Viasat Installation Process: All you Need to Know

viasat installation process

Satellite internet is the oldest type of internet service available, and it was the primary source of the internet before cable and fiber internet service. In the USA, there are only 2 major satellite internet service providers.

Both of these providers cover more than 95% of the USA. The biggest advantage of satellite internet service is that they offer internet connectivity even in the most rural areas. If you want to build a retirement home for yourself, and want to have internet connectivity even in the woods, then you need satellite internet connectivity. Although, unlike other types of internet services, satellite internet services can’t be installed on your own. So we’ve created this guide on how the Viasat Installation process works.

Placement of Viasat Satellite Internet Equipment

To make sure your Viasat Internet service works perfectly, you also need a Viasat mini-dish and even if you have a spare satellite dish, it can’t be used. The small dish is only 30”x28” in size and will not be noticeable after installation. 

The installation technician will choose the placement for the dish so that they can have a clear view of the skies. Satellite dishes perform optimally in sending and receiving signals when they aren’t obstructed. If the technician isn’t able to find an ideal location, they’ll mount the satellite dish on your roof with a pole.

Viasat Satellite Internet Equipment: Rent or Own?

While the installation process is free throughout all Viasat internet plans, you still have to pay for equipment rental. As your Viasat internet plan uses a mini dish and an internet modem, the technician needs to install both of these equipment. 

The equipment price depends on whether you want to rent the equipment or buy the equipment. Here are the charges:

  • Viasat equipment rental fee: $12.99/mo
  • Lifetime lease price:$299.99 (one-time fee)

To make the calculation easier for you, you would have to pay the rental fee for 24 months to make up for the lifetime lease price. And if you don’t plan to change providers anytime soon, then chances are you’ll be better off buying a lifetime lease.

Choosing Between Standard vs Custom Viasat Installation

Viasat satellite internet includes free installation. During your installation appointment with a certified Viasat technician, the technician will determine if you need a standard or custom Viasat internet installation. You should keep in mind that custom Viasat installation is very rare.

During your installation appointment, if custom installation is needed, you’ll have to pay an amount as suggested by the technician. If you want to get a second opinion from another technician, you can reach out to your local internet provider and ask for another technician. All you have to do is book another appointment with a new technician to get your internet service installed.

Viasat Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

Viasat internet can run into trouble just like any other internet service. Or if you’re just facing slow internet speeds, then you need to know how to speed up Viasat internet. If you don’t know which steps to take to troubleshoot your Viasat WIFI, then follow these steps:

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1. Power Cycle your Modem

Power cycling your modem is the simplest and the best thing you can do if you want to learn how to speed up Viasat internet. You should do this to your modem/router anytime your Viasat internet is slow or disconnects. It can also fix problems with your smart TV or gaming devices if you’re having trouble going online. 

Here are the steps to power cycle your modem:

  • Unplug your Viasat modem/router
  • Wait for a few minutes
  • Plug it back in

2. Check Your Data Limit

If you’ve exhausted your monthly data limit, then there’s nothing you can do about slow Viasat internet speeds. Viasat will slow down your internet speeds until your plan renews next month. You can find out if you’re out of data by logging into “MyViasat.com” and checking your monthly data usage. 

3. Test WiFi on Other Devices

If your smart TV or any other device isn’t able to connect to WiFi, then you need to check WiFi on some other device. If you can connect on a different device, then it isn’t the WiFi network, the problem is caused by your device. 

4. Check Your Satellite Dish

If you’re constantly looking at slow WiFi speeds, and you don’t know what to do and how to speed up Viasat internet, then check your satellite dish. If your satellite dish has recently been damaged due to a storm or something else, then you need to get a technician for repairs. 

Signal interference can also be because of snow, ice, tree branches, and other debris on your satellite dish. Clear the debris if it’s stuck on your dish, but make sure to not change its position. 

5. Report an Outage

Sometimes, there are no issues with your hardware. Internet services tend to go out at times, and all you can do is try and fix it. Outages can occur by damaged dishes or damage to a ground station. Sudden power outages can cause your internet to go down, either on a house-by-house basis or on a larger scale. 

Usually, service interruptions like this are short and resolved quickly. If not, then you can complain to your local ISP. 

Common Questions about Viasat Internet Service

It’s common to have some questions before signing up or while using an internet service provider. Any and all questions must be answered as you’re paying money for it.

1. Why Is My Viasat Internet Not Working?

There are a number of things that can make you ask yourself “why is my Viasat internet not working”. Most of the time your problems originate from your hardware or software, here are the most simple things you can do for troubleshooting:

1. Restart your router
2. Test WiFi on another device
3. Use Ethernet instead of WiFi
4. Check your data cap
5. Contact your local ISP

2. How To Cancel Viasat Internet Plans?

If you’re not happy with your Viasat internet plans, then you should also know how to cancel your service. Almost all the plans of Viasat satellite internet come with a locking period. Most of the time it will be 24 months. Let’s say you wish to cancel your service before 24 months, then you need to learn how to cancel Viasat plans.

You can either sign up for a plan without a lockdown period, those plans cost you more per month. Or, you can break your contract, and pay the sum of the remaining term of your contract. To cancel your plan, you just have to call your local ISP.

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3. Is Viasat Better Than HughesNet?

Primarily, it comes down to personal preference. But, if we’re going just on customer reviews, plans pricing, service experience, plan offerings, and more Viasat is the clear winner. If you’re in a rural area and you’re torn between Viasat and HughesNet, then you should definitely opt for Viasat over HughesNet. 

4. How To Speed Up Viasat Internet?

Satellite internet is generally slower than other forms of internet service. But if you’re getting slower speeds than average, then you have to ask yourself “how to speed up Viasat Internet?” There are some basic things you can try to speed up Viasat Internet:

1. Restart your router
2. Do speed tests on all 3 devices
3. Get rid of the device cache

5. How To Install Viasat Internet?

Viasat internet service isn’t like cable or fiber internet service that can be installed by yourself. Without a technician from Viasat, you can’t install your internet service. It’ll be next to impossible to find the right location to mount your satellite dish. You’ll be asked a time for Viasat internet installation online when you book the plan. You’ll have to free up a window to install Viasat’s internet service.

What is Viasat Satellite Internet Service?

As we mentioned above, Viasat is one of the two biggest satellite internet service providers in the USA. They offer several residential and business plans with top speeds ranging up to 100 MBPS. Viasat offers internet connectivity even in areas where cable and fiber internet services can’t reach. 

Advantages of Viasat Internet:

  • Available where normal internet services aren’t
  • Less affected by weather and other conditions
  • Perfect for users with minimal internet usage
  • Can be bundled with TV for cheaper options

Disadvantages of Viasat Satellite Internet:

  • If you love streaming videos and movies online, then Viasat isn’t for you
  • Those who love to game competitively shouldn’t choose Viasat
  • People with heavy download needs shouldn’t choose Viasat

Basics of Viasat Internet Installation

  • While their plans are expensive, Viasat still offers free internet installation. You can book the installation proBest internet service for people living in rural areas
  • People without access to DSL, fiber, or cable internet service can use it
  • People with limited internet usage can opt for Viasat
  • Those who want bundle service of the internet with TV

It’s better to get the bundle plans installed through technicians to make sure that there are no issues during installations. Customers aren’t allowed to install their Viasat satellite internet service by themselves. 

To make sure that customers get the best possible internet experience, Viasat offers free installation with all their plans. When you order your Viasat internet over the phone, the customer is asked to confirm an appointment for internet installation. 

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Before your appointment, the Viasat installation technician will reach out to you to confirm the appointment time and date. Whenever a technician comes into your home to install Viasat internet service, an adult needs to be present to make decisions.

Viasat WiFi Routers

Depending on your location, Viasat WiFi may or may not be available. You can set up a wireless satellite internet connection for your home. It’s common knowledge that Wireless signals are better than wired signals. You can connect laptops, phones, and tablets using Viasat WiFi.

In this situation, you can choose to use a technician for setting up the device or you can do it yourself. Moreover, you don’t have to rent or lease a WiFi router from Viasat, you can use your own router. There are tons of Wireless router options to choose from, and they’re still easy to set up. While Viasat recommends that you use a technician for installation if you’re technically proficient you can install and set up your router yourself.

Best Router for Viasat to Choose From

There are endless options available when it comes to the best wireless router for Viasat, so we’ve compared devices by speed, price, features, and more. Even the highest speed plans will go only as far as a limited place, you can take advantage of your plan with a slow modem or router. Still, there are some other reasons to consider buying your own provider. So, there are some things to consider before choosing a router for Viasat. Here’s our pick of the best routers for Viasat:

1. ARRIS Surfboard SBG10 – Best 2-in-1 for the Unlimited Bronze 12 Plan

The ARRIS Surfboard SBG10 has capabilities to handle almost all the Viasat plans. But if you’re on one of the slower plans, then you should definitely choose the ARRIS Surfboard SBG10. It is a router/modem combo, so it can handle wired and wireless networks. 

For casual, everyday internet usage, this is the best router for Viasat Bronze and Silver plans. While the features and speeds aren’t perfect, they’re more than enough to handle Viasat internet plans. 

2. ARRIS Surfboard SBG 7600 AC2 – Best 2-in-1 for the Unlimited Silver 25 

The ARRIS Surfboard SBG 7600 AC2 comes equipped with DOCSIS 3.0 modem and AC2350 dual-band WiFi built-in. This router-modem combo offers 4-gigabit ports for high-speed wired connections. Manufacturers themselves recommend it for internet plans of speed up to 600 MBPS. 

The price is a bit higher than some alternatives but can save money renting. Before you invest in this device, keep in mind that this device won’t work with DSL or fiber internet providers.

3. NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router – Best Router for Unlimited Gold 50 

The NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router has a huge range of features, and this device can handle up to 25 internet devices at a time. With the Viasat Gold plan, you won’t be doing this router justice. If you want to see this router running at its max potential, then you need to get it on a fiber plan. 

The speeds of Viasat satellite internet will limit some features of this router, but regardless of that it still has a lot to offer. 

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