Arqball’s game-changing photography tools

Do you ever stop and look around and ask yourself, how would the world change if there was no Internet? Sure you’d probably spend a lot less time looking at cat videos, but what about the big stuff? What about the game-changing innovations that have helped shape the economy, accessibility and the ability for small businesses to compete globally?

Without the Internet, there would be no Arqball or Arqspin, that’s for sure. And are we ever glad the Internet (not to mention, crazy fast fiber Internet) is around to help them do the kind of work they do.

We had the chance to catch up with Michael Holroyd, Director at Arqball and Nathan Blessing, Director of Business Development and Logistics for Arqspin. We talked about all things Arqball, their incredible Arqspin software and how Ting Internet powers their business all over the world.

Cord cutting for music fans

Spring is almost here and for many, that means gearing up for graduation parties and family cook-outs. Music is a major part of every party, so what better way to enjoy it than by turning your huge TV into a musical entertainment centerpiece?

Forget the so-called music channels on cable TV. If you’re cord cutting, there are several great music services suitable for your TV. Here are a few of our favorites to get you started.

Comparing wired-in Internet speed to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was a total game-changer; no longer was the Internet connection confined to the desk or the reach of an Ethernet cable. Now, whether you’re at home, work or in the local coffee shop, when you access the Internet, chances are good you’re doing so wirelessly.

While the benefits of Wi-Fi are obvious, it has its limitations. The biggest trade-off is Internet speed. If you’re on a gigabit connection, you cannot take full advantage of all the bandwidth that’s available to you on a single Wi-Fi device. The real power of gigabit comes when you have multiple Wi-Fi devices connected to the network with no slowdown whatsoever. That said, for the absolute fastest speeds on a single device (and especially if you’re conducting a speed test to see your maximum throughput) you’ll want to go wired.

If you’ve ever conducted an Internet speed test of your home Wi-Fi and compared it to a wired connection, you’ve seen the difference first-hand. Here’s what’s going on.

It might surprise you to know that today, the main backbone of the Internet in America is fiber. The undersea cables that connect the continents are fiber. Without fiber, the Internet becomes more like the Internot.

So why isn’t fiber to the home (FTTH) more widespread? The fiber gap exists because many ISPs rely on dated copper wiring to connect back to the network. Copper wiring was a purpose-built infrastructure for telephones and later, for cable TV. It wasn’t built with the Internet in mind. It has limited bandwidth, it’s slow relative to fiber and it suffers signal degradation over distances.

Increase home value with a fiber Internet connection

Did you know fiber Internet can boost home value?

A 2015 study commissioned by the Fiber to the Home Council Americas (FTTH) found that the impact of fiber on property values can be more than three percent. On a $300,000 home, that’s a $9,000 boost.

A fiber connection has an impact on home prices similar to other home improvement projects. Many homeowners opt to renovate and upgrade their homes and properties. These improvements, like redoing the kitchen, putting in hardwood floors or investing in landscaping, can be attractive features to prospective home buyers.

The increase calculated by the FTTH study was $5,437, based on the value of an average US home. To put that boost in perspective, it’s equal to adding a fireplace, half of a bathroom or a quarter of a swimming pool. Not literally, of course; no one wants a quarter of a swimming pool.

Today, people are shopping for more than just curb appeal. They’re looking for a quality Internet connection.

What do you pay for Internet access at home?

Unless you’re already a Ting Internet customer (thanks!) it’s safe to assume it’s not the price you thought you were signing up for.