User:Jschurtz/sandbox

= HughesNet = HughesNet is the brand under which Hughes Network Systems[7] provides high-speed satellite Internet access  and service in North and South America. HughesNet provides high-speed satellite Internet access throughout the contiguous United States, parts of Alaska, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Colombia. Initially branded as DirecPC and later DIRECWAY, the product was part of a new consumer division at Hughes Network Systems that also made set-top boxes for DirecTV. DirecPC was launched in 1996 into the consumer market, using a combination of a phone-line and modem to send data and a satellite connection for receiving data. DirecPC was the first true nationwide high-speed Internet service. DIRECWAY eliminated the phone line and provided two way satellite Internet.

The service brand officially changed its name to HughesNet on March 27, 2006. HughesNet launched the latest generation of high-speed satellite Internet for consumers and small businesses, HughesNet Gen5, on March 16, 2017. HughesNet has over a million subscribers in North America. How Satellite Internet Works

A request for a Web page is sent from your computer to a satellite about 22,000 miles out in space. Because Internet via satellite is so technologically advanced, this distance hardly makes a difference. The satellite contacts the operations center which locates the specific Website you have requested. The Website beams the information back along the same path to the center, then to the satellite, and then to your computer through your dish and modem. Although the signal travels a great distance, there is only a fraction of a second delay during this transmission. This is similar to delay you may have experienced when using a cell phone.

A notable difference in performance between HughesNet high-speed satellite Internet and terrestrial options (cable and DSL) is latency, also referred to as high ping  times. The reason for this discrepancy on satellite Internet is that data must travel approximately 45,000 miles to satellite and back again. This creates a fraction of a second delay in Internet responsiveness. While browsing for a website or downloading content, this delay goes unnoticed. Turn based, roleplaying and strategy games will work with HughesNet, but during real-time multi-player games this creates a delay and can disrupt the connection with the live gaming server. HughesNet ping times average 600ms to 800ms, as compared to 10ms to 80ms from cable, DSL and fiber services.

HughesNet has a 24-month contract period. If the contract is ended early, there is a cancellation fee but its decreases each month of an active contract. At the end of service, the equipment has to be returned. HughesNet will send instructions on how to de-install equipment, but a third-party technician may do it for a fee determined by the technician.

HughesNet Voice can be added to any HughesNet plan and uses Voice-over-IP (VoIP) technology to deliver phone service over customers’ satellite Internet connection (citation). HughesNet Voice does not affect the plan’s service data and is available to both consumer and business customers.

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) annual report on consumer broadband services has ranked HughesNet satellite Internet service first among all major Internet service providers (ISPs) for delivering on advertised performance promises for two consecutive years (2015-2016).

= HughesNet Gen5 =

HughesNet Gen5 is the fifth generation of high-speed satellite Internet service from Hughes Network Systems. At its launch on March 16, 2017, HughesNet Gen5 became the first satellite Internet service to offer FCC-defined broadband speeds, 25 Mbps, from coast-to-coast.

Gen5 service plans are delivered via the HughesNet network of high-capacity satellites, including EchoStar XVII and EchoStar XIX, which use innovative JUPITER high-throughput technology to optimize speed and performance. HughesNet Gen5 delivers download speeds of 25 Mbps and upload speeds of 3 Mbps, and an integrated modem with built-in Wi-Fi. All service plans feature Unlimited Data with No Hard Data Limits. If customers exceed the amount of data in their selected plan, they will stay connected at reduced speeds, typically 1-3 Mbps until the start of the next billing cycle.

HughesNet Gen5 for Consumers

HughesNet Gen5 service offers consumers a range of service plans ranging from 10 GB to 50 GB. All HughesNet Gen5 plans also include an additional 50 GB of Bonus Zone data to use between 2 am and 8 am.

HughesNet Gen5 for Business

In addition to residential customers, HughesNet also serves small businesses. HughesNet Gen5 for Business offers high-speed satellite Internet service for small businesses anywhere within the contiguous United States, Alaska and Puerto Rico. HughesNet for Business plans have 25 Mbps download speeds and upload speeds of 3 Mbps. These plans also include Daytime Data for use during normal business hours and Anytime Data that can be used 24/7, whenever you need it. Plans range from 35 GB to 250 GB of total data.

= History =

HughesNet was originally introduced with download speeds of 700 Kbps (less than1 Mbps). HughesNet Gen4 offered customer’s high-speed satellite Internet with download  speeds of up to 15 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 2 Mbps.[9]  All plans had 50 gigabytes per month of Bonus Bytes data allowance. HughesNet plans also included monthly data allowances, which, when reached or exceeded, would result in reduction of speed until the next billing cycle.