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.  

Internet usage has taken over our everyday lives. According to statista.com, the global mobile data traffic of 2018 alone was 19.01 exabytes per month! Experts even say that by 2022, it will rise up to 77.5 exabytes per month!

This can be quite intense, especially if you’re on Viasat’s incredible internet plans that offer unlimited data usage. However, even unlimited packages have some protocols that might require you to manage your data usage.

So how can you effectively manage data for your Viasat internet plan? Let’s find out!

Monitor Video Streaming

In the world of data consumption, video streaming is one of the biggest predators. It takes up most of your data and sometimes it’s for things you didn’t even sign up for! How many times have you visited a new website and a video has just popped up in your face? Several times, we bet! They use up your data and leave you with nothing. So the next time you visit a new website, make sure to turn the video feature off to save yourself.

You also use an intense amount of video data by watching your favorite shows on your favorite streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu. Although Viasat helps you optimize the video resolution settings on your videos, Netflix also helps you minimize data usage!

Watch out for Freeloaders!

Sometimes it’s not you. It’s thy neighbor! If your Wi-Fi password isn’t strong enough, you may be welcoming freeloaders like Sheldon and Leonard to your plan! Although on the show Leonard does end up marrying Penny; so what’s his technically becomes hers, but for you, it can be a real security threat! So upgrade your security systems to cut off the thieves and freeloaders!

Stay Clean, Kids!

An outdated operating system or worse, a virus infected PC can eat away your internet data. Furthermore, it’ll damage your files and personal data on the computer. So make sure your PC is always in good health and clean from malware, spyware and other malignant viruses! Invest in a proficient anti-virus program to save your data and your computer!

The Viasat community is always there to help you monitor and manage your data plans. That’s why Viasat is one of the leading Internet Service Providers in America. So, if you want to find out if it’s the best in your area, just enter your zip code on to our portal or call our customer representative today!

A Little About Windstream

Windstream is primarily known as providing DSL internet in more rural areas of the US, and recently began laying fiber optic internet cables in select markets.  Although DSL speeds cannot compete with cable and fiber optic internet speeds, Windstream still tends to be the best choice for internet amongst customers living in rural areas where satellite internet seems to be the only other alternative.

With satellite internet providers having data restrictions, Windstream’s “no data caps” policy makes them a very attractive internet option for cord cutters and heavy internet users.

Windstream also offers home phone but does not offer its own cable TV.  They do however offer a “modern bundle” (using a different company to compensate a lack of service with a discount to do so) with DirecTV that adds an ongoing $10 discount off the monthly Windstream bill.   

Windstream Internet Plans

Most potential customers will only be offered DSL from Windstream.  The “Kinetic” or fiber optic plans are becoming more and more available as Windstream slowly but surely lays down fiber optic lines in all of its markets.  A helpful website that can answer whether Windstream is available in your area is www.konecteaze.com .  One of their friendly associates can not only go over the plans available at your address, but also assist you on scheduling an install.

Let’s take a look at the plans…

Some other key notes:

Installation is free but there’s a $50 activation fee that appears on your 1^st bill.

Installations can usually happen within a week of ordering.

There’s a $10 leasing charge for their modem/router but you do have the ability to use your own equipment to bypass the monthly charge.

There is no contract so you can cancel service at any time but be sure to return any leased equipment or face a hefty charge for unreturned equipment.

Where is Windstream Offered?

Windstream service is currently in 18 states.  These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.

As mentioned before, most markets will only be offered DSL internet but as time goes, more and more markets will be introduced with fiber optic internet options.

You can see if they service your address by using KonectEaze.

The Verdict

Despite the fact Windstream’s DSL internet speeds can’t compete with its cable or fiber optic counterparts, they still provide an adequate enough speed to get the job done with your everyday web browsing, schooling, online gaming, and streaming.

And although it has limited availability, their fiber optic internet can compete with any other company when it comes to fast, reliable speeds at affordable rates.

For the most part, Windstream is primarily in areas where satellite internet tends to be the “only other option”.  In this case Windstream’s uncapped data limits and pricing for speed will always be the more attractive option.

Satellite Internet Review

So you’ve packed up your things and moved your family away from the hustle and bustle of the BIG City out to the crisp, clean, country air of Rural Town, U.S.A… but then it hits you, “What do these country folks do out here for high-speed internet!?” Phone call after phone call you to make to every internet/cable company you’ve ever seen an advertisement for, but no one services your address. Frustration sets in. To many, this realization that fiber optic cables and high-speed broadband connections are things that you left behind along with the traffic lights and fire hydrants of the big city, can be a HUGE culture shock. But take a deep breath… There’s no need to stress, satellite internet has got you covered on all your Wi-Fi needs! It might not be the option you’re hoping for but it’s the best option you have.

Satellite, It’s Better Than You Thought

With advances in technology, the two titans of satellite internet service, HughesNet and Viasat/Exede, both released their premier latest and greatest satellite dishes in 2017.

HughesNet

HughesNet launched their Gen5 series powered by EchoStar XIX that boasts a 25mbps speed across the board on all tiered data plan. That means just like a data plan on a smartphone, you’ll be choosing a plan for your Wi-Fi in the household. But no worries if you exceed your data allowance for the month, there are no overages, just throttled speeds 3-5mbps typically. You can still snoop on your ex-boyfriend from high school on Facebook with that. Additionally, the FCC ranked HughesNet #1 in the nation “among all internet providers for providing the speeds that they advertise.”

Viasat/Exede

Viasat/Exede with their Boeing built Viasat-2 dish offers speeds up to 100mbps in select areas complimented with unlimited data plans. That’s a never-before advertised speed for satellite internet but can end up burning a hole in your wallet. But some people won’t let dollar bills stand in their way of super high-speed internet.

Basically, every satellite internet company is going to require a two-year commitment but in a way that’s a benefit rather than a downside. This keeps your rates the same. Viasat will guarantee you the rate for 2 years. HughesNet typically only increases by $15 after two years. Both offer “vacation modes” perfect for second homes where you can suspend the service up to 6 months out of the year at minimal costs.

Satellite is a more expensive technology than your familiar “cable lines run to the home” technology, so it will generally cost you about $60-$110 depending on plans available in your area. But with the cost of living being cheaper in the country, it evens out in a way. And can you really put a price on the peace and quiet that country life offers?

But what about the weather? Will I lose my signal if it rains or snows? The new technology that arose in 2017 has alleviated some of the stress on weather affecting service. It’s not perfect but it’s also not horrible.

Can my kids play their video games?

They can, and most games will work. Certain games that require an instant response in online multiplayer arenas will suffer due to lag or latency. Essentially, they’ll hit a button and it will take 1-3 seconds for the desired action to happen. Because the signal needs to travel from your home to outer space to hit the satellite dish in orbit and then back down to earth to the gaming servers and then back to your home – that’s added distance wired internet services do not have to travel to outer space -- causes the lag. It’s enough to make the most hardcore gamer rage and throw their controller through a television screen. VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) suffer from the same issue. First person shooters and sports games will suffer the most from this. All other types of games will work like RPGs, Minecraft, casino games, and apps on tablets and phones. The kids should really be outside playing anyways like we all did growing up.

Can I Stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and all the others?

You most certainly can! There’s not one plan offered by both HughesNet or Viasat that isn’t capable of streaming video in HD. The only drawback is that if you’re on a tiered data plan, you can eat away your entire data allowance for the month in a single weekend by binge-watching “Breaking Bad.” A good rule of thumb is for every hour of streaming in the highest HD, 1 GB (gigabyte) is used. There are added tools with both companies that will pre-set the picture quality to lowered HD settings to alleviate the amount of data used to stream. Test it out on YouTube. Go ahead. I’ll wait… Open it up now and play a video. Click on the settings and lower the picture quality to 480p. It’s not that bad. Who needs to have the picture quality at its highest setting just to make out every pore on Walter White’s face? Many country living folks have accepted data tiered plans as a reality and use television services like DirecTV and Dish Network to remedy the need for video entertainment. Both HughesNet and Viasat offer a $10 bundle discount off the internet bill with DirecTV.

What are the startup costs for satellite internet?

Startup costs are next to none. HughesNet will require you pay for the first month’s bill upfront. With a $50 discount often applied to the first month, the first bill is less than $20 in most instances. Viasat typically has no startup costs and usually offers its own discount for the first three months. Both will require a valid form of payment on file and promote automatic bill pay and paperless billing. You can request a paper bill if you’re old-fashioned like that for a small monthly fee. Equipment is leased at about $10 a month. They do offer lifetime lease options where you pay a one-time amount to erase all equipment fees off future bills. Should you ever cancel the service, you will need to return the modem/router even if you paid the one-time fee or else expect a hefty charge. As far as installation goes, it’s free and easy for those able to pass a credit check. Installation ranges from anywhere from two to three hours. The customer gets the final say on where the dish is installed. Most will put it on their roof to not only achieve the best line of sight to the southern sky but also to keep it out of the way in the yard when mowing the grass. So, all-in-all there is still light at the end of the internet tunnel for all your social media and streaming needs on all your fancy wireless devices. Giving you no reason to regret replacing the big city lights with the cool country nights. 

An easy way to see what's available with either company is to use a reliable site like KonectEaze.  One of their professional agents can determine serviceability for your home and go over the speeds and plans available to you.

 

 

Updated: February 21, 2020

Congratulations on getting your XFINITY subscription! You probably had to choose between several internet service providers like AT&T, CenturyLink and Spectrum.  But signing up for Comcast internet service is just the beginning; the conquest of installation lies ahead of you! Of course, you can always go pro and call in a tech agent to do the dirty work for you, but that’s going to cost you money.

If you’re on a tight budget, we’ve put together a guide to help you out. So without further ado, let’s go to XFINITY and beyond!

Self-installing XFINITY Internet

To self-install XFINITY internet, you have to ask your internet service provider for a self-install kit. Don’t worry, it’s free of cost! Once you get your hands on the kit, start cataloging the items in it so you know that you have everything you need:

· xFi Wireless Gateway—a device that serves as a  router and a modem.

· Cables—power, coaxial, and Ethernet cables to link your gateway to your devices and electric outlet.

· The guide book.

· Other documentation—company policies and various other terms and conditions.

· Return instructions—details on the return policy on your existing XFINITY equipment.

Let’s Get Started!

Now that you have your kit assembled, let’s start installing it!

1. Get your coaxial cable and plug it into your wall socket. Rotate it clockwise until it’s nice and tight!

2. Plug in the other end of the cable into the xFi Wireless Gateway socket.

3. Find the power socket on your Gateway and plug the power cable in; the other end goes into the wall socket.

4. Now, your online connection light should be flashing. Wait for about 20 minutes for it to stop.

Voila! You’ve installed your XFINITY connection! Now, let’s activate it so you can go online!

Activating XFINITY Internet

Depending on which route you take, your activation process can vary:

If you’re using the XFINITY xFi mobile app, you can use it to activate you xFi Pods and Gateways via both iOS and Android devices. For those using an internet browser, just Google XFINITY.com/activate and follow the easy steps on the website.

If you’re using XFINITY internet for your TV, you can activate the service directly from your TV.

Lastly, you can also call their customer support to help you activate your XFINITY internet services.

And if all else fails, you can always call us. Our customer service representatives will answer all your internet service related queries and guide you in the right direction. Moreover, if you’d like to explore more Internet service providers in your area, we can help you do so in a matter of minutes!