If you live in the countryside, you’re likely struggling with slow, unreliable internet access. Broadband cables don’t run to remote locations, leaving satellite as the only viable option. But the reality often falls short of expectations. Outages are common during storms while congested capacity results in glacial speeds. Metering usage with restrictive data caps adds insult to injury.
Fortunately, satellite internet technology continues advancing rapidly to close the rural digital divide. Two providers at the forefront of delivering better rural coverage are Starlink and HughesNet Gen5. This guide will compare the two across 10 decision factors to help determine if Starlink’s headline-grabbing low Earth orbit service or HughesNet’s expanded geosynchronous network is the best fit for your household.
Company History and Tech Overview
Hughes Network Systems traces its heritage developing satellite networks back to 1971. After stints owned by large aerospace and defense contractors, satellite operator EchoStar acquired Hughes in 2011 for $2 billion. HughesNet internet service leverages EchoStar’s fleet of Hawkeye satellites in geostationary orbit.
Starlink flew onto the scene in early 2015 when SpaceX announced ambitious plans to envelop the globe with satellite broadband coverage. True to its roots, SpaceX engineered and launched its own low Earth orbit satellites starting with prototypes in 2018 leading to over 3400 now operational.
Orbital Differences
| HughesNet | Starlink | |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite Altitude | 22,000 miles | 340 – 715 miles |
| Satellite Location | Fixed spot above equator | Continuously circling |
| # of Satellites Needed | 3 to 6 | >30,000 planned |
| Round Trip Data Path | ~90,000 mile round trip | <2000 miles max |
HughesNet satellites remain parked 22,000 miles directly over the equator matching Earth‘s rotation to stay aligned with a coverage zone. Signals must traverse about 45,000 miles up and down – over 1/4 the distance to the Moon! In contrast, Starlink‘s constellation orbits between 340 to 715 miles overhead, requiring more satellites but results in a vastly shorter data path.
Service Availability Area
HughesNet Gen5 expanded satellite capacity now extends coverage across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Colombia delivering 25 Mbps plans to over 19 million U.S. households unreachable by cable or fiber broadband.
Starlink is increasing its footprint daily but still trails HughesNet substantially in total potential subscribers reached. As of February 2023, Starlink reports availability on 7 continents covering portions of 45 countries – up from just 7 countries in 2021. Check availability for your address here.
Internet Speeds: HughesNet vs Starlink
Advertised vs actual speeds Often diverge widely for satellite ISPs. HughesNet sells plans touting 25 Mbps downloads but user tests document average speeds of just 6 to 18 Mbps – too slow for modern needs.
| Provider | Advertised Speed | Average User Speed | Peak Tested Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| HughesNet | 25 Mbps | 6 – 18 Mbps | 34 Mbps |
| Starlink | 50 – 200+ Mbps | 45 – 185 Mbps | 568 Mbps |
In contrast, confirmation from Ookla Speedtest Data shows Starlink users experience downloads speeds matching advertised rates for their plan tier – between 50 Mbps to over 185 Mbps.
Latency Comparison
Latency represents the time delay for data to transit between network nodes. Satellite internet latency runs high due to the great distances involved versus fiber optic or copper cables. The difference is stark:
- HughesNet latency averages 600-900 milliseconds
- Starlink latency runs 20-60 milliseconds
This huge delta makes real-time communications like video conferencing, voice calls and gaming unreasonable over HughesNet but very usable on Starlink with lag levels on par with cable internet.
Data Caps: HughesNet vs Starlink
Unlike cable or fiber, satellite internet connections share capacity across all users served by regional spot beam antenna. To ration bandwidth, nearly all satellite ISPs employ restrictive data usage caps that prompt costly overage fees or service throttling if exceeded.
HughesNet’s cheapest plan caps at just 10 GB per month while pricier tiers allow 15 GB to 50 GB before triggering overlimit charges from an eye-watering $10 per GB. Constant monitoring to avoid surprise fees becomes necessary.
A key Starlink differentiator is no data caps whatsoever. Repeat – you can use as much data as you want at full speeds around the clock. Finally rural users can stream video freely and leverage the internet fully like urban counterparts. This factor alone is revolutionizing quality of access.
Data usage limits impose difficult tradeoffs
Weather Resiliency
All satellite internet signals must pass through the atmosphere to and from space. Rain, snow and cloud cover can temporarily absorb or scatter signals leading to sluggish performance or disconnections. This poses a larger issue for HughesNet than Starlink:
HughesNet struggles heavily whenever moderate to extreme weather rolls overhead with slowed speeds as satellite capacity congests. Total outage episodes run over 4x higher than cable internet.
Starlink suffers less disruption overall but still sees slowed speeds and occasional drops during the very worst storms with thunderstorms featuring intense lightning posing the biggest hurdle. Space laser links between satellites to dynamically route around trouble spots are being activated to minimize future outage potential.
Hardware, Setup and Installation
HughesNet historically relied on certified installers to properly mount antenna dishes and aim precision pointing hardware – a complex process requiring truck rolls that took 4 to 6 hours typically. Self-setup options now available but success rate lags.
Starlink substitutes plug-and-play WiFi router hardware and a compact dish antenna designed for fast do-it-yourself installation without adjustment – just stick it where it has a wide view of the sky. Some customers still required expert aid getting hardware up and running. Starlink offers professional installation starting at $99 for those that prefer assistance.
Monthly Pricing and Contracts
HughesNet plan rates are cheaper compared to Starlink for equivalent speeds. However, lengthy contracts locking in pricing pose a gotcha requiring close scrutiny of exit penalty terms and equipment return demands. Equipment costs run high if purchasing outright instead of leasing gear.
Starlink only charges month to month with no contract or early termination fees. Buy the hardware kit upfront and choose monthly service pricing tailored to your speed needs. Portability lets you pause or resume service if traveling between seasonal homes.
Starlink offers simpler pricing but higher initial hardware cost
HughesNet vs Starlink User Reviews
Both providers suffer complaints about unreliability and slower than advertised speeds. However, HughesNet garners particularly dismal user reviews stemming largely from metered data frustrating subscribers.
Meanwhile early Starlink reviewers grappled with setup challenges but recent feedback as capacity increased dramatically approves of the service meeting speed claims and removing all constraints on monthly usage. Reliability remains a work in progress.
See r/Starlink user reviews on Reddit and HughesNet commentary on Satellite Internet Talk.
Recommendations: Ideal Use Cases
For rural locations lacking wired/fiber internet options, Starlink or HughesNet both represent viable solutions but ideal applications based on needs vary:
Go With Starlink If You:
- Require low latency for real-time apps
- Prefer no data caps
- Demand fast speeds for 4K video & gaming
- Experience frequent severe weather
- Need portability moving between sites
Choose HughesNet If You:
- Are on a tight budget
- Don’t stream much video
- Primarily do light web browsing
- Prefer professional installation
- Have obstructions limiting dish mounting
The Final Verdict…Advantage Starlink
While HughesNet Gen5 extends reliable internet access to wider geography today, Starlink’s game changing shift to low orbit satellites delivers vastly better speeds, lower latency, unmetered data usage freedom and increasing availability. Despite higher hardware cost, going with Starlink appears the wiser long term investment to unlock modern connectivity. The competition accelerates satellite internet technology forward rapidly, so stay tuned!
I welcome feedback and questions in the comments below if you have any doubts deciding between HughesNet or Starlink for your rural home.
