CenturyLink vs. hughesnet

CenturyLink is the better option as its fiber network offers remarkable speeds of up to 2,000Mbps .Hughesnet offers you satellite internet, which can be used as an alternative for DSL transmission. CenturyLink offers you DSL, cable and fiber. The benefits of satellite internet is that it can offered almost anywhere – you do not have restrictions for cables and telephone lines. It is budget friendly but may not reach the kind of speeds offered by fiber, this makes CenturyLink the better option.

One of the key disadvantages of DSL is that it is not available everywhere. You will need a telephone line to access it. Most of the existing DSL infrastructure is outdated and this means you may not get the best of internet speeds.

Key differences between DSL and Satellite

DSL refers to “digital subscriber line” and it is a way of bringing high-speed internet to your home via the phone lines. With these technology you are able to keep your telephone line while still connecting to your internet. When you get connected to DSL you are given a splitter modem that splits the signal so that you send voice signals to through the lower frequencies while internet is sent via the higher frequencies. With these you can chat on the phone while still surfing the internet.

Satellite internet is dependent on satellites that revolve around the earth’s atmosphere. You receive the signals via beams broadcasted onto your dish on your home. Due to the distance between the satellites and earth which can at times be up to 22,000 miles you do experience some sort of lag whenever the satellites are broadcasting signals. If you are using your internet for occasional browsing you may not notice this lag unless you try streaming movies and shows.

Satellite prices tend to be higher than DSL and this can be attributed to the fact that it is costly setting them up.  This means CenturyLink is cheaper than DSL hence making it slightly better. Hughesnet charges around $59.99 -$149.99 for its satellite services which is higher than $27-$50 for DSL. The company also offers a data cap of 10-20GB whereas CenturyLink does not come with data cap, you enjoy unlimited internet.

CenturyLink offers you two basic types of internet access – you have the simply unlimited for $50 and with 100Mbps and you get the CenturyLink Fiber with 940Mbps and going for $65. The company used to have a data cap of 1TB but this has now being scrapped and it is unlimited. When compared to other ISPs, CenturyLink is considered as cheaper internet option. Their speeds are reliable and okay. They are also designed to meet certain income groups.

Currently, CenturyLink is available in over 36 States that includes Colorado, Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Minnesota among others. The downside it does not serve areas like New York and California. You should check connection for your area code by logging into their website with your zip code.

The company does not offer any data caps so you can surf and download as much as you want. You also do not have contracts meaning you can leave the service provider for another without incurring termination fees. While it is possible to come with your own modem or router you should check with the company for compatibility. The company has advertised some of its recommended routers/modems. The company also gives you the ability to rent out your own modem/router for $15 or they offer you the chance to purchase one for $150. Before, purchasing your own modem/router ensure it supports the speeds and technologies by the ISPs. This will prevent you the headache of a slow modem. If you are operating the cable network for your internet you may experience slow speeds when the network is congested. This often happens to be the case when people are rushing online after work to stream movies. At this point you may want to postpone your heavy downloads to off-peak times.

The company performs average when it comes to customer support. Although, they have improved on their customer care ratings there are still multiple reports from consumers of their technicians delaying during repairs. This is something that may change from region to region. Overall, their internet is fast and reliable.

Comparison of Hughesnet vs. CenturyLink Internet

Availability

The biggest advantage of Hughesnet over CenturyLink is that it has a wider coverage area. With Hughesnet satellite they are able to offer internet across the 50 States as the satellites cover a larger geographical area. DSL is only available in areas where there is telephone infrastructure to support which is not everywhere. CenturyLink is available in 36 States and primarily in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado.

Hughesnet advertises download speeds of 25Mbps while with DSL you will get anything from 0.5Mbps to 100Mbps. For DSL the internet speeds will be determined by the area you live in and the type of infrastructure that surrounds the area. CenturyLink offers better internet plans via its fiber where it is capable of delivering speeds of up to 2,000Mbps.

Reliability

While both internet types do suffer from occasional network disruption, the case is more severe for DSL connections than satellites. If you live in an area that experiences frequent storms than it is possible you have seen fallen poles and broken telephone transmission lines. When storms are severe it may take days and even weeks to have them fixed. With satellite you do not experience that much of weather interference. Improvements in satellite technology have largely reduced cases of power signals for satellites.

Conclusion

Hughesnet is recommended when you live in rural areas where you do not have cable, fiber and DSL options. It is suitable for people who do not require a lot of bandwidth. CenturyLink is recommended for those who desire faster speeds and where DSL and cable service is available.