Ketchikan2025

INTERNET SERVICE & TELEVISION SELF HELP

Internet Bandwidth Usage Data Transfer is the amount of information in bytes that is moved to and from your computer or other device when you are doing activities online. Laptops, iPads, Kindles, iPhones, Androids, XBoxes, Nintendo consoles and Playstations can all be used to access info or media from the Web via the internet and these activities count as part of your internet data transfer. Depending on your service, you may have a monthly limit on data transfer. You can exceed your limit by frequently streaming or downloading movies/video or by listening to music online for extended periods of time. Just checking email and web-surfing involves very little data transfer. If you have a wireless router and do not have a password on it, then people in homes nearby can use your internet access and “steal” it for their own use. Wireless routers’ passwords should have both alpha and numeric components to make them more difficult to break. You should not use 1234, 9999, 1111 or your phone number as these are the most easy passwords for someone to figure out and steal. Here are examples of online activities and how much of each is equivalent to one gig of data: One (1) Gig = • 1,000 emails with attachments • 40 hours of listening to Pandora music or streaming radio • Downloading one Standard Def movie • Downloading 1/2 of a High Def movie • 2-1/2 hours of streaming video (TV shows or YouTube) • 2-1/2 to 10 hours of online gaming (depends on whether you are hosting the game and which one it is) KPUTV+ Local Streaming Service Although we don’t provide traditional television, KPU produces local TV content, which will be available through KPUTV+. KPUTV+ is presently accessible via its dedicated mobile application and on the Firestick streaming platform, with plans to expand to additional platforms forthcoming. You can view all of the live-streaming of sporting events, the 4th of July and public meetings, as well as locally-produced features.

Photo Courtesy of Don Twyman

Streaming Your Television and Entertainment The first thing you need in order to stream your television entertainment is good WiFi coverage and download speeds. What you need for internet speeds will depend on the number of devices and people in your household that need to connect to the internet. Talk to your internet provider to determine the best internet plan for your needs. Now that your WiFi will be doing the heavy lifting, make sure that your router’s range is powerful enough to cover your home’s square footage. KPU has several options for routers and can help you set up a mesh network that will help to cover any dead spots. Once you have your internet connection, you will need a dedicated streaming device to act as the primary hub and user interface to access all of your services and content. Think of this device as your new “cable box”. This device is how you access your live TV streaming service and any other streaming services you may use (Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, Prime Video). Most of these devices are simple space saving devices that connect directly to your television HDMI port and come with a compatible remote control. There are several options for streaming devices to include: Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, your Smart TV, and DirecTV Stream. Once your streaming device is installed, you simply download the app for services you use and consolidate all of your entertainment in one easy-to-use interface. Now it is time to select a live TV service. You’ll want to subscribe to a service that allows you to watch and record live television along with other content that is ordinarily available through cable (HGTV, ESPN, etc). Many of the services will offer free trials so you can test-drive any options until you find the one that best suits your wants and budget. Options include: YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Sling TV, Philo, FuboTV and DirecTV Stream. Finally, technology has changed how we access and consume entertainment. You can now enjoy a more personalized, streamlined and affordable entertainment experience than traditional cable television.

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