Satellite InternetCompare Satellite Internet & TV Packages

Satellite allows you to connect the internet without cables or wires—only a satellite dish. Connections are beamed quite literally from an orbiting satellite in the sky to a terrestrial satellite dish, so customers living in rural areas without the infrastructure for cable, DSL or fiber still have a way to connect to the internet. 

Satellite internet companies provide service to all 50 U.S. states. These providers generally require customers to either buy or lease their dish, as well as pay for any installation costs. Also, as a general rule it's easier to have a satellite dish installed on a property if you are the owner. 

A general rule about satellite internet is that it's best for rural or remote areas. If you live in a busy city, you'll likely experience network congestion which means slower speeds and unreliable connection. Also, if there are tall buildings around, they may interfere with your connection.

Want satellite internet for your home, but unsure which companies provide service to your area? WhistleOut is here to help. 

Our address lookup feature, part of our internet plan comparison engine, lets you see which satellite internet providers are available at your specific address. All you have to do is type in your street, city and zip code, click "Search," and filter the subsequent results page by "Satellite."

The two main satellite providers in the United States are Viasat and HughesNet, with Dish having backed out of the satellite internet game to only offer satellite TV.  

Viasat and HighesNet offer a range of satellite internet plan options, with a range of speeds and bundles. In our comparison engine, you can filter by the speed you're looking for, along with data cap limit, contract length, and price. 

Note that your internet speeds can be significantly affected by your natural surroundings, and any barriers to a clear signal. That's why it's worth double checking as to plan availability with the providers directly once you've found one you like via WhistleOut. 

Satellite internet is made possible via a dish installed at a home (or business). Typically, you'll have to purchase your satellite dish outright, which you can bundle with a WiFi modem—that's right, you'll need a modem for satellite internet service—or you can lease the modem at a monthly rate.  

Since satellite dishes are relatively permanent fixtures—at least while they're up—it's much easier to arrange for their installation with your provider if you own the property. 

Getting a dish installed as a renter requires agreement from the property owner, and likely your assurance that its removal will not result in any permanent damage. Check with your provider for their specific policies on this. 

It may take up to a week for a service technician to come to your home to install your satellite connection. Certified technicians are specially trained to locate the best location for your satellite dish and securely attach it to your home. 

There are typically three different types of installation mounts: sloped roof mount, wall mount, or standard pole mount. Most satellite dishes are roughly 30 inches by 30 inches. In some cases, the best connection does not always provide the strongest signal. If this happens, a non-standard option may be recommended to ensure you receive the fastest satellite internet possible.

If you live in a remote or rural location, then you'll probably want (if not need) to invest in satellite internet. Rural areas is where satellite internet shines. Without the heavy internet traffic slowing down your speeds, or high-rises blocking the view from your dish to the satellite, you connection will be much faster and reliable than those using satellite internet in metropolitan areas. 

When we say "need" satellite internet, we're referring to the fact that some rural areas don't have the right infrastructure set up to accommodate cabled internet options. 

Since satellite internet doesn't use wires to reach cities in the U.S., it can be accessed from literally anywhere in the country. Cable, DSL and fiber internet options are much more limited when it comes to providing service to areas that are more remote. 

Satellite internet is especially useful if you live close to mountains, rivers, and other natural formations that can make wired internet options difficult. If it's uncommon to see a fixed wireless tower in your rural town, then satellite internet may be your best (or only) option.