Just curious if Hughesnet will ever get unlimited data. Excede has come into my area an offers it. Speeds up to 25mbps, unlimited data for $150 per month. $100 for the first 3 months. It's expensive, but when you consider unlimited data, it's worth it when you can get no other services. I've had average service with Hughesnet, it's just to expensive for the small amount of data you get. Even the 50GB plan for around $129 is laughable to be honest. For $20 more bucks I can get unlimited. Anyways, hoping you all change your minds and jump up to the future. Thanks!
Perhaps in the future, but doubtful that it will be anytime soon. It's not a question of what they feel like offering, it's a question of throughput.
And, as has been suggested, the grass isn't always greener, no matter how it may look from a distance.
The new standard for "unlimited" (Exede) seems to mean they don't shut you off entirely. HughesNet could start offering 500 GB plans with the caveat that they might start slowing things down at 10, 20, 30 50 GB based on loading. Actually no different than what is already being offered IMO.
The "unlimited" thing is very subjective and a lot misleading as far as I'm concerned. Exede can say they have an "unlimited" 150 GB plan but the speed can still be anything from 1 Mbps to the max possible speed. Nothing is guaranteed by either provider if you read the fine print.
Nothing is guaranteed by either satellite provider when it comes to constant speed. You won't get max speed 24/7 with Exede "unlimited" plan, I guarantee that. Just like I don't get max speed 24/7 with my plan on HughesNet. Sorry, not how it works with either provider.
Very true. When it comes right down to it, Hughesnet's service is already unlimited, just not with the advertised high speed part.
Actually, technically, even the legacy plans were unlimited, though the FAP speeds were/are VERY slow.
I understand. But If I can get the same or close to the same speed I'm getting now, the larger data plan for approx. the same price is a better deal. They do have a short bonus period, 3-6am, but it's unlimited. I was curious if they'd slow the speed down to limit the amount you will get daily. But according to my neighbor, doesn't seem to be. But I'm still going to research and make sure. Like what was mentioned, the grass isn't always greener. I'm patient, and have plenty of time to research the blogs and get people's opinions. Thanks for the info!
First and foremost, please follow the Community Guidelines and refrain from the foul language. This is a public website, and the guidelines are in place to keep it user friendly, both to those who utilize it, and those who read it.
Now, to the topic, Exede most certainly DOES throttle the speed of the service when one reaches their data limit. How it's throttled and what it affects varies from plan type to plan type.
Hughes' throughput is much more restricted than land based systems, and giving unlimited high speed data isn't feasable. Satellite internet is not made for cord cutters.
Again, if you're going to post here please have the courtesy of following the Community Guidelines.
You have to take the ability to buy as many tokens as you want into context. The few people who may actually choose to buy token after token after token so they can stream constantly isn't going to stress the system like a few hundred thousand people who would do so if they could buy unlimited plans. Unlimited data means one thing....streaming, and a LOT of it. As you are aware, that's the most data intensive consumer activity on the net right now. Hughesnet's system simply can't handle it, but it can handle a few people here and there doing the same by buying tokens.
As was noted in another thread, the ES19 can, theoretically, provide the bandwidth required to stream in HD to about 44,000 people at any given time. That's it, and that's not counting anyone else on the ES19 doing anything whatsoever, so the reality of being able to provide that to those 44,000 is an entirely different thing.
Again, HughesNet can't offer what they can't provide. Who knows what the future may bring, but as it stands right now, with the equipment they have in place, it's not going to happen.
@Saxgod wrote:
But again exede starts throttling at 150gb. So why not do that. Charge $200 a month for 150gb. Don’t call it unlimited even though that’s what exede calls it. So why not do that? Basically 150gb and maybe have unlimited off peak hour from 2am-8am. Why not do that?
Why do you keep making the assumption that Hughesnet's system, and throughput, is identical to Exede's, or even a number of customers than can justify offering such? Just because one sat internet company offers something doesn't mean it's main competition can, nor wants to, offer the same, with the latter being customer dependant. Hughes has a much larger number of customers than Exede does. To stick with your choice of auto analogies, you can fit six average people in the average sedan. It becomes much more difficult when you try to put four average people, plus two 400lb people, or even three average and three 400lb people, in that same sedan, as not only is there not going to be any room for anyone to move (throughput), the car is going to have more difficulty moving up hills and such at speed because of the extra weight (capacity).
Sure, they could offer it, then have thousands of people sign up for it over the next few months, then have the system slow to such a crawl due to people continually streaming with all of that data that people begin having issues simply downloading their email. What then?
HughesNet offers what the system can handle within reason. Start offering what it can't support, then not only do all customers suffer, but so does the company. THAT'S Economics 101. You don't offer what you can't provide, nor offer what will cause everyone on the system to suffer.
Again, it all comes down to what the system can handle, and they aren't going to offer what it can't support.
Yep, do 150 GB plans so people can complain even more about slow speeds.
Amazes me how folks don't relate plans to capacity, speed and individual experience.
I must be really ignorant. All of it is intertwined in my mind.
Cord cutters who expect HD video streaming and gaming 24/7 also make things worse. Some even expect ultra HD. Smack my head and hit it with a hammer!
@BirdDog wrote:
Cord cutters who expect HD video streaming and gaming 24/7 also make things worse. Some even expect ultra HD. Smack my head and hit it with a hammer!
I can't remember where (either Facebook or Twitter), but I saw someone just a few days ago complaining because their hour or so of streaming in Ultra HD used 18 plus GBs of data. Kind of one of those SMH moments. Streaming in Ultra HD on a service that has the high speed portion of the data capped. Again...SMH. 😛
It's fascinating how people will easily believe Excede when they advertise "no throttling up to 150GB", but think Hughes is lying when they advertise "high speed internet".
I know Hughes has the capacity to offer High Speed Internet. I've seen them do it. I've downloaded games over 6GB in under 20 minutes flat. Quite frankly that's exactly what I need the internet for, so it works for me.
The part you don't seem to understand is when 1k+ people are trying to stream SD (or more) simultaneously for hours on end on any particular beam, it's not called intentional throttling, it's called congestion and will slow down any system. Encouraging larger plan sizes just encourages more congestion and worse service for everyone.
So, if you think Excede isn't just fishing for a quick, larger market share that's eventually going to blow up in their face, you're mistaken. But, good luck with that.
Edit: And if you think people streaming aren't the issue, take a look in the Tech section, where nearly every slowness complaint starts with "I can't even stream...", and most aren't even aware of the resolution they're trying to stream at.
Recently another ISP began offering unlimited data -- the result has been disastrous, and speeds have taken a huge tumble for everyone, even users who do not subscribe to the unlimited data package. In fact, the company appears to be throttling speeds on purpose, just to allow for all that "unlimited" data. Users are furious and are venting on the company's forums. (I have found it very illuminating to read the support forums for a couple of other ISPs; there's a lot of perspective to be gained). In any case, while there's "unlimited" data, people can't really use it, as the speed is laughable.
Go to the company's support forums. Simply search Google for the company's name and the words support forums. There are complaints as old as 48 hours, and someone actually was complaining about the unlimited plan. I'm not going to post the links here, sorry, but the main link to the support forums is community.nameofcompany.com.
The company recently changed its name, by the way.