Easy Steps to Add Data to HughesNet Internet

HughesNet satellite internet is a service provider, as many of us already know. It has an almost nationwide footprint in 53 states, boasting a 99.99% availability. This makes it a top choice for many users, especially those in rural or suburban areas where wired internet options are limited. HughesNet plans are known for their generous data limits, which are available in four different sizes. Not to mention the absence of hard data limits which make the provider a great pick.

Even though HughesNet comes with soft data limits and you can continue using your internet service even when you go over your data allowance, there can be a remarkable reduction in your connection speed until your next data cycle begins. While this may not be such a problem for some people, for most it can be quite frustrating to deal with. In this article, we talk at length about the HughesNet data limits and how you can fix the speed throttling issues by adding a little extra data to your plan.

How Much Internet Data Do You Need?

Whether it is sending an email or watching an episode of your favorite show, everything comes with a price tag. Of course, this price is referred to in data terms, as in the amount of data used for anything that you do online. Different levels of activity over the internet require varying amounts of data, which is what makes the data allowance of any internet provider so instrumental.

The data usage for some basic, everyday online activities is given below as approximate values. It will give you an idea of how to estimate your data usage on average and if the plan you are paying is even adequate to accommodate your usage needs.

Here was a small sneak peek of all the data you should expect to use in a month. If you are a gamer, you should expect to use at least 18-20 GB of data for gaming alone, and then add on any other activities you would be doing over that. If you were working from home with video conferences every day and other online work, you would be using about 10–15 GB of data per month for calls alone and so on.

Once you have a clear direction of the amount of data you need per month for a certain set of activities, you can get an estimate on what kind of HughesNet data plan you want to go for.

HughesNet Data Plans

One thing that is consistent with all HughesNet internet plans is that they all have the same download and upload speeds. They only vary on the basis of the data allowance they offer. HughesNet boasts a download speed of 25 Mbps and upload speed of 3 Mbps with all plans, something that qualifies it as a high-speed internet option, although sometimes that may vary across locations.

HughesNet data plans come in four tiers any of which you can purchase or upgrade to. They are given below:

As mentioned above, all these plans come with a speed of 25 Mbps, so you do get a decent speed to work with. There are also no hard data limits to worry about, but if you do go over your data allowance, you will experience quite a speed throttling, with download speeds falling between 1-3 Mbps. This speed reduction particularly stands out when you try to game or stream anything online because those activities take the greatest hit when the internet speed is throttled until your next billing cycle begins.

However, if you would like to reinstate your speeds immediately, there is an easy way to do so. Meet your HughesNet plan’s new best friend: the data tokens!

HughesNet Data Tokens

The HughesNet data tokens are a convenient way to stay connected to the internet at your maximum available speeds (i.e. 25 Mbps) even after you go over your data limit. These tokens quickly add some more data to your current plan and banish the speed restrictions at once.  The best thing about these data tokens is that they do not come with an expiration date so even if you only use part of it, the remainder stays in your data account until you need it for the next time.

The HughesNet data tokens can be purchased in 4 different increment sizes at different prices. They are:

How to Purchase HughesNet Data Tokens?

Purchasing a data token from HughesNet is very simple. Here are some of the steps you can follow to buy data tokens and get immediate relief on your internet speeds!

1. Log into your HughesNet account, or Download the HughesNet App (Available on Android & iOS)
2. Once you have logged in to your account, you will be able to find the data tokens in the Shop/Upgrade section
3. Select the Get More Data option
4. Choose from the 4 given data tokens and purchase whichever you want
5. Your internet speed should instantly get back to normal once your transaction is through

Congratulations! Now you can browse and do more with your internet with little lagging or buffering, and enjoy the rest of your month as smoothly as ever. Whatever is left on your data token will automatically be used the next time you find yourself in such a jam.

HughesNet: Bonus Data Zone

One big perk that you get with HughesNet plans is the Bonus data zone you can enjoy in the off-peak hours. This is an extra 50 GB of internet data that HughesNet users enjoy with all internet plans and can be utilized between 2 AM and 8 AM every morning. Anything you download or watch during this time will be deducted from the bonus data alone so your actual data will remain unscathed. If you have any large downloads or anything of the sort, using this time would work out in your favor quite conveniently.

However, if you do find yourself going over the HughesNet data limit all too often, it might be time to consider a HughesNet plan upgrade.

Just give HughesNet customer service a call at 1-855-349-9309 and let them handle the rest for you!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can you add data to your HughesNet Internet Plan?

Log into your HughesNet Internet account and buy data tokens from the shop section. You can use a computer or the HughesNet App to do so. It doesn’t take too long and brings up your speeds instantly.

What is the HughesNet Bonus Zone?

The HughesNet bonus zone is an extra allowance of 50 GB worth of data with all plans. It can be used during off-peak hours, which are between 2 AM to 8 AM.

Can you stream Netflix with HughesNet Internet?

You can stream Netflix with HughesNet Internet but sometimes it might lag or stream slowly, especially if you are too close to or have gone over your data limit.