Planning on getting AT&T internet? If you are, it’s a pretty solid choice.

After you’ve signed up, you’ll have to figure out how to install the connection. You have the choice of letting the professionals take care of the process or take the matter into your own hands.

Either way, you’ll need some information regarding the installation process. Our all-you-need-to-know guide can help you make a better decision.

The difference between self-installation and professional installation

If you believe that you’ll be able to reliably install your internet connection and are comfortable with troubleshooting network issues, you can carry out the installation process yourself. Otherwise, you can opt for a professional service to get your internet up and running.

Each method comes with some advantages and disadvantages, so let’s check them out:

Self-installation

Advantages

· No extra fees—saves money

· Time flexibility—no  appointments required

Disadvantages

· Requires some degree of technical knowledge

· Issues may arise that you’ll need to troubleshoot

Professional install

Advantages

· Hassle-free and quick installation

· No required technical knowledge

Disadvantages

· Installation charges will apply

· You’ll need to make an appointment and adjust the schedule accordingly

AT&T Internet Service—Self-installation Guide

If you’re planning to install AT&T internet services on your own, you have to order an installation kit, which will come with detailed instructions and include:

· The AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway

· A gray cable

· A green data cable

· Power cord

· Yellow ethernet cable

Steps to set up your connection:

To set up your AT&T internet connection, follow these three simple steps:

1. Connect the green data cable to the green broadband port on the AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway and the jack of your AT&T Broadband in the wall.

2. Turn on the switch. It’ll take around 10 minutes for the device to power up. Once the service lights are turned green, it’s powered up.

3. Start your computer or laptop device, choose the network, and enter the password to set up your Wi-Fi access. The password will be written in a sticker of your device.

4. Once the gateway has set up, open your web browser to start the registration process (In most cases, the registration process will start automatically).

And that’s it! If you followed these steps correctly, you should have access to the internet. If you still appear offline, you’ll have to troubleshoot the issue. You may contact customer support center for help.

Additionally, if you want to use the Ethernet cable, simply plug one end of the yellow Ethernet cable to the yellow jack on the gateway and the into the LAN port of your system.

Final Words

We hope that this simple installation guide of AT&T internet services will be helpful to you.

In the meanwhile, if you want to explore other internet service provider in your area, visit KonectEaze. We allow you to check out the best internet deals near you. All you need to do is simply enter your zip code and you’ll be able to browse different internet service providers in your neighborhood. Need further details, call us at 888-376-0753 or visit our website.

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.

 

 

Rise Broadband Internet Review

A Little About Rise Broadband

Rise Broadband is a “fixed wireless” internet provider.  “Fixed wireless” is one of the latest and greatest methods of getting high speed internet to your home without cable lines running to your address or having a satellite dish pointing to outer space on your rooftop.  Instead “fixed wireless” uses access towers, almost like cell phone towers but not quite, that beam the internet off into surrounding areas and is received by an antenna that’s installed on your roof pointed directly at that tower.  This is often referred to as “line of sight” internet because it needs a straight shot from the antenna on your home to the tower without any obstruction, like trees, or hills, or buildings, etc.

Rise Broadband is a great alternative to those fed up with internet providers who seem to have a “monopoly” in the area or for rural homes that only seem to have satellite internet as an option for high speed internet.  It’s more affordable than satellite and offers unlimited data plans with no contract while satellite providers seem to always be accompanied by data restrictions along with a 2-year contract.

Rise Broadband also offers home phone (VoIP “Voice over IP”) with unlimited local and long distance calling but does not offer any type of cable TV service.  On the bright side, the internet speeds offered in most areas will be able support any video streaming services so cable TV may not be a necessity.

Rise Broadband Internet Plans

Rise Broadband’s plans and internet speeds are based on how far you are located from one of their access towers.  The closer you are to an access tower will mean higher internet speeds can be made available to you and of course the further you are from a tower, the lower the speeds.  A helpful website like, KonectEaze, can assist you on finding out which speeds you can get and assist you on setting up an installation appointment.

Please take note that Rise Broadband requires you to use their modem/router which adds $10 to the monthly bill.  The equipment they use is specific to Rise’s service and no other modem/router is compatible.  This means if you were ever to leave them, you better return their equipment back or else face a hefty charge for unreturned equipment.

So let’s take a look at the unlimited data plans they offer…

Depending on what speed is available at your specific address determines what plan you fall in.  Pretty clear and simple right?

Some other key notes are that there is no credit check or contract required and you are guaranteed the same rate for 24 months.  Also, Installation is $75 and can be split up over your first 3 bills.  No payment is made to Rise Broadband until an actual installation has been successfully completed because there still runs a risk that even if the computer says you are serviceable, a Rise technician may discover your home to be unserviceable when physically present at your house.  If all goes well and installation is a success, the technician will assist you right then and there on making your first bill’s payment either over the phone or online with a credit or debit card.

Is Rise Broadband Available in my Area?

Rise Broadband is currently the largest fixed wireless internet provider in the United States.  They currently serve many rural and urban markets in both the Midwest and Western states, 19 states in total.  Although they are continuously expanding their service, they still are quite limited in the US.  An easy way to see if your home is serviced by Rise 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.

The Verdict

Rise Broadband offers a great alternative to areas where it seems only one cable company seems to have the “monopoly” in.  They also can provide higher speeds than most DSL options and offer unlimited data without “throttling” which gives them a huge upper hand to satellite internet options in rural areas. 

Their WiFi internet speeds and unlimited data packages make them great for modern American households that enjoy streaming Netflix on their TVs, playing online video games, keeping up with the gossip on Facebook, working from home, as well as all your everyday web browsing needs on all your wireless devices.

The biggest drawbacks to Rise are limited serviceability in the US. and lack of cable TV service. 

Again, even if Rise services the area, you still run the risk of not being able to get the service due to a tree located 2 football fields away from your home, as fixed wireless needs a straight shot from an access tower to your home without anything obstructing the signal’s path. 

As far as cable TV, most Rise customers have to point to companies like DirecTV or Dish Network for cable, or they follow the popular trend of cordcutting and rely on Rise’s internet to stream video.

Despite the limited serviceability and lack of cable TV, Rise Broadband offers impressive fixed wireless speeds at an affordable rate and is a solid internet option for any customer who is fortunate enough to have the service available to them.

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.