HughesNet vs WildBlue
A Comparison the Top Satellite Internet Providers - Hughesnet vs WildBlue
For anyone who is considering switching from dial up to Satellite Broadband Internet, there are only two clear choices, HughesNet or WildBlue. You really can’t go wrong with either provider, but there are some differences that could be key depending upon your personal needs.
The following comparison is designed to help any potential customer examine both services and decide which provider best fits their finances, Internet needs and lifestyle.
| Hughesnet | WildBlue | |
| Overview | HughesNet positions itself as a solution to dial up – for anyone who cannot get cable or DSL. HughesNet uses advanced technology to give its customers blazing fast, always-on Internet connections at their home of office. With Hughesnet you can flip through webpages like turning the pages of a book, with no phone line needed. | WildBlue positions itself as the high-speed Internet provider that gives you the ability to get connected – and – stay connected with work, friends and life. WildBlue harnesses the power of satellites to deliver faster speeds, greater downloading capacity and an all-around better experience than dial up. They provide plans that have speeds up to 30x faster than dial up allowing their users to tap into the latest online technology without the headache of a slow connection. |
|
Up-Front Costs |
HughesNet |
WildBlue |
|
Account Setup or Activation Fee |
Purchase Plan $399.98 ($100 Mail-In rebate) -$199.99 $199.98 or Lease Plan $99.00 |
Account Setup Fee Shipping & Handling $24.95 $24.95 |
|
Monthly Fees |
HughesNet |
WildBlue |
|
Monthly Internet Service & Additional Fees |
Basic $59.99 Power150 $79.99 Power200 $109.99 LeaseFee $9.99 No additional fees for Purchase Plans |
Value $49.95 Select $69.95 Pro $79.95 Lease Fee $5.95 Pre-Pay Lease Option For 2-years $99.95 |
|
Service Speeds |
HughesNet |
WildBlue |
|
Download Speeds & Upload Speeds |
Basic 1 Mbps / 200 Kbps Power150 1.5 Mbps / 250 Kbps Power200 2 Mbps / 300 Kbps |
Value 512 Kbps / 128 Kbps Select 1 Mbps / 200 Kbps Pro 1.5 Mbps / 256 Kbps |
|
Service Comparisons |
HughesNet |
WildBlue |
|
Contract Term |
24 months |
24 months |
|
Credit Check Required |
Only for Lease Option |
YES |
|
Early Cancellation Fee |
$400 |
$15 x months remaining |
|
24/7 Customer Care |
YES |
NO |
|
24/7 Technical Support |
YES |
NO |
|
Warranty |
24 mo. (equipment only) |
90 days labor / 24 mo. parts |
|
Suspension of Service |
Up to 6 months |
NO |
|
VPN Compatible |
Power150 and up (speeds reduced by 50% while engaged in VPN) |
NO |
|
Anti Virus Protection |
Zone Alarm (Free for 90 days) $3.95 / mo. after trial |
F-Secure (Free for 12 mo.) $2.95 / mo. after trial |
|
|
2 GB Storage Capacity |
7 GB Storage Capacity |
|
Standard Installation |
FREE |
FREE |
|
Dish Size |
23” x 39” |
26” x 28” |
|
Service Calls |
$29.95 per trip |
$95.00 per trip |
|
VOIP |
NO |
NO |
|
Online Gaming |
NO |
NO |
|
Dial-up Remote Access |
NO |
$7.95 / mo. |
|
Identity Theft Protection |
FREE for 6 months |
NO |
|
Fair Access Policy |
HughesNet |
WildBlue |
|
FAP Refresh |
24 hours |
Rolling 30 day cycle |
|
FAP Free Download Zone |
2 AM – 7 AM EST |
NO |
|
FAP Restore Tokens |
1-Free per month / $5 each after |
NO |
|
FAP Download Manager |
YES
|
NO |
|
FAP Usage Meter |
YES
|
YES
|
|
FAP Download Thresholds |
Basic 200 MB / day Power150 300 MB / day Power200 400 MB / day |
Value 7,500 MB / mo. Select 12,000 MB / mo. Pro 17,000 MB / mo. |
| FAP Download Capability | HughesNet (Basic Plan) | WildBlue (Value Plan) |
|
4-min Song Files |
50 / day |
1,875 / mo. |
|
5-min Video File |
40 / day |
1,500 / mo. |
|
2-hour Movie File |
NO - must schedule during Free Download Zone |
5 / mo. |
Fair Access Policy
Both providers use a Fair Access Policy to ensure their customers have equal access and performance to their service. The penalty for exceeding the Fair Access Policy is to be slowed down to dial up speeds until the next FAP refresh. It is important to note that only 4% of all HughesNet customers exceed the FAP, while 2% of all WildBlue customers exceed FAP.
Customer Promotions
Both HughesNet and WildBlue offer aggressive new customer promotions that vary from month to month, even week to week. Promotions that would Include savings on upfront costs and monthly – always a good idea to call for details.
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