Miscellaneous
Can I share my Internet service by broadcasting Wi-Fi to my neighbors?
What does gigabit speed let me do?
Are our connection speeds guaranteed?
How reliable is our fiber network?
What is Becket Broadband's approach to Net Neutrality?
What is a static IP address, and can I get one?
Will I have to change my email address? What is the best way to manage my old email address?
How can my family and I get new email addresses?
What are my options for antivirus and protection from other types of malware?
Can I share my Internet service by broadcasting Wi-Fi to my neighbors?
We certainly hope you’ll encourage your neighbors to sign up for their own service; but, no, sharing Wi-Fi outside of your household and its on-premises guests is a violation of the acceptable terms of use.
Our Gigabit Home Internet Service offers up to 1,000 megabits per second for both upload and download, about half that speed if using Wi-Fi (wireless connections). With gigabit broadband you will always get the best speeds when your computer or other device is using a wired connection: an Ethernet cable connected to your Whip-City-Fiber-provided router.
Our Economy Internet Service offers up to 25 megabits per second for both upload and download, which meets the federal standard for broadband and may be adequate for some people, currently; but we expect that as high-definition video and other Internet services requiring high bandwidth become more common, a gigabit connection will be very useful—and at some point, perhaps, indispensable.
What does gigabit speed let me do?
Many customers are taking advantage of resources which require higher connection speeds, including Ultra High-Definition television (UHD), HD video calls, and multi-camera remote home monitoring. Even video streaming services like Netflix, Youtube TV, and Amazon Prime can benefit. Gigabit Internet allows customers to enjoy these various services in higher quality and without glitches or buffering.
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Are our connection speeds guaranteed?
No. But...
Our fiber network supports gigabit bandwidth. If subscribing to our Gigabit Home Internet service, you can expect up to 1,000 Mbps for both upload and download. A wired speed test should report around 960 Mbps, and a wireless (Wi-Fi) test as much as 450 Mbps.
Economy Internet customers can expect to receive close to 25 Mbps up and down, even over Wi-Fi, depending on several factors.
Your actual speeds will be affected by the age and speed of your devices, the software you are using, the quality of your Wi-Fi connection (if applicable), the server of the site you are visiting, and the overall volume of Internet and local traffic at any given moment. Wi-Fi connection quality depends primarily on physical barriers (walls, floors, etc.).
As usage increases in the future, the town can add more capacity to our network without having to run new cables.
Technical support is available at 1-833-923-9378 if you have any concerns about the speeds you are getting.
How reliable is our fiber network?
Our fiber optic network is designed with reliability in mind. By design, the signal path that provides your service contains only a limited number of components that might break. That said, as with any outdoor facility, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature. While fiber optic cabling is stronger than other wires that are run on a utility pole, it is still subject to some risk. If there is a problem, Whip City Fiber has dedicated repair teams standing by. Our goal is 99.99% uptime.
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What is Net Neutrality?
Net Neutrality means that content from one website has the same access priority (not higher, not lower) than content from any other website. Some Internet providers want to prioritize their own content at the expense of other sites.
What is Becket Broadband's approach to Net Neutrality?
Becket Broadband has adopted a policy of Net Neutrality. No Internet content will be prioritized differently than any other content in terms of subscriber access.
What is a static IP address, and can I get one?
Your IP address designates your modem’s unique identity on the Internet. By default this address may change over time. A static IP address is an IP address that remains unchanged. This can be useful for small businesses that have web servers and other Internet resources that they publish from Becket.
Whip City Fiber can assign you a static IP address for a small additional monthly fee. Please contact Customer Service at 1-833-991-9378 to set this up.
Will I have to change my email address? What is the best way to manage my old email address?
In most cases you’ll be able to keep your current email address(es), and you can continue using and managing email as you are now, with no changes at all. If you have a Gmail or other “forever” email address (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.) you’ll continue to receive your email at this address. If your email is through your previous Internet service provider, you may be able to keep that, too, without continuing to pay for their service (if you’re currently paying a fee). You will need to contact them directly to be certain.
How can my family and I get new email addresses?
We recommend using a free service like Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook (you can find several other reputable, free email services if you do an online search). But if you prefer, the Whip City Fiber Tech Team can set up email accounts for you. Just give them a call at 1-833-923-9378.
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What are my options for antivirus and protection from other types of malware?
Neither Whip City Fiber nor Becket Broadband provide any kind of security for your devices, so you are solely responsible for protecting your devices from external threats. While some find the measures built into their computer's operating system to be sufficient, we suggest that some type of robust antivirus/antimalware software be active on your computers, laptops, and tablets. One reputable, free option is available at www.avast.com.
Questions? Email the Whip City Tech Team at techsupport@wiredwestfiber.net or give them a call at 1-833-923-9378.