Customer since 4/08. Unacceptable performance! A HughesNet Tech told me the other day that the minumum acceptable requirements are on the low end 500 anything less than that is not acceptable. It took my Son who is a IT professional to get on the phone with the tech and put HughesNet on the spot. As customers we call for help they tell us they can't guarantee performance speeds during peak hours, (not true) they will ask how the weather is etc, , just a bunch of BS. When a HughesNet tech support rep askes you conduct a ping test (12 sec or less) wich is your speed please realize that it is really your upload and download speed test you should be performing. They don't really want you to know this because this is where you will fnd your true performance speeds.(500 or better) WE AS CONSUMERS MUST HOLD HUGHESNET RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE US THE SERVICE THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR! Do you know Comcast was just busted for this! Most providers pay a larger network for the total service then they slow down the us the consumer our speeds to buyback as to not cost them on the back end and charge the consumers for over priced low quality internet to make their money WHAT A SCAM! And the average consumer spends most of their time just frustrated and give in to the fact that oh we are just rural and it is the way it is. NO THEY MUST PROVIDE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS HAVE PAID FOR! Just like any other business. Please voice your opinion and lets do something about this nonsence,

HUGHESNET: CONSUMERS BEWARE / CAVEAT EMPTOR

Per Hughesnet Customer Care...

Hughesnet Customer Care: What activities may cause a subscriber to exceed their download threshold? Some activities are more likely to exceed the download threshold and trigger the application of the Fair Access Policy. Several examples are listed below.

Hughesnet: Full-length movie downloads.

Horizon Entertainment: This is an untrue statement. According to various Hughesnet representatives I've spoken to at Hughesnet, you can exceed the FAP in just 7 or eight minutes of download time.

Hughesnet: Continuous downloading or viewing streaming media content such as audio or video programming.

Horizon Entertainment: This may actually be a true statement, however, according to Hughesnet representatives I've spoken with. the FAP can be exceeded with just viewing less than 10 minutes of streaming media content.

Hughesnet: FAP limits can easily be exceed simply by the hosting of server devices such as email, FTP or Web servers.

Horizon Entertainment: According to the Hughesnet representatives I've spoken with, simply using an internet server for your business will greatly slow down your internet speeds, as well as greatly increase the liklihood of exceeding the Hughesnet FAP limits (which includes "Automated computer to computer connections used for the archiving of local computer content")

Hughesnet: Simultaneous downloads.

Horizon Entertainment: While this is also a true statement by Hughesnet, simultaneous file downloads are completely unacceptable to Hughesnet and doing such downloading will likely cause you to exceed the FAP set forth by Hughesnet.

Hughesnet: Downloading large files will cause you to exceed the Hughesnet FAP (i.e., file sizes that are close in size to the download threshold of your service plan):

Horizon Entertainment: I would simply say that downloading any streaming video or such files, of any kind, is very likely to subject you to exceeding the FAP limits set forth by Hughesnet. Remember, according to Hughesnet representatives, downloading 7 or eight minutes of streaming video or such types of information will automatically subject you to exceeding the Hughesnet FAP.

Hughesnet: Excessive downloading or use of the services described above may cause subscribers to be affected by the Fair Access Policy, or in severe cases, to be terminated from the service:

Horizon Entertainment: Again, this is a true statement, but the Hughesnet definition of "excessive downloading" is very narrow and very, very, limited.

Hughesnet Customer Care: What will my Internet access be like if I exceed the download threshold?

Hughesnet: When the download threshold is exceeded, you will experience reduced download speeds for approximately 24 hours. During this recovery period, the HughesNet service can still be used for activities such viewing emails and Web surfing, but speeds will be significantly slower than your normal browsing experience.

Horizon Entertainment: Based on my experience, this statement is completely untrue, which in essence, is probably my biggest complaint against Hughesnet, their advertising, marketing and their Customer Care Statement.

Horizon Entertainment: During the FAP you will simply not "just" experience reduced download speeds. This is an almost complete misrepresentation of terms. Nor during the Hughesnet FAP recovery period, will you be able to continue receiving emails ... This is simply NOT TRUE. For example, today, during the FAP recovery period, I have NOT been able to retrieve ONE single email.

Horizon Entertainment: In regard to Hughesnet saying that internet speeds will be "significantly lower, " surfing the Web is virtually non-existant. During the FAP recovery period, internet speeds are much slower than dial-up and sometimes, internet access does not exist at all.

For example, the Hughesnet Customer Service representative that I spoke today said that with my current Hughesnet plan, I am normally able to dowload approximately 60 MBs in one minute.

The Hughesnet Customer Service rep went on to tell me that I DID HAVE internet access, because throughout the day, I was able to download a couple of 2 MB and 5 MB files.

When I told him that (according to what he just said) I had been able to download less in ONE day, than I normally would be able to in ONE minute, he simply responded by saying ... "Sire, I'm sorry Sir, but you are under the Hughesnet FAP and there's nothing we can do about it (despite the fact that this is completely contrary to how the Hughesnet Customer Care website actually reads and/or would suggest).

Again, based on my understanding of Hughesnet's adverting, marketing and their Hughesnet Customer Care guidelines, I personally feel that things simply do not add or match-up with what Hughesnet promulgates in their advertising, marketing and Customer Care terms of service.

Horizon Entertainment Hughesnet Case #20097801

File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission!

Go here: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm

Here is my complaint... This complaint is regarding HughesNet’s Fair Access Policy. HughesNet’s television ads clearly imply that their service is far superior to dialup internet. Sometimes that is true, but often it is not true. If the consumer exceeds bandwidth usage, HughesNet throttles your account down to nearly no bandwidth at all. HughesNet provides no information to the consumer regarding their current status of use of their bandwidth. None of this was made obvious by HughesNet in any of their advertising

Of course, if you are willing to pay considerably more for your service, you can eliminate this problem. In my opinion this is like a “loss-leader” advertisement. They hook you with one price, only to require a much higher payment to actually receive the advertised service capability.

In May 2008 I signed up with Hughes for one megabyte service. From day one, the highest speed attained is aboout 200KB. Usually it runs at 76KB. For the last couple of months my speed has degraded to aboot 250 Bytes and now I am locked down becuse it is so slow that everything times out. On Sept 9, 2009 I started a case with Hughes and it is now Sept 30 qand I'm still being told they are looking at it. I have had it and went out and got Netzero which at least gets me online. Their product does not provide the speeds promised and the service is worse. And whatsmore they don't care. I am calling the state utilities commission and trying to see if I can get some satisfaction and accuse them of false advertising and breach of contract.

Speed of 93K and 43K bits for download and upload but I have a plan, ProPlus, with 1600K download and 250K bits. This is nothing but fraud in my opinion.