What Do i Need for Wireless Internet Service

The short answer is to get wireless internet service you need a router. Now you are probably saying great that was easy! Before you head off and pick one up there are a few more things you need to know about routers. First off, don't cheap out when you buy one. Like the old saying you get what you pay for and there is no exceptions when it comes to routers. The less expensive routers may not let you receive your full internet speed. This means if you have a high speed internet service you may not be getting what you pay for every month! A good $50-$70 router should work just fine.

What Router Should I Buy?

When looking for a router we recommend getting a name brand. The nice thing about routers is that they are typically universal. This means if you have cable based internet service now and switch to DSL later it should work. Don't forget what we talked about. Spend that extra $20, you will thank yourself later!

There are many routers available, here are some brands we recommend:

ASUS

Linksys

Netgear

Belkin

Expect to spend $50-$70 on a new router.

Other equipment you need

Besides your router you will need a modem. What a modem does is decodes either the cable or telephone line into a internet signal. Buying a modem is a little different than a router. You need to have the correct one for the type of service you are getting. Lets do a example. Say you are ordering Comcast. Since Comcast is a cable provider you will need a cable modem. Say you are ordering AT&T. You would then need a DSL modem since they go through the telephone line. Telling the difference is easy. A DSL modem has a telephone input jack on the back. A cable modem has a cable input. You know, like the one on the back of the TV.

Now before you go off and buy one. Ask if there is one available for leasing. Also some internet providers require you to buy certain modem makes and models. We can help you get a list of all compatible modems with any provider.

What we typically advise our customers to do is lease to get started. This way you can test out the service without investing your time and money into a modem. If you do like the service after a month or so, order a modem online. We recommend ModemSupply.com. You will save yourself a good $20-$30. Then just return the old one at the nearest store or mail it back.

More Questions?

If you have any more questions or would like to see what internet providers are available at your home call us! The number is right on top of the screen. We are based out of the US and our staff is friendly and fully trained.

5 Questions about Internet Service

When our customers call in they usually all ask some questions about our service. Usually about equipment, internet providers in their area, speeds needed for certain tasks, and other related questions. In this short article we will be going over the top 10 frequently asked questions about our internet service.

1. How many internet providers are at my home?

This is a very good question. Typically there is one cable provider, one dsl provider, and multiple satellite internet providers. When we run your zip code we can see exactly what type of service is available to you and let you know. If you are rural then cable and dsl may not be available to you. This is because in order to have those services you have to have lines running to your home from the telephone pole or underground. If there is not enough demand for the internet service than the internet provider most likely will not run lines down your road.

2. What equipment is required in order to receive internet?

The only equipment that is required is a modem. A modem decodes the outside line to a internet signal. Typically the provider can lease you this modem for a small monthly charge. If not they can sell you one or you can pick one up at a local electronics store. The other piece of equipment that you may want to purchase is a router. A router give you the ability to use wireless devices. Some providers will lease you a router as well. A router can be used with cable, dsl, & satellite internet service. So once you buy one it will be good for any type of service. A modem is typically made for either cable or dsl. If you look on the rear of the modem you will see a cable or telephone (dsl) jack. This is the easiest way to tell what type of modem you have.

A little advice we like to give our customers is to lease to start your internet service. This is because if you lease the modem and do not like the service you are not out any money besides the one month fee for the modem. After a few weeks you decide you like the service, go ahead and buy your own modem. Then return your leased equipment at the nearest retail shop or ship it back. A simple phone call and we can let you know the nearest store or the shipping address.

3. Is there any contract involved?

This all depends on what is available at your home. We can tell you this right over the phone. Usually cable does not have a contract and dsl does. Satellite internet has a two year contract.

4. What speed do I need to watch videos online?

3-6 mbps will be a decent speed for streaming in low standard definition. Anything about 15 should stream HD. Of course the faster your speed the more dependable your streaming will be. We recommend at least a 10 mbps plan for a good web and video experience.

5. Can I bundle my internet with tv and phone?

If cable is available at your home you can bundle with both tv and phone. We can usually give you a discounted price when you do this. If cable is not available and dsl is, you can bundle only phone with the internet over the dsl phone line. We do have satellite tv available starting at only $20/mo.

Call us for more ISP questions

If you have any more questions about our internet providers feel free to call in and ask. We would love to help you with any questions or concerns. Check out our other blog posts for more detailed information on some of the questions above.

What is and how does DSL work?

DSL actually stands for digital subscriber line. Ok, now what is a digital subscriber line? DSL is the telephone companies brand of broadband internet service. The telephone providers copper wires can deliver phone service as well as internet. DSL uses the higher frequency band width of the telephone wire. We are all familiar with the filters provided by the phone companies. These filters help remove any high frequency interference which allows telephone and internet service to travel in the same line.

DSL vs cable

What’s the difference between DSL broadband internet and the internet provided by the cable carriers?

Dsl is delivered to your home in copper wire telephone line with the phone service and can be priced a little cheaper than cable. Cable comes into your home via your cable line. Both of these are forms of broadband internet, however the cable is typically faster.

DSL plans

Plans will vary in price, Download rates will be slower than cable, typical plans come in 1.5mbps, 3 mbps and 6mbps download speeds. Your local carrier may require a landline phone service. While some carriers offer a dsl service without a phone line, this is called a dry loop. Dry loop service is growing in popularity. If you have a landline phone most providers will offer you a discounted bundle rate. However, the dry loop is the perfect fit for mobile phone users as many households today do not have a need for a land line.

How fast is DSL?

Dsl offers broadband internet service from 1.5mbps to 6mbps. 1.5 is a good speed for checking emails, web surfing and lite YouTube type video viewing. 3mbps is a little faster than the 1.5 for downloading of sites you may be surfing, YouTube video view will be much better but only with lower quality video settings. 6mbps is going to be much better than the 1.5. Surfing the web and video steaming will be greatly improved. Still if video streaming HD 720p quality the plan offered by your dsl providers may not be fast enough to avoid buffering.

Is this service available in my area?

If you have a phone line connection at your residence you may be able to receive internet service too. However the telephone companies copper wire system is not as efficient as cable. Dsl is limited in service availability. You must be within 18,000 feet from your telephone carriers service center. Speeds and availability will drop off as the distance from the hub increases. If you are too far from service providers hub you may receive phone but the broadband internet will not be an option. This characteristic of copper wire service is something the telephone providers are working on improving.

3 Tips to Maximize Internet Speed

In this article we will be going over three easy to do tips on how to get the best speed from your internet service provider. Many people throughout the United States are getting the short stick when it come to their speed. If you follow these three easy to do steps you will guarantee that you are doing all you can do to make sure you are getting the fastest speeds.

Before we start you are going to need to visit speedtest.net. Do a quick speed test and write down your results.

This way you can see if your speed improved after following our tips. Next you want to write down what server your internet speed was based on. Different servers will yield different speeds, so this is a very important step. The last thing to make sure of is to do the speed test at a certain time. This is because depending on how many users are on at the same time on your DSL or Cable line will affect your speed. We recommend doing the speed test late at night or early in the morning. Once you have written down all this information you can proceed to following these 3 steps and see if your speed goes up.

Turn off other computers and devices connected to the internet

Wire your computer directly to your modem

Check what model modem and router you are using

#1 Turn off other computers and devices connected to the internet to maximize speed

The first step out of three is to turn off any unnecessary devices that are connected to your home network. Some examples include smart phones, tablets, gaming devices, PCs, laptops, and your television if it is wired to your home network. This will allow you to get maximum speed from your internet provider. Why is this? Some internet providers speed will go down depending on if multiple users are on at the same time. This is especially true for DSL service.

We recommend that you tell all your family members or room mates about this. Let them know to turn off their devices when they leave the house or if they are not using their connection. Also most devices automatically connect to the network when they are in a certain range of the router. When you log in for the first time it usually has a check box that is already checked stating that when the device is near the connection it will automatically connect. You can turn off this by going to your signal bar and finding your network name. You then want to right click on it and select options or properties. There you should find a check box to select that you do not want to automatically connect. Although this can be a pain to log in every time you want to access the internet, it will speed up the other devices that are surfing online.

#2 Plug your computer into the modem

A easy way to improve your internet speed is to directly plug your computer or laptop into the modem. Although this may be inconvenient for laptops it may be worthwhile for a home PC. This is because a home PC is typically placed at a computer desk and does not move. When you wire your device directly to your modem you are getting the most from your internet provider.

When you wire your computer to the modem you are bypassing the router. Because the router sends the signal through the air to your device you loose out on some of the potential speed. There should have been a cord that connects to your PC with your modem. Check the box that the modem came in or the drawer that you store all your wires. Usually this is only a 10 foot cord so you may have to do some shopping to get a longer cord. You can save some money by ordering it online or you can always go to the nearest electronics store to pick one up. Note that the shorter the line the faster your speed will be. There won't be a huge difference so don't stress it too much.

#3 Check your modem and router specs

The last out of our three steps is to check what model and specs your modem and router put out.

Internet Service Rates and Speeds - Questions You Need to Ask

We offer rates straight from the internet providers. This allows us to bring you the lowest prices possible. We believe every customer should have access to low internet rates. Rates start at just $14.95/mo with speeds of up to 3 mbsp. Our second internet plan is only $19.95/mo with up to 6 mbps. That's double the speed for only $5 extra per month! Our final plan is only $24/99/mo with a whopping speed of up to 20 mbps! This plan is our most popular plan by far. Which ever plan you decide, we are confident you are going to love your new internet service speed and rates. Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself. What am I currently paying? What speeds am I getting for my money? Could I be getting a better deal? We can answer all these questions and more. The cable and DSL companies usually hike up their rates after 6-12 months. they do this to initially get you signed up. They also know that people are generally lazy and will not call in. A tip we suggest you do is to call in to your current supplier and see if they have any deals they can offer you. If they cannot do anything for you, spend the extra 10 minutes and call us. We have multiple databases that we can check to see exactly what is in your area. Once you know your options you will most likely hear us offering you a better deal. Don't be lazy and spend some time trying to save some money. After all a penny saved is a penny earned.

Why you need internet

In this new age internet is almost an necessity. Internet service can be used for every day tasks. Look up how to cook your favorite meal, watch movies and shows for free, pay all your bills, and much more. If you don't currently have internet, it is time to make the leap to the online world. For those of us who already have an internet service provider. Why are you paying so much? We have plans starting a $14 a month! These days not many people can spare to waist money. Call us today and lower your internet bill. Make sure you ask us all the questions you may have. Some good questions to ask us may be.

What is available in my area?

What speed comes with that plan?

Is that speed going to be enough for streaming YouTube or Netflix

What is the price?

What is the price after the promotion?

Does a modem come with the service?

Is there a contract?

Those are some great questions that everyone should ask when they are shopping for internet. From our experience people do not generally ask to many questions. Of course we usually tell them all of this anyway but we cannot control other companies. So make sure whoever you call about any type of service, refer back to this post and go over this list of questions. We appreciate your time reading this and hope it has helped out with your shopping experience!