If you’re like most people, you commonly use the terms “Wi-Fi” and “Internet” interchangeably. Actually, Wi-Fi and the internet are two separate things that work together.
Think of it this way…The Internet is the data, or the vehicle. Wi-Fi is a wireless network technology that sends this data via internet connections – the highway – through the air to wide area networks and on to non-wired computers.
Wi-Fi allows devices such as your mobile phone, tablets, TVs and other wireless devices to connect to communicate the same way as when network cables are used, just without the actual cables. A Wi-Fi network is basically a wireless local network.
Slower speed on Wi-Fi doesn’t mean there is something wrong with your internet. In fact, slower Wi-Fi speed is pretty much inevitable, since wireless technology uses Radio Frequency or RF waves to send data, and these waves ALWAYS degrade over distance – it’s just a matter of physics.
Wi-Fi connections are more prone to interference, signal loss and degradation, which all increase over distance. These factors can reduce the speeds you can extract out of your internet service when using Wi-Fi.
So what can you do to optimize your Wi-Fi?
- Try a quick reset of your router and devices.
- If possible, move around to reduce interference from devices (microwaves) and obstacles (concrete floors and walls) and to be closer to your Nokia Gateway.
- Reduce network traffic (the number of users and/or devices) to increase Wi-Fi speeds.
- Ensure that your devices are capable of the desired speeds and that the operating systems on those devices are up to date.
- Consider switching to a wired connection for maximum speed. You’ll be able to extract the maximum possible out of your internet package if you plug into your router; it’s much harder to do that on wireless, especially the further you move from your router.
- Call Trailblazer’s 24 x 7 Tech Support at 970-577-3770 to diagnose any issues that could be impacting your Wi-Fi speeds.
Summer is here and so are our seasonal neighbors, friends and visitors. More people means more events, more business, and yes, more traffic – even on the internet. Now that Trailblazer Broadband has completed the build-out of more than half of its fiber infrastructure, Trailblazer clients will have significantly better summer experience than in the past.
Here’s how:
Better bandwidth in the fiber optic network means less slowing when more people are using the internet simultaneously.
Trailblazer’s three – yes 3! – redundant fiber paths out of town mean service continuity with far less chance of service interruptions.
Trailblazer is the only local option for internet with symmetrical speed of up to 1 GIG (1,000 Mbps) for downloads AND uploads with no data caps. Most alternatives only offer around 20 Mbps for uploads as part of “1 GIG” service.
Why does it matter? Upload speeds are critical to anything where you are SENDING rather than RECEIVING information over the internet, such as
- Video calls (FaceTime with the grandkids, anyone?),
- Backing up files to the Cloud
- Uploading vacation and wedding photos to social media for friends and family
Yes, we’re tooting our own horn a bit, but we know that when you’re in Estes Park, you want to spend as much time enjoying the beauty and fun of the outdoors, not sitting behind a computer screen. We’re here to make that happen!
By the time fiber optic cable reaches your home and your Trailblazer service is connected, a lot of work has been done, and a lot of fiber has been run. The state-of-the-art fiber infrastructure of Trailblazer Broadband requires an expansive network spread from 4 centralized “huts” to 55 strategically located cabinets and then to thousands of terminals across our valley.
Over 160 miles of fiber optic cable have been run since construction started in Sept 2019.
As with electrical lines, main fiber lines may run overhead or be buried underground, depending on your location. When running fiber underground, we typically follow existing easements which is why we may have to “cut through” a sidewalk or parking lot rather than going around it.
Crews utilize the least invasive trenching methods. Trenches will be filled when work is complete, results vary depending on the location and material. In asphalt, trenches are sealed with high-quality replacement product rated for highways and airport runways.
The fiber network buildout not only provides faster, more reliable internet to the community, but also works in conjunction with Estes Park Power and Communications’ SmartGrid project to help the community reach its renewable energy goals.
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