Why is my Viasat ping so high?

Viasat uses geostationary satellites orbiting 22,000 miles above Earth. The signal travel time creates a mandatory latency of 600-800ms. This is normal for the technology and cannot be lowered, making first-person shooter games unplayable.

How to login to Viasat modem?

Open a web browser and go to http://192.168.100.1 (Technicolor/Arris modems) or http://192.168.1.1 (Viasat WiFi Gateway). The default username is usually 'admin' and the password is on the sticker on the back/bottom of the unit.

What does a purple light mean on my Viasat Gateway?

On the Viasat WiFi Gateway, a 'Purple' light indicates the modem is downloading software updates. Do NOT unplug it. If it turns 'Red', there is a network error or dish alignment issue.

Is Viasat Unleashed truly unlimited?

Viasat Unleashed has no hard data caps (no overage fees), but if you exceed typical usage patterns (often around 850GB/month), your speeds may be deprioritized during congestion.

Viasat Speed Test

This tool verifies Internet speeds for Viasat (formerly Exede) satellite subscribers. Using the powerful ViaSat-2 and ViaSat-3 satellites, users can achieve speeds up to 100 Mbps or 150 Mbps, but latency remains the primary challenge.

Testing your Viasat connection helps confirm if you are receiving the speeds promised in your "Unleashed" or "Choice" plan.

Interpreting Your Viasat Results

Download Speed:
- Unleashed Plan: Up to 150 Mbps.
- Older Plans (Liberty/Unlimited): 12 - 50 Mbps.
- Throttled Speed: If you exceed your data threshold, speeds may drop to 1-3 Mbps during congestion.

Upload Speed: Typically 3 Mbps to 5 Mbps. This is lower than terrestrial ISPs but sufficient for basic emails and social media.

Ping (Latency): 600ms - 800ms. Physics dictates that data traveling 44,000 miles (round trip to space) takes time. This is normal and not a defect.

Viasat Modem Login (192.168.100.1)

Access your modem's interface to view signal strength (SNR), check data usage, or change Wi-Fi settings.

Device	Login Info
Viasat WiFi Gateway (Tall, triangular/cylindrical unit)	http://192.168.1.1 User: admin / Pass: admin (or sticker)
SurfBeam 2 Modem (Older black box)	http://192.168.100.1 View "Modem Status" page (no password required for status).

Troubleshooting Gateway Light Codes

The LED ring on your Viasat Gateway indicates status:

Solid Blue: Normal operation. Internet is online.

Blinking Purple: Downloading software. Do not power off.

Solid Red: System fault. Check dish cabling and restart.

Solid White: Bootlight up / Self-test.

Maximizing Your Viasat Connection

Video Data Extender: Similar to HughesNet, Viasat optimizes video streams to DVD quality (480p) to save data. If you want HD, you may need to check your plan's settings, but be aware it uses 3x more data.

Weather Impact: Heavy rain or snow accumulation on the dish will cause signal loss ("Rain Fade"). The connection should restore automatically once the storm passes.

When to Contact Support (855-463-9333)

Contact Viasat care if:

Your gateway light stays Red for more than 15 minutes.

Your dish has shifted position (e.g., after strong winds).

Speeds are consistently below 1 Mbps even when you have high-speed data remaining.

Viasat Speed Test FAQs

Why is gaming impossible on Viasat? The high latency (600ms+) causes significant delay between your action and the server's response. Turn-based strategy games work fine, but shooters (CoD, Fortnite) rely on <50ms ping and will lag out.

What is the difference between Viasat and Starlink? Viasat uses high-altitude GEO satellites (broad coverage, high ping). Starlink uses low-altitude LEO satellites (lower coverage density, low ping). Starlink is generally better for gaming and video calls.

Does a VPN work with Viasat? Most corporate VPNs will work but will feel very sluggish due to the latency. Some VPN protocols may time out completely.