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Opening Word
For over two decades now, the internet has become something people have grown extremely dependent on for all aspects of life. From leisure and pastime activities and finding needed information, to working and studying, the internet is an integral part of our everyday lives for a very simple reason: it has everything to offer for little in return. A service with so much potential was once deemed unimaginable and too much on the sci-fi end of the spectrum. Since the turn of the millennium, however, it has become our reality.
Alongside the internet, people are still also drawn to their television for news and entertainment. A TV is still the centerpiece of billions of homes worldwide, a device living room furniture is pointed towards even if the family members do not often watch it. Modern TVs also have multiple exciting and nifty features including internet support, meaning one can connect the two most important technological features in a home for even more options.
Because of this, the internet and TV service providers have come up with clever solutions for customers who need the internet and television in their homes. Virtually all providers offer packages that combine various internet features and speeds with different TV channel sets to suit different customers. In such a market, however, it could prove difficult for an average user to determine what kind of package is best for their home. With this problem as the topic of the article, we will try to help those who are not sure how to choose the best internet and TV combo. Read on to find out, and to learn even more make sure to visit buytvinternetphone.com.
Choosing the Best Package
Following is the list of things you have to think about while browsing through the catalog of different internet and TV packages and deals. All of them are important in some way, so depending on your situation you should lean towards those that will make the difference.
1. Internet Speed
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By far the most important feature of any kind of package for the majority of customers is internet speed. Depending on what you will predominantly be using the internet for, you should opt for slower, average, or faster internet speeds. The speed of the internet is measured in Mbps, short for megabits per second. Two speeds exist and are listed next to every package description. The first is the download speed, which shows how fast you will be taking files onto your device from the internet. The second is the upload speed, which measures how quickly you can put the files onto the web. Download speed is usually 10 times faster than upload speed.
For general surfing on the internet, for sending and receiving emails, and for social media, the internet speed you should aim for is 1 Mbps. If you want to play video games online, you should aim somewhere between 1 and 3 Mbps, but here it is also important how long it takes your PC to talk to the game server (latency, affected geographically). In case you attend multiple video conferences throughout your workweek, a speed of 1 to 4 Mbps is necessary, with an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps. Moving onto video streaming, for standard definitions, users usually have between 3 to 4 Mbps, while those who prefer high-definition streaming have to upgrade to anywhere between 5 to 8 Mbps. Finally, if you require frequent downloading of large files, you will need 50 Mbps or more. Remember that these are all considered minimal speeds to optimally complete the mentioned tasks. A general rule of thumb is to always aim for slightly faster internet than you actually need.
2. Providers and Options in your Area
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Not all areas get equal opportunities when internet speed and TV access is considered. Unfortunately, some parts of towns and cities, and especially villages in the countryside are not as covered as the rest. Therefore, a certain provider might have limited options for that particular region or no solutions at all. Sadly then, the people living there have much fewer possibilities to use fast internet speeds and multiple digital channels, or they have to pay more for the same services because of the lack of infrastructure around their home.
If this is something that often happens where you live, it is crucial for you to determine what your options are and what you can get from different internet providers. Chances are they know full well about the limitations in existence wherever they operate, so they will probably suggest the best solutions they can offer you.
3. Evaluating your Options
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Now that you have determined the internet speed and the amount and type of channels you want, and double-checked if you can have it in your area, it is time to evaluate if the provider and their package is the right option. First of all, you should know how service providers offer the internet and TV access. Most notably, they utilize bundles with a wide variety of combinations. Sometimes, there is even a phone feature included in a sort of trio package deal, while at other times any type of duo deal is available. If you do not need a landline but like the internet and TV that come in the package, maybe the provider is willing to give you a discount of sorts.
In addition to bundles, you should try to make use of promotions that providers offer multiple times per year. Some of the most beneficial promotions are offered to new customers who have not used the services before. In some situations, packages are 50% or more off, while others try to draw in more people by offering the first several months free of charge. The fan-favorite promotions include discounts on otherwise expensive package deals with HD channels, smart TV boxes, and lightning-fast internet speeds.
Last but not least, try to aim for a provider famous for its high-quality customer service. For something as important as the internet nowadays, you should always have someone a phone call away who can check why the internet is slower than usual, or why it is out completely. Customer service should always be a key feature no matter what you are purchasing, and here that is especially true.
