If you're looking for a new internet service, you may be wondering how much CenturyLink internet costs. Read on to learn more about CenturyLink internet prices.
25 March, 2022 | Posted by:
Category: Deals & Packages, Internet, Service Providers, Technology | No Comments
90% of US adults use the internet. It's evident that the internet is a vital way in how we connect with one another, so it's important that you choose the best internet service providers (ISPs) to get online.
There are several you can choose to get things like cable and DSL internet. If you're looking into the latter, then we highly recommend CenturyLink internet.
In this article, we'll give you an overview of this company, including CenturyLink internet prices, as well as CenturyLink plans.
First off, before you consider CenturyLink, you should make sure they're available in your location.
The good news is, CenturyLink is the 3rd largest DSL provider in the US. This means they have widespread coverage in the nation.
You can get their DSL services in 39 states and their fiber optic services in all 50. You'll find the greatest coverage in Washington, Arizona, and Colorado.
The CenturyLink internet packages are very simple.
Here are the packages for DSL:
Here are the packages for fiber optic internet:
If there is fiber optic internet available in your area, we highly recommend you go for it, as all packages cost the same (with the exception of the last one, which is Fiber Gigabit). Regardless, any CenturyLink internet speed is pretty decent, even with DSL.
The CenturyLink internet data caps are the same across the board: 1,024 GB a month. This is a very generous data cap and in most households, you probably won't even get anywhere near the limit.
With the Fiber Gigabit plan, you pay a little extra. However, do you get lightning-fast speeds, as well as no data cap at all. This means you'll get smooth and hassle-free streaming with these services.
CenturyLink Price for Life is a promotion where you lock in the prices you're paying. All you have to do is stay at the same address and keep the same internet plan you're using.
In general, you'll get to keep the same prices "forever," so long as you don't make any changes to your customer account. If you're confident that you'll like the internet plan you're on, and that you won't move, this may be worth looking into.
Now you have a good idea of the CenturyLink internet prices and more. As a result, you have all the information you need to make a smart decision on whether or not CenturyLink is right for you.
If you happen to live somewhere where you can get either DSL or fiber optic internet services from this company, then it'll probably be worth it to try it out, especially since CenturyLink is one of the biggest ISPs in the country.
If you're ready to get CenturyLink internet, then start by using our zip code search tool now. We have thousands of plans to browse, which ensures that you get the best prices around!
What is fixed wireless internet and why should you make the switch? Check out this guide for a better understanding of the fixed wireless internet benefits.
29 March, 2022 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Technology | No Comments
In 2009, 56% of Americans said they've used wireless internet at some point in their lives. Now, over a decade later, you can bet that number is much higher now.
While we're at home, we usually like to use a wired internet connection. This provides a quicker and more stable experience. However, there are some people who either can't receive wired services or just prefer to go wireless.
If you're of the latter category, then you might be interested in something called fixed wireless internet.
What is fixed wireless internet? Is it good for your situation? What internet service providers (ISPs) are there available?
Find out the answers to all these questions and more by reading this article. We'll show you how to get smooth and hassle-free streaming with the right ISPs.
So what is fixed wireless internet service? As you may have guessed, this is where you don't have to affix a wire from your computer or laptop to the modem to get connected.
Fixed wireless internet allows you to get online as if you're on a regular WiFi network. All you have to do is go into your internet settings, look for the right network, and select it to start using the internet.
As you can imagine, this is very convenient, especially if you don't like to hook up wires and have them get all tangled. Plus, they limit how far you can take your laptop and computer without having to get on a wireless connection.
Of course, it does come with some disadvantages. Because it's a wireless signal, it's definitely not as stable as other options, such as cable and DSL (we'll discuss these in more detail below).
This means if there's a bad storm, or even just bad wind, it can affect your internet connection. Also, if there are things like trees around, they can also interfere with the connection. You might want to keep these factors in mind if you're considering getting fixed internet connection in your area.
With fixed wireless internet, you get the internet signal through radiowaves. These are transmitted through the base station that's closest to your house.
In order to process these signals properly, you'll need a receiver. Your ISP will install this for you when you first sign up with them. This receiver will then grab the radiowaves coming from the base station and allow any devices in your home to connect to the internet.
You'll mainly find fixed wireless internet in more rural areas, since those places usually aren't worth it for ISPs to put resources in, such as laying down coaxial cables.
Now you have a basic understanding of how fixed wireless internet works. But how does it compare when it comes to the other types of internet available?
Below, we'll show you how satellite, cable, DSL, and fiber optic internet work so you get a good idea of the pros and cons that come with each.
In rural areas, in addition to fixed wireless internet, you'll usually also have the option of satellite internet. This is because satellite internet is so powerful that it reaches pretty much 100% of the United States.
With satellite internet, there are a few main components: your computer, modem, satellite dish, the satellite itself, and the ISP. Basically, your computer first makes a request that travels all the way through each one, ending with the ISP. Once the ISP receives the request, it'll then ping the connection backwards, all the way to your computer.
It may sound complicated, but all of this happens so quickly that it's comparable to connecting through other methods, like DSL or cable internet.
This type of internet is more available, but speeds may be slower. Satellite internet is also usually on the pricier side.
Cable internet is one of the most popular methods people use to get connected. Your computer gains access to the internet when plugged into the modem, which is connected to a coaxial cable in the wall. This coaxial cable can be found in many American homes, as it allows you to also get the many channels that come with cable TV.
The internet signal is sent through copper wires, which is similar to how telephone signals are sent. This means it's a pretty reliable way to get online, plus the speeds are decent as well.
However, despite its popularity, cable internet isn't found everywhere. This means you may be limited to just satellite and fixed wireless internet.
DSL internet is the other popular method most Americans use to get online. "DSL" is short for "digital subscriber line" and you connect through the use of telephone wires.
At first glance, this seems identical to the old-fashioned way of connecting through dial-up internet. However, the speeds are much faster. In addition, DSL uses unused telephone lines, which means you won't have to tie up your landline to go online.
With these telephone lines, you receive signals through the nearest switching station. As a result, if you live closer to one, you'll get faster and more stable speeds.
Again, DSL may not be available everywhere, just like with cable internet. So you might have no choice but to get satellite or fixed wireless internet.
Last, but not least, we have fiber optic internet. This is the fastest type of internet around, as it can give you lightning-fast download speeds.
With cable and DSL internet, those connections use copper wires, as we've said. But with fiber optic internet, the signal uses light that's passed through a bundle of fiber optic cables.
As a result, you get signals that have less attenuation and distortion. These are both major factors that make copper-wired internet options inferior to fiber optic internet.
However, this type of internet is in very limited areas. Currently, it's a huge investment for ISPs, so they're only sticking to larger metropolitan areas for now. Because of this, you most likely won't find fiber optic internet in more rural areas.
Are you interested in getting fixed wireless internet? Then you'll want to know what the biggest ISPs are in the country.
Below are the best ones available. Hopefully, this list will help you when you're trying to choose an ISP.
Rise Broadband is the biggest fixed wireless internet provider you'll find in the US. They serve almost 26 Americans in 19 states, which is far more than any other ISP. The top download speed you'll get with them is 1,000 Mbps.
You'll find the greatest coverage for Rise Broadband in Colorado, Texas, and Illinois. The biggest cities they serve include Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Las Vegas.
If you're looking to get phone services as well, then Rise Broadband is a good ISP to go with. You'll be able to bundle both together for cost-savings.
King Street Wireless comes in second, with a coverage of almost 8 million people. While this is significantly less than with Rise Broadband, they do have service in more states; 24 to be exact. However, they have much slower speeds, maxing out at just 1.0 Mbps.
With this ISP, they mainly serve Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The top areas served by King Street Wireless are Saint Louis, Eugene, Fayetteville, Topeka, Rochester, Charleston, and Springfield.
As you may have guessed by their name, King Street Wireless only provides internet services. So if you need phone or TV services, then you'll have to look at other providers for those extra services.
In third is Etheric Networks, which serves almost 6 million customers. If you want to use this ISP, you'll have to make sure you're in the right location, as they only exclusively serve 1 state: California. However, if you do live in this state, you're in for a treat, as Etheric Networks gives you speeds of up to 1,800 Mbps.
Within California, this ISP mainly serves San Mateo, San Jose, San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Oakland, Fremont, and Hayward. As you can see, they have great service in Northern California.
Like most of the other ISPs on this list, Etheric Networks focuses on only fixed wireless internet services. You'll have to turn to another company to get phone and TV services.
Next is Starry Internet, which serves around 5.5 million people in 7 states. Their fixed wireless internet gets download speeds of up to 200 Mbps. In addition to fixed wireless internet, they also offer fiber optic internet.
Their greatest coverage is in the states of California, Massachusetts, and New York. Their top areas served are Allston, Medford, Arlington, New York, Boston, Washington, and Cambridge.
Starry Internet is also a internet-only company, meaning you won't find phone or TV services with them.
NextLink is a company that serves over 4.5 million of the population. They have a reach of 3 states and you'll get internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps with them. This is another ISP that has fiber optic internet service too.
The 3 states you'll get NextLink service in are Texas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. The top cities they serve are Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Denton, Mesquite, and Waco.
NextLink does have phone services available, so you can consider bundling these with your internet plan.
VTX Communications also serves close to 4.5 million Americans. Like Etheric Networks, you can only find them exclusively in 1 state: Texas.
With this ISP, you'll get download speeds of up to 30 Mbps. For those of you who want some choices, you'll be pleased to know that VTX Communications also offers DSL and fiber optic internet.
The main cities this ISP serves include Raymondville, Dilley, Falfurrias, Santa Rosa, Jourdanton, Lyford, and Premont. This is another company that offers phone services in addition to internet access.
Everywhere Wireless follows up closely to the other ISPs, with coverage for almost 4 million customers. You'll only find their services in the state of Illinois. If you do live there, you can enjoy download speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps.
The top areas served for Everywhere Wireless are Chicago, Des Plaines, Evanston, Cicero, Skokie, Arlington Heights, and Berwyn. You'll find coverage in 203 zip codes.
Again, this is an ISP that only offers internet services.
TWN Communications also serves almost 4 million customers. You'll find their services in 5 states and their speeds are great, with a max of 1,000 Mbps. In addition to fixed wireless internet, they also offer DSL internet.
TWN Communications mainly serves Arizona, New Mexico, and Indiana. The top cities served by this ISP are Tucson, Albuquerque, Fort Wayne, Las Cruces, Lubbock, Lafayette, and Casa Grande.
If you need phone services, then you'll be pleased to know that TWN Communications also has those available.
Fixed wireless internet can be a great option for staying connected if you live in a more urban area. Of course, you also have the option of satellite internet. But with so many great choices, it can be worth it to pick an excellent fixed wireless ISP.
With our list of the top 8 ISPs above, you can continue doing some research for the services provided in your area. With what you know about fixed wireless internet from our article, you can then make a more informed decision when it comes down to choosing the perfect ISP for your home.
So are you ready to start looking at the plans available to you? Then try out our zip code search tool now. We have a great database that has thousands of internet plans for you to choose from.
When it comes to a slow internet connection, take matters into your own hands by testing the speed at one of the following reliable test sites.
08 February, 2024 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Technology, Tips | No Comments
According to a Pew Research study, 28% of Americans claim to be "constantly online." In fact, internet access is so important that the UN declared it a human right not too long ago.
Today, we rely on the internet in order to keep our work, social, and personal lives running smoothly. When we experience a slow internet connection, we can become frustrated and irate. This makes sense considering how helpful of a tool the internet is.
We pay good money to our internet service providers (ISPs) and when our connection is slow, we feel like we're being ripped off. Luckily, there are ways to test how fast your internet really is.
Interested in learning more? Continue reading and we'll walk you through what internet speed actually is and how to test how fast or slow your connection is.
We can relate internet speed to something like water pressure. It's all about how much volume you can move in a certain amount of time.
Computers that are connected to the internet are able to move information to each through in electronic packets. What's a packet? It's basically a unit of data.
Think of a packet like a drop of water. When you increase the water pressure, you deliver more drops of water in a faster amount of time. And a faster internet connection means that you're delivering more packets in a faster amount of time.
The volume of data that's moved through a connection in a certain amount of time is the internet speed for that connection.
Let's look at an analogy. If you wanted to, you could wash your hair with water that's barely trickling out of the showerhead. But you would probably prefer to have enough water pressure so that you could wash all of the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair in a fairly short amount of time.
When we look at internet speed, you could in a sense stream a video by watching it one frame at a time, and then waiting a few minutes for it to buffer so that you could see the next frame. But nobody in their right mind is going to want to watch a video in that way.
When you have a fast internet speed, you'll be able to do everything faster and more smoothly online.
Whether you're constantly asking yourself "why is my Wi-Fi so slow?" or you're relatively satisfied with your internet speed, it's still worth testing.
By knowing what your internet speed is and how it compares to the recommendations from internet-based services, like Hulu or Netflix, you can end up getting the most out of your internet connection. Because the speed of your internet is so crucial to accessing the web, you should regularly test your internet speed.
By knowing your internet speed, you'll able be able to find the best deal on ISPs. This is because, when you're comparing different service providers, you'll be able to have a reference point to know if the speed they offer is actually going to be helpful to you.
After you complete your speed test, you're most likely going to see two numbers in the results. One will be your download speed and the other will be your upload speed.
The download speed is the speed at which data travels from the internet to your device. For example, if you open the Instagram application on your smartphone, your download speed will determine how quickly it takes to load your feed.
The upload speed is the opposite. This is how quickly data travels from your device to the internet. So if you wanted to post a photo to your Instagram account, your upload speed will determine how quickly it takes your photo to get the Instagram server so that all of your followers can see it.
For the majority of internet plans, your download speeds are going to be a lot faster than your upload speeds. This makes sense considering that users are most likely going to be consuming content rather than producing it.
Scrolling through your Twitter feed, reading an online article, or streaming music and videos are all things that don't really require upload bandwidth.
Upload speeds are much more important when it comes to interactive applications. Video chat and especially online gaming require fast upload speeds in order to provide a smooth and seamless user experience.
Fast upload speeds are also extremely important when you're trying to share big files.
CenturyLink is a well-respected internet service provider that provides internet speeds of up to 1,000Mpbs in some areas. And if you live in one of the 21 states that gets AT&T's internet service, then you should definitely consider them too.
Now that we've gone over the importance of having good internet speed, let's go over the best internet speed test sites out there. We'll look at the top sites and how they operate.
SpeedOf.Me is lightweight and built to replicate real-world downloading and browsing conditions.
It does this by requesting a series of files of increasing sizes. It then records the speed at which these files are downloaded. This test records in real-time with information on the latency, upload, download, and other info like your server location, IP address, and more.
There's also a history section where you can compare past records of your tests so that you can monitor changes. Plus, you can easily share your results on Twitter or Facebook.
Rather than picking a location, the site figures out the fastest and most reliable server from over 100 available servers. And all of the files are uploaded and download in sequences, instead of simultaneously, to replicate actual internet browsing conditions.
With SpeedOf.Me, you're going to get the best-looking internet speed test as well as the best data and features.
If you want an internet speed test that's going to give you the most data, then you should definitely consider TestMy.net. This website gives you options for testing latency, upload, download, or a combination. You can select what you're interested in and the test will run automatically.
The test will then give you multiple detailed graphs that show you exactly how your internet performed.
Another cool feature is that this test can show you how your internet speeds compare to others in your area. You can even get the national and world average speeds. And you can save the results for future use too.
If these numbers seem foreign or confusing to you, TestMy.net also provides plenty of guides so that you can better understand your test results.
Owned by Ookla, Speedtest.net is one of the most popular internet speed tests around. The technology is both fast and smart. Speedtest picks a nearby server, runs a complete test, and then provides you with information about your download and upload speed, packet loss, and latency.
Speedtest is a multithread test. This means that it tests several servers at the same time. Critics have pointed out that multithread tests don't replicate real-world network traffic in the same way that single-thread tests are able to do.
Because of this, the results might actually be inaccurate.
Deciding on what constitutes a good Wi-Fi speed will depend on what you intend to get out of your Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps). This is the package size and includes the upload and download speeds.
Basically, the number you get is how fast it transfers information.
For general internet browsing, such as reading blog posts and sending emails, you should be fine with a download speed of around 10 Mbps. If you live with another person and you both like to stream HD movies on Netflix, you'll want around 20 Mbps.
However, a large family in a big house that loves to watch 4K movies and play online video games may need 100 Mbps. Especially if you have lots of computers, tablets, phones, and smart TVs.
The number of connected devices, size of your home, and internet-connected activities you plan to do will all determine how fast of a Wi-Fi speed you'll need.
Frontier Communications is a great ISP that offers average speeds ranging from 6Mbps to 115 Mbps, so everyone can find a Frontier plan that works for them.
There are several things that you can do so that you can make your internet speed even faster.
First, you can update your security. If people nearby are somehow getting access to your internet, you're most likely going to experience a slow connection. By making a complex password and adding WPA2 security, you can keep your Wi-Fi safe from intruders.
You can also get a router extender. A router extender won't necessarily make your internet faster but it will make it more accessible throughout your home.
If your router is at one end of your home, and you're getting very weak access on the other end of your home, you can install an extender. This device will extend the range of your Wi-Fi so that you can access it from more areas in your house.
A ping rate is the reaction time of your internet connection. It's basically how quickly you get a response after you've sent out a request.
If you have a fast ping, then you'll have a more responsive connection. And in applications where timing is crucial, like with video games, you want to have a fast ping rate. These rates are measured in milliseconds (ms).
The higher number you have for your ping rate, the more lag you're going to experience.
When it comes to gaming, you want your ping rate to be around 50ms or lower. If you have a speed of over 100ms, then you'll experience noticeable delays. And if your ping rate is over 170ms, some games will just simply reject your connection.
For gamers who reside in rural areas, their choices of internet access are usually quite limited. Satellite internet like Hughesnet and Viasat, can then be a good option to fulfill their gaming needs. However, satellite internet isn't suitable for every type of video game.
With satellite internet, you can get broadband-like speeds wherever you are, so long as you're within your provider's reach. Unfortunately, the problem with gaming on satellite internet is latency. Latency is the time that's required for data to travel the distance between the satellite dish to the geostationary satellite and back.
So with internet satellite, you're going to generally have poor latency and ping when it comes to gaming. You can still play games online, but you'll probably want to avoid ones that require split-second decisions like Call of Duty and Fortnight.
Strategy games often work on a turn-base system. So lag won't be noticeable here. Lag will be noticeable, however, with shooting and sports games.
HughesNet is a popular satellite internet service provider that delivers a minimum of 25Mbps on every one of their plans. Viasat is another reputable provider that offers speeds ranging from 4Mbps to 25 Mbps.
However, if you live in a rural area and want an alternative to satellite internet, then you should consider getting a fixed wireless connection by Rise Broadband.
Hopefully, after reading the above article, you now understand what is a good internet speed. And by testing for slow internet, you can better understand how the technology in your home works and how it affects your day to day affairs.
Are you interested in finding the best internet deals in your area? If so, contact us today and see how we can help you!
Have you ever wondered how airplane are able to keep you connected to the internet. We explore how airline passengers can stay connected even when they are soaring through the skies.
19 April, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Internet, Technology | No Comments
We outdid ourselves when we conquered the skies, and now, with in-flight internet connectivity, we’ve once again proven that the sky is indeed the limit!
As more and more millennials board flights around the US, 88% of the population rate their flight experience based on in-flight connectivity quality and speed. It has become a staple for airlines to offer premium in-flight internet connectivity even miles above the ground as evidenced by a recent article in aviation week.
Internet up in the sky is not much different from internet on the ground; airlines use the same satellites and towers your wireless broadband connection does to provide you with seamless world wide web access.
However, the reason your Wi-Fi connection is faster and stronger on the ground is that the towers that catch the signals from satellites are grounded on the surface of the Earth. They’re much closer to you when you’re at home, rather than when you’re soaring miles above them.
But as the demand for faster in-flight internet connectivity grows, airlines and ISPs are partnering up to provide the best IFC to passengers at the lowest rates possible.
As airlines and ISPs work in collaboration to provide the best IFC to their customers, they’re making use of advanced technology to do so. As we know, the two most common sources of internet connectivity on ground or otherwise are:
This involves data signals being transmitted from on-ground towers. These signals are caught by airplane antennas and vice versa. This is similar to how your wireless broadband connection works at home.
However, since the antennas and these towers are not in proximity, the connection is slow and doesn’t offer the ability to stream video, for instance. Not to forget that the connection breaks once you reach a certain altitude, which is a given since you’re on a plane!
The more advanced IFC solution is satellite connectivity. ISP's use airplane antennas to catch satellite signals that provide high-speed internet connectivity at heights.
Although the gear used in providing quality internet connectivity is the same as that on-ground, airlines have to use sophisticated equipment to grip on to network signals because they’re soaring through the skies on an average speed of 550 miles/hour! Therefore, they need ISPs that have several towers and a strong satellite base so the connection isn’t lost in travel.
There are many internet service providers on the market that can provide high-speed, quality internet connectivity on planes or on the ground. You can find more about them on KonnectEaze, a website that helps you compare the best internet service providers across the states to find the best in your area!
Keeping you up to date with High Speed Broadband Internet Providers updates news and information.
17 February, 2020 | Posted by: Pablo Mendoza
Category: Apps, Business Internet, Cable, Entertainment, Gaming, Deals & Packages, News, Reviews, Internet, Service Providers, Streaming, Technology, This & That, Tips, TV | No Comments
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.
