Frontier Communications and Rise Broadband are two of the biggest internet providers. But which one is better? Click here and find out!
19 April, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Deals & Packages, Reviews, Service Providers | No Comments
Since its inception, the internet has grown in leaps and bounds. During the coronavirus pandemic, the internet has made it possible for people to stay connected with friends and family during stay-at-home orders and continue to work remotely.
If you're hunting for an internet service provider, it can be an overwhelming process. There are over 2,674 internet service providers in the U.S.
This article will seek to compare Frontier Communications against Rise Broadband in multiple different categories.
About 9 in 10 Americans use the internet on a regular basis. That's over 90% of all adults in the United States!
Global internet users are even more astounding. Over 55% of the world's population has access to the internet. That equates to around 4.2 billion people.
To access the internet, all these people must sign up to an internet service provider. It’s tricky finding a provider that’s best for you, though. There are a lot of different factors you need to consider before deciding.
If you’re curious about whether Rise Broadband or Frontier Communications would be best for you, keep reading!
A fixed wireless provider, Rise Broadband was once known as JAB Broadband. It covers 16 states, ranging across the Midwest to the Southwest regions of the United States.
Rise Broadband is the largest of the fixed wireless providers. There are over 200,000 people who use their services.
As far as a fixed wireless provider goes, the prices that Rise Broadband has fall into the mid-range. However, as far as overall internet service providers go, Rise Broadband is more on the expensive side for slower speeds.
For example, you can expect to pay more for slower speeds than you would with a cable provider.
Its cheapest plan starts at $42.95 per month. The most expensive plan that Rise Broadband has is $72.95 per month.
Rise Broadband has several plans that are priced according to the internet speeds you want. Before you decide, you'll want to take careful stock of how often you and others in your household use the internet.
Ask yourself several important questions. How many devices use the internet at the same time in your household? Are you and your family members streaming shows and doing video conferences? Do you need higher speeds to accommodate your gaming habits?
All of these factors will have a direct impact on how much download speeds you truly need. A person living alone who only uses their internet to check their emails won't need high internet speed.
Here are the package plans that Rise Broadband is offering at the moment:
The internet speed for Rise Broadband varies depending upon the package you choose.
The cheapest package, the Economy, will get you 5 Mbps. This is enough speed to allow a single person to use their device to browse the internet and stream shows.
The most expensive package is the Breakout Premier and it will get you internet speeds up to 20 Mbps. This speed is enough to allow a family to use their devices at the same time to game and stream shows.
Rise Broadband has a customer recommendation rating of 39.6% on BroadbandNow. While this might seem low, once you take into consideration the fact that the majority of all internet service providers have a far lower scoring, this starts to look good.
Internet service providers are notorious for poor customer service and satisfaction. However, Rise Broadband seems to be putting in the work to become a real heavyweight contender as a viable option to cable providers.
A Rise Broadband outage doesn't occur often. They happen even less so than what you might find with a traditional satellite internet service provider.
This means that in terms of service reliability, Rise Broadband is doing great.
Read several Rise Broadband reviews and you'll notice there are both good and bad reviews.
Rise Broadband isn't perfect, but neither is any internet service provider. As previously mentioned, internet service providers have a bad reputation when it comes to making their customers happy.
When looking through reviews, the most common complaint that Rise Broadband has is that customers have to wait on hold longer than usual to speak with a representative.
Frontier Communications offers both broadband and fiber internet. If you've been stuck with using dial-up or satellite, then the higher internet speeds that Frontier Communications offers will be a welcome upgrade.
Rural areas that are far from any cities are often stuck using satellite, and sometimes only have one option available. Frontier Communications has made great strides in expanding into these areas to help provide people with additional opportunities to decide between internet service providers.
With Frontier Communications, you're able to get high-speed internet for a decent price. You can expect to pay less than you would with a satellite or fixed wireless provider, as well as get better speeds.
To break it down, you're able to get more for less with Frontier Communications when you compare it against many other internet service providers.
The cheapest plan is Simply RiOS and it starts at $29.99 per month. The most expensive plan that Frontier Communications has is the Simply FiOS Gig Service, and it starts at $74.99 per month.
Frontier Communications offers three different fiber plans. All three have unlimited data. Each plan is priced based on the internet speed you want.
The internet speed for Frontier Communications varies depending upon the plan you choose. No matter what plan you choose, they all have unlimited data, so you never have to worry about hitting a data cap and seeing reduced download speeds.
The slowest speeds that Frontier Communications offers start at 50 Mbps. The highest speeds you can get with this internet service provider jumps up to an astounding 1,000 Mbps.
There are mixed reviews when it comes to the reliability of Frontier Communications.
Some reviews state that the speeds are great and they rarely, if ever, experience any disconnects. However, there are just as many reviews citing the opposite, that the speeds never match what is advertised and disconnects multiple times a day.
This is the one area that Frontier Communications needs to put in some serious work at.
Frontier Communications scores at the very bottom in terms of customer service, which says a lot when internet service providers are notorious for their poor customer satisfaction. There are reviews upon reviews of angry customers citing that Frontier Communications hikes up prices without communication, slow internet speeds, disconnects, and that the customer service representatives are unhelpful.
When it comes to Rise Broadband vs Frontier Communications, you might consider going with Rise Broadband.
Your choice will depend upon what’s available in your area, however. Rise Broadband has far better marks when it comes to customer satisfaction, whereas Frontier Communications has some serious work to do in that department. You’ll pay more for slower speeds with Rise Broadband, but they’re also far more reliable.
To search for other internet service providers in my area, please feel free to use our directory.
If you're searching for the best internet deals that April 2020 has to offer, look no further! From broadband to satellite, these are the packages not to miss!
20 April, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Deals & Packages, Reviews, Internet, Service Providers | No Comments
If you have ever wondered about the difference between satellite internet, broadband internet and DSL, we break it down for you and explain each type of internet service inlacing their pros and cons.
08 December, 2021 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Reviews, Internet, Service Providers | No Comments
Most people don’t know the difference between a broadband and DSL connection. This is due to the vague definition of broadband that— since its origin—has not been updated properly.
Broadband was originally defined as downstream speeds faster than 512 Kbps. Though the FCC increased the minimum speed to 4 Mbps or higher, it still does not provide much clarity.
To make things simpler, there’s not much difference between broadband and DSL. In fact, DSL is a type of broadband internet that is transmitted over twisted pair copper telephone lines.
The speed of DSL can range between 1.5 Mbps and 12 Mbps, depending upon the distance, equipment, and quality of the lines. If we compare DSL to other available broadband connections, it certainly lacks in speed. Let’s take a look at a few other alternatives:
· A satellite connection like Hughesnet or Viasat can reach over 10 Mbps and can go up to 100mbps.
· A cable connection like Xfinity, Spectrum or AT&T can reach over 1000Mbps.
· A fiber connection like Centurylink or Frontier can reach over 1000 Mbps.
Broadband covers a comprehensive range of internet connections, with only a few exceptions such as dial-up. Some of the most common types of broadband internet include:
· Cable Internet
· DSL Internet
· Fiber optic Internet
· Satellite Internet
Aside from internet speed, the primary difference between all of these broadband connections is the area of coverage. Cable internet is typically available in cities and surrounding suburban areas. That is why most customers are familiar with brand names like Xfinity, Comcast, Charter Spectrum and AT&T. These are the brands that serve the majority of the United States Broadband needs because this is the largest oldest network we have.
Fiber optic internet is more limited when it comes to network coverage, and is available in a few major cities. The reason for this is because fiber internet infrastructure is expensive to build and maintain. Yes it is fast but to get that lighting speed to the consumer is also much more than laying down cable. Just ask companies like Verizon and Centruylink who have made significant investments into the infrastructure of Broadband services here in our country.
On the other hand, DSL connections and satellite internet have wide coverage and can be offered in more places. Satellite internet covers almost 90% of the United States because unlike cable, Satellites are free to roam through space and provide a much broader signal. Cable internet is limited to where cables are run. Companies like Viasat and Hughesnet launch billion dollar satellites into the sky and these satellites have not only the capability to provide service to millions of customers throughout the world but they also provide service to the United States military. For Viasat, providing service to the US intelligence community is a far bigger portion of their business than the civilian a.k.a. consumer side.
There are several factors that you must consider before choosing your network connection.
If you need fast speeds, there’s no better option than fiber optics. As mentioned previously, it can reach 1000+ Mbps, enabling you access to super fast downloading speeds. Centurylink is our pick in this category.
Though fiber optics broadband is a slightly expensive choice, it can save you a great amount of time and prove to be an excellent choice—especially if you work remotely. When working remotely, factors to be considered when choosing your internet service provider include speed requirement, if you are connecting to a VPN, or if you have any task in which latency or lag will be an issue. For most people the connection speed of satellite internet is sufficient if you are just browsing and gaming but satellite internet service should be reserved for people who cannot get cable or fiber internet.
In case you don’t have access to fiber optics, you can always resort on a DSL or cable connection. Both of these broadband connections come with a high volume of bandwidth, allowing you to meet your internet needs. That being said, Cable will trump DSL and will allow you to stream apps like Netflix or Hulu while still browsing online. Forget about doing any of those activities with DSL.
Finally, if you don’t have access to any of these broadband connections, satellite internet can be your final bet.
There are several internet service providers in the market that offer reliable, high-speed internet solutions to individuals and businesses.
You can learn about them on KonnectEaze, a website that allows you to compare the top internet service providers in the United States.
As they sort service providers using zip codes, you can easily find the best internet packages in your area.
Looking to upgrade or switch your service to satellite? When shopping for the best provider, explore the best satellite internet review of Viasat.
19 April, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Reviews, Internet, Service Providers | No Comments
Consumers have trusted Viasat with their high-speed internet needs for more than 30 years. Despite growing competition from other U.S. internet service providers, Viasat remains one of the top satellite ISPs in the nation.
Formerly known as Exede, the Satellite ISP provider officially switched to Viasat internet in 2012. Viasat services hundreds of thousands of consumers across the country and is available in all 50 states. The largest coverage areas are in New York, Texas, and California.
Viasat's staying power is attributed, in part, to the market itself. There is very little competition in the Satellite ISP industry, and Viasat is the second-largest satellite internet provider in the country, next to HughesNet.
Are you considering Viasat satellite internet? Learn how Viasat internet works, and explore its plans, high speeds, features, and more.
Most ISPs are cable or DSL providers. Viasat, on the other hand, delivers high-speed internet via satellite. If this is your first experience with satellite internet, there are important differences to know about satellite vs. cable and DSL.
A significant advantage of satellite internet is that it can be accessed wherever a satellite dish is present. That means you can access it virtually anywhere from the country. That's why satellite internet is more accessible to some rural areas than cable and DSL services.
While several top internet providers offer cable or DSL only, these services aren't available in every area. You'll need to look up your zip code to find out if cable or DSL providers service your area at all. If your area isn't currently serviced, you would need to look at alternatives, like satellite internet.
Why isn't cable or DSL service available for everyone? This is a frequently asked question. It has everything to do with location.
If your area is located too far from an ISP's servicing equipment, you won't have access to that service. This is a frequent issue for rural communities. Distance is why some ISPs have monopolies over certain areas. Some areas are lucky to have two cable ISP choices.
A cable or DSL servicing area must be located within 18,000 feet of an ISP's telecommunications equipment to get service. Internet speed depends on how close you are to servicing equipment. A house that's 3,000 feet away from telecom equipment will enjoy faster internet than a home located 17,000 feet away.
Cable ISPs transmit signals via coaxial cables directly to your internet modem. DSL providers use phone lines to deliver internet services. Viasat internet transmits signals from Earth to its orbiting satellites located outside of Earth.
Once Viasat receives the signal request, it transmits a signal from its orbiting satellites back to your satellite dish, delivering high-speed internet directly to your home. Your computer transmits a signal to your internet modem, which sends a signal request to your attached satellite dish.
You'll need at least two pieces of equipment to access Viasat satellite internet: a Viasat brand satellite dish and the wifi modem with a built-in router. Coaxial cables are also necessary for connecting your dish and modem.
Viasat's most current wifi modem also comes with the company's analog voice adapter to enable VoIP capabilities. However, if you're using an older Exede internet modem, you can purchase the voice adapter separately. This add-on is ideal for businesses that want to switch to virtual phone lines.
Viasat's satellite internet dish is separate from your TV satellite dish. Viasat's dish is small, measuring at only 30 by 28 inches wide. Most homeowners install their dish on the side of their houses, but you can also install them on a nearby mole or freestanding mount.
After ordering Viasat internet, a company technician can help you position your dish for optimal speed. Service and dish installation can take anywhere from two to three hours with a certified technician.
Rest assured, your Viasat technician will help you configure your internet. They'll also create the network name and password of your choice.
It's important to know how to configure Viasat internet if you ever move or need to set up a new network. Your Viasat equipment comes with assigned identifiers that you can use to set up your network. Your network password is the "key" on the bottom of your wireless internet modem.
Once your devices are connected, they'll recognize the network name printed on the back of your modem. All you have to do is type in your password, and you're good to go. If you want to create a new network name and password, call a technician or follow the online instructions provided by Viasat.
Viasat has several types of residential internet plans. These include:
These monthly plans are divided into separate tiers. Data capacity and internet speeds increase with each tier.
Viasat's performance and speed depend on three things: your dish location, service area, and chosen monthly plan.
Viasat offers several internet plans for homes, businesses, and government agencies.
While any home or building can install a Viasat dish, different residential plans are available for different areas. Availability is determined by the satellite beams that service each location. To find out which plans are available in your area, you'll need to search for plans by zip code.
For example, most Liberty plans start at 12 GB and go up from there. Viasat Liberty monthly plans start at $50 for 12 GB, $75 a month for 25 GB, $100 for 50 GB, and $150 per month for unlimited gigabytes. If you want the fastest satellite internet, go with the unlimited GB plan.
Your area may have Unlimited Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum monthly plans available. These plans start at $70 per month for 12 Mbps, $100 for 25 Mbps, $150 for 30 to 100 Mbps, and so forth. 100 Mbps is the fastest satellite internet speed available from Viasat; however, it's not available in all service areas.
With Viasat, you can expect video streaming speeds ranging from 360p to 1080p. Optimal streaming speeds will depend on your monthly plan of choice. Video streaming speeds increase with each monthly plan tier.
Viasat offers additional products to optimize your satellite internet experience. You can bundle your internet service with DirectTV to enjoy the full satellite entertainment experience. There's also an option to add a home landline at a fraction of the cost. A priority customer care package is also available at an additional cost.
To get the most bang for your buck, take advantage of Viasat's current deals and specials. However, these specials are available for a limited time only. These deals may apply to the first six months of service only. After the offer expires, you may be required to pay the regular monthly cost.
Are you a small business owner? You can't compete without reliable internet. Like residential internet plans, your satellite business internet choices depend on your location.
One popular plan is the Business Unlimited 35. For $175 per month, your business will receive internet speeds of up to 35 Mbps. This plan also comes with unlimited streaming and data.
You can also choose from one of Viasat's Business Metered broadband plans. These plans are ideal for businesses that only require low data usage for continuity purposes, backups, and secure SD-WAN connections.
There are three Business Metered plans: Business Metered 1 GB, 10 GB, 20 GB, 50 GB, and 200 GB. Plans start at $50 per month for 1 GB of high-speed data, $80 a month for 10 GB worth of data, $100 for 20 GB, $150 for 50 GB, and $400 for 200 GB of internet data.
Viasat goes a step further in offering VoIP capabilities for businesses. A VoIP-based phone system can help you save money on business communication expenses. You'll need to purchase the additional ATA hardware if you don't already have the wireless modem with built-in VoIP.
You can also optimize your business communication with Viasat's Business Voice. For a small additional cost, you get unlimited business calls to anywhere in the U.S. and Mexico. You also enjoy a more flexible business phone service in the cloud.
Business internet hotspots are also available from Viasat. A business hotspot plan typically starts at $40 per month. Hotspots let you provide secure wireless internet to guests and customers. You can set up customer login credentials and apply your own web content filters.
Whether you're a homeowner, renter, or business owner, you need a reliable internet solution. Discover the benefits of the best satellite internet for entertainment, working from home, and business continuity.
Need more resources to make your decision? Ready to order an internet service right now? Check out the latest internet reviews or contact us now to connect with the best ISP in your area.
Whether you're looking to set up, switch, or upgrade your existing internet service, explore the best internet providers of 2020.
19 April, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Reviews, Internet | No Comments
According to Pew Research, 28% of Americans claim to be on the internet constantly. And whether you use the internet for work, personal affairs, or anything in between, it's important to have fast and reliable internet service.
But not all internet services are created equal. That's why it's so important toknow about the best internet providers in your area so that you can get the best internet possible. But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to know which ISP (Internet Service Provider) is right for your situation.
Don't worry, we're here to help. We've compiled a list of the best internet providers and categorized them by what they do best.
Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we'll walk you through everything you need to know.
CenturyLink offers its customers DSL internet service that can run from 1.5 Mbps to 35Mbps. It's worth pointing out that you'll end up paying the same amount for 1.5 Mbps as you would for 35Mbps. This is because you're paying for the fastest speeds available in your area.
If you live in an area that gets close to 100Mbps then you'll have a great deal on your hands. Since you'll be paying the same amount as someone who's getting 50Mbps.
AT&T consistently ranks high on J.D. Power’s U.S. Residential Internet Service Provider Satisfaction Study. Their fiber-optic network delivers fast and satisfying internet speeds that can reach all the way to1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) in some areas. This type of connection is especially useful in big homes with a lot of internet activity, especially when it comes to streaming.
If you're not in a fiber-optic area, going with AT&T’s DSL is also a great choice. They can deliver speeds up to100 Mbps and they also offer generous data limits.
AT&T's internet service is currently available in 21 states, with the greatest coverage area in Florida, Texas, and California. Their fiber-optic options are mostly available in North Carolina as well as in Atlanta, Houston, and Dallas.
If you're looking for the highest quality fiber-optic internet service around, look no further than Verizon. They offer internet speeds from100 Mbps up to 940 Mbps. And a 2018 report from the FCC shows that the actual average speeds for Verizon's services are faster than what they advertise.
This is great news for anyone who plans to do a lot of online gaming, video conference, and video streaming. In particular, Verizon Fios is great for gamers because they tend to have the most consistent and fastest speeds.
The sad part is that Verizon Fios is only available in eight states as well as Washington D.C. To be fair though, they still serve more people than any other fiber-optic internet provider. Hopefully, their reach will continue to expand.
Currently, Verizon Fios is only available in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island. And the Fios service isn't available throughout those states but rather in highly populated areas.
Its DSL service is pretty limited too. People who live in a rural region outside of the East Coast probably won't be able to get Verizon's internet services at all.
Although satellite internet is inherently slower than other internet types, HughesNet offers25 Mbps in every one of their plans. And if that sounds like a slow speed, just know that the same FCC report referenced earlier found that HughesNet's speeds are actually almost double what they advertise.
With all that said, you're going to have to decide on your data limit. Many customers will get to pick from10, 20, 30, or 50 GB of data per month. You'll likely want to avoid choosing too low of a number.
Once you reach your data limits, your speeds may very well dip below3 Mbps until your next billing cycle comes around. And a speed that slow won't let you do anything other than some basic browsing on the web.
A big plus though is that you're in the "free data zone" between 2 am and 8 am. That means that any internet usage that goes on during that time isn't counted towards your monthly allowance.
Customers of HughesNet can also use the company's handy app so that they can track how much data they've been using and manage their services. This way, you're never caught off guard if your data gets restricted.
If you just need some basic internet and don't want all the bells and whistles and costs that come with those bells and whistles, then Frontier is the right pick for you. For $28 a month, you'll get the6 Mbps plan, referred to as Frontier Internet. This should be enough for you to stream videos and also browse the internet.
If you've got multiple devices running at the same time, then you'll probably run into problems. But for small households who don't demand a whole lot from their internet service, this can be a cheap and useful option.
All of the plans from Frontier come with a no-contract option. This is great for people who are changing jobs or planning on moving soon. While most companies charge big early termination fees or make you pay other costs for ending your plan, you don't have to worry about that with Frontier.
And their plans come with a two-year price lock so you don't have to worry about prices being raised.
Spectrum's cable plans are both fast and reliable. With practically any plan, you'll be able to stream high-def videos, play video games online, and browse Instagram on your tablet all at the same time. They also offer great contract buyouts for those who are thinking about switching providers.
If you get their Triple Play package, you'll get free installation, free DVR service, and free Wi-Fi setup. You can also bundle your internet with phone and TV service at an unbeatable discounted price.
WOW!, which stands for Wide Open West, is perfect for anyone who plans to use a lot of data. While most ISPs set data caps at around 1 TB, WOW! doesn't have any data caps. This makes it an excellent choice for people who work from home and download large files.
WOW! also offers no-contract plans. Unfortunately, they do charge more for these kinds of plans but that makes sense. If you decide to get a contract in order to pay a lower price, you'll be paying for WOW! for the next two years.
That's a fairly long time. So before you make a decision, consider using their 30-day money-back guarantee to test it out for yourself.
Rise Broadband provides its customers with a fixed wireless internet service. This is a popular alternative to DSL and cable providers.
In order to provide internet wirelessly, an access tower in your area beams the connection to an antenna that's been installed on your roof. The internet is then distributed throughout your house via a Wi-Fi router.
In rural areas,many people really can only choose between Rise Broadband and HughesNet. A benefit of Rise is that they tend to offer more data for less money.
While Viasat (formerly known as Exede) may seem a lot more expensive than cable and fiber internet plans, it's more or less the same as satellite internet plans. One thing to know about Viasat is that after you sign up for one of their plans, they will likely raise the price on you three months later.
With that said though, Viasat tends to charge less per megabit per second than HughesNet does. So unless you're satisfied with HughesNet’s low data caps and 25 Mbps, Viasat is likely going to offer you a better deal.
While25 Mbps may be enough to stream HD films, it won't be enough to stream and handle other connected devices that are also trying to use the internet. The more devices that are being used, the faster speeds and more data you'll need.
While MetroNet does offer some TV and phone services, they're clearly putting all of their attention on delivering the best internet they possibly can. This company offers quick fiber internet connections at good prices. They don't have data caps and they offer great service.
MetroNet is one of the smallest ISPs around but their Gigabit offerings are quite large. Gamers and heavy streamers will appreciate the fact that none of their plans come with data caps. And their internet-only packages come with either100, 200, 500,or 1,000 Mbps.
Cox has a plan for just about everyone out there. And their prices are fair so you'll get what you pay for. And for people who don't need super-fast speeds, Cox can be a sensible and reliable option.
The internet service provided by Cox starts at 10 Mbps for $30 per month. And for $40 per month, you'll get 30 Mbps.
But you don't have to stop there. Their150 Mbps and 300 Mbps plans will likely get any job done. But if that's not enough for you, then why not go all the way up to their1,000 Mbps plan?
As you get higher up, their prices stop being as competitive. But for those who are looking for simple and reliable internet at great prices, you should definitely consider Cox.
Optimum might not seem all that great at first glance. Their speeds max out at 400 Mbps for example. But their features like no-contract packages, unlimited data, and Price for Life guarantee on their 400 Mbps plan are all worth checking out.
When you combine Optimum's no-contract policy with their Price for Life guarantee, you end up with a great choice for anyone who doesn't like being tied down to one package. This is especially useful for renters and college students.
It's worth pointing out that Optimum only offers two internet plans. Those two plans provide either 300 Mbps or 400Mbps. While those plans aren't very flexible, they're still great speeds for the majority of internet users out there.
For those who want a wired connection in a rural area, Windstream could be just what you're looking for. While they've had a rocky history, including a recent bankruptcy, the company has since been able to create a growing and strong network connection that stretches from southern Texas to the Canadian border.
While satellite internet can be convenient if you're really out in the country, DSL runs through your phone line and can provide you with higher data caps and internet speeds. And in some areas, Windstream has even set up fiber optic internet.
While Windstream's plans are no-contract, they're not Price for Life, so they can go up at any time.
The Internet is a funny thing. It's something that we all rely on but many of us don't really understand how it all works. But by learning about the best internet providers around, and the different types of internet services they provide, you can become a much more confident and informed purchaser.
Are you currently looking for the best internet providers in your area? If so, contact us today and see how we can help you!