are beneficial is that they assist in clearly identifying what a person gains or loses whenever they decide the difference between the two.
