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The following is a comparison of the StarBand® and HughesNet (formerly Direcway) Satellite Internet systems.

The reported HughesNet recovery rates are the last published values and are not guaranteed to reflect today's implemented rates. HughesNet has not published the current recovery rates.

Note: All descriptions are only a summary of the differences between StarBand® and HughesNet systems. For further details and information on StarBand® or HughesNet, please see their web sites.

 
Satellite System
StarBand® Nova 500
HughesNet® Home
Up-front cost, bare system*
$299.99 Used only - Prices Vary
Monthly Subscription fee
$49.99 $59.99 $59.99
Length of service contract
24 months 12 months No Contract
Bandwidth "up to" Down/Up
500 Kbps/100 Kbps 700 Kbps/128 Kbps
Daily/Weekly download allocation
107 MB/750 MB 200 MB/1.4 GB
Free download period Midnight to 6 am local time 2 am to 7 am Eastern time
Recovery rate after throttle
150 Kbps 50 Kbps
Static IP address
$4.99 per month Not available
Email addresses included 10 5
Web space
10 MB included $14.50 per month
Dial-up service as back-up
10 hours included $15.00 per month
Access to Newsgroups
Included Not offered
Installer certification
Offered free online Through dealer only
First line of tech support
Dealer/Installer Dealer/Installer
Next level of tech support
Located in USA Located in Pakistan
Modem
Smaller, horizontal or vertical Sits vertically
Power Supply
External, 24 V DC to modem External, multiple DC voltages
Antenna reflector
Rust-proof fiberglass Fiberglass and metal
Vacation "hold" on account
Up to 6 mo/year after one year Up to 6 mo/year
 
Satellite System
StarBand® Nova 1000
HughesNet® Pro*
Up-front cost, bare system
$299.99 Used only - Prices Vary
Monthly Subscription fee
$69.99 $79.99 $69.99 $79.99 $99.99
Length of service contract
24 months 12 months None 18 mo. None
Bandwidth "up to" Down/Up
1 Mbps/128 Kbps 1 Mbps/200 Kbps
Daily/Weekly download allocation
229 MB/1.6 GB 300 MB/ 2.1 GB 375 MB/ 2.6 GB 375 MB/ 2.6 GB
Free download period Midnight to 6 am local time 2 am to 7 am Eastern time
Recovery rate after throttle
150 Kbps 50 Kbps
Email addresses included 10 5
Static IP address
$4.99/month n/a n/a $20/mo
Web space
10 MB included $14.50 per Month
Dial-up service as back-up
10 hours included $15.00 per Month
Access to Newsgroups
Included Not offered
Installer certification
Offered free online Through dealer only
First line of tech support
Dealer/Installer Dealer/Installer
Next level of tech support
Located in USA Located in Pakistan or from VAR
Modem
Smaller, horizontal or vertical Sits vertically
Power Supply
External, 24 V DC to modem External, multiple DC voltages
Antenna reflector
Rust-proof fiberglass Fiberglass and metal
Vacation "hold" on account
Up to 6 mo/year after one year Up to 6 mo/year
 
Satellite System
StarBand® Nova 1500
HughesNet® ProPlus
Up-front cost, bare system*
$299.99 Used only - Prices Vary
Monthly Subscription fee
$99.99 $109.99 $79.99
Length of service contract
24 months 12 months No Contract
Bandwidth "up to" Down/Up
1.5 Mbps/256 Kbps 1.5 Mbps/200 Kbps
Daily/Weekly download allocation
571 MB/4 GB 425 MB/3 GB
Free download period Midnight to 6 am local time 2 am to 7 am Eastern time
Recovery rate after throttle
150 Kbps 50 Kbps
Static IP address
Included $10.00 per Month
Email addresses included 15 5
Web space
500 MB included $14.50 per Month
Dial-up service as back-up
10 hours included $15.00 per month
Access to Newsgroups
Included Not offered
Installer certification
Offered free online Through dealer only
First line of tech support
Dealer/Installer Dealer/Installer
Next level of tech support
Located in USA Located in Pakistan
Modem
Smaller, horizontal or vertical Sits vertically
Power Supply
External, 24 V DC to modem External, multiple DC voltages
Antenna reflector
Rust-proof fiberglass Fiberglass and metal
Vacation "hold" on account
Up to 6 mo/year after one year Up to 6 mo/year

* Bare system means there are no installation or shipping charges included, just the bare price of the system. Both systems consist of a dish and feed arm (outside equipment) and modem (inside equipment.) At the least, two coaxial cables are necessary to connect the outdoor components to the modem.

* HughesNet Pro has three values shown, because there are different options for the account, including a direct HughesNet account or an account through a VAR, which includes satellite changes each year. Please see the HughesNet system page for more details.

 
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