They're small, they're compact, and they affect the entire outcome of a war. It’s your Wi-Fi router. Here are some facts about routers that centurylink, AT&T, Frontier, Rise Broadband, HughesNet, Viasat and spectrum won't tell you
18 May, 2020 | Posted by:
Category: Cable, Entertainment, Humor, Reviews, Service Providers, Streaming, Technology, Tips, TV | No Comments
They're small, they're compact, and they affect the entire outcome of a war.
Unfortunately, we’re not talking about hobbits.
It’s your Wi-Fi router.
Wi-Fi, the wireless internet connection used in almost all homes and businesses, is made available through a Wi-Fi router. Most Wi-Fi customers get their Wi-Fi through the router provided by their ISP (internet service provider). These do a good job of handling the basics of wireless uploading and downloading. AT&T, Spectrum, CenturyLink, and many more will provide a router for you when you sign up with their service.
This does not mean that you can’t purchase a Wi-Fi router from Best Buy or Amazon. In fact, getting a Wi-Fi router on your own can help save some cash on your internet bill as you won’t have to pay the router rental fee.
Check out reviews from PC Mag, CNet, and Tom’s Guide to see which ones are considered “the best.”
While there are those that are “the best,” they may not be what’s right for you, your home, or even your internet provider.
It’s the same with hobbits.
You may like one more than the other, it’s all a question of preference.
Your home, like you, is unique.
Don’t just go with the router that is labeled “the best” by a source that doesn’t know you.
That's like saying Frodo was the best hobbit.
You know, hobbits, from The Lord of the Rings.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world, there were wizards, humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and dragons. The smallest of these creatures were the hobbits. These were the guys who were half the height of dwarves. Being that dwarves were half the height of humans, this made hobbits very, very short. Sometimes they were even referred to as halflings.
As a result, hobbits were regarded as unimportant. Irrelevant even.
And the hobbits, as Tolkien explained, were happy with this. They were fine to stay in their part of the world and not bother with international politics. If the outside world didn't interfere with them, they would leave the outside world alone.
One such hobbit, Frodo Baggins, came into possession of the One Ring- the one thing that could decide whether good or evil prevailed.
And so Frodo, small and unimpressive, set out with his friends to take care of the ring. Journeying with him was Samwise Gamgee otherwise known as Sam, Peregrin Took aka Perry and Meriadoc Brandybuck aka Merry. Each was unique with their own quirks and personality.
These four hobbits, though small and “irrelevant” ended up becoming the deciding factor in entire battle for the soul of the world; Merry would go on to help slay the Witch-King, Perry would play a vital role in distracting Sauron, the grand leader of the evil forces, and Sam would help Fordo get all the way to Mt. Doom, where Frodo tossed the One Ring into open lava.
Thanks to these four hobbits, peace was restored.
Not bad for four hobbits.
While it would be easy to say that Frodo was the best hobbit of all because he destroyed the One Ring, that’d be a little presumptuous. He did have the hardest job, but without help from the other three, Frodo would have never gotten close to Mt. Doom.
It's okay then to prefer Sam, Merry, or Perry to Frodo. People have their reasons for liking one over the other. Just like they have their reasons for not choosing "the best" product out there.
Like when it comes to picking a Wi-Fi router.
Before picking a router, take stock of your Wi-Fi needs at home.
For those using one device on a consistent basis, 5 Mbps is the download speed that works best for you. With that in mind, you can save some money by avoiding the higher end routers.
If you’re downloading content on multiple devices—like Netflix through your Apple TV and streaming a game on your PlayStation 4—getting a download speed of 45 Mbps is best to handle the larger amount of data going back and forth.
Knowing this will help you decide which router is best for your home.
For homes with light internet usage, a single-band router is best. For homes with heavy internet usage, a dual-band router would be best.
Single-band routers use just one frequency.
This is great if you’re using a few devices throughout your home. They can handle the usual amount of data going back and forth.
The downside is the frequency they use; 2.4 GHz. This frequency is usually used by Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and wireless phones. Those devices can inadvertently disrupt your Wi-Fi signal.
The dual-band routers use the 2.4 GHz frequency and a second frequency of 5 GHz. That 5 GHz frequency is less common. This second frequency is better used for third-party devices, giving you a less-impeded channel to work with. The drawback with the 5 GHz frequency is that it has a smaller coverage area. With this in mind, you may want to put your Xbox, Playstation 4, or computer closer to the router.
Dual-band routers are great for homes where multiple devices are downloading at once. You can even assign a channel to a specific device. And with more than one frequency in use, downloads can be performed simultaneously instead of one at a time.
As you would expect, dual-band routers are more expensive, so take that into account when you decide to purchase.
Tri-band routers use the 2.4 GHz frequency and two frequencies of 5GHz.
Routers of this type provide the most connectivity and speed. But they’re also the most expensive. Thus, if you use one device in your home on a regular basis, then avoid dual and tri-band routers.
No matter what router you decide to buy, you’ll notice that all will come with a number and the letters “AC.”
AC refers to Wi-Fi protocol number, 802.11ac. AC is the version of the protocol in use. There’s 802.11b, 802.11m, and others. The letters denote the gradual improvements and modifications over previous versions. 802.11ac is the current version that allows for simultaneous downloads.
When it comes to designing routers, the engineers involved decided to use this "AC" for labeling purposes. The AC is for the protocol number. 802.11ac indicates the level of the Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) the router is capable of. For example; Of all the data streaming through the router at one time, the projected maximum speed the router can handle is something like 1300 Mbps. You won’t get that speed exactly, but the router can hypothetically handle the volume of 1300 Mbps. Therefore, if you’re downloading 50 Mbps in one room and 30 Mbps in another, an AC1300 router will handle that just fine.
Of all the numbers on your router, look for the one that starts with “AC.” This is the best indicator of whether your router can handle the amount of data you plan to be downloading and uploading at one time.
Just as there are preferences when it comes to hobbits, you can have preferences when it comes to Wi-Fi routers and ISPs. You can check out the best internet deals and packages for AT&T, Spectrum, HughesNet, Viasat, or another provider in your zip code to help you get started on your search.
And make sure to you download The Lord of the Rings onto your favorite eReader or audiobook app. It’s well worth the read! When you finish reading the books, go watch the movies. They’re good, but I’m preferable to the books.
Have you bought a Wi-Fi router on your own? Is there a Wi-Fi router you’d recommend?
Frontier Communications is going the extra mile for its customers. It's not just a 24/7 customer service...it's almost a personal fellowship.
30 October, 2018 | Posted by:
Category: Business Internet, News, Reviews, Service Providers, Technology, Tips | No Comments
Frontier Communications, based out of Norwalk, Connecticut, is going the extra mile for residential and business customers.
While they do have round-the-clock customer service, there is something more that customers can expect.
Let’s set the scene here;
A circular council chamber. Ringing the outside of the chambers are stone chairs. The walls are ornately designed and the windows are stained glass. Outside is a beautiful sunny day. This casts the room in a warm yellow hue with hints of reds and greens from the windows.
Each chair is occupied by what you would expect; a character from a fantasy novel. One’s a wizard, another’s a knight, and there’s elves, dwarves, giants, and other creatures filling out the rest of the seats.
Entering the room is a simple person. No flashy clothes or arrogant airs about this person.
They’re just your average customer. They could be a residential customer or a business customer, makes no difference.
The person is lost. There’s so much information out there that it’s confusing.
And not just confusing, but beyond comprehension.
The council chairs empty as the characters encircle the bewildered guest.
“We’ll help you.” The wizard says. “We’ll show you the way. We are…“
(Pause for dramatic effect)
“…your fellowship!”
(Cue music and fade out)
Was that too much?
Theatrics aside, Frontier Communications has launched a new marketing campaign- “Don’t Go It Alone.”
For those who think in much more dramatic terms, it is like having your own personal fellowship. Although it won’t be nine creatures from a fantasy realm. Well, seven actually; Aragorn and Boromir are human. But that’s beside the point.
What’s important to remember here is Frontier Communications focus on helping the customer.
And there are two ways they’re doing this.
With the “Don’t Go It Alone” Campaign, Frontier Communications is acting as the guide for technology.
It’s the “in” thing these days to be tech-savvy. For most, however, that’s quite a challenge.
Getting a computer and setting it up has been a simplified process. But getting the most out of your computer, your internet, and even your smartphone is something else. Knowing how the computer works with all of its software programs and parts is difficult. In fact, those with computer engineering degrees can find it difficult.
One approach is “trial and error.” Over a long enough timeline of trying, a user will be able to figure out how to make a computer program do a specific task. Like with Excel and figure out averages. One can keep punching in commands to the function bar and they’ll get there eventually.
But who has time for all of that?
By sitting in front of a computer, or with your smartphone, and tapping at all the little icons and punching in commands, you’ll be busy for a while. Though you may not get to the “mastery” level, you’ll at least get to “proficient.” In the meantime, however, you’ll have to forgo spending time with friends, family, and your job.
Again, who has time for that?
And who wants to risk their relationship with their friends, or losing their job?
Frontier Communications is banking on this by training their employees to be all-inclusive “guides.”
Since the campaign was launched on October 9th, 2018, we have yet to see how effective it is.
Frontier Communications is also helping out their business and enterprise customers by launching Frontier Connect WAN.
A WAN (Wide Area Network) is a means to connect parts of a business that may not be in the same place. Given the rise of remote workers, as well as the popularity of outsourcing work, WAN’s are growing in appeal.
By the way, it’s WAN, not wand. We got away from the fantasy allegory a few paragraphs back.
Anyway, WAN’s are similar to LAN’s (local area networks).
Remember, back in the day, when it was just an Xbox?
Everyone was playing Halo and the Xbox came equipped to hook up to a LAN. This allowed for more than just four players to play against each other. Now they could expand to as many as sixteen.
Sixteen!
Back in 1999, this was a big deal.
The main restriction here was the LAN was confined to a specific range, hence the name Local Area.
WAN’s do the same thing but over much greater distances.
This allows for a company or organization to create a WAN and have their own little network. Only employees of the company have access to the WAN.
Frontier Connect WAN is providing this.
By using software to define the WAN, business customers can access it via the cloud. Cybersecurity software keeps the WAN contained and free from intruders, while other software allows for sharing and collaboration on files and programs.
Business customers lease the software from Frontier Communications. From there they can create their own “mini-internet.”
Unfortunately, this is for business only. Not a company-wide Halo 1 tournament.
Sigh.
Frontier Communications is available in 29 states, according to their website. They currently have a presence in 8,076 zip codes.
When it comes to downloading speed, Frontier Communications is doing well. This is proven by the Netflix ISP Speed Index. Netflix monitors the download speeds of all the providers who offer the streaming service. During peak hours, generally between 5 pm and 10 pm at night, Netflix is watching to see how fast providers are able to download their content.
From September 2017 to September 2018, Frontier Communications averaged 3.35 Mbps. For peak hours, that’s not bad!
Therefore, if you’re looking for a reliable internet, Frontier Communications is a good option. They have both cable and fiber options.
The ISP entered into the fiber market a few years back. They’ve installed some fiber lines themselves, but they’ve also bought up existing lines from both Verizon and AT&T. This has worked out well for them as they’re able to stay competitive during peak hours.
One more thing; Frontier doesn’t have data caps on its plans!
As Frontier Communications engages with its customers to help them navigate technology, they’ll continue to expand as well.
In this technology-saturated world, it’ll be interesting to see how that type of help will play out. It’s one thing to claim to be helpful but being helpful is a different thing. If Frontier Communications is genuine in this endeavor, they could end up rebranding themselves entirely.
It’s still too early to tell.
But for those who want to go with Frontier Communications as their ISP, or to switch from another ISP, then check out the best Frontier Communications Deals and Packages.
Who knows, you could be joining a Fellowship and setting off on an epic adventure. Or you may just find an answer to a nagging technology question.
It will most likely be the latter. But the former would still be a lot of fun though.
There are scary movies and then there are movies that spoof scary movies. This Halloween, let's laugh more than we scream.
24 October, 2018 | Posted by:
Category: Entertainment, Streaming, This & That, Tips | No Comments
This Halloween I’d much rather be laughing than screaming when I watch a movie. Instead of having to decide between a comedy or a horror film, why not enjoy both? Watch a horror-comedy! Now don’t worry, there are plenty of movies out there to scare you. You’ve got your Chucky films, gore-fest stuff, the found footage flicks and your straight up freaky killer films. Just get onto your streaming service and I’m sure they’re not far off. Before you do, just make sure you check out the best internet deals and packages in your area. Because nothing is scarier than paying more for your internet than you absolutely need to. Right? For those out there who don’t enjoy the jump scares, blood spraying profusely from an artery, or that creepy guy who just likes killing people- you’re in luck. There are plenty of horror spoof movies out there. Like the Wayan Brothers’ with their Scary Movie series and A Haunted House films. Then there are the movies with horror creatures in them that are put into odd situations, like Warm Bodies. These are humorous twists on standard comedy setups. What I’m talking about are the movies that mock the clichés of the classic horror films. There are spoofs, which are over-the-top in their humor. And then there are these types of films which aim to tell an actual story with a humorous take on the “scary movie format.” Trust me, they are well worth your time.
Thanks to a lot of Dracula movies being made, Mel Brooks decided it was time to spoof them all. Hence, Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Instead of finding an actor who would just parody Christopher Lee, Brooks went and signed on one of the best comedic actors ever- Leslie Nielsen. Best known for his role as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun series, Neilsen was perfect for this role. He did the whole Transylvania accent and creepy act so well. We also can’t forget Stephen Weber, Amy Yasbeck, Lysette Anthony, and Peter MacNicol. And we can’t forget Young Frankenstein either. This was Brooks’ first spoof of a classic Hollywood monster, and the movie is full of references to other Frankenstein films. Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, and Peter Boyle comprise a stellar cast that put the horror classic in its place. And instead of doing it in color, Brooks went with the black-and-white to give that antique feel. It still has that old classic horror film feel but filled with antics that will have you crying from laughter. These two spoofs were done just right. Not too much over-the-top antics, but the just the right amount of absurdity to really bring home the laughs. “Oh, I was having a day-mare.”
There are scary films and then there are the truly terrifying films out there. Forget gore and jump-scares, there are truly terrifying stories out there.
24 October, 2018 | Posted by:
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There are scary films and then there are the truly terrifying films out there. Of course, there are things that are scary; that creepy person who follows you a little too closely, someone walking up behind you and you not hearing them, and the odd bird or two that flies too close to you or your car while driving. These are scary, sure. They’re scary in the sense that they make you jump, or they play on the fear that someone or something is not quite right. In the latter situation, you worry that maybe you’re making a big deal out of nothing. Or are you? There are films that play on those fears. The fears that start out as blatantly irrational only to become eerily real. You know, films like Chucky. Of course, there’s no way a doll could be possessed. And you keep telling yourself that. Then there’s that one night you’re working late in a retail store and you pass by the toy section. At the end of the aisle is a display of little baby dolls. And just as you walk by this little display the lights go out. You hear the canned recording of children’s laughter. Then a footstep…
I grew up on the northern coast of California. When I was about ten, I think, a small city nearby was used as the main filming location for a thriller called Outbreak. I didn’t watch the film until I was well into my twenties because the thought of a real outbreak scared me. Luckily this film just focused on one town becoming infected and was more action-oriented. Thus, I felt prepared to watch another Outbreak-like film. Then I watched Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh. I was wrong. Contagion was not just one city but the entire world. The virus that causes all the death begins presenting with normal cold symptoms. And then people begin to drop rather rapidly. It didn’t help that Matt Damon plays the dad of a child who gets infected. He survives and has to protect his one other child as the rest of the world falls apart. Then there were the scenes of empty streets and mass gravesites. That just made it worse. Thanks a lot, Soderbergh. There were other storylines but identified with Damon’s role because I am a dad. And the fact that a virus could move that fast was also freaky. Really makes you think twice about washing your hands.
With the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuing to grow, how can we keep up with it all? For this we call in Bishop, a character who can save the continuity!
25 March, 2022 | Posted by:
Category: Entertainment, Humor, Streaming, Tips, TV | No Comments