Can You Watch Netflix on HughesNet?

Have you ever wondered if you can stream your favorite movie, show or documentary from Netflix on HughesNet satellite internet? In this article we answer the question, "Can you watch Netflix on HughesNet?".

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Can You Watch Netflix on HughesNet?

Can You Watch Netflix on HughesNet?

Netflix currently has over 60 million subscribers. Their quality original content, as well as their massive library of acclaimed television shows and movies, continues to draw more and more people in.

However, in order to stream Netflix's high-resolution material, you're going to need a solid internet connection. And if you live in a rural area, you may be using a satellite internet service provider like HughesNet. But is HughesNet powerful enough for you to watch Netflix on?

Continue reading and we'll walk you through everything you need to know.

What Is HughesNet?

HughesNet is an internet service provider that delivers satellite internet to over one million people. So how does satellite internet work?

Through your modem, your computer sends a signal request to your satellite dish. That signal then travels up to HughesNet's orbiting satellite and that satellite then sends a signal to HughesNet. HughesNet then transmits a signal back to the orbiting satellite, then back to your dish, which travels to your modem, and finally makes its way to your computer.

Is HughesNet Fast Enough for Netflix?

Few things are more frustrating than plopping down on your couch with a loved one and starting up Netflix, only for the movie you want to watch to get stuck buffering. But by knowing what speeds Netflix requires, you can make sure that your internet connection is up to snuff.

For low-quality streaming, Netflix requires a download speed of 1.5 Mbps. They require a download speed of 3 Mbps for standard-definition quality and a download speed of 5 Mbps for high-definition quality.

The only speed that's offered by HughesNet is 25Mbps, so you should be able to stream Netflix content in HD without a problem. However, you could run into issues if you have multiple devices using the internet at one time.

While HughesNet might be more expensive than its competitor, Viasat, HughesNet offers a starting download speed of 25 Mbps while Viasat starts at just 12 Mbps. 

Data Limits

It's important to note that HughesNet comes with data limits. They offer plans that range from 10 GB to 50 GB, all at 25 Mbps. However, they also offer a Bonus Zone where you get an extra 50 GB per month during overnight hours. 

So if you want, you can load up a bunch of content during the night while you sleep, and then watch it later while it's all buffered.

If you go with the 10 GB plan from HughesNet, you could watch 30 hours of Netflix at low-quality resolution. Or, you catch watch 5 hours of high-quality content. With the 50 GB plan, you could watch 25 hours of HD videos or 150 hours of low-quality ones.

Streaming with Confidence

As we can see, you can definitely stream Netflix with HughesNet. However, if you need to watch a lot of Netflix, or a lot of people in your home want to watch it at the same time, you might experience some problems. 

Do you want to learn more about internet service providers and find out which one is best for you? Contact us today and see how we can help you!



Hughesnet new Offers for May 2020

Are you thinking about switching over to Hughesnet internet? Before signing up, take a look at some of these deals that Hughesnet is offering new customers.

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Hughesnet new Offers for May 2020

Hughesnet Internet New Customer Offers for 2020

Just because you've chosen to live in the boondocks of America does not mean you need to live like a barbarian. Thanks to satellite internet, you can live in the wilderness of America and still have internet.

Hughesnet Internet has become one of the front runners of satellite internet, offering a connection to the civilized world to just about anyone in the United States. All you need is a view of the sky. 

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Hughesnet and the deals they're offering their customers right now. 

What is HughesNet Internet? 

HughesNet claims to be America's top choice for satellite Internet. They have a valid claim. 

With over 1 million subscribers nationwide, HughesNet uses satellite technology to give its customers constant, lightning-fast internet. They also offer service everywhere in the United States. 

This means if you live in an area with incredibly slow or no high-speed internet options, you now have an option with HughesNet Internet. 

How Does HughesNet Work?

HughesNet works differently than other internet service providers. When you have cable, fiber optic, or DSL internet, your internet comes into your home through a physical line, be it a cable, fiber optic line, or an unused telephone line. 

With HughesNet, you have a satellite connection. The magic begins when your computer at home sends a request for a webpage to a satellite tens of thousands of miles in space. Because the satellite is so far out, it rotates the same speed as the earth, and thus it stays in the same spot over the earth. 

The Internet via satellite is technologically advanced.  So, the distance of the satellite in the sky does not make a difference, even when you live in the backwoods of the most remote area. 

Once the satellite receives your request, it contacts the Hughes Network Operations Center. The NOC then finds the specific website you want. This all happens in a matter of nanoseconds. 

The website then sends information on the same path from the NOC to the satellite to your computer through the HughesNet dish and modem. 

This signal travels tens of thousands of miles, yet only a fraction of a moment passes as it travels. You can compare the time this takes to the time it takes for your cell phone to work. You typically do not perceive the latency when you surf the internet on your phone. 

Where Can I Find HughesNet?

Because HughesNet offers satellite internet, they cover a wide spectrum of the United States. In short, they cover all of it. 

You can get HughesNet Gen 5 anywhere in the United States, even if you cannot get cable or fiber Internet. HughesNet even offers service to residents in Alaska and Puerto Rico.  So, you while you may not be able to get supplies by anything other than a puddle jumper, you can get internet thanks to HughesNet. 

What are the Best Hughesnet Deals for New Customers?

Satellite internet providers are hungry to prove they can offer great internet service to anyone. As a result, they work hard to offer excellent deals to new customers. 

Currently, HughesNet offers a Free Wi-Fi modem with each Hughesnet Gen 5 plan. You can also get some great deals for sharing information about HughesNet with your friends. 

When you invite your friends to HughesNet, you can a $50 credit on your next bill. That's a $50 credit for each new person who uses you as a referral. 

Here are the deals you can currently get with HughesNet: 

  • 10 GB of data, 25 Mbps of speed for $39.99
  • 20 GB of data, 25 Mbps of speed for $49.99
  • 30 GB of data, 25 Mbps of speed for $79.99
  • 50 GB of data, 25 Mbps of speed for $129.99

HughesNet is also currently running a promotion where you can $75 of free equipment and premium features with HughesNet Voice, the home phone connection that HughesNet will set up with their satellite connection.  So, if you live in an area with spotty cell service, you can still get a phone connection with the HughesNet satellite phone. 

HughesNet claims you can get great service with them as long as you have a clear view of the southern sky.  So, if you live in an area that offers a 2002 dial-up connection or no internet at all, HughesNet gives you options.

Plus, HughesNet offers Gen5 to nearly all of its customers, which means some of the fastest internet speeds around. 

You can still cyber commute and enjoy remote living thanks to satellite internet and companies like HughesNet that provide it. 

Included Equipment and Fees

High-speed internet plans from HughesNet includes some interesting deals. 

You can receive built-in WiFi with their equipment. This means you can connect our home wirelessly with no hard data limits. HughesNet makes it so you can exceed your data cap but not lose your internet altogether. Instead, they reduce your speed and implement video data saver. 

So, this means you watch more videos with fewer data and even have a "bonus" zone in your contract. A bonus zone is a time frame between 2 AM and 8 AM when you can use up to 50 GB of data free. 

HughesNet also offers free standard installation for a limited time. 

HughesNet is also now offering Gen5 internet, which means even faster internet. This is 5th generation high-speed technology. 

While HughesNet does give you a free modem, they will charge you approximately $15 a month for rented equipment like the satellite dish that shoots off your internet signal. 

HughesNet Customer Service

Even though their satellite is tens of thousands of miles away, HughesNet prides itself on providing customer service as if they were right next door. You can contact them via phone, email, and online chat. Their phone support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Chat is available on-demand, so you can resolve your problems quickly. HughesNet encourages its customers to use email for less dire problems, but they still promise to respond within 24 hours. 

HughesNet has such great customer service that the Better Business Bureau gave them an A+ rating and labeled them an Accredited Business. Their customer reviews and company reputation speak well of their customer service. 


What is Hughesnet Gen 5?

HughesNet has always boasted of high satellite internet speeds. HughesNet Gen 5 takes their speeds to a whole new level. 

Gamers can now hope to play games through satellite internet. 

You have to remember that HughesNet has been around for a while. The gurus at HughesNet have taken decades of experience in satellite communication to develop the Gen5 that now graces many people's homes. More customers can do what they want online without worrying about interruptions or data caps. 

Gen5 technology shrinks web data by p to 30 percent. This means you can download more content and do more things online without blowing all your data. 

Gen5 also uses pre-accessed data from a webpage so that previously viewed webpages load more quickly. 

HughesNet also uses tools like a Usage Meter and Data tokens. These tools let you view your data to make sure you've got enough for the month. 

HughesNet boasts of offering the fastest satellite internet around with up to 25mbps of download and 3 Mbps of upload speeds, speeds not seen in satellite coverage in the past. 

Plus, a recent FCC report documents the track record that HughesNet has of delivering the promised speeds to its customers. They do not just advertise speeds, but the FCC says HughesNet delivers them.

The FCC testifies to the success that HughesNet has with their 30-plus years of experience in satellite technology. They've moved from television to the internet seamlessly. 

It's important to take this data and customer reviews into account, especially if you've been around a while. You probably remember the early days of satellite internet. It was faster than dial-up, but it had some big lags in it. 

Some people would even describe that early satellite and wireless internet as spotty, where the receiver would send out signals in chunks, and so you'd receive information in chunks. You could not get a seamless connection, and as a result, you had limited options. 

You could not have used video communication, for example, because your upload speed would not allow it. 

Gen5 is not that type of internet. HughesNet is offering the best of the best in the twenty-first-century satellite internet

HughesNet Satellite Internet v. Viasat Satellite Internet

HughesNet is not the only Satellite Internet provider on the market. Viasat is their biggest competitor, offering comparable service via the same technology. 

Here's information for Viasat: 

  • 12 Mbps of download speed for $70 a month
  • 25 Mbps of download speed for $100 a month
  • 30 Mbps fo download speed for $150 a month

Viasat offers its service with a free modem as well just like HughesNet. They also claim to have no data caps. However, Viasat has a smaller coverage area, reaching just 49 states when HughesNet reaches all 50 and Puerto Rico. 

Viasat also offers bundles with 330-plus channels of Direct TV service. Their service, however, requires a two-year contract, so you're locked into their internet and television service for two years. 

HughesNet offers standard 25 Mbps of speed for anywhere in the United States for $40 up to $130 a month, depending on the amount of data you want. They offer as little as 10 GB and as high as 50 GB of data. 

HughesNet does not include TV in their plan, and they do have a data limit. However, they do not shut your internet off if you go over the limit. They do not have a data cap, but rather they charge you for minimal service once you surpass your limit. 

HughesNet offers a free modem like Viasat, and they have a two-year mandatory contract as well. 

Does Satellite Internet Have Data Caps?

If you love your internet, you understand the difficulty of data caps. A data cap means that the company will turn off your internet once you go over your limit. They cap your data. 

Basic satellite internet data caps do exist, but not with HughesNet. 

Back in the day, internet service providers would add a limit to their plans. They wanted to keep people from clogging the internet all at once, so they put limitations on the amount of data individuals could use. 

They shared the data among the consumers. 

Hard data caps allowed people to get the speed and reliability they needed until they reached their limit. Once you reached your limit, the company shut off your internet and you had to wait until the next month for service. You could regain service if you paid more for more data. 

 

This hard-line approach is known as a hard data cap. 

A soft data cap is a different way of dealing with data. Soft data caps allow you to keep your access to the internet even when you reach your limit. 

HughesNet uses soft data caps.  So, if you're paying for 30 gigs of data, and you reach 30 gigs by the 20th of the month, HughesNet will not shut off our internet. Rather, they'll allow you to keep using your internet, but they will slow down your speed. 

They will also charge you for the overage.  So, you'll still have the internet, just not at the speed you want. 

Look at the Sky for Connections

Our quarantine, the home-bound world has left us more hungry than ever for a solid connection to life. HughesNet Internet is one of the solutions to this problem. Even the most remote consumer now has access to a reliable internet connection thanks to the magic of satellite internet. 

For all of your internet needs, take a moment to learn more about us. We can help you compare plans and providers, to help you find the best solution for all of your internet needs. 


How Do Satellite Internet Data Caps Work?

If you're shopping for a new internet service provider with unlimited service, explore everything you need to know about satellite data caps.

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How Do Satellite Internet Data Caps Work?

How Does Satellite Internet Data Caps Work?


There's no mistaking that this has become the world of technology. Everything we have and everything we do runs on the latest and greatest in electronic equipment, fast computers, and powerful data. With all that's going on, one needs to make sure they have only the best in internet speeds to keep up with the tech we use.

That being said, you've undoubtedly heard about so-called "unlimited" internet services for a certain fee. But what do these companies really mean when they say unlimited? In many cases, satellite internet data caps may be applied, but if you don't know what they mean and how they work, you'll think that the service provider is trying to rip you off of the "limitless" services you thought you bought into.

Luckily, you won't have to stay in the dark about this situation. This article will inform you about what you need to know concerning data caps, so you can be informed about the situation. Keep reading to learn more!

The Truth About Satellite Internet Data Caps

These days, every satellite internet provider boasts about providing unlimited internet for an amazing price. It all sounds well and good, but the problem is that these unlimited services are not quite as limitless as you may think.

Satellite internet uses two main things to process its data: internet speed, and bandwidth. the former defines how fast you can stream, while the latter defines how much information can be received. While these don't directly impact the data caps you receive, they do help you to understand how they're processed. 

In reality, when most companies say they offer unlimited data, they really mean unlimited speeds.  The data, however, does have limits of its own as far as how much of it you can use. Afterward, you run into the end of the data's plan that you bought into, also known as the cap. You have two caps that are offered with most companies for their data services: hard data caps, and soft data caps.

What Is A Hard Data Cap?

Hard data caps were the original way that internet service providers would add a limit to their plans. In an effort to keep too many people from congesting their internet all at once, limitations were put into place so everyone could enjoy using the data.

With hard data caps, you get the speed and reliability you need up until you reach your data limit. After that, the data is cut off, and you'll have to wait until next month (or buy extra data) to get more internet.

What Is A Soft Data Cap?

The new way of limiting your customers is through soft data caps. Unlike hard caps, soft caps allow the user to continue having access to the internet even after they reach their limit, but the speeds will be drastically reduced. In this manner, the plan is not technically unlimited in how much can be used, but you sacrifice your limitless speeds once you go beyond your monthly amount.

In either case, you can be sure that you will get the internet you need to get the job done - and at the end of the day, that's what matters most.

Get Only the Best

Now that you understand how satellite internet data caps work, you'll want to get access to a data plan that gives you the speed you want from a company you can trust. We've got the answers you seek for the data you need.

At Konecteaze, we help you find the fastest internet and the best deals from the best internet service providers in the U.S. You can find the best option from companies like Spectrum, HughesNet, Viasat, AT&T, Frontier Communications and more, just by searching by your zip code.

Ready to get started? Check out our site to find out more about what we do, or feel free to give us a call. We look forward to getting you the internet that you deserve!


How Fast is Satelite Internet in San Antonio? | KonectEaze

Discover the speed of satellite internet in San Antonio with KonectEaze! Get the fastest satellite internet options & expert insights to stay connected seamlessly

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How Fast is Satelite Internet in San Antonio? | KonectEaze

How Fast Is Satellite Internet?

Living out in the rural areas, it can be a challenge to find internet that works for your personal or business needs. In many cases, the power and speed you need to get things done just aren't present in your current network provider. If that's the case, you may want to consider switching over the satellite internet. 

But just how fast is satellite internet, exactly? After all, you don't have time to switch over to another company that's going to offer you speeds that are just as bad - or even worse - than the company you're already with. One thing that you can be satisfied with is that satellite is practically guaranteed to be much faster than your current provider, and it will be more reliable in rural areas as well.

This article will go in-depth with what you can expect from satellite internet speed, and tell you about which internet choices would be best for the data speeds you need. Keep reading to learn more!

So, How Fast Is Satellite Internet, Exactly?

Well, in short, satellite internet is quite fast. Not only is it going to be faster than the internet you already use, but it will most likely be faster than most other internet services you've ever used.

Let's break this down. Satellite internet runs off of - you guessed it - satellite. Unlike earlier forms of the internet that use towers as their primary means to provide data, satellite internet relies on the power of the satellite to push the internet across the globe and give access to its users.

In this manner, not only can you produce faster speeds, but because of the technology used, your internet is much less likely to be hindered by the trees and tower distancing that commonly affect rural internet users.

How Fast is Satellite Internet?

Even in far-out communities, satellite internet can easily provide many megabytes of speed.

For example, Viasat, a big name in rural internet support, can produce download speeds of an incredible range: from 12 Megabytes per second (Mbps) to a whopping 100 Megabytes, depending on the plan you buy into. HughesNet, another contender in the rural internet sector, can create consistent speeds of 25 Mbps and package it into a plan that everyone can afford.

No matter which satellite internet provider you decide to choose, you can be sure you'll have the internet that you need to get the work done!

Get the Best in Speed

Now that you've learned how fast is satellite internet, you'll want to know where you can get the speeds you need for a price that fits your budget. Luckily for you, we can help you take care of your needs.

At Konecteaze, we work hard to find the best deals to bring the internet to our clients who need it. You can choose from many popular brands, including HughesNet, Viasat, and AT&T, as well as other powerful brands like Xfinity, Spectrum, and more.

Ready to get started? Check out our site to find out more about what we do, or enter your zip code to see which internet provider is best for your needs. We look forward to getting you on track with the internet that's right for you!


A Gamer's Guide: How Does Satellite Internet Work for Playing Video Games?

How does satellite internet work for playing video games? We've got your gamer's guide to tell you everything you need to know here!

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A Gamer's Guide: How Does Satellite Internet Work for Playing Video Games?

How Does Satellite Internet Work for Playing Video Games?


Did you know that 8.4 million households rely on satellite internet in the  US?  That's six percent of internet users today.  

How does satellite internet work?  

It relies on orbiting satellites to transmit internet signals. This system proves more expensive than traditional internet yet provides access to rural communities where other options aren't available.

While the most satellite-dependent ZIP codes cover plenty of territory, they don't house as many people as you'd think. There are about 2.22 million people or .07 percent of the population living in these areas.  

Why do four times that number have satellite internet?  Because many people opt for satellite even when other options exist. Part of this may be because satellite internet has recently gotten much faster.

Nonetheless, for players who prefer sports and shooting games, satellite internet still comes with many problems. Read on to learn more about satellite internet and video game functionality.

How Does Satellite Internet Work?

The concept behind satellite internet service is surprisingly simple. Your computer shoots a signal request through your modem out to your satellite dish. Then, your satellite dish transmits the signal on to a provider's orbiting satellite.

The satellite returns the signal to the provider, and the provider delivers that signal back to the satellite. From there, it travels to your dish, modem, and computer.  

Unless you have only one Ethernet connection, your home will also require a router to distribute the resulting Wi-Fi signal through your home.

How Does Satellite Internet Compare to Other Services?

There are two major satellite internet providers to know about: HughesNet and Viasat. They've come a long way in recent years. Nonetheless, satellite internet, by its very nature, will feel laggier.  There are a handful of reasons for this.  

Cable internet relies on shielded coaxial cables. Fiber uses shielded fiber-optic cables, and DSL relies on telephone lines. Learn more about broadband,  DSL, and  satellite internet performance pros and cons.  

These direct connections guard against packet loss (data that's supposed to be there but doesn't show up) and interference. They also result in faster speeds, which is essential for gamers who gravitate towards products like Call of Duty, which rely on lightning reflexes.

Satellite internet works well for browsing the web, checking your social media feeds, and catching up on your favorite Netflix shows. But if you're a gamer who wants to spend most of your time playing sports or in online shootouts, satellite internet may frustrate you.

The sheer distance that satellite signals have to travel increases the likelihood of interference. What's more, since the signal is less direct, satellite internet tends to have a higher latency.

What Is Latency?

Latency refers to the time it takes for data to transfer from one location to another. Cable, DSL, and fiber internet all have a direct line from the provider's hub to your house or street. As a result, they have less latency.

Satellite internet, however, must deal with interference because of its lack of a direct connection. The result? Increased latency.

It isn’t that surprising considering the vast trajectory satellite internet signals must cross. They travel upwards of 22,200 miles (36,000 kilometers) through the air to a satellite in a geostationary orbit. Then, they must rush back to your home.  

No matter how quickly this information transmits, you still must account for some travel time. The result? Lag.

Satellite Internet Providers and Latency

Today's satellite internet providers offer faster service than ever before. You can get download speeds ranging from 12 to 100 Mbps. In other words, you can purchase high-speed satellite internet.

That said, when you start downloading photos to Facebook or live-streaming via Twitch, you'll experience buffering issues and longer wait times. Why? Because satellite advertised speeds don't reflect latency.

In other words, even if your satellite speeds are equal to those of cable, fiber, or DSL on paper, don't expect the same performance and speed. Latency will get in the way.

The bottom line remains this. A coaxial cable internet service that offers 100 Mbps will "feel" faster than satellite technology claiming the same 100 Mbps rate because of signal travel time.  

Not sure what your internet speeds currently rank? Check out 2020's best internet speed test sites.  

Dreaded Data Caps

That's not the only reason that satellite internet feels slow, though. Unlike other forms of internet, satellite internet doesn't usually come with unlimited data.  

Instead, you'll have to deal with pesky data caps. A data cap means that once you meet a specific data limit, your speeds will get throttled. Or, you'll get charged an overage fee.

Although your internet service provider won't cut off your internet connection entirely, when you get throttled, you'll notice. Why? Because this data capping makes your internet a whole lot slower and far less usable.  

Data caps and throttling are huge annoyances for gamers. No matter how advanced your skills or tactical knowledge as a player, data caps always win in the end.

That said, when you avoid data caps, not all games run poorly on satellite internet or VSAT. Let's take a closer look at different genres and what you can expect from online play.

Satellite Internet and Video Games

Although we've mentioned the unsatisfactory experiences that some gamers have while using satellite internet, that doesn't mean that all video games are unsuitable for VSAT. It depends on the type of game you're playing and its technical requirements.

If your location falls within your satellite provider's footprint, you should achieve speeds of ten to 20 Mbps. That's more than enough for most video games, whether you play on a tablet, PC, phone, or console.  

That said, the problem of latency remains. In general, travel time to and from a geostationary satellite runs between 500 and 800 milliseconds. This rate will fluctuate based on where you fall under a satellite's footprint.  

While a few hundred milliseconds probably doesn't sound like a lot to you, it can make the difference between life and death when it comes to games where split-second decisions count. Again, the Call of Duty series comes to mind.  

Even a half a second lag time can lead to a game death before you know what's happened.  

A term you'll see in the gamer community is "ping." It refers to latency plus the reaction time to recognize and respond to another server/computer within the game. In online video games, ping can make a player's character look like they're "teleporting" around the map.

It can be misconstrued as cheating and even result in getting kicked off the server.  

Video Games Suitable for Viasat and Hughesnet

Which games prove suitable for use with satellite internet? They include genres such as role-playing games (RPG) and strategy games.

Most role-playing games do not rely on split-second decisions.  That's not to say that RPGs don't come with plenty of intensity and action. So, you may notice some performance impacts due to latency.

You may also experience some delays in action from your fellow players. That said, these issues don't generally make the game unplayable. Role-playing games include Farmville and Second Life.  

As for strategy games? These include Empire Total War, Sid Meier's Civilization, and Civilization 5. You'll also find online versions of board games lumped into this category, such as Uno and Monopoly.

Since many of these games operate on a turn-base system, the latency associated with your satellite internet will be more or less unnoticeable. As a result, these may prove the least frustrating games to play when dealing with rural internet connections.

Games to Avoid on Viasat and Hughesnet

As for genres and brands to avoid while playing video games on satellite internet? Shooting games rank at the top. Many of them, like Battlefield, require latency of 100 milliseconds or less. That's because these games rely on rapid movements and split-second decisions.

When you combine these fast-paced games with the low latency of satellite internet, you end up looking like a sitting duck to your opponents. You simply can't react quickly enough because of signal travel time.

What's more, you'll likely notice that inputs from other players may appear once actions have already occurred. In other words, you'll get registered as dead before you even have the chance to retaliate. It doesn't get much more frustrating than that.

You'll also notice significant issues with latency when it comes to sports games. Again, this is because of their format and reliance on split-second reflexes and decision-making.  

What to Know About Sports Games on Viasat and Hughesnet

What do we mean by sports games? They include video games like FIFA 2016.  

Fortunately, when it comes to playing games on satellite internet, there are a few racing games that prove suitable. Games that don't require direct competition, such as Colin McRae Dirt,  play well over a satellite connection.  

Why? Because they don't require head-to-heads but rely on time trials instead. Your computer handles the maps/physics of such games without the necessity of involving the server.

With these games, the only data sent to the server is your player data and the time you achieved.

The Future of Satellite Internet Video Games

If all of this has you feeling a little frustrated, you're not alone. Fortunately, there is a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to solving satellite internet latency issues: low-Earth orbit satellites.

Low-Earth orbit satellites (LEOs) are still in their infancy. This technology, however, will revolutionize the internet provider world.  

How does it work? Low-Earth orbit satellites fly anywhere between 99 miles (160 kilometers) and 1,242 miles (2,000 kilometers) from the surface of the Earth. Because of their low-flying orbit, they drastically reduce latency.

When low-Earth orbit satellites do hit the market, the differences between VSAT service and terrestrial internet will finally prove negligible.  

Which companies are currently working on this technology? For starters, O3b has created low-Earth orbit and medium-Earth orbit satellites for internet access in emerging markets.

That said, you'll also find the likes of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Richard Branson involved in the LEO race. Here's a fascinating technical comparison of three LEO satellite constellation systems.  

At the moment, the cost of the equipment remains prohibitive, but the price per megabyte proves much lower. Startup costs also number in the billions of dollars.  

What does latency with LEOs look like? For O3b's satellites, they report a lag time of 150 milliseconds. That's four to six times faster than what we're currently getting from geostationary satellites! Talk about a step in the right direction.

Video Games on Satellite Internet

That said, only those living within the +45/-45 degrees range of the equator have access to LEOs. Look for this technology to revolutionize satellite internet in the coming years, though.

Of course, if you're running into the data cap on your internet service, then you'll likely find all internet-based video games frustrating. You'll also hate live-streaming television and browsing the internet. After all, data capping puts the brakes on your service.  

While we can look forward to a day when low-Earth orbiting satellites will revolutionize internet service to rural areas, most people on this planet don't yet have access to such technology.  

When that day comes, though, it'll be an exciting time for gamers in rural areas. Until then, you'll have to suck it up and stick with games that don't rely on uber-speedy reaction times and split-second decision-making.  

What to Do While Waiting for LEOs

In this article, we've answered the question, "How does satellite internet work?" We've also taken a look at some of the video game genres to embrace and avoid if satellite internet latency has got you down.

In the meantime, stick with your online games of Uno, Monopoly, and Farmville. Or, if you're among the lucky percentage of the American population that has access to options other than VSAT, it may be time to trade in your current connection for something more direct.  

Ready to discuss your options when it comes to internet service? Contact us for a full rundown of providers and options in your area.