Mid Century Fiber

                  Symmetrical speed is when your download and upload speeds are the same. This is important for many online activities that require uploading such as live-streaming, video chat, or have cloud-based technology like wireless smart home security cameras. If you’ve ever tried to sit through a class or business meeting and been met with a glitchy, pixelated experience, or had to wait for a batch of files and pictures to be uploaded to social media, your upload speed was likely to blame.                Pay attention to the next cable internet advertisement you see, unlike fiber, you’ll notice that they usually advertise only the download speed, which is for receiving data, not sending. That number may look appealing, but it’s only half of the story. Their upload speed is likely a tiny fraction of their download (around 10%), which will impact your customer exper...

  Wintertime presents technical challenges to fiber installation, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get fast, reliable internet so you can spend more time streaming, working from home, or catching up on social media all while getting away from traditional cable and satellite internet providers. Temporary drops, or “temp drops” for short are a solution  we can use while we wait for better weather condition. What is a temporary drop? During the year the ground may be frozen or too wet to bury a fiber line in the ground. During the winter months the soil is frozen, making it too hard to dig, and generally will take consistently moderate temperatures several weeks to thaw out, one or two “good” days just isn’t enough. The thawing of the ground presents its own challenges, as snow and ice melt or several days of rain contribute to an over saturation of water in the ground that limits our ability to bury a fiber line safely and effectively. Do I qualify for a temporary dr...

If you’re a business owner, big or small, you have to ask yourself: what do you value in your company? Hard workers? Reliability? Adaptability? Communication? At Mid Century Fiber, those things matter to us too. That’s why we make sure that we provide the best service possible, with these qualities in mind, to entrepreneurs like yourself. Speed & Strength No, fiber technology is no Superman, but it’s pretty darn close. Fiber-optic internet has super fast connection speeds, with options available that range from 5 Mbps to 100 Gbps. This is the kind of internet that you need to support the fast happenings within your business. The connection with fiber technology is strong, making for quality work time without the hassle of wanting to throw your computer at the wall. Reliability Because the connection is so fast and strong, it means that you can also rely on fiber-optic technology to be there when you need it most. It comes down to fiber being a stronger element than ...

If you’re experiencing spotty wifi connection in your home, and notice slower performance or disconnection from wifi, there may be some ways you can easily minimize it. The first thing you need to do is recognize the interference. If you notice one of the following, you should check for interference: Low signal strength in the wifi menu A slower connection to the internet when using your wifi connection Slower file transfers between computers over wifi Inability to pair a bluetooth device like a Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad or Apple Wireless Keyboard Erratic or “jumpy” pointer movement when using at Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad Intermittent “connection lost” messages when using a bluetooth device While dealing with poor wifi connection is annoying, there are things that are commonly found in your home that can interfere with your wifi networks and bluetooth devices if they are nearby. You can check for the following items: Microwave Ovens: using you...

Picture it now: hitting the keys hard on your keyboard as you wait impatiently for your internet to perform like you were promised. But here it is slow as ever, and you’re one step closer to throwing your laptop at the wall. Before you make any irrational decisions, it may not be your broadband connection. Check these hardware hacks to see if there is something else slowing down your computer. Run an Online Speed Test Before you do anything, run an online speed test to confirm where the problem is coming from. If the speed turns out what it’s supposed to be, that means that something on your computer’s hard drive could be the problem. If something isn’t looking right, call your internet provider and investigate further. Check for Spyware and Viruses These pesky problems are the worst, but not impossible to get rid of. Spyware are invisible programs that can take resources away on your computer. They can be removed to free up your resources. You could also have some virus...

You’ve finally done it- fiber technology has been installed in your home, and you’re ready to have a great experience surfing the web. And yet, you may still be experiencing slow speeds. Before you throw your computer out the window, your devices might not be fiber-ready, which can be an easy fix. Run a Speed Test The first thing you should do is run a speed test with a provider that can utilize your connection. Currently, there are few speed test servers capable of testing gigabit speeds. Thankfully, you can use ours by using the link here or search online for others. A key piece of information is to make sure no other devices are downloading or streaming during the test. Remember, if you’re testing using a wi-fi device, your speed is automatically decreased. Verify Your Network Adapter If you’re still not seeing gigabit speeds, you should verify that your network adapter is connected at 1 Gbps: 1. Find your network connection in the lower right screen next to the cl...

If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that the world of technology is fast-paced, ever-changing, and sometimes hard to keep up with. At Mid Century Fiber, we believe in the power of technology and its use for good, which is why we believe it’s important for everyone to implement some sort of technology software into their personal or professional life. But how do you stay up-to-date with the latest equipment and software? How do you know what you need? We have three tips to point you in the right direction! Address Your Needs & Do Your Research We get it- it’s extremely intimidating going on the internet not knowing what to look for. First and foremost, ask yourself what your needs are, what is in your price range, and what your ultimate end goal is. With the all resources out there, it can be a challenge to find what you’re looking for between all the ads, links, and images. We find that starting basic research on trusted resources like Flipboard is ...

September marks the first full month of being back at school and diving head first into learning. While some kids have no problem making this transition, others struggle with saying goodbye to the carefree days of summertime. Luckily, teachers are now implementing more creative and innovative ways to engage their students with technology. Here are three ways they’re getting them to log in and stay engaged! More Coursework Online Today, with so much of our world being digitized, educators are moving farther away from lecturing and more towards finding ways to collaborate with their students in and out of the classroom. Many schools now implement online databases for students to turn in their homework, access readings for class, take online quizzes, and have forum discussions. Not only does this teach them how to efficiently use a computer, but it also teaches them responsibility, online etiquette, and to think critically before they write and publish anything to the internet. ...

The weather is cooling, the alarms are set, and the textbooks are opening. As we prepare to go back to school, the internet now offers hundreds of helpful resources for kids, teens, and college students to be successful and make the most of their learning experiences. Here are some helpful links and resources that we’ve found that are sure to help students succeed and learn online! Organization Today, there are hundreds of resources online that can help not only students, but also adults stay organized with their information and schedules to utilize their time efficiently. Google Calendar is the most common calendar application used, along with organizational charts from SmartDraw that are extremely helpful. Another great resource to use is called Padlet , which acts in a way for students to personalize and organize their notes in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Infographic Creation Because we live in the digital age, the ability to create a visual that is stimulatin...

Hollywood has been making films for decades predicting what the future will look like in regards to our relationship with technology. Whether it’s having robots as maids, a smart home that wants to become part of the family, or a computer system that takes over the world, there’s usually a negative connotation in regards to the growing power of what technology can do. However, the year 2017 may be the year that it all changes. Home automation, which is the ability to control items around the house with a push of a button or voice command, is in the future - it’s a matter of educating society on how we can benefit from all the technological advances. Save Time Currently, there are a plethora of products on the market that, if installed into your home, could make life ten times easier for you and your family. From security systems to controlling your heating and cooling system, we now hold the capability of controlling our home in the palm of our hand - quite literally. Havi...

Fiber technology is one of the best ways to experience watching your favorite shows and movies, listening to your music, and downloading documents at a pace that keeps up with your busy schedule. It’s the next big up-and-coming resource that is going to take the world by storm. So, how do you get it? How do you implement fiber technology into your neighborhood?    Mid Century Fiber is here to help.  Gather Interest In order to begin our work, Mid Century Fiber takes time to connect with different communities in the area to gather interest. A certain amount of people must express an interest in being a part of a fiberhood before any steps are taken. Our goal is to have at least 35% of your neighborhood expressing interest.      2. Sign-Up Once we hit our interest goal, we then begin the sign-up phase. That same 35% of the neighborhood, and hopefully more, must then officially sign-up to be a part of the fiberhood. The more people we have sign...

When it comes to the internet, everything is all about fast, stress-free connection. If you’re a small business owner, having a reliable internet connection can be crucial for running your business successfully. Fortunately, with fiber technology that goes up to 1 gig internet speed, there are several benefits that help with a running a small business. Faster Downloads Whether you’re a one-man show working out of your home or part of a small team, having access to reliable, quality internet is a huge factor when it comes it comes to running a successful business. With the majority of banking, processing, ordering, and communication happening via Internet, you need internet that can keep up with the fast-paced environment of a small business. Having the ability have faster downloads and uploads keeps you on track and is one less thing for you to worry about.  Cheaper Prices We understand that as a small business owner, being smart with your money is vital. Nowadays...

In 2016, there were over 3 billion Internet users online at any given time. As that number has increased year after year, so has the demand for fast, reliable internet. Fiber technology is a new and improved way to enjoy the knowledge and fun the internet has to offer. Here the are top four things you can do better with Fiber Technology: Streaming Are you an avid Netflix user? Or maybe it’s Amazon Prime, Hulu, or HBO Now. If you have any subscriptions to the these companies, fiber technology can help you save money and keep your favorite shows and movies going nonstop with minimal interruptions. Gaming Are you sick of glitchy internet that keeps you from winning your games? With fiber technology, our different speed and bandwidth options provide you with services that can make a gamer’s dream come true. With a better internet connection comes better communication with fellow players and ultimately a greater gaming experience. Schooling It’s the worst when your internet do...

Over the past several years, we have seen plenty of attention given to the home of the future – or the Smart Home. What once was a crazy sci-fi fantasy has now entered the mainstream of our everyday lives. Homeowners are now able to communicate remotely with various home systems through their computer, tablet, or smartphone.  As fiber cable providers , we are often asked what applications within the Smart Home require fiber technology. This new technology called Fiber to the Home (FTTH) provides the homeowner substantially higher bandwidth capacity and increased speed.  But why does it matter for the Smart Home?  Defining Smart Home Technology A Smart Home uses fiber technology and connectivity to monitor various home functions. They provide the homeowner with detailed information regarding what is happening inside the home. Some of these home processes might include: Home automation –  This technology enables the homeowner to control various appliances (i.e...

More and more people are shopping online for their holiday purchases.For the most part, shopping online is very secure and you don’t have to feel too concerned. However, if you’re not careful, there is a chance of having your account compromised. Here are 5 helpful tips to keep you safe as you shop from the comfort of your own home. 1. Use a credit card for online purchases . Try and use a credit card, rather than a debit card. When money is spent on a debit card it's gone immediately, and it can be very hard to get it back. If you select credit, and there is a problem you can dispute the charges. 2. Choose trusted retailers.  Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company. Big retailers are most likely to have strong security. Shop with the same retailers if you can. This means fewer retailers have your information on file. It also means that you're giving your information to a company...

Selecting the appropriate internet plan for you family is a balance between what your budget allows and how much speed and bandwidth you need. These factors will vary depending not only on your budget, but on how you plan to use your internet connection. It’s important to have the right internet plan so that you and your family get the most enjoyment and ease out of your online experience. ●      Determine how you use the internet. If you just use it for occasional web surfing and email, you most likely can get away with having a lower speed. For gamers and those who download a lot of music and videos, stream videos, or use internet TV services such as Netflix, a higher speed makes a big difference in the ease of downloading and streaming, and minimizing buffering problems. ●      Determine how many devices will be using it. Shared internet, especially when multiple devices will be using it simultaneously, requires more speed and bandwidt...