Whether you just moved to a new location or you’re just shopping around for a better deal than what you have with your current ISP, your hunt for the best internet service provider near you can be a daunting chore. You may ask yourself, “How do I choose between the internet service providers near me?”. The first answer you should be searching for is “What internet provider services my address?”. An ISP may be in your area but doesn’t have the required lines running to your actual address. Location is key. Living inside of city limits usually means you’ll have more than one ISP available to you. If this is the case, then you need to find out what kind of internet are these internet providers offering. Is it FiOS aka fiber optic internet, cable broadband, DSL, satellite broadband, or fixed wireless? There are pros and cons to each type of internet. Rural Areas will find DSL, fixed wireless, and more often than not, satellite internet as the only high speed internet option available at your home address. I know it’s starting to sound more and more like a job figuring what’s best for your home but there is help out there. A popular way of making this easier on you is using trusted websites like, Konect Eaze, who group available internet providers in your area by “internet needs” such as streaming, or gaming, social media or just good ol’ general browsing.

How Do I start Finding the Internet Providers Near Me?

There are many factors to consider when shopping for ISPs in your area. “Price of internet” is of course what most people will worry about first. This really should be one of the last things on your list of criteria when shopping for broadband internet. There’s usually a reason why one ISP is cheaper than another. That’s not always the case but speeds, reliability, and the most important factor, availability should be held higher than price. Availability of ISPs will sometimes end your search for the “best internet provider for your home”. In a country where we’re told monopolies don’t exist, well let’s just say some people will think differently when they find out there’s only one company able to offer internet to them. Once you’ve narrowed down the available internet provider(s) at your home address, it’s time to compare internet speeds and bandwidth. Your internet speed determines your internet bandwidth. Basically, your speed/bandwidth determines how many internet functions can be going on at the same time without causing interference with other internet actions going on. For example, Netflix requires 5mbps to play without buffering. Let’s say you have 8mbps on your current internet plan, and you decided to stream Netflix on the family smart TV in the living room. The movie is playing flawlessly.Then your significant other decides to start streaming Netflix on a smart TV in the bedroom. In total you would need 10mbps speed/bandwidth to play on both TVs without buffering but you only have 8mbps, so now both TVs are showing the buffering symbol. Knowing what internet speed you will need for your household’s internet habits will sometimes answer your question, “What’s the best internet provider for me?” There might be 2 ISPs available at your home but only one of the two ISPs can provide the internet speeds you require to be happy with internet.

Will I get Exactly What Internet Providers Near Me are Promising?

“Will I get exactly what internet service providers are advertising?” is a question you may ask yourself. The answer to this question is subjective. Most internet service providers will advertise a very high number of Mbps but will always include two little words right in front of the speed, “Up to”. “Up to” could mean that you will see that internet speed occasionally but for the most part you will see speeds below that threshold. Most internet service providers run off a shared network. This means that you are sharing your speeds/bandwidth with the rest of the neighborhood. If you ran an internet speed test at 3am, you’ll see much higher speeds whereas if you ran the same test at 7pm you’ll see considerably lower speeds. Most people are asleep at 3am versus at 7pm, most people are home from work or school and are unwinding for the day, using their various internet devices. Word of mouth from either neighbors or friends or family who use the available internet options at your address can be your best shopping tool. They can usually lead you in the right direction on how each ISP operated. From there you can do your own research. Konect Eaze can be a good place to start on your research. This helpful website gives an unbiased overlook of all the internet providers in your area. Are you ready to comparing internet providers near you? Start shopping for ISPs in your area.

Hughesnet Reviews Vs Viasat Reviews; Who is the best Satellite Internet Provider

Updated March 26, 2023

Satellite Internet, Is It Really Worth It?

Viasat Internet Plans & Pricing

Viasat is one of the top satellite internet providers and typically covers customers that live in more rural areas. Their vast network allows Viasat to cover almost 99% of the entire United States. Plus, they have speeds starting at 12 Mbps and plans that go all the way up to 100 Mbps! That's more than enough to handle any gaming for streaming needs for the most hardcore gaming.

For some context, most console and PC games require minimum upload speeds of 1 Mbps, 3-6 Mbps for the download speed, and a 'ping rate' (latency) of less than 150 milliseconds. Even the most bare-bones cable internet plans start at 5 Mbps, so you'll more than likely be covered. However, your gaming experience won't be great, per se, and if you live in a rural part of town, cable internet providers won't be in your area.  

Satellite internet plans from Viasat comes with a lot of benefits such as a 2-year price lock guarantee, free built-in wi-fi, free standard installation, and plans with no long-term contracts. If you're okay with having a satellite dish on your house, satellite internet can provide you with an optimal experience for most of your online needs. Just pray there isn't any heavy rain in the forecast.

For those who aren't heavy streamers of those looking for traditional TV plans, Viasat offers customers bundle packages with DirecTV. So, you won't lose out on your favorite sports teams or fan-favorite shows on the most popular networks!

HughesNet Internet Plans & Pricing

HughesNet offers customers a pretty solid internet experience as well with their HughesNet Gen5 Plans. They offer customers more than enough data for them to stream videos or do some casual online gaming. As with Viasat, they offer their customers built-in wi-fi, faster speeds, and no hard data caps, which is the next best thing to unlimited data.

Even though HughesNet offers customers no hard data limits, your internet speeds will be severely slowed down if you ever go above your monthly data limit. This can be problematic for those looking to cut the cord and just have an internet only plan.

But, fear not! HughesNet offers customers a "Bonus Zone," which is essentially a period of time between 2 and 8 a.m. where their customers have access to an additional 50 GB of data added on to their data limit. So your fifth binge of Friends or Seinfeld won't be spoiled by data limits.

When or if you go over your allotted data, HughesNet will lower your internet speeds to 1-5 Mbps which is enough to stream SD-quality videos.

What Satellite Internet Means For You

For those who live in the city or in the greater metro area, you'll have access to other internet connections (such as AT&T fiber, Xfinity cable, and Centurylink DSL), so getting a satellite internet plan may not be good for you. But, for those who live further out from major cities, a satellite internet connection from HughesNet or Viasat makes perfect sense.

Satellite internet providers will also offer customers some stability as both HughesNet and Viasat offer a 2-year price lock guarantee. This is great for those who like to budget out their monthly expenses. You'll know exactly what you're going to pay every month for the promo period (which is longer than most other providers).  The 24 month agreement doesn't start when you order Viasat or Hughesnet but only after it is successfully installed in your home.

To answer our intro question, is satellite internet worth it? The answer depends on you, for the most part. If you're living in a small town that does not have access to a cable or fiber internet connection, your hand may be forced in getting HughesNet or Viasat. If you live in a city or within the metropolitan area, satellite internet makes sense on a case-by-case basis.

For example, if you live in the suburbs and you don't have access to faster speeds of mainstream cable or DSL providers, satellite internet starts to make more sense. And you'll have access to bundle packages with DirecTV.

If you're looking for a better internet plan, or you're thinking of switching to satellite internet, we can help set you up with a plan that's right for you! Just click on this link ZIP CODE SEARCH and search available deals in your area today.

Viasat is one of the two largest satellite internet providers in the United States.

That feat alone is fascinating. However, when you take into account how much work is going into providing, maintaining—and excelling—then it’s impressive, to say the least.

Viasat is coordinating a lot to provide satellite internet; they must first launch satellites into space, synchronize them, coordinating the orbits, evaluating the speed, upload, and download times, and more. If a new technology comes out that could improve their systems, then they’ll have to launch a new satellite or make do with what they have already in place.

It’s quite baffling how it all works.

While the satellites may not be the newest out there, they are performing at or above standards. Viasat is currently working on designing, engineering, and launching a new fleet of satellites. They’re continually improving their technology and what’s available out there.

As the race to improve satellite internet begins to heat up, Viasat will be at the forefront, possibly even blazing a path. Doing so involves knowing what’s available, what can be improved upon, and blending the two goals together.

Another way of looking at it is to take a well-known piece of technology and doing things with it that no one thought possible.

Take, for example, a deck of cards.

You can shuffle it and play any game you want; canasta, solitaire, free cell, poker, Texas Hold 'Em, Baccarat, Blackjack, 24, Speed, Nine-Card Flip, Nerts, and the list goes on and on.

Playing games with cards is only one option though. You can build houses with cards too.

Alternatively, you can make the cards do things that don't seem possible- like jumping from one hand to another.

It's an art form called Cardistry.

Cardistry

The term “Cardistry” is the combination of the words “card” and “artistry.”

It’s a type of performance art that involves manipulating cards in unique and eye-popping ways. Much like illusionists who shuffle, palm, and make cards appear with their fingers, cardists create flourishes, passes, tosses, and other means of moving cards around with only their hands and fingers.

Some illusionists will also use this artistry into their acts as a means to distract the audience.

Moreover, there are the card throwing artists who incorporate this into their trick shots. It's a display of their dexterity, as well as a hint to the number of hours they've been practicing.

Cardestry, legerdemain, and card throwing appear simple enough.

Much like satellite internet, it’s merely moving a small object from one place to another. Right?

It’s not.

Cardistry is not as easy as picking up a deck.

To master moving cards effortlessly among your fingers, it takes time and lots, and lots, and lots of practice. If you get a chance to watch a cardist, or even an illusionist who's primary medium is cards, take notice of their hands. You'll notice a strange strength there, as though they've been lifting weights with their fingers. It's a unique trait that stems from handling cards for hours a day. When they pick up a deck, they're comfortable with it.

These hours of repetition is how they attain mastery.

Viasat is doing the same here. By taking a version of a technology, i.e., the satellites already in orbit, they're able to innovate and do impressive things with them.

Satellite Artistry

While Viasat is one of the largest satellite internet providers in the nation, they also have a large number of government contracts.

By working the United States Federal Government, they provide internet access for hard to reach places. These may be embassies or state department offices in remote locations.

Viasat is also providing satellite internet connectivity to our nations armed forces. A big reason for this is ships and aircraft require internet connectivity in their missions. Instead of creating an entirely new network for the government, the government has instead hired out Viasat to do it for them. Viasat, while providing satellite internet for many government and military projects, isn't the only provider sub-contracted to do so.

These projects range from aircraft carriers to individual aircraft.

To connect all these projects to their services, Viasat is working with Boeing. Boeing provides the technology, as well as the means, to maintain their satellite systems in orbit around the earth. The aircraft manufacturer is also working to create new satellites that Viasat will use to update their networks soon.

However, it’s not just the satellites that will set Viasat apart.

Much like it’s not enough to have a flashy deck of cards, Viasat has to know how to use the satellites to their fullest extent. Cardists are the same way. They may get a new deck of cards, but it’s not the cards that make the magic. It’s the cardist that does that.

Also, Viasat is working to make sure this happens as they move satellites around the globe to maintain a stable network.

By The Numbers

Viasat, thanks to satellites, is available in 32,787 zip codes. They now have a presence in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. The only stipulation here is that the dish must be able to face south without significant obstructions.

There is a tradeoff with satellites, however.

Transmitting signals down to a dish and waiting for them to return causes latency.

If a customer were to download a large file through their satellite connection, they run the risk of exceeding their download speed. To mitigate this, Viasat has instituted data caps. These data caps are to discourage large downloads. If a customer were to reach their data cap, Viasat could slow down their connection, suspend service for a short while, or charge them for the extra data used.

While annoying, data caps ensure that all customers can enjoy their service.

Viasat’s data caps range from 40 gigabytes to 150 gigs, depending on your plan.

So long as customers remain under the data cap, they do enjoy decent download times.

Netflix regularly checks the download speed of providers using their streaming service. Netflix compiles this data into their ISP Speed Index.

For Viasat, from September 2017 to September 2018, they averaged 0.86 Mbps. That speed puts them in the top 75 ISPs (internet service providers) in the nation.

Not bad at all.

Satellites and Cards

As satellite internet technology continues to improve, customers will have more and more options and will increase connectivity between government and military locations, as well as customers in rural areas. As preferable as cable and fiber are, it’s not available everywhere. Waiting for something like that to happen will take years and years of waiting.

Hence, why customers will opt for satellite instead. A satellite dish is more accessible and much faster, to install on their property than wait for fiber. Satellites are able available virtually everywhere in the world.

As Viasat expands their network and their reach, we may soon be seeing it as a serious contender within urban areas.

If you’re considering satellite internet in your area, make sure to check out Viasat internet deals to give you an idea of the upload and download speeds, as well as any deals Viasat may be running in your area.

Just like cardists and other card related entertainers, Viasat is practicing and honing their skills. Much like card throwing, Viasat is literally throwing a card from a great distance to hit a small target. And they’re doing this all the time.

Are you a Viasat Subscriber? Tell us what you like about them in the comments.

For news on new technology for satellite providers, keep your browser open to On The Download.

When it comes to satellite internet, HughesNet is one of the dominating providers for this sub-category. Their use of technology, as well as transparency, has put them in the lead when it comes to satellite internet.

It would be easy to liken them to the blockbuster franchise Transformers, but really, HughesNet goes above and beyond while Transformers merely entertains.

And here’s why…

What’s Happening with HughesNet?

HughesNet is a satellite internet provider based out of Germantown, MD. Their primary customer base is rural residents as well as remote customers. Since a great many ISPs (internet service providers) focus on specific towns and cities, customers outside of that coverage area are left without access to the internet. HughesNet fills this gap.

Usually, the main stipulation to installation is that the potential customer has a clear view of the southern sky.

HughesNet is also working to improve satellite internet’s reliability. And they’re not the only ones.

Recently, Elon Musk and Google, among other competitors, expressed interest in launching innovative technology to improve upon satellite connectivity. One such solution involved hot air balloons that would float up to a high altitude.

HughesNet is instead sticking with what it knows- satellites.

Echostar, HughesNet’s parent company, is working with Lockheed Martin to design another wave of satellites that will incorporate innovative technology to decrease latency and improve reliability.

Last year they launched their newest line of satellites, EchoStar XIX.

With this, HughesNet rolled out their Gen5 services. Gen5 (aptly named because it’s the fifth generation of satellites they’ve commissioned) will have built-in Wi-Fi. They’ve also increased most of their packages to include more data downloads and cut back on the data restrictions. Up until now, HughesNet, as well as other satellite internet providers, would throttle the download speed of a customer who had gone over their allotted download speed.

HughesNet is aiming to avoid this with Gen5.

As they work to improve the technology they incorporate into their satellite systems, HughesNet is evolving…in a sense.

It’s not as though the machines they’re using are getting upgraded and turned into more advanced devices. This isn’t Transformers. There are a few parallels though.

Transformers; The Next Sequel

Back in 2007, the very first Transformers film was a hit.

This was thanks to the big budget behind it, as well as the massive marketing campaign to get the word out.

But big budgets can be wasted if the right crew isn’t involved. Luckily, the smart decision was made to hire Michael Bay. With his penchant for explosions and high action (everything that would make the Transformers look cool), the movie did well in at the box office and dominated the summer blockbusters of 2007.

Transformers, based on toys from Japan, developed a mythos that grew and grew as more and more toys were created. As a result, there were cartoons and even an animated movie in 1986. While this film was just a continuation of the cartoon series, it could stand alone. It may have lacked the gleam and style of a Michael Bay film, but it’s pure 80s nostalgia for anyone who’s seen it.

Double the nostalgia points if you watched it before watching the recent Transformers incarnations.

Instead of relying on hand-drawn animation, the newer films use copious amounts of computer-generated imagery. When each one debuted, they symbolized the height of CGI filmmaking and technology.

Like all big films, however, Transformers didn’t age well.

To date, there have been five transformers movies, and the last one did not do well. Although it was considered a commercial success, this was in large part thanks to the younger demographic that enjoyed lots of explosions, robots, fighting, and a shallow story.

Steve Jablonsky, however, delivered a dynamic soundtrack for each film. While the subject matter may have been “sub-par,” his music is something to be heard though. That’s one aspect of the movie that hasn’t changed.

Each successive film, however, seemed to rewrite the history of the Transformers. Although the toys came without a backstory, Hasbro set about creating one. Readers of the original comic books and those who watched the original cartoons would have a better idea of how Transformers was “supposed” to go. This mythos, however, was largely ignored for the movies. The original narrative of the cartoons was cut out, and the Transformers franchise was turned into a money-making machine for the summer movie season.

Instead, the movies were formulaic. Each one could be boiled down to a simple equation like:

The equation was used again and again for each subsequent movie. There was a difference though as the equation for each new movie was multiplied by a factor of five to outdo the previous one. When that happens, each subsequent movie will suffer a loss of excitement and allure by a factor of ten. And while the author of this piece is not very good at math (he barely passed), he knows that that math will not hold up for long.

The last Transformers film was announced to be the last one directed by Bay. Although there is a standalone movie based on Bumblebee coming out soon, we have yet to see if this will revive the franchise.

Parallels

While HughesNet is a real company and the Transformers films are a work of fiction, there are a few parallels between the two;

By The Numbers

HughesNet, thanks to their capabilities as a satellite internet company, has availability in all fifty states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The only stipulation being that the customer must be able to see the southern sky clearly to receive a signal from the satellite passing overhead. Thanks to this capability, of the 42,000 zip codes in the United States, HughesNet has a presence in 33,131 of them. When the author utilizes some basic math skills, that turns out to be 79%.

HughesNet, being a satellite internet provider, may not be considered “fast” when compared with other providers. For example, Netflix keeps track of the download speeds of all the providers that support the streaming service. They track the rate at which providers can download content during peak hours. These peak hours are generally between 5 pm and 10 pm every day.

From September 2017 to September 2018, HughesNet averaged .67 Mbps.

That number may seem low.

On the upside, HughesNet advertises their speed “as is.” You won’t see “speeds up to” in their marketing. For this reason, the FCC ranked them first in advertised download speeds. This transparency has translated to higher than average customer service reviews.

Unlike Transformers, HughesNet is upfront about their technology and how it’s going to work in a typical situation.

HughesNet and the Future

There is one industry where satellites are the primary source of internet- travel.

With more and more people commuting for work and/or traveling, a satellite is the only option for providing internet connectivity. This will only help HughesNet.

As they work to improve satellite internet, either through their current equipment or by launching new material, HughesNet will be at the forefront of the industry for the foreseeable future.

If you’re interested in HughesNet, take a look at their internet deals and packages to see if they’re right for you and your home. They are considered one of the best ISPs when it comes to customer satisfaction.

Do you have HughesNet in your home? Do you like the service? What could be improved?

Are you a Transformers fan? What did you think of the newest movies? What about the Bumblebee film coming out later this year?

Post your answers in our comments section and keep reading On The Download!

Satellite, It’s Better Than You Thought

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