Let’s continue our road trip learning about the internet, technology, and ways for you to have a better experience and faster internet.

Many internet providers try to use gimmicks to entice people to switch to their service. Do you know what to look for and where to find them? Steuben County REMC wants to make sure our members understand the difference in for-profit advertising and how tech terminology can be used trick people. 

See below for some of the gimmicks.

We will examine and explain some common and hopefully easy ways to help you diagnose and maximize your internet’s potential. Even with broadband fiber internet, factors beyond your router may cause moments of slower internet speeds. 

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At the close of 2023, Steuben County REMC Broadband Internet successfully completed its fiber network. Presently, we offer unparalleled access to high-speed internet in rural areas. 

Have you ever connected to Wi-Fi and noticed it was painfully slow, only to switch to another device on the same network and find the speed dramatically better? This difference in speed can often be attributed to the Wi-Fi card in each device. The Wi-Fi card is the final component in a long equipment chain that determines your internet speed. Older Wi-Fi cards use outdated technology, which can result in slower speeds. For example, if you have a 500 Mbps internet plan but your Wi-Fi card can only handle 50 Mbps, you will only experience 50 Mbps on that device.

The residents of Steuben County drive on all kinds of roads, from barely more than single-lane dirt roads to the four-lane I-69. Our county’s internet highways have received an upgrade, like some of our roads, over the years. These road types are similar to the different internet technologies available, ranging from dial-up to broadband fiber. 

This month, we continue the Breaking Down the Terminology series. Last month, we discussed internet bandwidth (the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a network connection within a specified time frame) being similar to the number of lanes on a highway and internet speed (the rate at which data is transferred) being like the speed limit sign.

Internet bandwidth
Internet bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a network connection within a specified time frame. Typically measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or gigabits per second (Gbps), it is crucial to determine how efficiently data can flow through a network.