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How does satellite (wireless) internet work, and why is having a wired network more reliable?

There are so many internet options and companies out there that provide internet services, how do you choose, or know what service is right for you?

All West Communications internet network is delivered over wires because it not only increases reliability but allows faster upload and download speeds at better pricing for our customers and community.

Why does a wired internet network work more efficiently?

Let start by looking at how each type of network works and how it relates to the services available.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is having the ability to transmit and receive data from a satellite dish. Most satellite companies' connections involves three satellite dishes; one at the internet service providers (ISP) hub, one in space and one attached to your property. The ISP will send the internet signal to the dish in space, which then relays it to you. Every time you make a request (new page, download, send an email, etc.) it goes to the dish in space and then to the ISP's hub. The completed request is then sent back through space to your dish and then to your computer.

Common issues with satellite internet include:

  • The weather affects the signal path. During bad wind or rainstorms, you should expect poor quality internet, assuming you have internet at all.
  •  Poor latency or high ping rate. Your internet signal has to go at least 22,000 miles in the air two times before it reaches your home. Since you have to send data to space, this creates a lag on internet connecting devices. This lag can affect your internet experience, especially if you're a gamer, working from home, streaming TV, or use VoIP services.
  •  Minor obstructions can affect your signal. Your dish needs to point south because this is where all the orbiting dishes are in outer space. Anything in the way of your dish's signal such as branches or buildings, can affect the quality.
  • Satellite internet is relatively expensive for the speed you get. For example, Utah Broadband’s highest speed is 60 Mbps for $89.95, whereas All West's lowest speed is 100 Mbps for just $59.95. You can get twice as much speed for $30 less.

Wired Network

A wired network is the physical connection to your home and your ISP provider through either Coax, DSL, or Fiber.

Benefits of a wired network include:

  • You get better upload and download speeds. When you are connected directly to your ISP provider, there is no lag, which makes your connection faster.
  •  There are no obstructions to block your service. Since most Coax, DSL and Fiber lines are either buried or affixed to utility poles, you won't have to worry about your connection getting disturbed.
  • With a wired connection, your ISP can offer you better prices and faster speeds than satellite offerings. For example, Wicked Fast internet provides 75 Mbps for $99.95 per month, whereas 100 Mbps will All West is $59.95 per month.

We hope this helps our customers understand the differences between satellite (wireless) and wired internet connections.

Learn more about All West’s Internet Plans.

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How To Read Your Bill

First-bill-page-one

1. Overdue Balance – If you paid your last statement late, it will show up here.
Statement Summary at a glance – Summary of activity from the previous month to the current month, including total payment due.

2. Account number
Previous Bill – The amount on your previous bill
Payment/Adj – Your most recent payment or if a credit was made on your account, it will be placed here
Current Billing – The amount due for your next month of service
Total Due- The total amount due on your account. Any nonpayments or discounts will also reflect in this price

3. Message Center- Messages from All West Communications regarding your service and other services we provide.

4. Summary of payment information and when your bill is due.

5. Payment Address – Address where your payment should be sent.

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6. Statement Details – A comprehensive breakdown of all charges.

7. Charges include – Dates of service that are charged on this statement.

8. Change of address – Need to update the address of where your bills are sent? Fill this form out with your payment and we will get our system updated.

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What is the difference between download speeds and upload speeds and why does it matter?

So you have a fast internet plan, but you are trying to upload a video to the internet and all of a sudden it feels like it has stopped working. What happened?

Internet speeds are measured by how much data your internet connection can transfer per second, which is measured in megabits of data per second (Mbps). The number you see in Mbps measures the rate at which a provider delivers internet data to and from your home.

Download speed refers to how many Mbps it takes to download data from a server in the form of images, videos, text and more. Activities such as listening to music on Spotify, downloading large files or streaming tv on All West.tv all require you to download data.

Upload speed refers to how many Mbps you can send data from your internet connected device or server to another. Sending emails, posting photos or videos on social media and video calling a friend all require you to upload data.

If your internet plan doesn’t support the amount of data you are uploading or downloading, your internet may slow down. So the next time you’re using your internet connected device and it slows down, it may not be your internet provider but the upload and download speed of your internet plan. Learn more about All West internet plans.

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What internet speed is right for you?

If you enjoy online gaming, surfing the web or streaming All West.tv, you know having the right internet speed matters. But how do you know what speed to choose? If you only surf the web, do you need 100 Mbps? If you want to watch your favorite shows on All West.tv, how many Mbps do you need?

We’re here to answer all your questions and more!

• How does the available infrastructure affect your internet speed?
• General internet speed recommendations
• What internet speed do I need? Internet Speed Calculator

How does the available infrastructure affect your internet speed?

Depending on where you live, there is different infrastructure in place to get the internet into your home. The most common types are DSL, Coax and Fiber. Each of these creates a pipeline for your internet to move through. The more advanced the infrastructure the more opportunity you have to reach faster speeds.

The acronym Mbps stands for “megabits per second.” It is a measure of internet bandwidth that moves through the infrastructure. Bandwidth is the download and upload rate of your internet connection. The higher the Mbps is, the more you can do on your internet connected device.

Your router is what talks to both All West’s modem and your internet connecting device. Having a router that is compatible with your wire infrastructure and Mbps helps your device get the fastest speeds possible. If your router is not designed for the internet you have, you won’t be able to reach your full speed potential. (Read more about how your internet gets on your digital device)

General internet speed recommendations

Having a fast internet connection depends on what you use the internet for at home, how many devices are using the internet at the same time, and how many Mbps you have from your service provider. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recommends minimum internet speeds of 12-25 Mbps for families with multiple internet users or frequent online streaming.

Why would you need higher than 25 Mbps?

The FCC has defined broadband, or fast internet, as internet with download speeds of at least 25 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps since 2015. Download speeds of at least 25 Mbps accommodate many families’ needs, but the best download speeds and upload speeds for you depend on how you use the internet at home.

For example, let’s say you have a family of four, and nine devices split between them that include phones, laptops, iPads, and Smart TVs. When everyone is home at least six devices are being used at once for school, streaming TV, surfing the web and gaming. When you have that many devices in use, you need enough bandwidth to support them all. 25 Mbps distributed six ways is about 4 Mbps allocated to each device. Just doing school work on a laptop could use up to 25 Mbps, resulting in very slow internet, which is why All West offers a minimum of 100 Mbps. The more internet-connected devices you use, the more your speed is distributed amongst them.

What internet speed do I need?

Let us help you determine the speed you need for your home.

Tell us how many devices in your home connect to the internet. (Computers, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart TVs, smart home devices, etc.)

*Calculations based on the FCC Broadband Speed Guide Next

Is everyone in your home online at the same time?

Recommended Download Speed

16.6 Mbps

*Calculations based on the FCC Broadband Speed Guide Back

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Top 10 tech tips to start your New Year off right

The new year is a great opportunity to tune up your technology. A well-working piece of equipment makes life so much easier. You spend less time fixing issues and more time enjoying your experience. Here are our top 10 technology tune-ups to start your year off right:

Update your passwords.

It’s important to update your passwords and keep things fresh to eliminate the chances of your accounts getting hacked. We also recommend using different passwords on every account in case you do get hacked; the hackers don’t have access to your other accounts. For more password tips, look in the winter issue of our InTouch Magazine.

Update your anti-virus software

Making sure your anti-virus software is up to date, and current is one of the easiest ways to make sure you’re protected. A good anti-virus program is always coming out with updates to keep your information safe. Some software also expires after a year, so it’s a good idea to find out when your renewal is coming up to stay protected.

Clear your device's cache

When you browse a website for the first time on the internet, your web browser stores information from the site in temporary files. This is the cache.

The next time you visit the same website, it loads directly from the cache copy instead of requesting the DNS server over the Internet. It’s important to clear your cache so that you get the latest version of the website you’re visiting. Clearing your cache also helps protect your temporarily stored data such as login credentials, phone number, and any other personal information you may use.

Activate “Find My Phone”

Have you ever lost your phone or dropped it in the snow without knowing it? Activating the “Find My Phone” feature on your mobile device is a handy feature that allows you to find your phone using a web browser map tracker.

This feature is available on both Android and iPhone devices. Click below to learn how to activate Find My Phone.

- Android
- iPhone

End cable clutter

Who’s guilty of having a spaghetti bowl of wires coming out of every electronic device you own? Declutter and streamline those cables. Not only will it be more aesthetically pleasing, but the next time you have to change a cord, you won’t be fighting a knotted mess. As a bonus, it reduces the risk of fires by reducing the heat a tangled mess can produce.

Recycle old electronic devices

We all have them. Yes, we’re talking about that old electronic device sitting in a closet somewhere. We encourage you in the new year to reduce your environmental impact and recycle your old devices at your local recycling center. The manufacturer of your device may also have their own recycling program in place.

Try new technology

Trying new technology can be scary. We like to stick with what we know because it's convenient and familiar, but new technology can open up so many possibilities you didn’t know existed. Get out of your comfort zone and switch over your cable TV to the All West.tv app, upgrade your internet so you can learn that new language you always are talking about, or get that new phone so you can FaceTime your grandkids.

Be nicer on social media

Interactions on Google, Instagram, and Facebook can all too easily turn into name-calling and inappropriate behavior. Remember there’s a person on the other side and they care about you and your experience. Instead of complaining, try complimenting, or giving constructive criticism.

Update Your Wi-Fi Router Firmware

Making sure your Wi-Fi router is up-to-date is one way to keep your connection to the web secure and performing optimally. When you use the internet, all of your information is going to be passing through your router, so if it’s compromised, it can really impact your privacy and the security of your devices. In addition to security, installing a firmware update can solve connection problems. See our Internet vs. Wi-Fi article to learn more about how your router works.

Backup your devices

Have you ever dropped your phone, gotten the blue screen of death, or spilled a drink on your laptop? There are a lot of mishaps that can happen to your devices. To ensure you don’t lose important information on those items, we recommend backing them up to either an external hard drive or a cloud drive. This way, you won’t have to worry about something happening to your important files.

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Streaming through your digital device

What does it mean to stream through your digital device?

Streaming is the digital distribution of video or TV content over the Internet. To start streaming, you need a device that can connect to the internet such as mobile phone, tablet, smart TV, streaming stick etc., paired with a streaming app or service. There’s a good chance you already use some streaming services like  All West.tv, YouTube, Netflix, HBO Now, or something else. These are all streaming apps that you can use to get TV or video on your devices at home and on the go. Most streaming services require a paid subscription to use their app.

Which streaming devices are compatible with the All West.tv app?

Mobile Phones:

  • iPhone (iOS 9+)
  • Android Phone (4.4+)
  • Windows

Tablet:

  • iPad (iOS 9+)
  • Android Tablet (4.4+)
  • Windows

Smart TV:

  • Philips Android TV
  • Sharp Android TV 
  • Sony Android TV 
  • Element Fire TV
  • Toshiba Fire TV 

Internet Browser:

  • Google Chrome (Win 49+, OS X 55+)
  • Internet Explorer (11+ on Windows 8.1+)
  • Microsoft Edge (13+)
  • Apple Safari (8+ Mac OS X 10.11+)
  • Firefox (47+)

Streaming Stick:

  • Amazon Fire Stick (Gen 2, Gen 3, & 4K versions)

Streaming Set Top Box:

  • Apple TV (Gen 4, TV OS & 4K)
  • Android TV Yes (WV)
  • Amazon Fire TV (Gen 2+)
  • Kaon box

Looking to cut the cable TV cord? Switching to the All West.tv streaming app is easier than ever! With four packages to choose from and up to 150+ channels that include WatchTVEverywhere and 100 hours of cloud DVR, you’ll never miss your favorite shows. For a limited time, All West is offering a FREE 30-day trial of All West.tv. Call today to start streaming now 866-255-9378.

Click here for more information on how to use your All West.tv. 

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Fiber is coming to more communities in Sweewater County, Wyoming!

Did you hear? All West Communications was recently awarded a USDA grant of $4.79M to provide broadband services to residents and businesses in Granger, Farson, and Eden, Wyoming. And while some of the project phases will take three to four years to complete, we are making plans to get the project started in the coming year.

What does this mean for you?

  • More broadband options with plans that include speeds from 100 Mbps to up to a Gig.
  • More entertainment choices with a variety of TV package offerings, premium channels, and added features you won’t find anywhere else.
  • More ways to connect to the people and places that matter to you most.
  • More opportunity to grow your business and compete with the growing online market.
  • More accessibility to work from home or gain new skills through online learning.
  • More comfort through telemedicine and internet-based security systems.
  • More business solutions with hosted VoIP and managed Wi-Fi options.

The best part? You will be getting the best the industry has to offer in the way of broadband. Services will be offered over a buried, all-fiber infrastructure—not susceptible to bad weather, faulty satellite dishes, natural obstructions like mountains or a dense grove of trees, or the occasional traffic accident that takes down a utility pole. You can rest easy knowing that your broadband service is protected.

The details. All West will build close to 100 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure connecting approximately 320 homes, 20 businesses, 18 farms, a Granger school, and a K-12 school campus in Farson. We will keep you updated on the plans so check back and watch our Facebook page for more details.

Your connection begins with our commitment.

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Internet vs. Wi-Fi

The internet is a public network that allows you to access various webpages such as Google, or any website such as AllWest.com.

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How does the internet get on your digital device?

Digital devices and the internet speak different digital signals, so the first piece of equipment you need to connect to the internet is a modem. A modem is the translator between the digital signal of your device and the analog signal the internet uses. It converts digital data signals into radio signals and back from your device to the internet.

When using All West’s internet services our modem is what establishes and maintains a connection with internet service and your device. A connection to our services can be made several different ways depending on the infrastructure available in your area. The most common connections are made through Fiber, Coax (cable) and DSL (phone line). These connections also have different speeds to help transfer the data from the internet to your device.

Once you have established a modem, you will need a router if you are trying to connect to more than one device. The router takes the signal from the modem and distributes it to both wired devices and wireless (Wi-Fi) devices. The router also controls the area in which you can receive a wireless signal.

Not all routers are created equal. Your router signal needs to sync with your modem connection. And your modem and router need to be able to handle the speed you are paying for. For example, if your internet is provided through a Coax cable, your router needs to be compatible with a Coax connection—and if you’ve purchased a 1 Gig plan, your equipment needs to be Gig-capable. All West offers Plume to ensure you have the proper connection. Our routers also ensure your router is protected and allows us to trouble shoot any connection issues.

Having the right modem and router in place gives you a better internet experience.

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