Forum Discussion

richknox's avatar
richknox
Sophomore
6 years ago

Slow Internet Speeds on HughesNet

I am opening this thread because this is the 2nd time I have had this problem.  The first was in November 2016 and it took approximately 6 months to finally get someone to come to my house to try and...
Performance
  • Liz's avatar
    Liz
    6 years ago

    Hi richknox,

     

    I'm so happy to hear this! Thank you for coming back and updating us on the site visit. I appreciate your working with us so we can get this resolved for you.

     

  • richknox's avatar
    richknox
    6 years ago

    Again, I would like to thank all that helped correct my problem.  I have a 13.6 download and a 4.8 upload speed tonight. It appears that my problem has been solved. I will accept this as the solution and close this thread. Thank you very much. 

richknox's avatar
richknox
Sophomore

Liz, I know this is not the perfect testing solution but it is how all of our devices are used - on the HughesNet modem WiFi. I am connected to the 2g WiFi this morning and at 5;30 am central my speeds were 1.06 and .86 download. Again I know this is not the preferred test but I do not have anything directly connected to the modem. No matter what it should be running at a much faster speed. Please give me some direction.  Thanks

GabeU's avatar
GabeU
Distinguished Professor IV
6 years ago

richknox 

 

Do you have the ability to connect any of your devices to the modem via LAN cable?  If not, might you have a relative or friend that you could temporarily borrow a LAN cable connectible device from in order to test your base speed? 

 

The reason that a direct connection is requested is because it's the most basic connection there is, as well as being direct.  WiFi can add other possible problems into the mix, which makes it more difficult to discern where the problem may lie, and what may be causing it.  It's sort of like tyring to determine the cause of screen artifacts while watching something, but watching it on a monitor that is connected to a camera that is viewing the TV that's connected to the Blu Ray player. You don't really know where the problem lies, as in the Blu Ray player, the TV, the camera recording it, the monitor you're viewing it on, or even a wrongly set option on any of those components.  That's not a perfect example, but I think it probably gives you an idea of what I mean. 

 

I'm sure Liz will reply in regard to whether the WiFi results will be sufficient.   

  • richknox's avatar
    richknox
    Sophomore
    6 years ago

    Gabe,  I totally understand and will try to do this.  What I don’t really understand is what the difference will be since I am connecting my iPad to the WiFi through the Hughes modem.  I am using the HughesNet 2G or 5G WiFi networks imbedded in the modem.  If i connect a LAN cable to the modem I will still be using the modem but just through a direct cable.  To me there is really no difference.  I guess there could be a problem with the WiFi signal from the modem but if I get a difference result from the direct connect you will then tell me there is nothing wrong so where do I go then?  Just wondering what do you do with people that have nothing but WiFi connected devices?  It seems to me that most of the world now has only mobile type devices whether they be a laptop or phone type devices.  Just wondering?

    • MarkJFine's avatar
      MarkJFine
      Professor
      6 years ago

      Here's the issue:

       

      Depending upon the protocol the wifi connects with, you may not be getting the full bandwidth capability. Plus, it adds another layer of potential problems caused by wifi protocol incompatibilities.

       

      By connecting using the LAN cable you always get the full unrestricted bandwidth available by the modem at all times.

       

      Bottom line: By using wifi, it's only making solving the problem more complicated.

      • GabeU's avatar
        GabeU
        Distinguished Professor IV
        6 years ago

        MarkJFine 

         

        "By connecting using the LAN cable you always get the full unrestricted bandwidth available by the modem at all times."

         

        You always word it better than I do.  

         

        Edit:  I'm going to have to bookmark your comment so I can use it when asked this type of question in the future, as it's not an uncommon one.  Well, more like steal it and use it.  :p  

    • GabeU's avatar
      GabeU
      Distinguished Professor IV
      6 years ago

      richknox 

       

      It's a process of elimination.  

       

      A wired connection is the most basic, solid connection there is, and the possible causes of speed issues are relatively few in number when connected this way.      

       

      A WiFi connection is neither solid, nor basic, and the possible causes of the issue when connected this way are increased.  Radio interference, options misconfigurations for that particular connection, range issues, a bad or weakening transmitter or receiver, etc.  The solid LAN connection eliminates all of those possibilities, as well as the variances in slowdowns that are inherent to a WiFi connection.

       

      I have no idea whether there will be any difference, but that's not the point.  The point is to have the most basic, solid connection possible and eliminate a slew of possible WiFi related causes in one shot.  WiFi can't be relied on to be an accurate demonstration of your HughesNet speeds, whereas a direct LAN connection can.  

       

      richknox wrote:

      I guess there could be a problem with the WiFi signal from the modem but if I get a difference result from the direct connect you will then tell me there is nothing wrong so where do I go then?   

      If the speed via direct connection is fine, but it's not via WiFi, then we know the problem lies somewhere in the WiFi connection, and that's what has to be concentrated on.  So, you don't go anywhere.  You continue to troubleshoot the issue until the cause is found, then resolved.