When choosing which satellite internet service to subscribe to consumers have few options. The choice is either between WildBlue or HughesNet and that choice is not easy to make. Retailers of both services attempt to entice customers with rebates, freebies, and other promotional gimmicks. Don’t always believe what you hear or see just because one service offers you a free ipod with your satellite do not mean they are the best choice.
First let’s compare monthly pricing options. WildBlue offers an entry level service they have dubbed the Value Pak at $49.95 a month, this package offers speeds of 512kbps. HughesNet’s comparable package is the Home plan offering users 700kbps for $59.99 per month. To the average consumer this may not look like much of a speed increase for the $10.00 difference but those extra 200kbps is more than a 40% increase in speed across the board. Next we will compare the middle echelon packages. HughesNet offers a package called the Pro plan where as WildBlue offers a package called the Select Pak. Both are very similar in speeds running up to 1000kbps pricing is basically the same at $69.95 a month. And the final package for home uses both companies market is Hughes’s ProPlus and WildBlue’s Pro Pak. The name just like their speed abilities is very similar speeds of up to 1500kbps. Both packages again retail for the same price approximately $79.95 per month.
Installation and equipment costs are where the two satellite internet titans begin differ. WildBlue is currently running promotions offering $100.00 off there standard installation cost of $179.95 bringing the price down to $79.95. And their equipment price has a current rebate of $50.00 dollars bringing equipment down to $249.00 from $299.99. Total equipment and installation costs from WildBlue are $328.95. HughesNet’s rebate is far easier to understand. Installation and equipment costs are bundled and final cost to the consumer is $299.99 after a $100.00 mail in rebate from HughesNet, an overall savings of $28.96 over WildBlue.
How about service? Pricing aside who offers the best service? Well that’s easy, WildBlue’s average set up time can be up to one month depending on whether or not your local contractor has the equipment in stock. Most WildBlue installers do not keep the equipment in stock and must order the equipment which can take up to 3 weeks to be delivered. HughesNet installers consistently have the equipment in stock and install most customers within 3-6 business days. Another disadvantage of WildBlue is the fact they run on the old Ka-band which has severe signal degradation during periods of rain or inclement weather. HughesNet operates on the Ku-Band which offers superior signal quality in all weather. Along with superior signal quality HughesNet is reinvesting in its service by sending a new satellite into orbit named Spaceway 3. Spaceway will offer all HughesNet customers increased speed of up to 16mbps. After weighing all the facts HughesNet is obviously the better choice over WildBlue.
Related Articles
Spaceway 3 Satellite Internet
By: Ned Hughes | 27/09/2007 | Computers
HughesNet is the leader in Satellite Internet connectivity in the United States. It has 325,000 customers and the number is growing everyday. To meet customer's expectations HughesNet has launched the Boeing built Space3 satellite into space. The Ka- band satellite was launched by the Ariane 5 ECA launcher from Kourou,...
Different Technologies Used To Provide Internet
By: Ned Hughes | 27/09/2007 | Computers
Internet connectivity across the country has been growing at a brisk pace and the FCC has taken steps to ensure that the Internet reaches the interiors of America. The different technologies used to provide Internet connections to customers include dial-up, broadband, cable modem, and DSL. Dial-up is one of the...
VoIP Via Satellite Internet
By: Ned Hughes | 27/09/2007 | Computers
VoIP has revolutionized the way telecommunication is done. Voice over Internet protocol allows voice packets to be sent over Internet bandwidth enabling cheap communication. There are many companies which offer voice over Internet services and some of the leading ones are Vonage, Skype, Yahoo and Net2Phone. Consumers can access VoIP...
Internet Access In The Work Place
By: Ned Hughes | 27/09/2007 | Business
Internet connectivity at your home helps you to remain connected to the world. It also helps to pay your bills and book flight tickets. Offices use Internet to access Email, establish VPN's and gather information. There are a host of options as to which Internet connection to get....
The Benefits Of HughesNet.Satellite Internet
By: Ned Hughes | 28/09/2007 | Internet
Internet technology has come a long way from the days when a 20 kbps speed dial-up connection was considered fast. Cable Internet, broadband and DSL connections brought in a new era in Internet technology. What broadband Internet cannot offer is coverage in remote areas where laying cables in not feasible...
How to Select a Satellite Internet Plan
By: Satellite Family | 01/10/2007 | Internet
With a variety of options when picking a satellite internet package it's commonplace for confusion to occur. We break down the requirements and help you understand what is needed when ordering satellite internet.
Internet Access in Rural Areas
By: Ned Hughes | 22/09/2007 | Intra-net
Looking for broadband internet, but cant get DSL or Cable modem? High Speed Internet is now available anywhere via satellite.
VoIP and Satellite Internet
By: Ned Hughes | 22/09/2007 | Internet
VoIP over Satellite is not an ideal. This due to the Latency on satellite traffic affecting the quality of VoIP service.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to get Satellite internet?
By: cosmosatellite | 09-07-2008
Where to get Satellite internet?
Satellite Internet - HughesNet
By: cosmosatellite | 02-05-2008
Satellite Internet is HughesNet Providing only in USA?
VoiP
By: bcbluth | 07-10-2007
can you tell me how to use VoiP with hughesnet.satellite?
Q&A Powered by:
More from Satellite Family
How to Select a Satellite Internet Plan
By: Satellite Family | 01/10/2007 | Internet
With a variety of options when picking a satellite internet package it's commonplace for confusion to occur. We break down the requirements and help you understand what is needed when ordering satellite internet.
Internet 
