Is Satellite Internet Good for Netflix and Other Streaming Services?

To begin with, it should be noted that services like Netflix do not come as a single package. If you opt for the entry-level Netflix service, then this will not offer high-definition images. As such, a standard package from Konnect would be enough for you to watch films and TV shows on that service. However, if you want to be able to enjoy HD services from Netflix and the other big content providers, then you will probably need our higher-volume packages. These Konnect services have faster average speeds and superior, top speeds, which are more suited to streaming HD content.

Of course, you can always improve your satellite Internet speed by upgrading your service to a superior package. You could also try plugging in your set-top box or your smart TV into your router rather than relying on slower Wi-Fi signals to relay data back and forth. Both methods will allow you to enjoy lower latency, which means that buffering before a film or show begins is lessened. If you download a show to watch later, then this will also take less time. Overall, the quality of the video stream in terms of how pixelated it is will be improved by upgrading to a faster service. This is just as true for gaming on satellite Internet services as it is for watching HD video streams.

Yes, the good news is that you can watch video streams on your TV, your laptop or your tablet at any time of the day or night. With Konnect, there is no limitation on the amount of data you can get through each month, unlike the majority of 4G mobile services, for example. However, there are some limiting factors that are worth knowing about with satellite Internet services. Don't worry, though, because these will rarely if ever, interrupt your viewing pleasure.

First, there is a data cap for the fastest internet downloads speeds with each of the three packages on offer from Konnect. For instance, our mid-range package provides an average speed of 37 MB per second, a rate that is more than enough for most HD streams, whereas with our entry-level package the average speeds are appropriate for standard definition streams not HD. We also recommend streaming on one device per connection to attain best video quality available with your package. If you’re on the higher packages you can also think about lowering the video-quality from HD or Full HD to SD if you need to stream on more than one device at the same time.$

To have an idea about how much data video services use, most hour-long HD programmes use up about 6GB of data, so for example with a package including 60 GB of priority data a month before the service slows down, you'll have enough to keep streaming for some time. After that, the service will be slower, but you can always download videos overnight to watch later rather than stream them. Alternatively, you can simply upgrade to a higher package and enjoy more priority data and even faster download speeds.

It is important to note that when you use up data during the night-time when usage is low, it will not count as a part of your priority data allowance. This means if you download – or stream - an HD movie, for instance, between 1 am and 6 am, you won't be using your priority data at all. As such, this is the best time to perform downloads of HD programmes and films because it won't affect your allowance and subsequent streaming.

Streaming on Satellite Internet is typically trouble-free.

However, if you experience any problems, then there are some straightforward things you can do:

• Check that nothing is blocking the satellite dish, such as foliage or a fallen branch, to help maximise your connection speed.
• Make sure your streaming device has a good Wi-Fi connection or is plugged into the router with an Ethernet cable.
• Check to see if any other devices are using up bandwidth. Anything from someone streaming on another device to an operating system update can affect video streams.
• Poor weather, especially windy thunderstorms, can slow satellite Internet services down. Instead, try downloading during extreme weather.