Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Glo Fiber in Colonial Heritage: I have Cox Cable Internet and TV so why should I switch to GloFiber Internet?

CH Tech Club - April 21, 2026


As many of you know, Glo Fiber will be available throughout all of Colonial Heritage in the coming months. 

But many of our residents are asking: “I have Cox Cable Internet and TV so why should I switch to GloFiber Internet?” 

Here are a few reasons you might want to consider GloFiber: 
Leverage: What a great position to be in to have access to Cox, FiOS and GloFiber all competing for your business! If one raises their price, simply switch (or threaten) to switch to another provider. You should be in control.

Reliability: Fiber is significantly more reliable than “outage prone” copper coax used by Cox. Fiber is more durable, it can travel over 25 miles without losing signal vs only several hundred feet with copper coax. Fiber optic cable uses light and is immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can interrupt data like with copper coax cables. Copper coax suffers from signal degradation over long distances, leading to slowdowns, which fiber does not experience. Fiber is resistant to moisture, corrosion, and extreme temperatures, while copper is very sensitive to these factors. Fiber requires far fewer, failure prone, powered signal repeaters between the source and the destination, reducing the failure points.

Flexibility: What can be better than options? If your Cox cable TV bill increases, what can you do? Call and complain or just accept the increase. With fiber Internet and a contract-free streaming service, change when you want to. One month you can be on YouTube TV the next you can switch to Hulu Live or Sling TV or pause them all. With Glo Fiber you can also add their own streaming TV Service. Tired of paying for TV, just turn it off, pause your streaming service or consider free over-the-air digital antenna TV!

Now is the time to contact GloFiber to sign up for their service in Colonial Heritage. Sign up by going to the Glo Fiber website, enter your address and mobile phone to pre-register or call them at 833-926-8456. There are several promotions available so check availability.

Reach out to the Colonial Heritage Tech Club if you’d like assistance.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

FiOS Internet Update for Colonial Heritage

Finally, after a seemingly endless wait, Verizon FiOS Internet is beginning to expand its access in Colonial Heritage. Fiber trenching throughout the sections of Section 1, 2, 3 and 4 was completed in July and many homeowners are being notified that they can now enroll in the new service.

If you have not been contacted by FiOS via a door tag or by an official Verizon representative at your door you can contact them directly at (800) 922-0204 to confirm Internet availability at your home and to arrange an installation date.

Here is an overview of the installation process: (the installation charge should be waived)

The FiOS installation technician will trench a fiber line from the street to a junction box on the side of your house. They will then typically install their fiber modem (ONT) inside the garage. They will connect the ONT to an existing Ethernet cable or they will re-purpose one CAT-5 telephone line in the house. If you don’t plan to use Mesh, select a phone jack that is as central in the home as possible. The Ethernet cable can be connected to a modem-router (Gateway) which Verizon will provide to you at no cost. For improved coverage, you can connect directly to a multi-node Mesh router. You might want to refer to this article written by the CH Tech Club on how to connect a Mesh router to an ONT. Whichever router you decide to use, it is recommended that you select your own network name (SSID) and password, not the default provided.

The US is transitioning from cable TV to streaming. According to the latest statistics from Grok 83% of US TV viewing is done using Internet streaming! This means if you are switching from Cox Cable TV and are not already a streamer you will need to select from one of the available services which includes YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, DirecTV, Fubo or Sling TV. We encourage you to use this handy table of subscription streaming providers and available channels compiled by CNET to help with your selection. For maximum cost savings, you might want to consider an over-the-air antenna to receive free local network channels. If you are unsure of the monthly costs and savings to stream, our Tech Club streaming calculator can help you make this decision.

For help with any of this information, reach out to the Croucher Group for assistance.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Wireless Network Optimization


By Calvin Croucher

This is a story that may sound familiar to some of you and your own home wireless network.

Recently, I was contacted by a homeowner who expressed concern that his wireless network wasn’t working correctly. He said, “My internet seems to cut on and off”. The homeowner scheduled an assessment. I asked, “What speed are you paying for?” He answered, “150Mbps”. First, I rebooted the modem-router, aka the Gateway. Then, I checked that the router's firmware version was current. Next, I measured the speed in megabits/second and signal quality in milliseconds by connecting directly to one of the available Ethernet ports. Results were well above the subscribed service level. Now here is where things got interesting. I measured the wireless bandwidth and signal strength at key locations throughout the house. The speed test results were “very disappointing”. None of the measurements were within ¼ of the rated speed! That means for a service that might be costing $90/month the homeowner was only receiving service that should have cost him $25/month!

So now what? Well, since the router was over 5 years old and runs on wireless N technology the recommendation was clear. Time to upgrade. But to what? There are generally two options. A Gateway, which is a device that contains a modem and a router or a modem along with a multi-node WiFi-6 mesh network. Generally, the cost is very similar so the clear choice, especially for multiple floor living, is to implement a mesh network. A Mesh network provides whole house coverage and can be expanded to three or more nodes as needed. Most mesh networks operate with wireless, beamforming, blended 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz technology. They are good for Gigabit speeds between nodes that can support more than 100 networked devices. An added bonus is that each mesh node generally comes with 2-3 Ethernet ports so TVs and computers can be hard wired to receive very stable signals.

So, after registering a new cable modem with the ISP, providing them with the make, model, serial number and MAC address and configuring a 3-node mesh network strategically placed in the customers house, how do things look? As Captain Kirk likes to say, “Warp Speed Scotty!” All points throughout the house now receive speeds well in excess of 100Mbps. Mission accomplished. No more buffering, no more dropouts.

If you have questions or would like to see if your home network is performing at its best contact me for help.

Campsite.bio/TheCroucherGroup

Saturday, September 23, 2023

What are the Advantages of Mobile Home Internet over Cable Internet?

by Calvin Croucher

In recent years, the increasing popularity of mobile (cellular) home internet has sparked a debate over whether it's superior to traditional cable internet. Mobile home internet refers to a wireless broadband connection that uses cellular networks, while cable internet is delivered through a physical cable. 

Flexibility and Portability
One of the biggest advantages of mobile home internet is its flexibility and portability. Unlike cable internet, which is fixed to a specific location, mobile home internet allows you to connect to the internet from anywhere as long as there's a cellular network available. This means you can take your internet with you when you travel, go camping, or even move to a new home without having to worry about changing your internet service provider.

Easy Setup
Setting up mobile home internet is relatively simple compared to cable internet. With mobile home internet, all you need to do is plug in a device such as a modem and router, which is known as a Gateway and connect it to the nearest cellular network. There's no need for complicated wiring or professional installation, which can save you time and money. Frequently, in order to locate the Gateway in the best reception area adding a mesh network is recommended.

Faster Speeds
Mobile home internet technology has come a long way in recent years, and it now offers faster speeds than ever before. In some cases, mobile home internet can even outpace cable internet in terms of speed. This is particularly true in areas where cable internet infrastructure is outdated or overburdened. It is unquestionably faster for areas where DSL service is all that had been available. With mobile home internet, you can enjoy faster speeds without having to worry about the limitations of traditional cable internet.

Lower Costs
Mobile home internet plans are typically more affordable than cable internet plans. This is because mobile home internet providers don't have to invest in physical infrastructure, such as cables and wiring. As a result, they can offer their services at a lower cost. This can be particularly beneficial for people who are on a tight budget or don't want to pay for expensive cable internet plans.

No Data Caps
Many cable internet providers enforce data caps, which limit the amount of data you can use each month. This can be frustrating for people who use the internet frequently, such as gamers or people who work from home. Mobile home internet providers, on the other hand, typically don't enforce data caps. This means you can use the internet as much as you want without having to worry about extra fees or reduced speeds.

What are the downsides of mobile home internet? 
While mobile home internet has several advantages over cable internet, there are also some downsides to consider. Here are a few of the main ones:

Coverage Limitations
Mobile home internet relies on cellular networks, and the quality of the service can vary depending on where you're located. If you live in a rural area, for example, you may not be able to get a strong signal or any signal at all. This can be a significant limitation for people who rely on the internet for work or other essential tasks.

Network Congestion
Another potential downside of mobile home internet is network congestion. Because the service is delivered over cellular networks, the speed and quality of the connection can be affected by the number of people using the network in your area. During peak usage times, such as evenings or weekends, you may experience slower speeds or difficulty connecting to the internet.

Data Throttling
While mobile home internet typically doesn't enforce data caps, some providers may engage in data throttling. This means that after you've used a certain amount of data, your internet speed may be slowed down. This can be frustrating if you need to use the internet for streaming or other high-bandwidth activities.

Security Concerns
Because mobile home internet is wireless, it can be vulnerable to security breaches. Hackers may be able to access your internet connection and steal your personal information or infect your devices with malware. It's important to take steps to secure your connection, such as using a strong password and installing anti-virus software.

In conclusion, mobile home internet offers several advantages over cable internet, including flexibility, portability, easy setup, faster speeds, lower costs, and no data caps. While cable internet may still be a good choice for some people, mobile home internet is worth considering for those who value flexibility, affordability, and fast speeds. As technology continues to evolve, it's likely that mobile home internet will become an even more popular option for people who want to stay connected while on the go. Keep in mind that while mobile home internet has several advantages over cable internet, it also has some downsides to consider. Coverage limitations, network congestion, data throttling, device compatibility, and security concerns are all potential issues to keep in mind when choosing a home internet service. It's important to weigh the pros and cons of each option carefully to determine which one is best for your needs. Most providers like T-Mobile and Verizon offer free trials so what have you got to loose?

Glo Fiber in Colonial Heritage: I have Cox Cable Internet and TV so why should I switch to GloFiber Internet?

CH Tech Club - April 21, 2026 As many of you know, Glo Fiber will be available throughout all of Colonial Heritage in the coming months.  Bu...