ISP

Reasons to Rethink Your ISP-Provided Router

May 16, 2024 by Paul Schwegler

When you sign up with your internet service provider (ISP) you may also get a modem and router combination. It could be free, a rental, or something you buy outright. Before assuming that is the best device for your needs, weigh up these considerations.

Many ISPs provide you with a proprietary router and modem. Your internet service plan may include it for a rental fee, or you might have to pay over time to buy the device. If that’s the case, find out how much the modem and router would cost to buy outright. You might be able to buy a higher-quality device at a better price.

Other times, ISPs offer free modems and/or routers included with your plan. The price is reasonable, sure, but you could be getting a low-quality device. You might want to upgrade to a better option for not much more money.

What you need to know about modems/routers

Your home network requires a modem, router, or combination device. The latter are growing more common.

The modem connects your home to your ISP through a physical connection. This device translates ISP data into a format your home network devices can use.

The router creates a local area network (LAN) connecting your devices to your modem. This allows your computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones to connect to the internet. You’ll have either a wired or wireless router.

In summary, the modem sends and receives internet signals, while the router distributes them to your devices.

What to look for in a router

Before relying on an ISP router, consider the benefits of store-bought devices.

If parental controls are important to you, shop for a router offering those features. You may have parental control apps on your devices, but having the controls on the router can be more effective.

Encourage a safer online environment for children with features such as:

website filtering;
content filtering;
time restrictions;
safe search;
device management;
reports and alerts;
remote management.

You can also improve network security with a router that allows you to set up a separate guest network. Provide guests with internet access without worrying they can access your private network.

You can also look for a router that supports Quality of Service (QoS). This feature allows you to allocate internet bandwidth to different devices or applications. For example, you can prioritize a work computer with more bandwidth than a gaming console.

Don’t settle for the ISP’s equipment

We’ve given you plenty of reasons to rethink your ISP’s router, yet choosing an alternative could overwhelm you. We can help you identify the right solution for your specific needs. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

6 Reasons to Replace Your ISP Email

September 1, 2020 by Paul Schwegler

When you sign up for an internet service, the provider will hook you up with an email address, too. Your internet service provider (ISP) wants to keep you connected to them. But this convenient email address isn’t always the best long-term solution for you.

That “yourname@ispprovider.com” email address may work fine. You use it to keep in touch with your family and friends, you get bills to that address, and you’ve used it to login to your social media and online news and shopping sites.

But relying on your ISP for your email address may not be the best strategy for you. Here are some drawbacks to consider.

#1 If you rely on your @isprovider.com address, you could end up locked in with poor service or high prices. You feel stuck because you can’t take your email address with you if you want to switch providers.

#2 Internet service providers are not in the email business, whereas email providers such as Gmail and Outlook are always working to improve. Your ISP may not have updated its email offerings for a decade.

#3 Most ISPs have very limited storage space for email, which can make your service less reliable and convenient.

#4 Also, ISPs don’t make the same effort to keep your email secure and your inbox spam free. A provider more focused on email services offers more sophisticated filtering. ISP emails usually have primitive spam filtering that is easy to bypass.

#5 With an ISP email, your email is often accessible only on the provider’s mail servers, and you need to be able to access those servers to get to your emails. A cloud-based email provider lets you access your inbox via a Web browser. So, it doesn’t matter where in the world you are; you can still get access.

#6 You might be supporting a local ISP with your business. If that smaller provider goes belly up, however, your email address is gone forever, too.

Making the switch to an email provider

You may feel compelled to remain loyal to your ISP because changing your email address is a headache. Yet migrating to a Web-based email provider on your terms will help.

You’ll have a smoother transition if your ISP allows you to download your current address book.

Fortunately, once you make the switch to a Web/cloud-based email provider, you can move ISPs without it making any difference to your email communications.

You could even pay a small fee to upgrade your email with a custom domain name. Maybe you’ve always wanted to have your email come from @yourlastname.com, because it looks cool. Or, if you have a home business, you could have your email come from @yourbusiness.com. This looks more professional, and you can move the address to any provider, as the domain remains the same.

Whether you’re using an ISP or Web/cloud-based email provider, it’s also a good idea to back up your emails. By downloading and backing up your email, you gain more control and peace of mind.

We can help you find the right email provider or ISP for your needs. We’ll help you migrate your email, and we can set up a backup too. Let us help you, call us now at (515)422-1995.

Solving Your Work-from-Home Internet Woes

May 12, 2020 by Paul Schwegler

Your internet used to meet your needs. You could check social media and stream a TV show whenever you wanted without trouble. Now, since working from home, you’re finding your internet service more frustrating: it’s too slow when you want to send and receive large work files, or erratic when you take part in video meetings. Here’s help:

Blame your service provider

Ah, the familiar pastime – blaming someone else. The problem could be with your provider.

Yes, it’s a good idea to keep your expenses low, and that budget internet provider may not have been a problem in the past. But internet service providers (ISPs) may save money by buying less bandwidth. Bandwidth impacts the data transfer rate, which makes a difference to downloads and connectivity. ISPs might also oversell their capabilities, betting that everyone won’t be online at the same time. Yet, now, everyone is!

Switching to a higher-quality ISP can help address your connectivity concerns. It’s a good idea to find out what kind of connectivity they’re offering, too.

Some people are fortunate to live in places with full-fiber connections. This new technology uses fiberoptic cable to send more data, more quickly. Other people have to rely on providers using copper cables. Copper cables are old school and designed to carry call data as electrical pulses. The further your internet signals travel, the more your signal strength falters.

If poor wired infrastructure to your home is the issue, swap instead to point-to-point Wi-fi, 4G, or 5G. For instance, for Wi-fi, you’d install a Wi-fi dish on your roof pointing to a nearby wireless provider. With a 4G connection, you’d be using cell phone towers. 5G is the same, but you’ll find it faster if its available.

Redundancy is another way to go. Your existing wired connection may be fine most of the time, but you’ll have a backup in place. You can roll over to the 4G option if the wired internet goes down.

Sorry, the problem’s at your end

It’s possible the root of your internet problems is right there in your home or neighborhood. You are no longer the only person using your internet connection. You could be trying to download something on one computer while your partner is taking a video call. Maybe you also have kids online in an online classroom or looking for a supply llama in Fortnite.

Even if you’re only trying to watch Netflix, just as you used to, you might notice you’re lagging more than before. There are probably more neighbors on their Wi-Fi, too, which can result in congestion in your area.

If you can switch to a 5 GHz connection, do so. The speed will improve. Plus, you’ll find you’re not in competition with as many others, as many home Wi-Fi setups are on the 2.4 GHz frequency.

There’s a solution out there

The solution to your work-from-home internet woes will vary. It depends on your location, what’s around, and the internet service options available.

You don’t have to troubleshoot your internet on your own. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but our tech experts can help find the right fit for your needs. Contact us today (515)422-1995.