FAQ: Services
What services does Becket Broadband offer?
Becket Broadband offers two primary services over our town-owned fiber-optic network:
- Broadband Internet access
- Digital telephone service
Tell me about high-speed Internet.
There are two Internet connection speed options:
- 25 Mbps (megabits per second)
- Gigabit (1000 Mbps)
For current pricing information, please see our Pricing page.
25 Mbps meets the minimum requirements of the FCC’s definition of broadband and is suitable for most basic tasks (email, web browsing, basic video streaming).
Gigabit service provides for faster file uploads and downloads as well as other activities like high-resolution video streaming—and is quickly becoming the standard connection speed across the globe.
Do you offer Wi-Fi?
A Wi-Fi router is included with your residential Internet service to provide wireless access for computers, tablets, smartphones, gaming systems, and other devices in your home. You should expect speeds over your Wi-Fi connection to be as fast as 450 Mbps or so for a Gigabit subscription, and close to 25 Mbps for a 25 Mbps subscription.
Tell me about the Digital Phone Service.
WiredWest offers Digital Phone Service, which in use is just like that of a traditional telephone. This technology connects phone calls over the Internet, rather than using traditional copper wiring. Digital Phone Service includes free long-distance calling in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; 911 service; call blocking; voicemail and more. Digital Phone Service is available both bundled with broadband Internet service and as a stand-alone service.
Digital telephone service may not be appropriate for use with medical devices or alarm systems.
As with broadband Internet service, digital telephone service will not be available during power outages unless you have installed a battery backup (uninterruptible power supply) or other backup system.
Can I keep my current phone number if I switch to WiredWest’s phone service?
Yes. Digital Phone Service includes the option to transfer your current phone number to your new service. If you do wish to retain your current phone number, it is critical that your telephone service remain active with your current provider until you are notified by Whip City Fiber that your number has been successfully transferred to your new Digital Phone Service. If you cancel your existing phone service before the transfer has occurred, you will lose your current phone number forever.
Will I have to keep my Verizon service to get Becket Broadband’s service?
No. Becket Broadband’s service will be delivered on a separate, fiber line. You can either keep your Verizon service or replace it with our fiber service. You could even have both. Verizon’s and Becket Broadband’s Internet and phone services are completely independent.
Can I continue to use my existing phone or fax machine with the Digital Phone Service?
In most cases you can simply plug in your existing devices just as you did with your landline and have no issues. There may be some older units that are not compatible with our newer technology for technical reasons, but most anything produced in recent decades should be fine. You do not need to use the special filters that are used on DSL landlines, either.
For helpful information on how to use a fax machine with your Digital Phone Service, visit https://support.ooma.com/home/faxing-with-ooma/.
Will TV service be offered?
Offering cable- or satellite-style TV service over our network would be prohibitively expensive. The good news is that with all the TV and movie content being offered over the Internet through free or subscription services, many have found that there is no need for separate cable or satellite service. In fact we expect the volume of available content to continue to increase.
What is Streaming?
Streaming is the continuous transmission of data and video. When you listen to the radio or receive TV signals over the air with a TV antenna or from a satellite dish, the signal that you receive is being streamed to you. These days streaming transmissions are also sent over the Internet. We expect Internet streaming to become the predominant media content delivery method in the near future—if it hasn’t already.
So… how can I watch TV over my Becket Broadband fiber connection?
Using any of several available streaming services, you could save hundreds of dollars a year by “cutting the cord” and transitioning from satellite TV to online streaming video, sometimes called OTT (over-the-top) media service.
You can watch on-demand programs and movies—even live television—without additional hardware on a computer, tablet, smartphone, or Smart TV. Smart TVs are newer TVs that have Internet access through your router via Ethernet (wired) or Wi-Fi (wireless) built-in. There are also third-party devices (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon FireStick, Google Chromecast, Nvidia Shield) that will allow you to watch streaming content from the Internet on a normal, “non-smart” TV. You can even stream using a gaming console such as Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, or Nintendo Wii connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Many local channels are available through streaming service providers. Refer to each service’s website to review availability. The website suppose.tv/tv allows you to search for the best available packages that include your choice of channels. These streaming packages are usually much less expensive than equivalent satellite or cable TV packages.
One highly regarded option is YouTube TV, which has all the local channels, including NESN (New England Sports Network): tv.youtube.com/welcome. There are many others, of course.
Some streaming services are free, and many paid services offer a free trial period so that you can see if they’re to your liking before you commit. For more information and options visit wiredwest.net/for-customers/can-i-get-tv.
Depending on your location and elevation you may also be able to receive several local broadcast TV channels over the air for free with an HD digital antenna. Signal strength will vary depending on your home’s geographic specifics and installed antenna height above ground.
We encourage you to do some research, decide on your preferred approach, and complete your initial streaming setup before your WiredWest installation so that they can best assist you in getting things going right away.
Can I view all of the same content over the Internet that I currently watch using my satellite dish?
Yes, in many cases. For example, Dish offers Dish Anywhere, and DirectTV has a downloadable app, to view their programming on any device.
However, with a fast Internet connection, you aren’t tied to subscribing to a satellite television provider. Much of the same content is available through Internet streaming services, so you can pick and choose to create the television experience that you want, often at a substantial savings.
For more information and options visit wiredwest.net/for-customers/can-i-get-tv.
I could use some more guidance around streaming. Do you have additional resources?
Certainly. Download our streaming step-by-step PDF for a quick overview. And visit the Whip City Fiber Cut the Cord page for all kinds of streaming information including a comprehensive beginner’s guide and how-to video.
Still not feeling too tech savvy? The Whip City Tech Team can help you out if you get stuck. Call them at 1-833-923-9378.
Once COVID-19-related social distancing practices are relaxed, Whip City Fiber will return to holding regular workshops to help you with your transition to streaming. In the meantime, keep your eyes on the Becket Broadband Home and Events pages for the announcement of online introduction and orientation events. We’ll also notify email subscribers, so be sure to subscribe to email updates on our home page for earliest notification.
How can I check viability and options for receiving broadcast TV at my home’s location?
You can check your potential signal strength and receivable TV channels at https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/dtvmaps. Enter your home’s full address and click “Go!” to see a list of your potentially receivable TV stations in order of estimated signal strength. Scroll down to the topographical map to check the location pin for accuracy. If necessary, using the zoom feature, drag the location pin to your home’s exact location. For the best accuracy, if you zoom in sufficiently, you may see your home’s outline. After relocating the pin (if necessary), scroll back up to see the results.
There are similar tools at http://www.tvfool.com and elsewhere. Using several such tools may help you get the best practical outlook for broadcast TV reception for your home.
Digital antennas range in price from $10 to $150, depending upon how many channels you hope to receive. You can purchase them at department stores or online. As you may suspect there’s plenty of digital TV antenna information to be found online, like here:
https://www.techhive.com/article/3214772/which-tv-antenna-should-i-buy.html.
Can I get help setting up a connection to my TV and other devices?
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