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Northern Lights Fiber
Is Starlink Right for Rural Communities?

Is Starlink Right for Rural Communities?

Nov 30, 2022 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

Xpay.com, Tesla Inc., and SpaceX are just a few of Musk’s brainchildren, and the latter was founded in 2002 with the mind-boggling goal to colonize space. No matter how you may feel about him, you’ve certainly got to hand it to Musk: when it comes to ideas, the sky truly is the limit! This brings us to the matter at hand: In 2019, SpaceX announced its latest projects, one of which was Starlink. But what exactly is Starlink? And is it really everything it’s cracked up to be?

What Is Starlink?

Satellite internet technology has been around for decades. Internet connectivity is transmitted by radio waves emitted by satellites orbiting thousands of miles above the Earth’s atmosphere. Those radio waves are received by ground stations and then sent right into your home. Plenty of people already use satellites to connect their homes to the internet.

 

For example, one of the leading satellite internet providers, HughesNet, has satellites that sit 22,000 miles above the Earth. Starlink is also a satellite internet service, but the company is utilizing low-orbiting satellites that operate only 300 miles above the surface. This translates to improved internet speeds and reduced latency when compared to other satellite providers. Moreover, SpaceX plans to continue the launch of these satellites in the coming years. There will be as many as 40,000 new satellites arranged in what the corporation refers to as a ‘constellation.’

 

Satellite Internet Challenges

Getting Starlink in your home starts with a hefty investment right off the bat. The initial $760 fee gets you the satellite dish and the Wi-Fi router, and you can expect to pay $140 per month for internet services. That’ll get you 1TB of usage during the day, with overage fees of $0.32/GB (About $30 to download a newer game, or $5 to stream a movie!) Compare that to Canadian Fiber Optics $89.99 for a symmetrical 100Mbps, with unlimited usage, with options for free installation!

 

There also comes the obstacles of maintenance. We monitor our network consistently and have prepared our techs to be able to react to, and fix a large scale issue should it occur within only a few hours. If a satellite goes down leaving you in the dark with no network, it takes a little bit longer to get into orbit for repairs.

 

Choose Reliability and Scalability with Fiber

These days, reliable internet is more important than ever, especially for those living in rural areas. It helps keep us connected, employed, and entertained. Interrupted connectivity—even a short one—can make a world of difference for those who depend on it. Fiber is a buried infrastructure, meaning the weather won’t take away your reception, and it’s built to last. We’ve designed our network to work consistently, and scale with your communities’ needs. Our services currently scale to 10,000Mbps (that’s almost 1,000x faster than what many residents get today!) and is built to grow beyond that without extensive work and repairs. 

While Starlink will be a welcome option for customers who only have traditional satellite internet—or none at all—it simply can’t compare to the reliability, functionality, and future proofing of your community that a fiber network does.

For guaranteed fast, reliable, and affordable internet services, fiber from Canadian Fiber Optics and Northern Lights Fiber is the way to go.

Best Things to Do After Getting Fiber Internet

Best Things to Do After Getting Fiber Internet

Aug 18, 2022 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

You’ve Made the Change To Fiber Internet

So you’ve made the right choice, switched to Northern Lights Fiber’s high-speed fiber internet, and already experiencing faster downloads and improved reliability while you’re online.

You may be wondering about some of the best ways to enjoy your new fiber internet connection.

Well, there are several things you can do to make the most of Northern Lights Fiber’s fiber service and improve life in your home. Faster, more reliable internet opens doors to great entertainment, more efficiency, and even cost savings.

From getting rid of cable TV and enjoying streaming entertainment to living more efficiently through smart technology and staying better connected to loved ones, fiber internet provides a new world of convenience and amenities right in your home.

Below we discuss some ideas and suggestions to make your new fiber internet work for you!

Cancel Cable and Cut the Cord

Now that you’ve switched to fiber internet, you no longer need cable—or any additional devices, wiring, and clutter that takes up valuable space in your home. And you certainly don’t need its extra bills, either. So you can now cancel cable for good!

And we’re not just talking about canceling cable internet service, but cable television service, too. Many streaming services are available for watching your favorite shows and movies online, even live news and sports. And with fiber’s quality and dependability, you can enjoy streaming them as you did with cable TV.

Sign up for Streaming Services

Since your internet connection through fiber-optic technology is faster, more consistent, and more reliable than ever, it’s time to take advantage of streaming services and outstanding entertainment available to you.

Hulu keeps you up-to-date on your favorite shows, both current and classic, while Disney+ streams old Disney films and new entertainment hits.

You’ll be hard-pressed to exhaust the number of movies and TV shows available to stream today.         

You can select one of many live TV streaming apps available, too.

With a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, FUBU, or Sling TV, you can watch live television programs, real-time breaking news and analysis, and live sports and games.

Stream Music Anywhere in Your Home

Streaming entertainment includes more than just movies, TV shows and live sports.

 

Today’s technology lets you fill your home with music through streaming music apps such as Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Music. These apps let you create playlists of all kinds. Mix your personal “greatest hits list” from a particular artist, or select a playlist from a specific music genre, whether yours is rock, classical music, country, or all of the above!

These apps can also introduce you to new artists and songs you may have never heard. They also create lists of music the app “thinks” you may enjoy based on your prior selections and preferences. And you can ask these apps to shuffle songs from your favorite bands to listen to while you multitask!

Use Smart Devices and Set up a Smart Home

You’ve made the smart choice to switch to fiber internet—so why not use more smart devices?

“Smart devices,” even inexpensive gadgets like Amazon’s Echo Dot with Alexa, can really make your home more pleasant than before. For example, when you pair your Echo Dot to your Spotify account, you can say, “Alexa, play songs from The Eagles.” Before you know it, you’ll be living it up at the Hotel California!

But don’t stop with these smart devices!

You can make your entire home a “smart home” and far more efficient. For example, smart thermometers can monitor air temperature and even humidity in different rooms in your house.

They can also adjust their temperature based on times of the day and other conditions, saving you around 30% off of your energy bills, according to the EPA!

Also, consider smart lighting devices, which do more than save you money—they can also make your home’s atmosphere more appealing.

Use Video Conferencing Apps to Talk to Friends and Family

Having a phone conversation can be rewarding, but it cannot beat the joy of seeing a loved one’s face and smile.

With faster internet through fiber technology, you can experience more than just a person’s voice through conversation. Using apps like Zoom or FaceTime can make you feel like you’re in the same room with your friends and family. You can stay in touch and remain better connected no matter how far apart you may be.

The above suggestions and recommendations are just some of the many ways fiber internet makes life more convenient and fun. So try them out and keep exploring!

And for more helpful tips about how Northern Lights Fiber’s high-speed fiber internet can make your home more livable, follow our social pages or visit our website HERE!

Questions on Your Bill? Find Answers Here!

Questions on Your Bill? Find Answers Here!

Feb 1, 2022 | Our Communities, WI FI

Getting blazing fast internet is awesome and you’re sure to enjoy every single aspect of it, but there are often questions regarding the billing of services, how it works and where you pay. This article will address and answer the most common questions we receive regarding your billing. 

How will my first bill look and what are the charges for?  

On your first bill you will see a charge for your modem and a charge for installation, immediately below each of these charges you will see a credit for the equal amount. It is important to note that if you did not sign-up for our pre-installation promotion before September 1st then you may not see an installation credit. 

All billing is conducted on the first of every month, no matter when you sign up for service and receive installation. We will prorate your bill to account for these fluctuations is usage before your first official bill. What this means is your first monthly bill will include a charge for the days between your installation and when you receive for bill. For example, if your service is installed on the 15th of the month, you next bill will include 15 days of service on top of your first monthly charges to cover that time – It is completely normal to see a slightly higher number on your first bill as It reflects this period of usage. 

How do I set up my billing? 

Below you’ll find important Information about navigating the basic functions of our customer portal as well as the step-by-step process for adding your preferred payment method. You can choose a direct withdrawal from your bank account, or you can make payments via credit card, autopay is optional and recommended to maintain consistent payments when paying by credit card. 

If you have any further questions or require a customer service representative to assist you with your bill, please call    587-332-6880 

Contact us to see if your home is in our active zone to get rural Alberta’s fastest internet in Wembley! If you’re not in our current zone for construction, you can still sign up and have your home pre-registered for installation for zero up front cost!

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What is ProtectIQ?

What is ProtectIQ?

Jun 18, 2021 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

What exactly is it?

Northern Lights Fiber is committed to providing the safest browsing and connectivity possible. We achieve this through our ProtectIQ software in the Northern Wifi App. ProtectIQ is a network-level security service which protects ALL devices connected to your Wi-Fi. If it’s connected, it’s protected!

What does ProtectIQ do to keep my home network safe?

  • Proactively monitors your home’s incoming traffic and automatically blocks anything suspicious.
  • Blocks attempted visits to known harmful websites, presenting users with a browser message indicating that the website is not available.
  • Provide an active security monitoring service that uses a large and constantly growing database of threats (database is updated weekly).
  • Uses IPS to monitor, notify, and prevent activity like hacking. It will stop a device from trying to gain access to technology like Wi-Fi connected doorbells or baby monitors, virtual meetings, and streams.
  • Actively terminates data transfers before a malicious payload is delivered to any network device.
  • Notifies users whenever security is triggered, with details about the device that was attacked, where the attack came from, and when the attack occurred.

Northern Lights Fiber is commited to providing its customers with the safest, fastest and most reliable connections possible. ProtectIQ is just one more way that we strive to provide a world class experience to our customers. By providing ProtectIQ as a service we ensure safety and security for everyone using their in-home network. Sign up with Northern lights Fiber now and download the Northern WiFi App so you can enjoy premium, managed WiFi today!

 

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What is ExperienceIQ?

What is ExperienceIQ?

Jun 17, 2021 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

What exactly is it?

ExperienceIQ is a service that protects children or grandchildren from harmful or inappropriate content, limits screen time on devices or applications, and displays online usage through our enhanced parental control app.

How is this going to benefit my family?

  • Block inappropriate categories like pornography or violence
  • Block applications that you deem inappropriate (e.g. gaming applications like Call of Duty, or social applications like Snapchat
  • Set time limits for specific applications, like TikTok to cap screen time
  • Set Safe Search and YouTube Restriction to block harmful or inappropriate content with searching on Google, Bind or YouTube. YouTube restrictions also
    blocks all comments on videos which often include inappropriate language.
  • View usage for all devices to better understand HOW the internet is being used in your home.
  • Prioritize application groups or specific devices to ensure the best possible experiences for your most important needs.
  • Set schedules so that work applications get priority during the day, and streaming applications get priority in the evening.

 

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What is Northern WiFi?

What is Northern WiFi?

Jun 16, 2021 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

Northern WiFi is an app that allows you to have absolute control over your homes network, commonly referred to as managed WiFi. With the Northern WiFi app you have a vast array of controls, personalizations and safety measures to customize your network to work best for how you like to connect.

Core Functions

  • Change or reset your Wi-Fi network name or
    password directly from the app
  • See the devices currently using your Wi-Fi
  • Categorize your devices (e.g. personal devices,
    work devices, mobile devices, gaming devices.)
    Pause the internet for any device, at any time.
  • Run a speed test (GigaSpire only) to verify the speed you are getting is the speed you are paying for.
  • Receive updates about any planned network
    maintenance, or upcoming community events

Advanced features

  • Create routines for scheduled downtime
    (i.e. bedtime or limited access to gaming devices during school time).
  • Create a temporary or shareable guest network
    without sharing your main network name and
    password. Great for house gussets, visitors,
    babysitters, house sitters, or pet sitters. Text the guest network login information directly from the app.
Why Upload Speed Matters

Why Upload Speed Matters

Nov 15, 2019 | Why Fiber Optics?, WI FI

The future of the internet is sharing―from capturing Instagram-worthy meals to enjoying video chats with friends―and PRTC’s unmatched upload speeds make that future a reality. 

Here are a just few ways Norther Lights Fiber fast, reliable upload speeds make your life easier:

Video chat and live sharing

Skype, FaceTime, and other video messaging services all require robust upstream connections to ensure clear audiovisual quality and to prevent freezing and blackouts. Sharing big news on Facebook or Instagram Live also works better with greater upload speed.

Working or going to school from home

You need a robust upstream connection to interact with colleagues during video conferences, collaborate on team projects, and share important files. Online studies also can tax your upstream connection, especially if you join a virtual classroom or share large portfolios. 

Keeping family, friends, and followers in the loop

Upload new videos to YouTube or share photographs with Flickr faster with a better upstream connection. 

Faster data backups and online file synching 

If you back up your data with a service like Backblaze or Carbonite, you need upload speed that meets basic requirements to ensure your data is protected quickly and without glitches. File and photo synching services like Dropbox, Google Photos, and Microsoft OneDrive all require a minimum of 5 Mbps upload speed to operate properly, and the more upload capacity available, the faster these services can sync and share files.

Online gaming, remote security and much more…

From online gaming to connected security systems that send real-time images through an internet connection, a fast upload connection is key to ensuring all your interactive online activities function well.