HughesNet FAQ

Q: What is HughesNet?
A: HughesNet® is a high-speed satellite internet service provider. Our internet system is available to everyone in the contiguous United States. It’s especially good for rural areas. If you get HughesNet, you can:

Surf the internet
Download files
Do email
Use satellite technology instead of your phone line

How does internet satellite work?
The Internet connection is transmitted from and arrives to your personal computer via a satellite. The satellite communicates with your dish and modem via the Hughes Network Operating Centers (NOC).

After you select a plan with an authorized HughesNet Dealer (like GTEC), a HughesNet authorized technician will contact you to install your satellite Internet system.

A satellite dish and modem come with the system. The modem will be connected to your computer. The satellite dish will be attached to your home facing a southerly direction.

Q: Is a dial-up modem and telephone line still necessary?
A: No. Not for high speed internet service.

Q: What applications cannot be used over satellite internet?

There are five applications that do not work well over satellite internet:

1. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). VPN’s use a public network to connect remote users or sites together. These are commonly found in businesses.

VPN’s can be used with HughesNet, but connection speeds may be reduced by 50 to 75%.

(Note: While you can get HughesNet back to full speed by disabling your VPN connection, full technical support is not provided for problems associated with VPN issues.)

2. Twitch Games (Multi-player games or internet trading). The travel time (called latency) of the HughesNet satellite internet can add about a half second delay to total transmission time.

(Note: With broadband satellite internet, the data must go to the satellite and back—a distance of about 45,000 miles.)

So, time sensitive applications are not recommended for HughesNet.

3, 4 and 5. Heavy downloading, VOIP and Video Streaming are not recommended because of the same latency issues.

Q: Why choose HughesNet as your Satellite Internet Service?

Via a network of authorized sellers HughesNet provides high speed satellite internet for rural and urban areas throughout the United States. For those how live and work in rural, areas where internet can be hard to get, HughesNet is the superior solution for satellite internet.

In fact, HughesNet has installed over 1.5 satellite internet systems in more than 100 countries.

Whether you want to access the internet at home or for your business, a HughesNet service plan will provide you with superior satellite internet service.

Q: Is HughesNet a Solution for Rural Satellite Internet Service?
A: Yes! It’s been estimated that over 75% of rural residents do not have internet access at home. Rural internet services are simply not provided by many DSL and cable internet service providers.

Dial up internet access can be used. However, this can:

Tie up your phone line
Dramatically slow transmission time
Reduce access to internet content.

So, a HughesNet satellite internet connection can be a real solution for the rural areas of the country. It frees up the phone and speeds up your connection!

Q: What is Home Broadband Satellite Internet?
A: You can have broadband satellite Internet access in your home regardless of where you live. It’s available with HughesNet®.

Order a HughesNet satellite internet system from an authorized dealer like GTEC. They will take care of all of your rural internet needs including broadband satellite Internet access from your home computer.

Q: What are my Options for High Speed Satellite Internet?
A: Many high speed Internet options are available with HughesNet®. The plans start as low as $59.99 a month.

Determine what home plan will work best based on your internet needs.

For example, the Elite Premium plan may be the best option for you because it has internet download speed of up to 5.0 Mbps.

But if email is your main use of the internet, then the Home plan may be good enough to meet your needs with its slower download speeds.

For more information on satellite internet service pricing including plan descriptions, check the Plans & Pricing page.

Select GTEC as your Texas satellite internet service provider.

Call us at 800-460-0100 or complete the contact form.

Get high speed satellite internet in your home or business today!