Employee Spotlight: Kaleb Wilhoite

Meet our employee spotlight for November, Kaleb Wilhoite. He is a System Technician working out of the Owenton office. His responsibilities include maintaining the aerial cable/fiber lines and building lines for new customers. So if you’ve ever seen a Broadlinc truck roll through your neighborhood or seen crew members working on lines, most likely you’ve witnessed Kaleb at work in the field!

Q & A with Kaleb

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a System Technician at Broadlinc. I’ve lived in Owen County my entire life and I have two beautiful children.

How long have you been with Broadlinc?
I have been with Broadlinc for a little over 4 years.

What brought you to the company?
I learned about the company from a high school friend of mine. He introduced me to the company when a position came available.

What do you like most about being a System Technician?
I like doing something different everyday and I enjoy working outside in the field.

How would you describe the culture at Broadlinc?
The culture at Broadlinc is very family-oriented. Everyone works very well together and we have a great time!

What do you like most about working at Broadlinc?
I like working at Broadlinc because of its culture. Each and every employee is treated as a valuable asset to the company, and you’re not perceived as just another number.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy spending my spare time with family and friends.

How would your family or friends describe you in three words?
Dependable, hard-working, and caring.

Tell us something most people would be surprised to learn about you.
Even though I work for an internet service provider, I don’t watch/stream TV. If you name a movie, I probably haven’t seen it.

If you can have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be and why?
If I can have an unlimited supply of one thing, it would be time because you only get one chance at life.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Do not look at what you don’t have. Instead, be grateful for what you do have!

What Are the Different Types of Internet Services?

Dial-up Connection – Outdated Internet Service

Dial-up Internet was the leading option from the 1990s to the early 2000s. Nowadays, only people with no other rural Internet options would use it. Dial-up uses your telephone network to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) using a phone number. Then a modem decodes these audio signals to connect. Dial-up has a speed of up to 56 kbps. If your dial-up connection had this speed consistently, it would take around five hours to download only 1GB of data. However, it usually takes much longer.

It is generally impossible to game with a dial-up internet connection as the speeds are too slow.. 

Broadband Connections – High-Speed Internet Services

Some rural internet providers have broadband, which transmits high amounts of data. There are several varieties of broadband Internet service providers available. Usually, DSL, fiber, and cable are the top three. More on them later.

Fixed Wireless Internet

Fixed wireless internet services are fast internet solutions for rural and underserved communities. Internet is sent from a central access point (typically provided using fibre optic lines) to an individual receiver located at businesses, farms, and homes. Broadlinc is proud to be rapidly expanding our fixed wireless internet services across Kentucky, providing affordable, faster internet for gaming.

Technology used can be proprietary long-range WiFi, Fixed 4g/LTE and Fixed 5g signals on towers and receivers at your home tuned for a direct stable connection. Fixed Wireless can provide superior latency and bandwidth performance to satellite, DSL, Cable and even some fiber services. 

One of the advantages of fixed wireless internet access is the low ping rate. This reduces gameplay lag and puts even the most rural farmer in a position to PwN nOoBs.

Fixed wireless Internet is recommended if you’re in a remote location or live in rural areas that lack DSL service or cable, $39.95-$99 monthly.

Mobile LTE or 5G Hotspot

This Internet connection comes from 4G LTE towers or 5g mobile phone service provider using a tabletop device with a sim card, or your existing cellphone. This internet plan is ideal for rural areas as an alternative when only satellite or DSL is available. Mobile hotspot service offers reliable connectivity without the latency or high costs associated with satellite Internet. One drawback that is to be noted, most mobile hotspot plans are throttled after reaching a monthly usage quota.

Satellite Internet

Satellite Internet is one of the most popular rural Internet options when there are no phone or cable lines available. Using a satellite dish, a satellite Internet user obtains access through a receiver that picks up those signals.

Unfortunately, there are several drawbacks. Most Satellite service tends to have a high ping rate, increasing the incidence of game lag. Satellite providers also tend to have extremely restrictive data caps and throttle speeds aggressively once those caps are reached each month.  Finally, most users find that satellite is the most expensive internet service option available to them.

DSL

DSL (digital subscriber line) uses telephone lines and a phone jack connection. It’s available in many rural areas, and when it comes to rural Internet, it’s much faster than dial-up. About 88% of the population has DSL Internet providers in their area. Speeds are limited by distance from the telco’s equipment meaning most often a rural experience ranges from 3-12mbps. Most users will resort to this only when no faster Internet providers are available.

Cable Internet

Cable Internet, as the name implies, uses coaxial cables. It’s how cable TV is also brought to people. Cable is much faster than the previous options, going up to 1,200 Mbps. It’s also available to most of the US, covering 89% of the country, and found in almost every residential neighborhood and in some rural areas. The technology allows for full offered speeds all the way to the end of the line unlike DSL.

Fiber

Fiber optic internet, also known as fiber internet or simply fiber, is a broadband service that uses fiber optic cables to deliver fast internet speeds that can reach multi-gigabits per second with very little latency. However, fiber Internet is costly and is only available in 39% of the US. It has been limited to large metropolitan regions and is not a viable option for rural residents. Even in cities, coverage is sometimes uneven and there is an abundance of dead areas. It limits its capabilities and many individuals and communities face this problem today.

In addition, fiber optic cables are sensitive and because it’s glass is prone to physical damage due to weather, trees, animal damage, which result in disrupted signals and loss of data. It is therefore less reliable than wireless signals due to the need of a perfect connection from end to en

Common Internet Gaming Terms

Are you using the Internet for gaming? Here are some standard terms you should know about.

Lag

Lag involves a delay between the player’s input on their controller or keyboard and the movement in-game. Usually, lag is caused by poor hardware or slow Internet.

Latency

Latency is an online gaming term involving how much time data is sent to the game’s server, then back to you. Latency is always tied to connection speeds from your end or the server.

Ping

Another term for latency describes the signal sent from one computer to the other. Latency describes how long it takes for the entire process.

Rubber Banding

This is a phenomenon that, due to latency, will make your character appear like they are teleporting when you try to move.

Packet Loss

Packet loss involves small bits of data, referred to as packets, not reaching their destination when you’re trying to connect to a network. Packet loss could be due to a poor connection or for other reasons.

What To Look For in Internet Service Providers When Gaming in a Rural Area

Finding rural Internet for gaming can be challenging due to the lack of options in rural areas. However, finding the proper Internet for gaming is still possible. Let’s look at what you should look for in the best Internet service providers for rural areas.

Budget 

How much do you want to spend to get Internet access? What prices do Internet providers in your area charge? Look around before making a decision.

Speed 

How fast do you need your Internet speeds to be? On average, you’ll need at least 5 Mbps, but newer games can be much more demanding if you want consistent gameplay. Nowadays, some games need at least 50 Mbps if you want them to run well.

Coverage 

Is the Internet provider you’re looking into providing coverage for your location? For example, many ISPs claim to provide coverage to rural areas, but some cannot access more remote areas. Keep that in mind.

Determining a good internet speed for your gaming needs

To game without much latency, you need fast Internet access. This can be problematic if you only have a rural Internet service option, but some games are less demanding than others.

Usually, the game itself will provide recommended connection speeds. In addition, what system you play on can have different requirements.

We recommend using an Ethernet connection and not a WiFi connection for the most consistent speeds with any console or computer.

Find minimum speed recommendations for a gaming device

Xbox Series X

At least 25 Mbps is recommended for ideal performance.

PlayStation 5

Around 25-50 Mbps is ideal for gaming on the PS5.

Nintendo Switch

We recommend 20 Mbps.

PC/Mac

It can significantly depend on your PC build and what type of game you’re playing. However, in most situations, we recommend at least 20 Mbps.

Find minimum speed recommendations for game type

First-person shooter games (FPS)

We recommend a speed of at least 15 Mbps. Because you need lightning-fast reflexes, the faster speeds, the better.

Real-time strategy games

RTS games don’t require fast speeds, so we recommend at least 10 Mbps for this one.

Role-playing games (RPG)

Most RPGs can get by with a minimum of 10 Mbps

Massively multiplayer online (MMO) games

It depends on the MMO, but most can get by at 10 Mbps

Consider Ping vs. Latency

Ping describes the signal from your computer to the server, while latency describes that and the signal from the network. Sometimes, high latency may not even be your fault but instead the fault of the game’s servers. For example, it could be peak hours or server issues in-game.

Consider Upload Speed vs. Download Speed

You can send information, such as files, game streaming, or communications, with faster upload speeds. Likewise, fast download speeds allow you to download games faster, download updates, and receive information in-game.

It would be best if you had fast speeds on both ends, but generally, you can get away with having slower upload speeds than download speeds. However, in today’s gaming world, games are getting larger, so faster download speeds are the number one priority.

If you were around in the 1990s, you probably remember dial-up and those beeps every time you tried to connect! Dial-up uses your telephone network to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP.) It dials a number on a conventional phone line, and the modem decodes audio signals that it uses to send to a computer or router.

While many people believe it’s a thing of the past, some rural areas still rely on dial-up.

If you want to have high speeds, one solution is to use broadband connections. These services use various technologies to transmit high bandwidth quickly.

For example, fiber Internet uses fiber-optic cables to transmit data at nearly the speed of light! However, it’s not available in some areas, mainly in rural communities.

Then, we have cable Internet. This Internet uses coaxial cables to transmit data at high speeds. It’s not as fast as fiber Internet, but it’s still quick and available in more areas.

Then, there’s the digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet. This service uses telephone lines to transmit data. It’s slower but can still get decent speeds and is even present in some rural areas.

Fixed wireless forms the backbone of our rural internet offerings here at Broadlinc. 

Fixed wireless is, usually only available from small providers in rural America. It uses an antenna, router, and radio links to deliver high-quality Internet. It’s a better option than satellite due to fewer data caps and a more reliable connection than satellite. 

Internet is transmitted wirelessly through line of site transmitter and receivers. Broadlinc partners with existing tower holders to provide exclusive coverage to many of Kentucky and Indiana’s rural communities. 

In addition, fixed wireless provides a reliable connection for work, video streaming and gaming. With each new antenna we put up, we are able to expand coverage to hundreds of new homes. 

Finally, we try to partner with multiple service providers to create a more stable, redundant and reliable internet connection. 

Fixed wireless goes up to 100 MBPS and covers only 46% of the U.S. population. It costs between $39.95-$99.00 monthly.

Have you ever used your mobile data to create a WiFi hotspot? That’s what this is. A 4G LTE tower sends a signal to a receiver, such as your phone, and you can use this to gain access to the Internet.

While mobile hotspots are usually used temporarily to access the Internet, some in remote areas use them to access the Internet at all times if any cell phone signal is available.

One of our core advantages at Broadlinc is our ability to pull from multiple technologies in order to provide internet to rural Kentuckians. In cases where line-of-site internet (fixed wireless) does not work, LTE allows us to provide high speed, low-latency internet to our customers. Speak to one of our experts to get more information on your coverage area. 

Speeds can go up to 50 MBPS, costing around $40-$100 monthly, depending on your phone carrier. While this is primarily a phone-based Internet, select carriers provide this as a fixed service.

5G is the successor to 4G, with faster, more reliable speeds. Like 4G, it usually comes from your phone, but some providers can give you mobile hotspots. Unfortunately, not all towns have 5G towers, but if they do, you can get speeds up to 1.1 GB with a price between $50-$90 monthly.

Satellite Internet uses signals from a satellite dish to connect to the Internet. It covers all of the USA, meaning that even the deepest rural communities can access the Internet without dial-up. In addition, it’s also suitable for those who live in remote locations with no possible access to the Internet available otherwise. While not as fast as some broadband options, it can still get speeds up to 100 MBPS, and it can go for as low as $30 monthly, depending on the satellite providers.

Satellite internet also struggles with high ping rates. This can influence the “lag” that gamers complain about. It is one of the reasons why we are so adamant about providing better resources to our fellow Kentuckians. 

While satellite Internet is worth checking out if you have no other solution to good Internet, it does have low monthly usage caps, meaning it’s not good for streaming or gaming unless you want high overage fees. In addition, satellite Internet can become disrupted in the rain, and speeds can be inconsistent.

Cable Internet uses coaxial cable outlets to deliver high-speed Internet access, using the same system as cable T.V. You can find it in residential neighborhoods and more urban areas. Usually, it’s not one of the rural Internet options available.

While cable can deliver at fast speeds, you can face slowdowns during peak hours. In addition, your ISP can charge more depending on what season it is, though that is negotiable.

Cable Internet is available for 89% of U.S. residents, with speeds going up to 1.2 GBPS. Prices can range anywhere from $19.99 to $109.99 monthly, depending on your choice of service and where you live.

Digital subscriber line (DSL) uses telephone lines and a phone jack to deliver at fast speeds. Since these lines are older technology, DSL tends to be much slower, with speeds depending on how far from the main network you are. But, while it can’t stream 4K video or perform other significant tasks, it’s still decent for basic Internet daily life. In addition, users can face caps to prevent the lines from overloading.

DSL is one of the few rural Internet options available. It can reach up to 140 MBPS in speed and covers 88% of the U.S. Prices can vary from $27.99 to $69.99.

Fiber Internet is the fastest Internet service available. It uses fiber optic cables to deliver fast, uninterrupted speeds at 70% of the speed of light. Unfortunately, while the service is expanding, it’s unavailable for many people, usually only available in bigger cities.

Fiber Internet can go up to 10 GBPS, but it only is available for 39% of the U.S. population. Prices can widely fluctuate, going as cheap as $30 a month to almost $300.

Does your state have high-speed Internet? Here are some statistics on which states are the best. While it can depend on where you live, the law of averages indicates that these states have the best Internet options.

The Best – New Jersey

Average speed: 52 MBPS

State coverage: 99%

#2 – Connecticut

Average speed: 41.8 MBPS

State coverage: 99%

#3 – Rhode Island

Average speed: 46.7 MBPS

State coverage: 98.2%

#4 – New York

Average speed: 46.7 MBPS

State coverage: 97.6%

#5 – Massachusetts

Average speed: 43.5 MBPS

State coverage: 97.6%

Here are the five states falling behind on Internet access, be it due to the lack of high speeds or not having coverage at all. You will want to live near a city if internet is important to you. 

#5 – Wyoming

Average speed: 29.2 MBPS

State coverage: 75.2%

#4 – Oklahoma

Average speed: 26.8 MBPS

State coverage: 74.5%

#3 – Arkansas

Average speed: 25 MBPS

State coverage: 73.3%

#2 – Mississippi

Average speed: 25.2 MBPS

State coverage: 70.2%

The Worst – Montana

Average speed: 20.3 Mbps

State coverage: 69.2%

While your options tend to be few if you live in rural communities, you should still be selective with what is available. You’ll want something with decent download speeds and data caps. Low data caps can mean you won’t be able to use the Internet for long, or you may have to pay extra fees. Always see which services offer the best prices and have the most satisfied customers.

However, be realistic. You’re not going to find a service that streams 4K video or lets you download a 100GB video game quickly. But an excellent rural service will let you perform basic tasks.

For too long, there’s been a divide between rural America and urban America, with rural internet options sometimes decades behind. So the FCC created CAF, or Connect America Fund, to help bring broadband Internet access to America. The goal is to provide middle-of-nowhere Internet access to those who most need it.

In June 2022, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced that as part of his Better Internet program, Kentucky would invest $203 million to provide faster Internet  for 35 counties, helping to provide 40,000 families with broadband access.

Broadlinc believes that rural Internet access doesn’t need to be slow. We’re committed to providing high-speed Internet to smaller communities and are eager to serve you.

Employee Spotlight: Adam Perry

Meet our employee spotlight for October, Adam Perry. He is a Technical Support Specialist working out of the Owenton office. He and his teammates support over 5000 customers. His responsibilities include; taking direct calls from customers for technical support, responding to online requests for customer support, and communicating with field technicians and personnel during outages. So if you’ve ever called in for technical help, you’ve most likely chatted with Adam at some point!

Q & A with Adam

Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Owen County but currently reside in Sparta, KY. My wife Bridget and I have been married for 22 years and have five daughters together. God blessed us with Abigail Marie (19), Isabella McKenna (17), Alexis Rylee (15), Madison Claire (13), and Brianna Elise (7).

How long have you been with Broadlinc?
I have been with Broadlinc for 2 years.

What brought you to the company?
In January 2020, the company I worked for closed its doors, and I was unemployed for nine months. It was hard to find a job, especially with the COVID pandemic. However, I saw an opening for a Customer Support Representative at Broadlinc and applied and got the job.

What do you like most about being a Technical Support Specialist?
I have worked in some form of technical support for almost 25 years. I like that you start with a problem and then get a chance to solve it. Then, when the customer is happy, that’s the best result!

How would you describe the culture at Broadlinc?
Broadlinc has a family-oriented atmosphere! The President, VP of Operations, Tech Support Manager, and all the staff are very supportive.

What do you like most about working at Broadlinc?
I like how a small, locally owned company has a chance to expand into something that rivals large corporate internet service providers.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m laughing because there really isn’t any spare time. I work on-call or spend time with my wife and girls, usually at their soccer games. So we are constantly on the run.

How would your family or friends describe you in three words?
Dedicated, selfless, and family-oriented.

Tell us something most people would be surprised to learn about you.
In 1989, I drowned at Elk Lake and was dead for eight minutes! In 1991, I had brain surgery for viral encephalitis. Lastly, in 2021, I had emergency surgery to treat an infection from flesh-eating bacteria. So I like to go big or go home. Some might say I’m like a cat with nine lives, and I have definitely used up a few.

If you can have an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be and why?
An unlimited supply of energy to keep up with my wife and girls.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Be kind, always!

Many apartment buildings have amenities, one being their own Internet service connection. If your apartment comes with free Wi-Fi, should you use that or pay a little extra for your own Internet service provider?

The answer is yes. You should have your own Internet provider! Most apartments that have Wi-Fi are lacking in several departments. While it’s OK to use the apartments’ own Internet when setting up your connection, or if there’s an outage, you shouldn’t rely on it as your primary way of connecting to the World Wide Web. Here’s why.

In many cases, the apartment building will have slow Internet access. Unless you have a fancy apartment with complimentary fiber Internet, you will have to deal with slow speeds, particularly during peak hours. Do you want to relax with your favorite shows after a long day of work? Well, so is everyone else, meaning that unless the complex has a lot of bandwidth, you’ll deal with laggy connections and low-quality video.

If an apartment has its own Internet, there’s a chance that it’s an open network. If this is the case, your privacy is at risk to hackers. We recommend using a VPN to add an extra protection layer if you need something personal when connected to an open Internet.

Of course, many complexes are password-protected, with the password only given to tenants. Even if that’s the case, you still cannot control their security measures. With your own Internet, you’re less likely to be the target of hackers.

Apartment buildings with Wi-Fi will have only one Internet speed and one ISP. Having your own ISP gives you choices, such as what speed you want and how much data you need, and you can easily change it if needed. You cannot do this using Internet in an apartment.

Depending on where you live, you have several options if you need Internet in an apartment. What you choose can depend on your budget, desired speeds, and what is available in the region and the apartment.

Yes, some apartment complexes will only have wiring that can support a specific connection. So, if you want Internet in an apartment, you need to research what is available in your area and ask the staff what Internet service provider they support. Let’s list several types of Internet offered by Internet service providers.

Fixed wireless internet is a high-speed, reliable internet service for rural and underserved communities. Internet is sent from a central access point to an individual receiver located at businesses, farms, and homes. The Internet is low-latency, unlike satellite networks, which means there is no interference from bad weather. This allows rural internet to provide excellent access to business and commuting services.

Fixed wireless networks enable low-cost network building and result in lower installation cost and faster installation times. The quicker you get the more efficient network, does not mean that the network is at risk. In fact, point-to-point fixed-wired networks are often better than fiber.

Fixed wireless internet is a great internet option for streaming videos, online gaming, video conferencing, downloading large files, sending large emails and other web-based tools. It’s available in rural areas and it does not require a direct telephone connection to your home, so it can often reach areas in which cable, satellite or DSL does not exist. There are no data caps with fixed wireless and it’s more affordable than fiber internet. If you live in a rural area, check with your local internet provider to see if it’s available!

Fiber optic Internet, referred to as just fiber Internet, uses glass cables to deliver incredible speeds. Because fiber Internet tends to have the fastest speeds in the area, and thus it can be the most expensive. If you work from home, want to stream movies at 4K, or game a lot, this service is for you. However, this Internet service is unavailable in all areas, particularly rural areas, and your apartment building may not have the proper cables installed. Therefore, we encourage you to do your research.

Cable Internet service is what most people have access to nowadays. While speeds aren’t the same as fixed wireless and fiber optic Internet, you can still get some impressive speeds. The only downside to cable Internet is that speeds may lower during peak hours. However, most fast speeds tend to perform well still. Therefore, we recommend cable Internet for general use.

DSL, or digital subscriber line, is what’s available almost everywhere, particularly in more rural areas. DSL uses telephone lines, meaning that it has similar reliability to cable. However, DSL is much slower. Therefore, we recommend DSL only if you’re on a small budget, it’s the only Internet available in your area, or you’re only going to use the Internet for less-demanding tasks.

As the name entails, satellite Internet service uses satellite signals. Because the satellite is universal, it’s helpful if you have no other options, such as living in highly rural areas. It’s slower, unreliable, and sometimes more expensive than fiber, but it’s better than nothing.

Wi-Fi can depend on the Internet provider you choose, what connection type and speeds you pick, and other factors, such as location, package deals, and more. How many devices you need also plays a part.

Researching the Internet providers in your area is the first step toward figuring out the exact prices. However, you can know what to expect by looking at averages.

In 2021, the average cost was the following a month:

• DSL: $51
• Cable: $51
• Fiber: $64 
• Satellite: $86

Your Internet plan you choose can depend on your needs. For example, do you love streaming 4K movies, playing and streaming online games, or have many devices you need to use? Do you work from home and need fast, reliable speeds? Then you may need faster Internet or more data. To determine how much speed or data you need, you can use a bandwidth monitor or look at your previous Internet usage if you’ve had a plan in the past.

Your Internet service provider (ISP) you choose can depend on what’s available and which company has the best Internet plan according to your needs. With ISPs, most of them will have their pros and cons, so you should do careful research on what’s available to determine what you want to choose.

When you pick an ISP, you then need to contact their customer service. You can do this either via the phone, by visiting a physical store, or by inquiring on a website.

When you subscribe to the ISP of your choice, they will let you rent or buy a modem or router for your connection. While you can also use your modem, having an official, up-to-date modem or router can ensure you get the best connection. In addition, you need to ensure the modem is compatible with the ISP.

Some ISPs will send a worker to install it, while others will have a self-install method. A worker can ensure that it’s installed correctly, but doing it yourself can prevent you from going through inconvenient scheduling. How the ISP does it can depend on which you choose. For example, you can easily install a cable Internet or DSL box, but you can’t exactly install a satellite in your backyard by yourself.

Most cable and DSL installation situations involve you putting the box near the area of your apartment that provides Internet. Usually, this is an area where you put a phone line or a coaxial cable. Next, you will usually have to connect the Wi-Fi router to the modem and set up a Wi-Fi password and network name.

Now, it’s time to connect your devices to the Internet. Almost every device nowadays, from your phone to your video game console to your TV, needs an Internet connection. With smart devices, your only option is usually Wi-Fi. However, something like a PC usually allows you to connect via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Wi-Fi can be more convenient due to requiring no cables, but consider Ethernet if you want fast reliable speeds. For example, your main PC may require an Ethernet connection. In addition, be sure you know how much data an Ethernet cable can carry. Cables are divided into categories (cat,) with a Cat8 line delivering the fastest speeds.

It would help if you had a secure connection. Always password-protect your Wi-Fi network, and be sure to configure your devices’ security settings. For example, having a firewall and an antivirus running on your PC is s a great idea.

You can configure security settings via your modem as well. But, again, consult your ISP to learn more.

In addition, you can set up a guest network through your Wi-Fi if you don’t want a person connecting to your main network. This idea works great for businesses or those who want a separate network from their professional and personal life.

Depending on your situation, you may have to wait a while for installation. So, what can you do in the meanwhile?

As we said, if your apartment has a Wi-Fi server for tenants, you can log into this. However, you may want to use extra security if the network is open.

Don’t have apartment Wi-Fi? No problem! What you can do is use your phone to create a wireless hotspot. Wireless hotspots can be slow and unreliable, but it’s better than nothing. You may not want to do this if you have a short data cap.

If you can’t do this, you may need to head to coffee shops such as Starbucks and use their Wi-Fi. Also, if you can, try scheduling an installation a week before you move in, so you don’t have to wait.

Once you’ve installed an Internet connection in your apartment, especially a fast, wireless connection, it can be wonderful. Have fun streaming, gaming, and even working! We hope you’ve found this article informative for your move.

Here at Broadlinc, we take great pride in offering affordable internet packages, including high speed internet to the rural corners of Kentucky. Our network is constantly expanding, so reach out to us to explore coverage options in your area.

Amanda Rice is a 22-year state employee. She resides in rural Henry County with her husband Howard and two teenagers, Eli and Avah, who attend Owen County High School. She also has a step-daughter, Emily, that attends the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy.

Since Amanda and her family live in a very remote area, a reliable connection is vital for both her job and her kids’ schoolwork. After researching available providers, she learned Broadlinc was the first company to offer high-speed internet in her area.

“We heard about them years ago from others who had already signed up, so we decided it would be worth checking out,” said Rice. Amanda signed up for Broadlinc’s Basic Internet Plan along with the installation of two Plume pods for extended coverage throughout her home.

“We use WiFi for multiple reasons. From work to school to entertainment, having high-speed internet allows us to keep up with modern technology, and Broadlinc was able to provide that for us,” said Rice. Since installation, she has been a Broadlinc customer for over eight years.

Over the last few months, Amanda noticed her internet connection was not as sufficient as before. So she called the Broadlinc team and explained that her internet speed had decreased significantly and she could barely hold a signal. “I called Broadlinc explaining that we weren’t pulling basic speeds, which is detrimental for our internet needs,” said Rice.

“After they inspected my home, they discovered the line-of-sight or LOS to the Fairview Tower was no longer visible. They concluded overgrown vegetation was causing interference with the signal. I met with Broadlinc’s Service Manager, Eric Spears, to discuss my predicament further. He quickly remedied a solution and suggested switching to their LTE service.”

Eric Spears, Service Manager, worked closely with Amanda on resolving her signal issue. “I heard about the situation from my team and took it upon myself to further investigate the matter,” said Spears.

“I noticed that her signal was out-of-tolerance per Broadlinc’s standards. After inspecting Amanda’s location, I concluded that our LTE service would better suit her. I scheduled a site visit with our Premise Technician, Austin Lawrence, to test the strength of the LTE signal to Amanda’s home. The test showed the signal was stronger than the original, and she could pull her basic speeds faster. I scheduled a meeting with Amanda to explain what happens during the re-installation process before getting to work. Amanda was excited that there was finally a solution that would work for her.”

LTE, Long-Term Evolution, is the latest generation of wireless internet. LTE offers several advantages over earlier technologies, including higher speeds, lower consistent latency, and more reliable connections. LTE is also more efficient than legacy wireless systems or traditional WiFi, providing better coverage and serving more customers in areas with less infrastructure. “LTE technology provides better immunity from interference, making it more reliable in rural areas where there may be fewer cell towers,” commented Spears. 

LTE is a revolutionary technology that can provide internet access using various methods, including fixed wireless, mobile broadband, and satellite. It plays an essential role in bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas. “LTE is a game-changer for rural communities, especially those far away from internet infrastructure or live in an area full of trees,” said Spears. “It provides internet service that is non-line-of-sight or NLOS, which makes it possible to provide access even when there are obstacles like vegetation between transmitter and receiver sites. Therefore, in Amanda’s case, using the innovative CBRS frequency band was the perfect long-term solution to her predicament because we had a Telrad-powered LTE site nearby.”

“Telrad’s Private LTE CBRS system is uniquely positioned to address unserved and underserved rural customers,” said Alex Freylekhman, VP of Sales at Telrad Networks. “We are thrilled and proud for Broadlinc to be a fantastic ambassador for us with knowledge and expertise to maximize the use of our BreezeCOMPACT platform and provide quality and consistent bandwidth even to most challenging NLOS users with marginal signal levels.”

For some people, LTE is the perfect solution for their internet needs. However, there are some circumstances where LTE may not be the best choice. “It depends on the customer’s situation. For example, LTE isn’t available to customers in certain areas, and it can be more expensive than other types of internet service,” said Spears.

“As a manager, I want to assure that Broadlinc provides a product that meets or exceeds customers’ expectations and nothing less. We offer a variety of internet services that can vary for each customer. We suggest the best long-term option depending on their individual needs and circumstances. I would highly recommend this service to the right customer under the right situation. However, we would determine that at the site test.”

Eric and his team, including Premise Technicians Matt Smith, Ben Young, and Austin Lawrence, quickly installed a new pole location and receiver and ran multiple tests to ensure the stability of the signal. After installation, Amanda expressed she saw a significant improvement in her WiFi signal and experienced faster speeds than ever before. She was so excited that she immediately shared her experience on her Facebook page with her followers.

“At first, I considered switching internet companies because we rely heavily on our internet. However, Broadlinc found a viable solution that was better than I could have imagined. When we “country folk” say we love small-town living, this is why. I appreciate Broadlinc, their top-tier employees, and all their hard work. They know we live in a tough spot and rely on our service for everyday life. They work hard to make sure we are always up and running. Now, our service is better than ever since we first connected years ago,” said Rice.

“It makes me proud when I hear a success story like Amanda’s because it’s a reminder of why I am in this line of work,” commented Spears. “We know how frustrating it can be to have a poor internet connection, so it’s gratifying to be able to help people get the fast and reliable service they need. Amanda’s story is just one of many examples of how our services positively impact our customers’ lives. That separates us from all other companies, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

“Broadlinc is steps ahead of any competitor regarding customer service. They are quick to respond, thorough in their troubleshooting, friendly, helpful, and go above and beyond to retain customers. This company did not fail us through all the trials and errors of finding the best service to fit our location. Instead, they kept trying until they got it right. I trust them with all aspects of our internet needs,” said Rice.

Thanks to Eric and his team, Amanda’s internet frustrations are now a thing of the past. LTE is an available internet service offered by Broadlinc. Contact us today if you are interested in learning more about LTE and its availability in your area.

Direct ethernet connection is faster than Wi-Fi. The reason is that an Ethernet cable directly connects your router to your computer using the Internet. A high-speed Ethernet cable lets you have a speedy, consistent connection.

Wi-Fi uses radio waves which are slower and less reliable. With Wi-Fi, there are many instances where interference and distance can slow down the connection.

However, if you are experiencing slower internet with a wired connection than with a  Wi-Fi connection, there are a handful of things you can quickly troubleshoot. We’ll cover them in this article. 

Your Internet speeds can depend on whether you’re using a wired or wireless connection. Some factors that can determine your Internet speeds include:

Latency involves the time it takes for your router to respond to a request you’ve made. Slower Internet could be due to high latency, and Wi-Fi tends to have slower latency than ethernet. This latency is increased if you’re far away from the Wi-Fi signal or if there’s another obstruction.

However, the difference between an ethernet connection and a Wi-Fi connection is usually small unless you’re performing time-sensitive actions such as gaming.

Data transfer speeds greatly depend on your Wi-Fi connection and what type of ethernet cable you have. For example, most modern Wi-Fi connection speeds max at 1.73 GBPS. This speed can depend on the distance and other factors.

Meanwhile, there are several types of ethernet cables, divided into categories. For example, a cat6 cable goes up to 1GBPS, so theoretically, your Wi-Fi connection could be faster. However, a cable does deliver more consistent speeds. Meanwhile, a cat8 cable can go up to 4oGBPS.

Your wireless network could slow if there are walls, objects, or fluorescent lights between your device and your network adapter. In addition, a greater distance could cause slower speeds. To reduce interference, move your device closer to the router. If you cannot do that, you can also purchase extender devices.

We should note that an ethernet connection can have interference as well. If you purchase a non-shielded cable, other cables can interfere with the connection, mainly if there’s damage to the cable jacket. So either buy a shielded cable or separate it from other wires.

Now that you know some of the differences between ethernet and Wi-Fi, let’s look at why your ethernet connection could be slower than Wi-Fi.

As mentioned earlier, you could have an older cable with a lower data transfer cap. For example, you could have a Cat3 cable, limiting your speed to only 10MBPS, a rate that may have worked back in the day but is inexcusable now.

Also, your cable could be damaged or not connected properly. Troubleshoot your cable, and consider buying another one. Cables tend to be affordable, with many longer cat8 cables going for under $20.

In addition, length could cause slower connection speeds, but this one is unlikely. For example, most cables should be less than 328 feet. Most people will not need a cable that long, so it should not affect you.

One common way to fix any troubleshooting problem is to update your drivers. You can update most drivers by selecting the update option on your PC and all the optional updates. 

Some devices, such as consoles, may have settings that limit their Internet speeds. Check your console settings and see if something is selected that could restrict speeds.

There may also be an issue with your network interface card (NIC), which is a chap that lets you connect to the Internet. Most NIC problems are fixable by resetting the card.

On Windows, go to Settings < Network and Internet < Change Adapter Options. Find your Ethernet adapter, right-click on it, and click “disable.” Give it a few seconds, then click “enable.”

If that doesn’t work, make sure there are no limiters on your NIC. Right-click on your adapter again, select Properties, then Configure. Make your way to Advanced, then Speed & Duplex. Select “Auto-negotiation.”

It should work now. If there are still Internet issues, go to device manager, select your driver, and reinstall it. If there are still issues, it could be a hardware problem.

It could be a virus if you’ve ruled out software or hardware issues. Viruses and malware affect your computer in many ways, one of them slowing down your Internet speeds. These effects include making your ethernet slower than Wi-Fi. 

Use your virus scan software or Malware Bytes to see if it’s a virus. Using several scanners can help you know if you have any viruses. Then, you can eliminate them, and hopefully, that will help to speed up your connection.

The hardware age could be another reason you have low connection speeds. For example, it could offer reduced speeds if you have not updated your router in over five years. Contact your ISP to see if you could upgrade.

The same applies to your computer itself. Your NIC could use an upgrade, either by replacing your computer altogether or simply by replacing it with a new card. Looking at your devices’ specs can also help determine if you need an upgrade.

In addition, your router may not be configured correctly. Configuring your router typically involves entering your IP address into the browser, logging in, and looking at the settings. Consult your ISP for more information, as all routers are different.

If you’re unsure how to troubleshoot your slow Internet connection, this section will help you. Here’s how you can troubleshoot your connection.

You can do a speed test through many websites, including Google itself. For example, Googling “Speed test” gives you a prompt for you to test your speeds.

Do a speed test with multiple devices and cables, as this can help to rule out whether or not it’s a cable or device issue. If they all have more or less the same speeds, you should move on to the next step.

In some cases, switching ports could be a solution, as one port could be defective, or there are times when a new port can improve speeds. Compare speeds before and after you change ports, as this can help you move on to the next step.

Once again, run a scan using your antivirus or anti-malware program. A virus or malware program could throttle speeds, and eliminating them could restore speeds to normal. As mentioned, use different programs; sometimes, a virus could be undetectable by one scanner.

A virtual private network (VPN) offers complete privacy by masking your IP. However, it can chug your Internet speed. After all, a VPN connects you to other countries, and the distance makes even faster speeds go down. When troubleshooting, be sure to turn it off. Sometimes, your low speeds could be due to you leaving on your VPN.

View your settings. Sometimes, an update or another incident could have changed them. So experiment with the settings a little bit, and see if doing that changes your speed. Sometimes, it takes just one toggle for your speeds to be back to normal.

Once again, you should constantly update your drivers. Windows Update automatically makes it more accessible, and you should also check to see if you’re installing optional updates.

However, there are driver updates your auto-update could have missed. To make sure, go to Device Manager—Right-click on the driver you want to be updated, and select Update. If there are any updates, you can apply them to your drivers. However, it will tell you if you’ve updated to the latest version.

Your router has firmware that also needs to be updated. Once again, enter your IP address into the address bar and log into your router. On the settings, you should see an option to update it. Some routers update automatically, but others may require a manual update. Every router is different, so consult your ISP (internet service provider).

Finally, if you do not know why you have slow Internet, it could be an ISP problem. Sometimes, a slow Internet connection could be due to issues outside your home or a router’s defect. Contacting your ISP can help you figure out why your wired connection is slower, and you may even be able to upgrade your Internet due to the inconvenience.

We hope this article helped you solve your wired Internet connection issue. A slower Internet connection in ethernet cables could have several reasons, and by figuring out why, you can have fast speeds again. You can also check our other articles if you have any other Internet issues.

Yes. An incognito browser only hides searches from the local device it is installed on. The WiFi owner has access to the admin panel from the WiFi router, meaning they can see the browsing information performed on their WiFi network. Additionally, your ISP can also see all traffic, regardless of the browser being used. 

However, while it is possible, very few WIFI owners have the skill or necessary software installed to see what you have searched.

Routers also see log information, including when and what you did on your computer. This rule applies to all forms of Internet traffic, including search history, browsing data, browsing history, and other Internet activity.

Public WiFi networks have many reasons for doing this, from selling your data to ensuring that you are not looking at inappropriate content.

Deleting your browsing history is like deleting your email’s “Sent” folder. On your end, it’s gone, but the information has already been sent. Your information is on the WiFi owners’ router logs, even if you have cleared it on your end.

You can delete browser history on a WIFi router, but only if you’re the WiFi owner or have the login information.

Go to your browser and enter your IP address. You should then be asked to enter your information, such as your username and password. You should see the router logs when you do so. How you do this depends on the WiFi owners’ routers, but you can most of the time click on Advanced and find the log. Then, you clear it.

The sad truth is that anyone can view your browser history and search history. Many websites use cookies that follow you and recommend items based on your search history. Governments can track you if you do something to alert them. In addition, hackers could infiltrate your computer.

With so many threats, you should be mindful if you have a browsing history you don’t want anyone to see. Unfortunately, it’s not just WiFi owners who can see what sites you browse.

How can you stay completely hidden? Is it possible to hide browsing history from nefarious eyes? We will tell you a few ways you can do this.

Incognito mode can hide your browsing history from a particular device, but it’s not perfect. The wireless router still logs it, and the information can remain on your computer. However, incognito mode is still valuable if you don’t want cookies or you don’t want someone who uses your device to access sensitive searches potentially.

An ad-blocker cannot hide your Internet session, but it can prevent ads from covering your screen and help you hide ads that bad actors could use to track you.

Clearing cookies can prevent other device users from seeing your site data. It’s also not wrong to clear your cookies occasionally to ensure more privacy online. Not only that, it can lead to smoother browsing history. That said, the WiFi owners will still see what sites you visited, meaning it’s not good for that.

Turning off location services on your browser means that websites cannot see where you are, ensuring more private browsing and less targeted ads. However, a Wi Fi owner still sees your information. Since a Wi Fi network is usually in a specific location, this does not do much to stop WiFi networks from seeing your browsing history.

HTTPS is a more secure HTTP version, offering protection against malicious attackers. However, some websites do not use HTTPS as a default, meaning you’re exposed to attacks.

One way you can fix this is by installing an HTTPS browser extension. HTTPS Everywhere is one such extension you might want to consider if you wish to have a more secure Internet connection. That said, a Wi Fi owner can still see your browsing history, meaning it does not deliver the perfect private browsing experience. However, the WiFi owner cannot see what you’ve done on those websites, indicating there is a use for this.

If you truly want to hide your information from your Internet service provider, a Wi Fi owner, or anyone else, a virtual private network (VPN) is the solution.

VPNs establish a protected connection, meaning no one can see what you are doing. So, for example, a WiFi router or Internet service provider only sees jumbled data when you’re browsing on a VPN. Not only that, but with a VPN server, you can use IP addresses from other countries. This means you can see websites and streaming content unavailable in your country.

Incognito mode is simple. When you use it, your browser starts with a clean slate and does not save any cookies, browsing history, site data, or form information. So while it is not 100% secure, it does add a layer of private browsing to your session.

Most browsers have a similar way of accessing incognito mode. Typically, you click on the hamburger or three dotted icons in the top right and can open an incognito mode window. Sometimes, it might be called a private window or something else.

On Chrome, click on the top right three-dotted icon and select “New Incognito Window.”

You can also use the shortcut key Ctrl (or ⌘) + Shift + N.

Go to File on the top menu, then select “New Private Window.” Alternatively, press Ctrl (or ⌘) + Shift + N for instant incognito mode.

• Can protect your privacy with shared devices
• Great if you don’t want your cookies, browsing history, and other information saved
• You can log into multiple accounts on the same website with incognito mode
• Easy to use and access

• Your IP address is still visible in incognito mode
• A network administrator can still track you
• Your data might still be on the device
• You’re still vulnerable to malware

Because it does not require authentication, a public WiFi Internet connection means hackers might be able to see your data. Not only that, but the Wi Fi router’s administrator might see what sites you use and could sell your data.

Therefore, do not visit websites with sensitive information if you’re on public Wi-Fi. Alternatively, use a VPN to add protection to your session.

If you’re experiencing lag in online gaming, streaming video or even general browsing, it could be that your internet speed is too slow.

Lag is when a game or video stream stops and starts. When this happens, the game or TV show you’re watching becomes choppy and unwatchable, and you experience slow loading times.

It’s similar to buffering – when the connection between your computer and the server isn’t fast enough to keep up with what’s being requested. Slow internet speeds can cause this kind of lag, as can having too many devices using the WiFi at once.

If this is happening on other devices in your home at the same time—if everyone in your house wants to watch Netflix at once—then you may experience periods with severe lag as well.

If you’re constantly dealing with buffering and slow connections, it could be because you have too many connected devices running at the same time. This definitely applies to a household with multiple people using the internet.

It is logical to expect internet connections to slow when several devices are connected. People spend more time in the house today due to COVID19 so it is likely to cause more strain on your wireless network.

In most cases, streaming or online games consume the most portion of the Internet’s bandwidth. You probably will now be doing much more. There’s also an online class and Zoom meetings that can be shared with your family members. It can cause a sluggish connection at home to the Internet, longer loading times, lag in streaming videos and slower responses when playing online games.

Therefore, the more devices trying to access a website or download something from the internet, the more bandwidth used by your connection, and the more chance of experiencing slow speeds. More bandwidth means more speed – and more speed means being able to support even more devices.

If you’re having trouble backing up your files, syncing or transferring large files, or using cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive, then it’s time to upgrade your internet speed.

These types of applications rely on a fast connection for smooth operation. If you can’t upload photos before the next big meeting or download software updates without losing your patience, then it’s likely that your current internet speed isn’t meeting your needs.

A similar situation occurs when syncing applications across multiple devices—the more devices involved, the slower an internet connection needs to be in order for it to work correctly.

For example, if a user downloads a large file from their computer onto their phone using Dropbox or another cloud storage service, they will experience some lag because they share bandwidth with other users who are also trying to access files through those same servers.

In such cases, it’s important to have a reliable connection to ensure all data transfers are successful without fail. If you find that backups and syncing aren’t working well, then it may be time for an internet upgrade.

When you are a home user, your data usage can easily outweigh your internet subscription. This indicates that your internet service needs updating, and the data consumption is certainly much greater than you believe.

This might be especially if you have a network connection that has multiple devices connected to a single home network. Consider using plans which offer unlimited data. We offer internet plans with unlimited data, zero lagging, and WiFi extenders to boost the signal throughout your home. To learn more about our internet plans with unlimited data, contact us today.

The introduction of video messaging tools, such as zoom meetings and Skype, have made the conversation far simpler. Video Chat is meant to be fun and an interesting way for people to see each other’s loved ones.

In many instances, however, your internet connection may suffer from slowdown and quality degradation. This also signals that your internet plan is insufficient to provide your needs the speed they need. When you often face such difficulties, you should update the Internet service provider and explore an internet package that best suits your needs.

If you plan on adding more streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, your internet speed might already be stretched to its limit. If this is the case, it’s time to upgrade your connection so that it can handle all the data being sent to and from each service.

To make sure you’re getting enough bandwidth, you’ll need to check with your ISP and see if they offer any upgrades or packages tailored specifically for your streaming needs.

In addition, depending on what kind of equipment you have, upgrading might require some additional components like routers or modems with faster processors or larger hard drives than those currently providing service at your home now.

If you’ve added smart home devices to your network, like a Nest thermostat or an Amazon Echo, chances are good that the internet speed of your home is inadequate.

Smart devices can really put a strain on bandwidth, especially if they’re connecting wirelessly and constantly drawing power from the router or modem.

Therefore, as the number of these devices in your home increases, so will competition for bandwidth and internet speeds will decrease significantly.

If you’ve added any new smart home devices over the last few years and noticed slower speeds, consider upgrading to a higher tier package with more bandwidth capacity.

You may notice a drop in Internet connectivity after moving from a living room to a kitchen room. The signal is blocked by obstructions such as walls, furniture or electrical devices and could result in interference.

Wi-Fi signals only carry so much power that, depending on your house size or design, it will drop completely. This can be the random room in an alcove in front of a desk in a corner.

Therefore, this can create dead zones in certain rooms where there is no WiFi access. Sometimes dead spaces in a room might indicate router problems. This can be corrected by adjusting the router’s location, or you may need to switch it out for a new one because it doesn’t have a great enough reach.

However, if your router is working properly and you are still experiencing lagging or slow speeds, you should consider upgrading your internet.

Before you consider upgrading your internet, check the speed of your internet connection. You can find out how much bandwidth you have by going to speedtest.net and clicking on “Begin Test.”

This test will give you a frame of reference of what kind of download speeds you have at any given time and whether that’s enough or not. If it isn’t, then it’s time to look into upgrading your plan.

When running an internet speed test, it’s important to know what Mbps (megabits per second) means when compared with MBps (megabytes per second).

The former refers to the amount of data received at one time; the latter refers to how many bytes are sent out per second through your connection. So, Mbps measures first how much information can come in at once, and then how fast it gets transmitted outwards over time.

MBps measures only how fast something gets sent outside without considering any other factors such as delays caused by latency during transmission or errors from packet loss due too high latency levels caused by factors like sharing bandwidth with other users who may also be accessing large amounts of data on their own connections; etc.

A good rule of thumb is Mbps should be greater or equal to MBps. For example, if you want to download a 4-minute song in MP3 format from iTunes, it will take about 1 minute on a 40Mbps connection rather than 2 minutes on 20Mbps connection – a big difference!

If your results look okay after running an internet speed test, then there may be something wrong with your computer’s settings or connectivity issues between your router and modem.

If your results do not look good, then you will probably want to call your local ISP to talk to a professional and ask what’s causing the issue.

It’s not always easy to know when you need more bandwidth for your internet connection. But if you can’t stream, upload photos or video, play online games, or do other things that require fast speeds, it might be time to upgrade.

If you are still unsure, call or chat with us today and we can discuss your needs and offer the right solution for you.

If you experience frequent disruptions such as lagging, slow speeds, dropped calls or other problems, it may be time to consider an upgrade to your internet plan.

Most people use the internet during the evening, especially during “rush hours”. It slows the internet, especially when using cable Internet. It seems there’s no easy way to solve the problem.

High Speed Internet currently equates to 25 Mbps. However, this definition seems outdated especially if you use it with households that contain many people (the majority of the households).

Therefore, it is useful instead of the definition of fast internet by the FCC to apply these rules to determine your internet speed needs. Your results should vary between 25 and 40 Mbps. Generally, if your household includes four people and uses only one device per household, 100Mbps is a good choice (100/4 = 25).

It depends on how many devices you use, how many people live in your household, and how much bandwidth you need. This will be the speeds of the devices you own at home. If your devices can be accessed simultaneously, you may require an additional plan to be faster than your current plan.

Broadlinc internet gives you exactly what you need: reliably fast speeds with the most coverage in your home, so everyone can be online and connected across multiple devices at once. We offer speeds between 25 – 200 Mbps with unlimited data, zero lagging, and WiFi extenders to boost the signal throughout your home.

To find the best and most affordable internet plan for your needs, call us at 855-552-2253 or submit an inquiry and let us do the rest for you!

A lease refers to a temporary IP address that the dynamic host configuration protocol, or DHCP, gives you when you connect to a wireless network. Every time you log into a wireless network, the DHCP lease changes again. This means a new IP address.

The renew lease process means you change to a new IP address manually rather than automatically.

You might wonder why you should go through the renew lease process. Why get a new IP address? Here are some reasons why you might want to do it.

1. You’re experiencing connection issues. Sometimes a new IP address can help that.
2. You have an IP address conflict, such as the IP address being blocked from a website.
3. If there’s been a router reconfiguration, the renew lease process could fix any connectivity issues.

We explained a bit about the DHCP lease. Now, let’s go into it deeper. When using a WiFi network, think of obtaining an IP address as renting it. Then, once you’re done using it, you return the IP address to its rightful place.

Once the lease duration, the time you’re using it, expires, you stop communicating on the IP address network. This process helps ensure that multiple devices aren’t using the same IP address, creating conflicts.

It depends. The router or DHCP server will issue the next available IP to the next device that requests one. If the same IP is available, often the server will issue the same IP you had before.

The renew lease process can change depending on what device you use.

For iOS devices, it’s simple to renew your lease and change IP addresses. Let’s look at how.

1. Go to your WiFi settings, which you can access through the Settings app.
2. Click on the WiFi network and then click the ‘i’ icon.
3. You should see a Renew Lease button. Tap it once, then again to confirm.
4. If, for whatever reason, you cannot find the Renew Lease button, forget the network and log on again.

The process for Android users is a bit more complicated for Android users but still simple. Let’s explain what you need to do.

1. Like iOS users, you want to visit your Wi-Fi network by going to Settings, then clicking on Connections, which should show you the Wi-Fi settings. Once there, select the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to.
2. Click the gear icon on the right side of the Wi Fi network you’re connected to, then tap the Forget option located at the bottom of the settings.
3. After that, log in to the Wi Fi network again. Once you enter your credentials, you should receive a different IP address than your initial assigned IP address.

For Windows XP and beyond:

1. Open the Command Prompt and type “ipconfig/release” (without quotation marks) then hit enter.
2. Once you’ve received confirmation, type “ipconfig/renew” (without quotation marks) and enter.
3. If you have enterd the command correctly, you should see a new IP address assigned to you.

For Mac OS:

1. Go to Setting and click on System Preferences
2. Go to Internet and Network and select Network
3. Select the tab labeled TCP/IP
4. On the right side of the screen, you should see an option to Renew DHCP Lease. Click on that, click OK, and exit. You now have a new WiFi lease.

Your WiFi lease should renew. If it doesn’t, selecting Windows Diagnostic Tool can help with the process if you’re using Windows. Resetting the network settings also works.

Alternatively, you can check your router by logging in and reset it. The process differs depending on your ISP, so contact them for more questions.

Changing your current IP address will not make your Internet go faster. The bandwidth from your internet service provider, distance from device to the router, and other factors determine an Internet’s speed.

When you go through the lease renewal process, it should take little to no time. However, the length it takes for a network to locate a new IP address can change. Therefore, you might be experiencing connection issues if it takes longer than usual for the lease renewal.

Yes. Renewing the lease does not reset the network, meaning that you’re not in any danger of having your information exposed. Therefore, the process is about as dangerous as refreshing a page.

Adam and Tana Culbertson are co-owners of Owen Essential Care. Adam is a Family Nurse Practitioner with Family Practice, Emergency Room and Addiction Medicine experience. Tana is a Registered Nurse with 20 years of experience in various roles.

They opened May of this year and provide quality healthcare services to the people of Owenton and the surrounding area. They offer a wide range of medical services such as; sick visits, injuries, procedures (sutures, incision and drainage of abscess), splints, CDL and sports physicals, Rapid Covid 19 antigen tests, and Rapid Urine 6 panel drug tests.

“Our mission is to serve our community by offering simple quality care at a discounted rate without the complexities and obstacles of healthcare. We are a Direct Primary Care Clinic, which means we provide a cash for service visit that does not involve health insurance,” commented Adam Culbertson.

Since opening the doors, their customers have praised their quick services, walk-in availability, and the option to use their FSA/HSA cards at their clinic. “We’ve had patients tell us how happy they are about having a local urgent care that provides quality medical services without having any bills piling up. It’s makes us happy when our patients are happy,” said Adam.

Adam was motivated to start his own business because he wanted to help people in need of affordable, fast care. He wanted to provide great services at affordable prices without compromising on quality of work or customer satisfaction. “I’ve been in the medical industry for a long time, so it was easy for me to identify simple solutions to common issues such as long wait times and expensive services, ” said Adam.

“When starting my business, it was important for me to provide care that was simple, fast, and less expensive when possible. We know some situations are more complicated than others but our goal at Owen Essential Care is to always put our patient’s needs first no matter what their situation is at that point-in-time,” said Adam. He believes that any situation should receive the same level of medical attention, so his team works diligently at making sure each patient is looked after properly and ensured the best care possible.

Adam and Tana expressed their love for being small business owners. “It’s fun and the flexibility to work as a small business owner is one of the best parts. You call your own shots, you cater your business model to your customer’s needs, and you make your own decisions. It can be tough at times because you find yourself wearing many hats, but that’s what makes this job so rewarding and we have a great team that has each other’s backs.”

Adam and Tana emphasize on the importance of building trust with their patients because it is essential for not only the business, but for the community as well.

“Trust is key to building a referral network and gaining loyalty with customers,” said Adam. “Building trust in your local community starts with building relationships between people, not only for business purposes but also because it’s important to have someone who understands us when we need help.”

According to Adam, once you’ve earned that trust from your patients and community, you have everything, which is why building this type of relationship matters to him and his business. “Trustworthy people are more likely to have referrals from others who know them well because they’ve been able build mutual respect, which leads into loyalty over time through consistency on both sides – something you can’t force or manufacture!”

Adam and Tana make an effort to connect with their local community members in numerous ways including shopping locally to support other small businesses. “We love to keep it local because it comes back to building trust with your local community. Recently, we worked with local internet provider Broadlinc to get the clinic setup with high-speed fiber internet. Since installation, our internet has been very fast and reliable, which is exactly what we needed for our business’ needs. If you’re looking for an internet provider that is attentive, prompt and values their customers, look no further than Broadlinc,” commented Adam.

The future of Adam and Tana’s business is looking very bright. They plan on continuing to provide a positive experience for the community and growing their practice in an effortful manner, making it one that people will want to be a part of.

“For those that want to start their own small business, be prepared financially to grow a sustainable business. The first months, possibly years, can require long hours with less return than desired while growing your venture. Having some initial cushion will reduce stress significantly,” said Adam. “But remember to enjoy the ride. The independence of owning a small business can be amazing, but leaving the consistency and security of working for somebody else is a big trade. When you start a small business be ready for an adventure.”

The Broadlinc team would like to extend a warm thank you to Adam and Tana for participating in this month’s Small Business Spotlight. We can’t wait to see what the future hold for Owen Essential Care!

The clinic is open Monday – Friday from 11 am to 7 pm. They accept walk-in visits until 5:00pm and scheduled visits up until closing. Typically, people are in and out within 30 minutes, and they will accept patients with or without medical records.

Their team of experienced professionals are committed to providing quality, affordable medical care when you need it most. Whether you’re suffering from a minor injury or an illness, they will help you get back on your feet in no time. For more information on Owen Essential Care, visit their Facebook Page and schedule a visit today!

*Not a paid endorsement.

First and foremost, you should install anti-virus software on all of your business computers. This will help to protect against malware and phishing attacks, which are two of the most common ways thieves gain access to small business data.

In addition, be sure to keep all of your software up to date and install any security patches as soon as they become available. You should also encrypt any sensitive data that you store electronically, and limit access to only those employees who absolutely need it.

Strong passwords are essential because they make it much more difficult for criminals to access your systems. If you’re using weak or easily guessed passwords, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets in. To create a strong password, use a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. The longer the password, the more difficult it is to guess.

In addition to using strong passwords, you should also add an authentication step to your login process. This can be as simple as requiring a code that’s sent to your phone or email address every time someone tries to log in. With this additional step in place, even if someone knows your password, they won’t be able to access your account unless they also have access to your phone or email.

One of the most common ways that identity thieves target small businesses is through phishing scams. These scams typically involve an email or other communication that looks like it’s from a reputable source, but is actually from a fraudster. They may try to trick you into clicking on a malicious link or downloading a virus-infected attachment.

Be very careful about any unsolicited communications that you receive, even if they look harmless. If you’re not sure whether something is legitimate or not, err on the side of caution and don’t click on any links or open any attachments.

Also, it is crucial to educate your employees about how to spot phishing scams. Make sure they know not to click on links or open attachments from unknown senders, and instruct them to forward suspicious emails to your IT department.

Protecting your small business offline is just as important. Educate your employees about identity theft, how to prevent it, and to be aware of suspicious activity. Train them to never give out personal information unless they are absolutely sure that it is safe to do so.

You should also have a policy in place for employee access to sensitive data. Only allow employees who need access to this data to have it, and require them to use strong passwords and keep their workstations locked when they’re not using them.

As a small business owner, you likely have a lot of sensitive information on hand – from customer credit card numbers to employee Social Security numbers. And while you take care to protect this information, it only takes one lost or stolen document to put your business at risk of identity theft.

One of the best ways to prevent this type of fraud is to shred any documents that contain sensitive information. This way, even if a thief manages to get their hands on your paper records, they’ll be nothing more than just scraps of paper.

Avoid storing sensitive data on your work computer, phone, tablet, laptop or USB drive. This includes anything that could potentially be used to access an account or personal information.

If you use any of these devices to access sensitive accounts or transmit sensitive documents (like customer lists or invoices) — either through email, file sharing services such as Dropbox or Google Drive, or apps like Slack — make sure that the device you store them on is encrypted and password-protected.

If you suspect any suspicious activity, it’s important to know where to report it. If you receive an invoice or bill that you don’t recognize, or if you see unusual activity on your bank statements, contact your financial institution immediately.

If you receive an email or other communication that looks suspicious, do not respond to it. Instead, Forward the message to the FTC at spam@uce.gov and your IT department.

You should also report any attempted or successful identity theft to the FTC. You can do this online at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338).

In addition, it’s important to have a plan in place for how to deal with customer data if it is compromised; this may include notifying customers and offering them credit reporting and monitoring services.

It’s important to consider how your business can be affected by identity theft, and what you can do to protect it. With the right precautions in place, you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your company is safe from criminals looking to take advantage of your small business.

Phones were once very simple, just a twisted pair of copper lines coming into your home, and a signal fed from your local telephone company branch office. Now, a hundred years later, analog is being phased out.

Analog phones are very sensitive to noise, but aging copper lines are very expensive to maintain, and indeed maintenance has been neglected. This is because digital infrastructure has largely replaced analog lines, and phone companies are ready to be done with copper altogether.

Phones are now almost 100% digital. The sound from your voice gets digitized immediately and sent as bits over the wire to its destination. This eliminates background noise, hum, crackle and so on.

Even if you still have an analog phone, the sound is being digitized when it reaches the local branch office. Many phones now support HD audio, which is vastly superior to the old “AM radio” sound of analog.

In the old days, any business with more than a couple users would need something called a PBX, which stands for private branch exchange – a switchboard operator just for your building.

In the 1980s, computers took over the job. Businesses would pay thousands for a PBX, a large electronic box that was wired to all the phones in the building. This provided features such as extensions, call parking, hunt groups, and individual voicemails.

These systems came with proprietary telephones, which are no use without the PBX. We have had customers call needing immediate full telephone replacement on the day that their old PBX finally dies.

This is a crisis worth avoiding! Although on-premise PBX systems are still available, you don’t have to absorb that cost today. A hosted PBX provides all the best call features at a low monthly rate. You simply plug in your phone to internet, and your provider does the rest.

Small cordless phone systems have become popular which have a few of the best features from a PBX, typically handling up to 4 lines, with multiple cordless handsets, call transfers, voicemail and simple call menus.

These are best for offices with less than ten people using the phone, and all in close range from the main base. This is the most cost effective way to start out when you only have a few employees.

Hosted PBX systems rely on IP phones to operate. There are a variety of phones available, and your provider probably has a list of approved models.

They may even include the phone with your plan. VOIP (Voice over IP) is another name for the same thing; all VOIP phones work over an internet connection. This means wireless internet customers can have a desk phone and calling features, in locations where you can’t get traditional landline service or even cell signal.

VoIP has many advantages over traditional phone systems, including lower costs, higher security measures, and it gives you more choice of phones. You can get a powerful desktop phone or a basic headset, depending on what works best for your office’s needs.

One of the big benefits of a VOIP telephone provider is having customized call routing. This can be done almost any way you can imagine, schedules based on office hours, ring groups, vacation responses, call forwarding scenarios, and interactive menus.

Extensions can mark themselves as “do not disturb” or DND, to take a lunch break for example – and the hunt group will pass over them and ring the next phone in line, or take a message.

For a small business, this provides a professional touch for your customers, while saving you a lot of misrouted or missed calls.

One key element that usually convinces business owners is cost. Typically, a hosted VOIP system will cost the same or less than a basic POTS (plain old telephone system) business line. With the additional features and lack of analog noise, upgrading your phone system makes a lot of sense.

As you consider your options, remember that your phone system is a “mission critical” tool for your business. Broadlinc is proud to offer state-of-the-art business phone systems to our customers at a competitive price. Contact us today to see what it would take to upgrade your phone system to Broadlinc.

Corey Brandon is the Director of National Projects for a National Restoration Contractor called Insurcomm. He is also a member of the New Liberty Fire & Rescue Department. He has a wife and four kids, and resides in Perry Park, Kentucky.

He has multiple computers for business, and his kids have a variety of different consoles and computers doing all things from school, work, zoom meetings, gaming and more. Corey works remotely, therefore, having a sufficient wifi signal is vital for his job.

He tried Hughes Net and Verizon and wasn’t thrilled with their service. He later found Broadlinc and signed up for internet service. “From excellent wifi to wonderful customer service, Broadlinc is a true winner in their industry,” said Brandon.

“Our business is national and requires us to have the absolute best wifi to communicate thoroughly and to complete projects abroad.” Since installation, he has been a Broadlinc customer for over five years.

Corey called in explaining he was experiencing slower speeds and issues with video conferencing.

“Initially, I had slower than needed internet speed. I was getting a lot of static, dropped video calls, cutting out, etc. I reached out to our I.T. dept and they ran multiple tests on my computer. They stated it was due to insufficient wifi,” said Brandon.

“So, then I called Broadlinc and discussed it with the technicians. They first suggested I bump up the speed, but then the tech had TJ call me and we discussed the issues further. He suggested to give the Plume HomePass a whirl.”

TJ Scott, VP of Operations, worked closely with Corey on resolving his wifi issues. “Corey had little to no wifi signal in multiple parts of the home because he had a lot of walls and conditions that prevented solid wifi coverage with a single router,” said Scott. “We looked at the home and decided it would be best to go with Plume HomePass and a mesh design, which places wifi mesh extenders in areas closer to where the users were located throughout the home.”

Plume’s HomePass allows customers to see, optimize, and control their wireless network from a simple interface that enables an array of Smart Home Services through Plume.

“HomePass is a proven cloud-based proactive managed networks service. Plume gives a top tier service that provides a self-healing network and allows us to use third-party compatible hardware while maintaining the same management and self-support experience. The best part; you get full control over your wifi network using the HomePass app,” commented Scott.

Plume’s HomePass service gives the Broadlinc support team a look at the fidelity of the wifi experience remotely. It allows their customers to have control over their setup and experience. “We wanted to be able to give our customers control, while being able to support every aspect of the deployment,” said Scott.

Along with Plume HomePass, the team placed Plume mesh extenders, smaller wifi “radios”, throughout his home to help extend his wifi coverage and improve his wireless signal strength. “Distance, blockades such as walls, and other electronics between the end user and the wifi connection creates interference, which weakens the signal. When you get the access points closer to the end user, you remove the interference,” said Scott.

“Plume’s mesh extenders not only make this happen, but they also give a guided setup telling you when you need to be closer to the main unit, need more extenders, and allows you to connect on multiple extenders as one network. You only see one SSID and enter one password unlike standard extenders, where you must remember to change connections as you move around.”

Corey expressed he saw a big improvement in his home network immediately. He experienced zero lagging, faster speeds, and no dropped internet connection.

“My life is better because I don’t have to stress about going elsewhere to get good enough service to conduct business,” said Brandon. “The Plume HomePass and mesh extenders give me peace of mind when a client or project manager calls. I truly like the way I can manage connected devices wherever I am, and it allows me to navigate from room to room without any action manually needed, ” said Brandon.

“Coupled with Broadlinc’s fast high-speed internet, it delivers an outstanding wifi experience. I absolutely recommend the Plume device to anyone looking for the absolute best wifi experience in their home or office.”

“This device is for everyone. If you’re not tech savvy, you will love it. It Is perfect for those who just want something that works,” commented TJ Scott.

“There is no rebooting or configuration changes to keep it running. If you want the best wifi experience and remove 90% of issues that most customers have with their internet experience, this service is for you.”

Plume HomePass is free with the rental of Broadlinc mesh units. If you are interested in learning more about Plume HomePass and/or mesh extenders, contact us today.

Do you remember when your local dentist office would send you a thank you card after your visit, or your local body shop expressing their gratitude for continuing to choose their business? Handwritten notes are understated and a “dying art” in this digital age, but they add a personal touch to the experience for customers. You can make a long and lasting impression on customers by sending out handwritten notes, and overtime win their trust and loyalty.

Below are examples of ways you can express your gratitude with handwritten notes:

• Include them in your customers’ packages.
• Mail them after they’ve come in for an appointment or service.
• Send them on holidays, customers’ birthdays, and customer appreciation day.

Adam and Tana Culbertson are co-owners of Owen Essential Care. Adam is a Family Nurse Practitioner with Family Practice, Emergency Room and Addiction Medicine experience. Tana is a Registered Nurse with 20 years of experience in various roles.

They opened May of this year and provide quality healthcare services to the people of Owenton and the surrounding area. They offer a wide range of medical services such as; sick visits, injuries, procedures (sutures, incision and drainage of abscess), splints, CDL and sports physicals, Rapid Covid 19 antigen tests, and Rapid Urine 6 panel drug tests.

“Our mission is to serve our community by offering simple quality care at a discounted rate without the complexities and obstacles of healthcare. We are a Direct Primary Care Clinic, which means we provide a cash for service visit that does not involve health insurance,” commented Adam Culbertson.

Since opening the doors, their customers have praised their quick services, walk-in availability, and the option to use their FSA/HSA cards at their clinic. “We’ve had patients tell us how happy they are about having a local urgent care that provides quality medical services without having any bills piling up. It’s makes us happy when our patients are happy,” said Adam.

Loyalty programs are a great way to thank your long-term customers for continuing to do business with you. There are many ways you can reward their loyalty such as:

• Offering discounts or coupons after they spend a certain amount. For example, a punch card program is the most popular loyalty program, and it’s most used by coffee shops, restaurants, and beauty salons.
• Giving complimentary upgrades after so many visits or being a customer for a certain period of time.
• Giving free items for signing up for a program or buying a certain product or service.
• Offering free shipping after they spend a certain amount with your business.
• Giving them access to exclusive sales.

Adam and Tana emphasize on the importance of building trust with their patients because it is essential for not only the business, but for the community as well.

“Trust is key to building a referral network and gaining loyalty with customers,” said Adam. “Building trust in your local community starts with building relationships between people, not only for business purposes but also because it’s important to have someone who understands us when we need help.”

According to Adam, once you’ve earned that trust from your patients and community, you have everything, which is why building this type of relationship matters to him and his business. “Trustworthy people are more likely to have referrals from others who know them well because they’ve been able build mutual respect, which leads into loyalty over time through consistency on both sides – something you can’t force or manufacture!”

Adam and Tana make an effort to connect with their local community members in numerous ways including shopping locally to support other small businesses. “We love to keep it local because it comes back to building trust with your local community. Recently, we worked with local internet provider Broadlinc to get the clinic setup with high-speed fiber internet. Since installation, our internet has been very fast and reliable, which is exactly what we needed for our business’ needs. If you’re looking for an internet provider that is attentive, prompt and values their customers, look no further than Broadlinc,” commented Adam.

Even though Customer Appreciation Day is on April 18, it’s entirely up to you when you want to celebrate your customers. In fact, some companies will do a Customer Appreciation Week! Holding an annual Customer Appreciation Day is a great way to show how much you appreciate your customers. Also, as a marketing strategy, it’s an effective way to boost foot traffic during your slowest times.

It can be an in-person event with drinks, food, music, giveaways, small gifts or goodie bags. For example, a local restaurant may want to host a cocktail party, and they serve their signature cocktails and small bites. It’s a fun and free event that gives your customers to look forward to each year. If you’re hosting an in-person event, spread the word by advertising it on your social media pages, send postcards, and attract new customers with a sign or banner at each of your business locations.

Taking a lunch break with coworkers is a great way to foster relationships, and can be effective even when they’re virtual. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from different departments or those you don’t see as often in meetings. If you have troubles starting conversations or coming up with topics, bring out the ice breaker games! They are great for getting to know your coworkers on a personal level, and it’s a break from the “work talk”. 

Personality quizzes offer an effective way for employees to learn about themselves, and for you to learn more about your coworkers’ working styles, dreams, goals, and preferences. They’re a fun way to find out about how teams can work better together! If you’re interested, have your team take a personality quiz, like the 16 Personalities, and then meet to discuss work styles at your next meeting.

Work together to break out of an escape room! It’s a themed online game that challenges players to find clues, complete tasks, and solve a variety of puzzles within a period of time. It can improve communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills. There are tons of escape rooms for every skill level and interest, which makes it easy to find one that will keep your whole team engaged.

Bond with your team by learning new skills together with online interactive events! From learning a new recipe to taking a mixology class, there are tons of creative and fun events that your team will love and lead to a positive team building experience. Marketplaces like Offsyte make it easy to discover and schedule high-quality virtual team events that are interactive, exciting and budget-friendly! 

This one is a personal favorite! At my previous employer, our team held virtual meetings called “Topic Friday” where we were given a fun topic at the beginning of the week to talk about on Friday. Some example topics we discussed were: name 5 records/cds you would want to listen to for the rest of your life and why, wear your favorite shirt and tell us why, and tell your best dad joke. It was a fun way for us to learn more about each other, improve our communication and presentation skills, and leave a meeting with a great laugh! Who knew you could wear a Jurassic Park shirt to work? During Topic Friday, you most certainly can wear it! Try it the next time your team meets and see how it goes that Friday!

Taking a lunch break with coworkers is a great way to foster relationships, and can be effective even when they’re virtual. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from different departments or those you don’t see as often in meetings. If you have troubles starting conversations or coming up with topics, bring out the ice breaker games! They are great for getting to know your coworkers on a personal level, and it’s a break from the “work talk”. 

In 2009, the worst ice storm in Kentucky’s history came through and tore power lines, fiber optic lines and cable lines to pieces. At the company I was with at the time, we had ten miles of infrastructure that had to be torn out and rebuilt. However, later that same year, the remnants of Hurricane Ike came through the region and tore the same areas down again with several hours of 70mph straight line winds.

Recently, Kentucky suffered from Mother Nature’s course that took lives, destroyed property and disrupted telecommunications. During December of 2021, three miles of cable and fiber of ours in Western Kentucky was ripped out when the quad-state tornado tore through between Bremen and Sacramento. Moreover, it took our team close to a week to rebuild and restore service.

During February of 2022, 450 customers experienced outages in Owen County due to the weight of ice accumulation on cable lines that caused connectors to pop apart and short out, which caused fiber-fed equipment to fry (it all still takes electricity).

While fiber optics is capable of providing gigabits of data, it is distributed by glass. This cool, yet very fragile technology used to distribute telecommunications keeps growing, and the capabilities have now far exceeded the usage anyone can put on this infrastructure. Once you pass a certain point of bandwidth on fiber, it’s like driving one or two cars a mile apart on a 10-lane freeway made of glass at 100 miles an hour.  That’s a lot of breakable highway for so little traffic, and once you have more road than the traffic you’re sending down it needs, what’s the point?

What you really need is the ability to get down the road fast, and it won’t break beneath you. With wireless, where we’re going we don’t need roads. We can go 500 miles an hour through airspace that’s got plenty of room to get your traffic through it!

Broadlinc is building networks using wireless technology that is much like a cellphone; getting signal to your home through the air. Our 5G ready towers are built with redundant power. Moreover, when the power lines go down, a wireless link takes over and will keep our customers online. Even when we need that high capacity 10 or 20 lane freeway at our data centers, we are fed by diverse carriers to ensure our customers keep working by sending our traffic another way.

“Getting what you pay for” has less to do with gigabits offered and speed tests than it does with user experience. There is little to nothing most homes and businesses can’t do on our LTE Fixed Wireless service that we’re doing on wireline and fiber networks. On paper it may say less bandwidth, however, when we support our customers all the way to their device with our whole home Wi-Fi and local technical support, our customers report a better experience than the gig-fiber.

Are you curious at this point? Sign up and try it for yourself! At Broadlinc, we don’t pressure our customers into contracts to keep something that doesn’t work. Perform the tasks and activities you like to do with your internet, and see if it performs as good or better. You will also find out soon enough when those down the road have a tree fall on their line or a hungry squirrel in the neighborhood, your neighbors will be asking to use your WiFi when you have Broadlinc’s service.

There is a lot of talk these days about “fiber”, but what does it mean for small businesses? The short answer is: less downtime, more speed, and lower latency. Let’s dive a little deeper into why small businesses need fiber internet.

Fiber optic cable transmits light, but not electricity. Light is not “faster” than electricity. However, the usable frequency band in coaxial cable is between 5-1200 MHz, whereas fiber operates between 175-250 THz. That’s about 75,000 times the bandwidth. Since we only use a fraction of that spectrum, all the fiber installed today will continue to get faster as technology improves.

Fiber optic cable has been around since the mid 1960s. In 1968, NASA used it in the television cameras they sent to the moon. By the 1980s, fiber was being used extensively to build telecommunications networks all over the country, and today more than 110,000 miles of fiber have been deployed in the United States alone. However, in 2022, most homes and businesses are connected via cable, telephone, or via wireless and satellite dishes. Why don’t we all have fiber by now?

Imagine you ran a railroad, and your task was to collect passengers from their homes. You would probably build a few lines between major cities with busy terminals at each end. To reach more destinations, you now need to build dozens of smaller branch lines, going to all the small towns around the cities. This costs a lot, but it is worth it because each branch picks up many passengers. But you still haven’t reached the passengers at their homes – they will need to walk, ride a bike, catch a taxi, or use public transportation to get to their local terminal. This is the “last mile” problem; getting all the way to the customer’s location typically requires more effort and different solutions.

Internet providers face the same challenge. Even though your data comes most of the way by fiber, it probably travels over cable or telephone lines for the last few miles. Until recently, it would have been impossible to build fiber to each customer’s location. Cities are typically the first candidates for fiber installation, and only recently has there been a push to extend fiber networks out to more rural areas.

Recent technological improvements and cost reductions in fiber have allowed a new approach. Passive Optical Networking (PON) allows fiber to branch out and reach customers directly. Many ISPs are using terms like “Fiber to the Home” (FTTH) “Fiber to the Premise” (FTTP) or generically “Fiber to the X” (FTTx), which all mean roughly the same thing – fiber all the way, instead of coaxial cable or copper phone lines for the last few miles. This reduces maintenance, saves costs, and increases reliability and speeds for the end user. It is however a major investment to build, and it may be many years before fiber can reach all the homes in rural America.

Broadlinc does not yet offer residential fiber services, but we are pleased to offer fiber connections to our local businesses. This can make a big difference to your customers. If you take credit card payments, offer customer support by phone, run high speed transactions or need large amounts of bandwidth for streaming and videoconferencing, consider the advantages of fiber service.

Many of our local businesses have opted for a fiber connection because of the reliability and speed. When high uptime is critical for your business, consider that our fiber connections do not go offline from cable maintenance, electrical outages, or lightning strikes. The only time it could go offline is from major physical damage like a utility pole breaking or a rogue backhoe operator digging it up. These events are very rare, in fact we have had customers with years of uptime

A fiber optic connection is the highest quality service available. While our residential cable offerings are very good, you simply cannot match the low latency and high stability of a fiber link. Other Broadlinc customers’ usage will not affect your link, and the lack of downtime means happy customers and more money in your pocket.

We get asked all the time –

“I recently saw a friend post on social media claiming I can get tv channels, Netflix and HBO shows, and more for $20/month from this guy at a flea market. Is this legitimate?”

The cost of tv networks has dramatically increased cable and satellite bills over the years, which often leads consumers to take desperate actions. They are often drawn to vendors who sell devices and services that offer popular content at a lower cost, or sometimes for free with the purchase of a special app, without having to buy subscriptions from the original providers. The offer sounds great, however, buyer beware of these services because most likely it is a pirated service. Let’s take a deeper dive into how you can detect these pirated services.

After nearly two years into the pandemic, some workers are finally returning to the office full-time or at least a few days a week. However, as of December 2021, 26% of full-time workers are still working exclusively from home, and have no plans to return to the office. If you or your business have employees still working from home full-time or a few days a week, this article is just for you! 

During this transition period, communication and team building is very important to setting your team up for success and creating a strong sense of community. But what if some of your team members are not in the office full-time? No problem! Get your team together with one of these 5 virtual team building activities that can help improve communication, enhance their problem-solving skills, and boost team morale!

Taking a lunch break with coworkers is a great way to foster relationships, and can be effective even when they’re virtual. It’s a great opportunity to meet people from different departments or those you don’t see as often in meetings. If you have troubles starting conversations or coming up with topics, bring out the ice breaker games! They are great for getting to know your coworkers on a personal level, and it’s a break from the “work talk”. 

At Broadlinc, we believe in providing open internet (see our network management disclosure at https://www.broadlinc.com/legal-policies-agreements/), and thereby we treat all data the same. If YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix works but bobscheaptvapp streaming Game of Thrones for free doesn’t, then the problem isn’t with Broadlinc service but instead with the pirated service. Therefore, we can’t offer support for this issue.

If you’re going to go with a streaming provider for your tv service, we encourage you to do your research and avoid such services. Look for reviews of official service providers because most of their rates will be similar, and they often can bundle subscriptions to premium services so you’re paying one bill. You will have access to technical support and it’s all legal! For a list of legal streaming content providers, check out https://www.alliance4creativity.com/watch-legally/.