Forum Discussion
Re: ""...we are increasing the amount of available capa..." - lighthope1
lighthope1 - Yes, they have been. It's funny though, isn't it? I've been forced to use HughesNet for years, and have complained for years, and have been told repeatedly there's nothing they can do....
The phrase "we are increasing the amount of available capacity" means they put the thumb-screws down on the video data saver in the following ways:
- You could not turn the video data saver off (permanently)*
- The bandwidth per video stream/download to known recreational video sites was roughly cut in half
Before these measures, a video stream with the VDS turned on would be capped around 5.5Mbps in non-congested times, and about half that during prime time (perhaps depending on the beam). The 5.5Mbps was a download peak, with a per stream peak for streaming being much lower. So in the early morning hours you could watch 480p/720p if the large portions of the screen were not changing quickly or download roughly 2GB of video per hour. And you could turn VDS off and watch in HD (again during off-peak time).
After these measures, you were stuck with the VDS on and it was capped around half the normal rate for downloads so even during off-peak time with a comparably reduced peak for streaming you were not too likely to see 480p except with talking heads or a lot of buffering. Again I suspect the exact level may have been dependent on which beam you are on.
They have since backed down these emergency measures (something they did a couple of months ago?), and you can turn VDS off again.
It is important to realize where this "extra capacity" came from, or some folks in control may come to believe nobody knows the difference and they will make these measures permanent to sell to more users and/or create wild pie-in-the-sky plans with crazy names like "Freedom" etc -- the result will turn a good service into a living nightmare.
*edit
Just out of curiosity, and this is not meant in a condescending manner or anything of the like, but where are you getting your information concerning the following?
1. The bandwidth per video stream/download to known recreational video sites was roughly cut in half
2. Before these measures, a video stream with the VDS turned on would be capped around 5.5Mbps in non-congested times, and about half that during prime time (perhaps depending on the beam).
Edit: Please disregard. Reading on I see it was already answered.
