Another glorious Thursday.  No better day to find out what is going on in the world of cable, highspeed broadband internet and tv.

February 12, 2020

02/12/2020

·      Spectrum to issue refunds:  

o   It looks customers who were affected by that nasty outage for spectrum TV, internet and phone services are in for some money back.  According to spectrum Customers can call the company’s customer service line at (855) 707-7328. Spectrum has not said how much the refund will be, but my guess is, it won’t be much.  Either way it’s worth giving them a call to see how much money you are entitled to.  

You can read more about what caused the outage here SPECTRUM OUTAGE

·      Optimum Cable to raise prices

o   Optimum cable customers are probably a little lighter in the wallet this month after the cable company announced it would raise their cable rates by $20 in July.  While companies like AT&T, Centurylink and Xfinity are trying to figure out how to navigate the cord cutting era, Optimum has decided to buck the trend and charge more for a service many say is outdated.  Cord cutters blog reported today that the rates have already gone into effect so for Optimum customers looking for other options, now may be a good time to hit up Konecteaze’s Zip Code Lookup Tool

·      Alaska to get better internet

o   If you were planning on moving to Alaska and were worried about internet connectivity, it looks like your fears have been addressed.  According to an article by Alaska Public Media new sattelites were lauched last week with the intent of providing high speed internet coverage for all of Alaska.  It looks like this was the first phase of the project who is a Astranis Space Technologies Corporation and Pacific Dataport Incorporated

·      Looks like the FCC Broadband maps are flawed

o   If you were curious and wanted to find out which parts of the country does AT&T offer high speed broadband internet, or if Centurylink is offered in Denver, the logical thing to do would be to head over to the FCC’s Broadband map and take a look at their data.  Well according to an article in Routefifty.com, the FCC map is pretty flawed and States are taking matters into their own hands . States are individually trying to accurately identify how many of its residents actually have access to high speed internet .  High speed internet is considered anything over 25mbps.  That might actually seem slow to some of us but believe it or not, millions of Americans still don’t have access to fast internet and often have to rely on mobile hot spots just to send an email.  

February 10, 2020

02/10/2020

Hey there Internet Explorers!  Here are some quick hits about what is going on in the world of broadband internet, satellite internet and internet service providers.

·      The Broadband Space Race is on:  

o   Last Thursday, February 6, 2020, a rocket was sent into space with the intent of changing up the landscape of what internet providers can offer from a speed and availability standpoint.  No its not AT&T, Comcast (Xfinity), Spectrum or some other big cable company trying to dominate the airwaves.  Instead, the rocket was equipped with several of hundreds of satellites to be deployed by OneWeb Satellite and SpaceX.  The goal of this and future launches is to cast a web of hundreds of satellites circling the globe aimed at giving high speed 5G internet access to each and every person on the planet.  Believe it or not, there are still rural parts of the United States that have very little access to high speed internet.  These folks have had to resort to satellite internet providers like HughesNet and Viasat to be able to provide them internet access.  Not to be outdone, HughesNet and Viasat are planning to harness the power of their existing network as well as new innovations to ensure they stay on top of the satellite internet game.  More on that to come in the near future…

·      Not as many people have Access to High Speed Internet as previously thought:

o   According to a PC Magazine article It looks like the FCC may have botched how it reported the number of Americans who have access to broadband high speed internet.  Believe it or not the article states over 42 million people don’t have internet fast enough to stream their favorite shows on Netflix. 

·      Rural Digital Opportunity Fund: 

o   Yaaay! Faster internet for all.  In January 2020, the FCC decided to allocate over 10 Billion in funding to help provide fast internet to the rest of the United States.   The Rural Digital Opportunity fund will create jobs, opportunity and most important of all the ability of all Americans to be able to binge watch their shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime.  

·      Down goes Spectrum:

o   Spectrum High Speed Internet television and phone service came to an abrupt halt over the weekend leaving many of their customers upset, frustrated and disconnected from the online world.  This affected areas of New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and various other cities and states on the North East Coast.  It seems as though bad weather was to blame.  I just hope those customers had their DVR’s filled or old DVD’s to help pass the time trapped in their homes.  

The Verdict

WOW!’s pricing, internet speeds, and “no data caps” will satisfy most customers’ needs and wants from an ISP.

Where they falter is their limited serviceability in the US and their subpar Cable TV offerings.

But overall, in the areas that WOW! does service, they offer fantastic internet speeds for your buck, and being without data caps makes them a perfect choice for any gamer or cord-cutting streamer.

Updated: 09/01/2020 to include AT&T's new Streaming Service.

Spectrum TV VS AT&T TV, Spectrum Enters The Streaming Arena.

updated: September 1, 2020

There’s a good chance you didn’t know this, but Spectrum (aka Charter Communications) launched their TV streaming service called Spectrum TV Stream and Spectrum TV Choice for internet only and customer who have an internet and home phone bundle. 

More and more consumers are choosing to cut the cord. This is made easier with a growing number of meaningful alternatives to the cable on the market.

Spectrum TV Choice and Spectrum TV Live were tested on select customers in certain areas of the US back in 2018. While that looked encouraging, when the offer was rolled out, it was limited to customers with a Spectrum internet connection. The service remains that way in 2020 so it’s not open to everyone.

We’ve covered Spectrum’s internet plans in a previous post. You can expect download speeds to 1000 Mbps. Choose from internet only, double play (internet and TV) or triple play (internet, TV, and phone) packages. Most Spectrum reviews are favorable.

So, what makes the Spectrum streaming service stand out in a crowded field?   

What Makes Spectrum Streaming Service Different?

Since Spectrum TV Choice is essentially a closed service, it’s tough to dig up information. We’ve done the hard work for you, though.

The all-new Stream TV app is intuitive and easy to use even if you’re not the biggest tech lover. This app allows you to take full advantage of your TV lineup along with 50,000 on-demand shows. Use your smartphone or connected devices like X-Box One, or Samsung Smart TV to watch programs home and away.

You get a generous choice of broadcast networks from Freeform and FX to CNN and Fox.

You get a reasonable spread of sports and news channels including ESPN and NBC Sports Network with Spectrum’s streaming service. There’s a weak selection of regional sports channels so diehard fans might be disappointed.

Here’s the full list of Spectrum TV stream channels right here.

Update:  Comcast Xfinity, CenturyLink, and AT&T all have offerings of their own. None of the big cable companies offer a standalone streaming service. AT&T offers a standalone streaming app, formerly known as DirecTV Now, and renamed to ATTTV.  Click the AT&T TV link to check out our comprehensive review on AT&T's new streaming service which looks to replace both Uverse and DirecTV as AT&T's premier video offering. 

Spectrum Stream’s Pricing & Setup

How much do Spectrum streaming packages run you, then?

Well, according to the LA Times, Spectrum TV Stream starts at $25 monthly. There’s no official price on Spectrum’s site, so you’ll have to contact them directly for an official quote.

Great news for cord-cutters: you won’t need a cable box unless you need DVR functionality. If you want a box, this costs $20 monthly.

So, while $25 seems reasonable value, if you bundle a box and some premium channels, Spectrum streaming suddenly gets a little more expensive. Remember, too, that you’re already paying for your Spectrum internet plan on top of this.

The $25 monthly fee is valid for the first two years of service. After this promo period is over, the price rises to $30 monthly.

The bottom line, you can expect to pay around $100 monthly all-in for Spectrum internet and Spectrum streaming services.

When compared to other streaming services like DirecTV Now, Hulu Plus, and YouTube TV, Spectrum’s TV Stream comes up short.

The Verdict

Firstly, you need to be an existing Spectrum customer. We’re assuming you are if you’ve read this far. If you are and you’re prepared to accept the limitations of this service, specifically with regard to sports, Spectrum TV stream might be a smart bet.

Just like with their fully flexible internet plans, there’s no long-term contract to sign, and there are no early termination fees to worry about either. Sign up and pay as you go with no headaches.

If you’re looking for something to replace your cable package, this is not the product for you (at least not now). Spectrum streaming channel selection is limited so you’ll be unlikely to cover all your viewing needs.

Check out some of the reviews for Frontier and ATT internet service here.  To find out more about streaming Netflix on satellite internet like HughesNet or Viasat, make sure to click the link and to explore our blog.  

Also, if you have any questions about satellite internet service review, make sure to read our comprehensive review. 

If you’re looking to switch to Spectrum internet to take advantage of their TV Stream deal, contact us at 1(888)376-0753 today, or search your zip code and check for Spectrum offers are in your area!

For fans of streaming media services like Hulu Plus, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Now, Spectrum’s service will seem familiar, but there are quite a few differences.

Update:  Since this article was first written Spectrum finally launched its Spectrum streaming app.  This app gives you access to a whole array of content from your phone which includes 50,000 On Demand TV shows and movies.  The coolest part about this app is that it connects to the other devices in your home including Roku, Xbox One and Samsung Smart TV amongst others.

4 facts about routers Internet service providers won't tell you

They're small, they're compact, and they affect the entire outcome of a war.

Unfortunately, we’re not talking about hobbits.

It’s your Wi-Fi router.

Wi-Fi, the wireless internet connection used in almost all homes and businesses, is made available through a Wi-Fi router. Most Wi-Fi customers get their Wi-Fi through the router provided by their ISP (internet service provider). These do a good job of handling the basics of wireless uploading and downloading. AT&T, Spectrum, CenturyLink, and many more will provide a router for you when you sign up with their service.

This does not mean that you can’t purchase a Wi-Fi router from Best Buy or Amazon. In fact, getting a Wi-Fi router on your own can help save some cash on your internet bill as you won’t have to pay the router rental fee.

Check out reviews from PC Mag, CNet, and Tom’s Guide to see which ones are considered “the best.”

While there are those that are “the best,” they may not be what’s right for you, your home, or even your internet provider.

It’s the same with hobbits.

You may like one more than the other, it’s all a question of preference.

Is One Hobbit Better Than the Other?

Your home, like you, is unique.

Don’t just go with the router that is labeled “the best” by a source that doesn’t know you.

That's like saying Frodo was the best hobbit.

You know, hobbits, from The Lord of the Rings.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world, there were wizards, humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and dragons. The smallest of these creatures were the hobbits. These were the guys who were half the height of dwarves. Being that dwarves were half the height of humans, this made hobbits very, very short. Sometimes they were even referred to as halflings.

As a result, hobbits were regarded as unimportant. Irrelevant even.

And the hobbits, as Tolkien explained, were happy with this. They were fine to stay in their part of the world and not bother with international politics. If the outside world didn't interfere with them, they would leave the outside world alone.

One such hobbit, Frodo Baggins, came into possession of the One Ring- the one thing that could decide whether good or evil prevailed.

And so Frodo, small and unimpressive, set out with his friends to take care of the ring. Journeying with him was Samwise Gamgee otherwise known as Sam, Peregrin Took aka Perry and Meriadoc Brandybuck aka Merry. Each was unique with their own quirks and personality.

These four hobbits, though small and “irrelevant” ended up becoming the deciding factor in entire battle for the soul of the world; Merry would go on to help slay the Witch-King, Perry would play a vital role in distracting Sauron, the grand leader of the evil forces, and Sam would help Fordo get all the way to Mt. Doom, where Frodo tossed the One Ring into open lava.

Thanks to these four hobbits, peace was restored.

Not bad for four hobbits.

While it would be easy to say that Frodo was the best hobbit of all because he destroyed the One Ring, that’d be a little presumptuous. He did have the hardest job, but without help from the other three, Frodo would have never gotten close to Mt. Doom.

It's okay then to prefer Sam, Merry, or Perry to Frodo. People have their reasons for liking one over the other. Just like they have their reasons for not choosing "the best" product out there.

Like when it comes to picking a Wi-Fi router.

Bands and Numbers

Before picking a router, take stock of your Wi-Fi needs at home.

For those using one device on a consistent basis, 5 Mbps is the download speed that works best for you. With that in mind, you can save some money by avoiding the higher end routers.

If you’re downloading content on multiple devices—like Netflix through your Apple TV and streaming a game on your PlayStation 4—getting a download speed of 45 Mbps is best to handle the larger amount of data going back and forth.

Knowing this will help you decide which router is best for your home.

For homes with light internet usage, a single-band router is best. For homes with heavy internet usage, a dual-band router would be best.

Single-Band

Single-band routers use just one frequency.

This is great if you’re using a few devices throughout your home. They can handle the usual amount of data going back and forth.

The downside is the frequency they use; 2.4 GHz. This frequency is usually used by Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and wireless phones. Those devices can inadvertently disrupt your Wi-Fi signal.

Dual-Band

The dual-band routers use the 2.4 GHz frequency and a second frequency of 5 GHz. That 5 GHz frequency is less common. This second frequency is better used for third-party devices, giving you a less-impeded channel to work with. The drawback with the 5 GHz frequency is that it has a smaller coverage area. With this in mind, you may want to put your Xbox, Playstation 4, or computer closer to the router.

Dual-band routers are great for homes where multiple devices are downloading at once. You can even assign a channel to a specific device. And with more than one frequency in use, downloads can be performed simultaneously instead of one at a time.

As you would expect, dual-band routers are more expensive, so take that into account when you decide to purchase.

Tri-Band

Tri-band routers use the 2.4 GHz frequency and two frequencies of 5GHz.

Routers of this type provide the most connectivity and speed. But they’re also the most expensive. Thus, if you use one device in your home on a regular basis, then avoid dual and tri-band routers.

Numbers

No matter what router you decide to buy, you’ll notice that all will come with a number and the letters “AC.”

AC refers to Wi-Fi protocol number, 802.11ac. AC is the version of the protocol in use. There’s 802.11b, 802.11m, and others. The letters denote the gradual improvements and modifications over previous versions. 802.11ac is the current version that allows for simultaneous downloads.

When it comes to designing routers, the engineers involved decided to use this "AC" for labeling purposes. The AC is for the protocol number. 802.11ac indicates the level of the Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) the router is capable of. For example; Of all the data streaming through the router at one time, the projected maximum speed the router can handle is something like 1300 Mbps. You won’t get that speed exactly, but the router can hypothetically handle the volume of 1300 Mbps. Therefore, if you’re downloading 50 Mbps in one room and 30 Mbps in another, an AC1300 router will handle that just fine.

Of all the numbers on your router, look for the one that starts with “AC.” This is the best indicator of whether your router can handle the amount of data you plan to be downloading and uploading at one time.

Hobbits and Wi-Fi Routers

Just as there are preferences when it comes to hobbits, you can have preferences when it comes to Wi-Fi routers and ISPs. You can check out the best internet deals and packages for AT&T, Spectrum, HughesNet, Viasat, or another provider in your zip code to help you get started on your search.

And make sure to you download The Lord of the Rings onto your favorite eReader or audiobook app. It’s well worth the read! When you finish reading the books, go watch the movies. They’re good, but I’m preferable to the books.

Have you bought a Wi-Fi router on your own? Is there a Wi-Fi router you’d recommend?