Why is my satellite internet so slow? Is there a problem with my home connection, or is it like that for everyone? Satellite internet isn’t exactly known for incredible speeds, so it’s understandable if you wonder if it being slow is simply part of the design.
First of all, slow internet can be linked to several distinct issues. Perhaps your internet becomes slow during a particular part of the day, or is it sluggish at all times? It’s possible that your download speeds are not what you expect, or maybe it’s just poor upload speeds testing your patience.
Sometimes, the speeds are fine, and it's high latency (or ping) that makes the internet feel as slow as a sloth. Once you diagnose the root cause, you can quit guessing and start fixing the problem, so let’s get started.
First, Is Your Satellite Internet Actually Slow?
Internet speed tests can help you find out whether your internet connection is slow by default or if the issue lies within your home network. For this reason, you need to run a baseline test, which is the maximum speed you receive from your internet service provider (ISP) under ideal conditions.
Procedure to run a baseline speed test:
- Connect your computing device directly to your internet router using an Ethernet cable.
- Disconnect all other devices on your home network.
- Run the speed test to find your baseline speed.
P.S. We recommend running the baseline speed test during off-peak hours, i.e., when network traffic is relatively low; early in the morning (between 4 – 6 AM) on a weekday is ideal.
Use Our FREE Speed Test Tool to Find Out Your Connection’s Download Speed, Upload Speed, Ping (Latency), and Jitter
Baseline vs. Normal Variation
It is important to note that actual internet speeds are always a bit lower than the maximum speed advertised by the ISP; speeds are typically quoted with “up to” to justify the difference. Your baseline speed should be about 80 – 90% of the maximum advertised value.
Therefore, normal variation for your home network’s speed is between 10 – 20%. If your speeds are significantly lower than that in the evenings (internet rush hours), it is primarily because of network congestion.
To conclude, the baseline speed determines whether you are getting the speeds you pay for.
Speeds on Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet
Speeds you get on Wi-Fi are always lower than what you get via Ethernet. The difference in speed depends on various factors, including your internet hardware/equipment, distance from the router, and signal interference; it can be as low as 20% or as high as 400%.
Advanced modems and routers/gateways can offer better speeds on your home’s wireless network. Optimizing the placement of your router can also help improve performance.
P.S. Run speed tests on your Wi-Fi at different times of the day and from different locations within your house to see and feel the difference.
Slow Satellite Internet Diagnosis Table
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Test to Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Slow only at night | Network Congestion | Test and compare speeds during peak and off-peak hours (AM & PM) |
| Slow in one room (on Wi-Fi) | Local Wi-Fi network issue | Run speed tests from different locations in the house and compare results |
| Sudden drop | Signal interference, damaged cable, or service outage | Check for service outage in your area, examine cables, and reposition router |
| Always slow | Low speed threshold or ISP throttling/deprioritization | Check your speed tier and data usage through the provider app |
| Slow in bad weather/rain | Signal interference or rain fade | Compare speed test results from good and bad weather times/days |
Check Out Our Comprehensive Guide on Fixing Slow Internet
Slow Only at Night: The Congestion Factor
Your satellite internet provider’s network capacity has a limit. When few people are online, everyone gets more bandwidth and excellent internet speeds. However, when the network gets crowded, there’s less bandwidth for each user, and that results in slower speeds.
Network congestion is normally experienced during peak usage hours (6 – 11 PM), as most people get off work/school in the evening and get online for entertainment purposes. Network traffic is lowest from midnight to early morning when the majority of users have gone to bed.
Slow in One Room (on Wi-Fi)
Wi-Fi signal strength can vary from room to room because of distance from the router and signal interference from physical obstacles (thick walls, bulky furniture, etc.) and electromagnetic waves. You experience better speeds when you’re in the same room as the Wi-Fi router.
Speeds can be significantly slower in a kitchen that is full of electronic appliances or in a room that is furthest away from the router. Repositioning the router, moving closer to the router, or switching to Ethernet can successfully resolve the issue.
Sudden Speed Drops
If your internet speeds were decent and stable yesterday but they’re frequently dropping low today, one of several reasons could be at play. It’s always wise to eliminate a service outage first; hence, contact your ISP or look up their outage map to find out if service is temporarily suspended in your area.
Once you’ve confirmed that there’s no outage, inspect your internet cables; damaged or frayed wires could be interfering with your connection. Lastly, go outside and ensure that your satellite dish has a clear view of the sky; remove any obstructions such as overgrown plants.
Always Slow: Plan Tiers and Data Policies
A perpetually slow internet connection can be quite the headache. Start by testing your baseline speed, so you can know whether your ISP is truly delivering the speeds promised in your chosen internet plan. If you’re using an entry-level plan and getting the expected speeds, it might be time to upgrade.
Some satellite internet providers impose high-speed or priority data caps; as a result, speeds are significantly slowed down after the user exceeds their allowance. You can either monitor and manage your data usage or simply switch to a service/plan with more flexible data options.
Pick the right internet plan, so you never run out of high-speed data.
Slow in Bad Weather: Rain Fade
Satellite internet signals are transferred via radio waves, which makes them highly susceptible to interference from environmental factors. Rain fade is a phenomenon where water, ice, or wind can partially or entirely block the path of radio waves.
Heavy rain, cloud cover, dense fog, thick snow, or powerful windstorms can deflect, absorb, or scatter the signals. For this reason, severe weather conditions may significantly slow down your internet or even become the cause of a temporary outage.
Provider Notes: Starlink vs. Hughesnet vs. Viasat
Starlink, Hughesnet, and Viasat are the leading satellite internet providers right now; their speeds vary by underlying technology, data policies, and plan.
Starlink Internet Speeds
Starlink can offer the best speeds, as it operates on advanced Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. LEO satellites are located closer to the Earth, which solves the high-latency issue. Moreover, all residential internet plans come with unlimited data, so you can enjoy consistent speeds throughout the month.
LEO satellite signals are less susceptible to environmental factors, but the network can sometimes become congested during peak usage hours. Higher-tier plans offer faster internet, which is comparable to what you get with wired broadband.
Viasat Internet Speeds
Viasat operates on traditional Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite technology, and low-priced internet plans come with priority data caps. However, if you subscribe to a premium plan, such as Viasat Unleashed, you can benefit from a soft data cap and avoid throttling/deprioritization.
Since GEO satellites exist far away from the Earth in space, the internet’s latency is high; high latency can make the internet seem slower while running real-time applications like online gaming and video calling. Lastly, rain fade and physical obstacles can negatively impact your home network’s performance.
Hughesnet Internet Speeds
Hughesnet is another GEO-based satellite internet provider that can offer speeds up to 100 Mbps only. Maximum achievable speed and high-speed data limit depend on your chosen plan. The high latency and lower speed threshold make the service relatively slow; speeds fall to 1 - 3 Mbps after consuming the allotted high-speed data.
The network is prone to congestion during peak usage hours, so the internet is typically slower in the evenings. Furthermore, bad weather and physical barriers may deflect or block signals, resulting in poor speeds or service outages.
Found Your Cause?
Hopefully, you’ve figured out why your satellite internet is slow, as well as a way to fix it. If your internet remains slow 24/7, you probably need to upgrade your plan or switch to another service. Starlink’s LEO-based internet can offer you high-speed and low-latency internet round the clock.
Occasional drops in speeds can usually be fixed locally, unless it’s related to extreme weather conditions or a scheduled service outage from your provider’s side.
FAQs
Why is my satellite internet slow at night?
Satellite internet is likely to become slow at night due to network congestion. The highest number of people are online during the night, so the network runs out of bandwidth and slows down speeds for everyone.
Why is my Starlink slow all of a sudden?
While slow internet in the evenings is typically caused by network congestion, speed drops during the day may indicate an issue with your home network. Open the Starlink app home screen for alerts about network outages, hardware problems, or obstructions.
Is my satellite internet slow because of the weather?
Satellite internet is frequently affected by harsh weather conditions like heavy rain, snowfall, fog, and thunderstorms. Radio waves can be deflected, scattered, or absorbed due to a phenomenon called rain fade.
Why is my internet slow in only one room?
Your internet is most likely slow in only one room because of greater physical distance from the Wi-Fi router or signal interference from too many electronics.
Is my satellite internet supposed to be this slow?
Satellite internet is generally slower than terrestrial broadband options due to limited speeds and high latency.
Why is my Hughesnet/Viasat so slow after a while?
Entry-level or low-tier plans from Hughesnet and Viasat are subject to a strict high-speed/priority data cap. Once you exhaust this data cap, your speeds are significantly slowed down for the rest of the month.
