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Router Best Practices: Reboot, Update, and Optimize.

Posted on by Abi Breaur

Taking a few simple steps to optimize your wireless router can significantly improve its signal with minimal effort. Periodically reviewing your network and following these tips can help you get the best performance from your router. 

Simple Tips to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal

  • Regular maintenance, like rebooting your router during off-hours, can help keep it running smoothly. This also allows the router to process automatic updates and implement necessary adjustments.
  • Change your Wi-Fi password regularly and keep it private to minimize the risk of unauthorized access, whether from digital freeloaders or unwanted users.
  • Keep in mind that some devices may automatically update to use your new password. In such cases, you might need to manually remove these devices or have them “forget” your network. 
  • For added security, consider enabling your router’s guest network feature. This allows visitors to connect without sharing your main Wi-Fi password.
  • Remove outdated devices from your network, as older standards can slow down performance. Routers often default to the slowest standard in use. Disconnecting older devices and rebooting your router will allow it to reconfigure for faster speeds.
  • Position your router as close to the center of your home as possible to maximize its range and ensure better connectivity for all your devices. To maintain optimal performance, avoid placing it near sources of interference, like steel beams or thick walls. 
  • Follow the instructions in your router’s manual to keep its firmware up to date. Firmware updates often improve your router’s performance and automatically optimize its signal. 
  • If your router has removable antennas, consider upgrading them for better performance. While the included antennas are functional, higher-quality replacements from the router’s manufacturer or third parties can significantly improve signal strength and coverage. 

What Should My Router Settings Be?

  • Your router lets you prioritize traffic and “whitelist” specific devices, ensuring they get more bandwidth while limiting or ignoring others. Since most routers don’t automatically distinguish between high-demand activities like 4K streaming and low-impact tasks like smart device connections, setting these priorities can significantly improve performance. 
  • Take note of the “names” assigned to devices on your network. These are typically based on the device’s brand, sometimes customized, like “Jenny’s iPhone.” Simpler devices, such as smart plugs, may display the manufacturer’s name or a serial number. Televisions are often labeled with their location in the house, making them easier to identify.
  • Make a list of the rooms where each device connected to your router is located.
  • In the QoS settings, you can prioritize specific devices, like your streaming stick, to ensure they get the best performance. You can also block unfamiliar devices, but be sure to check with household members or visitors first to avoid accidentally disconnecting their tablets or other personal devices.
  • You can assign devices to specific bands and channels with a dual-band router for optimal performance. Use the 5 GHz bands for devices close to the router, offering faster speeds but a shorter range. Connect devices farther away or frequently moved, like laptops, to the 2.4 GHz band, which has a more extended range but slower speeds.
  • If you have multiple devices, consider assigning individual channels within each band. If a device performs better on one channel than another, it may be experiencing interference, such as from a nearby router, on the slower channel.

If you’re unsure about your router’s performance, reach out to your internet service provider. They can often offer assistance and, in some cases, send technicians to help with installation and setup. 

Maximizing your router’s performance can be tricky, but a few simple routines and checks can make a big difference when it matters most. Utah Broadband is always here to help if you have any questions or concerns.

Utah Broadband Voted Best Internet Service Provider in Park City

Posted on by Abi Breaur

We are thrilled to share that Utah Broadband has been named the #1 Internet Service Provider in Park City by The Park Record! This recognition, featured on pages 43 and 8 of The Park Record’s Park City’s Best magazine, is a milestone we are incredibly proud of. You can also read the feature on The Park Record’s website.

After placing second for the past two years, this honor reflects our ongoing commitment to providing fast, reliable internet to the Park City community. We’re so grateful for our loyal customers who trust us to keep them connected and to everyone who voted for us.

This recognition motivates us to continue delivering the exceptional service you deserve, whether you’re streaming, gaming, working, or staying connected with loved ones.

Thank you, Park City, for making us your #1 choice!

Looking for high-speed, reliable internet in Park City? Contact us today to learn more about how we can keep you connected!

Eight Myths About Fiber Internet Debunked

Posted on by Abi Breaur

When technological advances occur and are not widely understood, mistruths or myths often arise around them. Fiber Internet is no exception, as it has burst onto the scene, offering unmatched speeds. As the deployment of fiber Internet increases and knowledge grows, myths will be dispelled, and fiber will take its place, as the telephone did over 100 years ago, as the technology for the next century.

We thought we’d start early in fiber’s lifecycle to debunk the most common myths about it and shed a little light on what is the single fastest means for delivering high-speed Internet.

Myth 1—Fiber Internet Is Too New and Unproven

Fiber has been around for a long time. In the 1880s, Alexander Graham Bell first used light to deliver sound, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s that its commercial application first happened. By the late 1990s, it began to increase and became widely used commercially by major network service providers for commercial and residential use ever since.

Myth 2—Fiber Internet is Costly and Out of The Reach for Most

While fiber Internet has traditionally been more costly, its prices have recently become more competitive. The question isn’t necessarily cost, but what’s the value? When understanding the benefits and features of fiber Internet over other solutions, fiber Internet offers the best value for performance, reliability, and speed. With government support, prices have been reduced even more dramatically for lower-income families.

Myth 3—Fiber Optic Cables Are Easily Broken

Fiber optic cables are indeed made of thin glass fibers, which might lead you to think they can be easily broken. However, these fibers are protected by a buffer coating that prevents damage, and thanks to the flexibility of the cables, fiber optic technology is quite durable. The main risk of damage typically comes from accidental cuts, such as during digging.

Myth 4—Fiber Internet Is Not For Residential Use

Because of fiber’s speed, many people think it must be exclusive to commercial use. Today’s homes are increasingly filled with a range of smart devices, requiring faster uploads and downloads without significant limits on the number of devices running simultaneously. From smartphones, gaming systems, and smart televisions to computers, tablets, and even video doorbells, homeowners are demanding the speed at which only fiber Internet can deliver.

Myth 5—Weather Disrupts Fiber Internet Easily

Put simply and directly, fiber optic cables are not vulnerable to harsh weather conditions. These cables can be placed in water, so heavy rain, snow, and wind do not impact the fiber Internet’s signal strength. While storm damage may harm cables above ground, the weather itself does not affect signals like what happens with cable Internet, satellite, or even telephony.

Myth 6—Fiber Internet Is No Different Than Cable, 5G, or Other Types of Broadband Connectivity

Fiber Internet is faster and more reliable than traditional cable and telephone technology, such as coaxial cable, copper DSL, and satellite Internet. Cable providers’ coaxial-based networks cannot deliver the speeds of fiber. The old copper-based DSL telephone network was great for the early days of dial-up, AOL, and CompuServe, but it cannot compete with fiber’s capabilities today. Furthermore, satellite Internet, while great for hard-to-get-to places, is costly and doesn’t provide the performance fiber Internet can.

Myth 7—Content Is Limited Over Fiber Internet

With fiber Internet, once the service is activated, one can sign up online for all the traditional streaming services such as Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, and others to get content and even traditional broadcast programming. The same is true for gaming. And this is only getting better as more traditional content providers offer attractive streaming bundles.

Myth 8—Accessibility Is the Biggest Downside of Fiber

Let’s be honest—the biggest, and perhaps the only, downside to fiber Internet is its availability. Since it’s a newer technology, fiber isn’t accessible to everyone yet; expanding it to all areas will take time. The great news is that availability is rapidly increasing, even for existing homes, driven by growing demand. Beyond that, fiber delivers superior service compared to other options and comes with virtually no drawbacks.

Final Thoughts

Fiber Internet is becoming more widely available, and as people experience it firsthand, many common myths will fade away. It’s fast, reliable, and future-proof, able to scale quickly to meet growing bandwidth needs. As more homes become “smart,” having a stable Internet connection will be crucial for everyday living, and fiber offers the ideal solution to meet that demand. Want to learn more about Fiber Internet? Reach out to our fantastic customer support team at 801-717-2000.

Utah Broadband CEO Ben Elkins to Speak at BBC Summit West

Posted on by Abi Breaur

Joins Other Panelists From Cityside Fiber, Incompass, Sonic, and Utopia Fiber to Discuss Issues Facing ISPs and Their Customers

Utah Broadband (UBB), Utah’s most trusted high-speed Internet service provider and a subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corporation (NYSE: BOC), announced today that UBB’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Elkins will participate on two panels at Broadband Communities Summit West (BBC Summit West) on October 30 in San Diego, CA.

This will be BBC Summit West’s first conference; however, it is a sister event to Broadband Communities’ highly successful conference in Houston, which has been held for 20 years. The conference in Houston had over 1,500 attendees from companies such as AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon, Frontier, and Cox Communities. BBC Summit West is on track to have 1,000 attendees and 120 industry-leading speakers at the San Diego event, which will run from October 30 to 31.

Elkins will participate in a panel at BBC Summit West at 10:05 a.m. on October 30 entitled “An Update from Service Providers,” along with representatives from Cityside Fiber, Incompass, Sonic, and Visionary Communications. The panel will offer insights into the current investment landscape, funding, and regulation for ISPs, including the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program. It will cover key policy updates, explore how networks are expected to evolve by 2030, and highlight the long-term benefits of fiber optic technology.

Elkins will participate in a second panel at 2:20 p.m. on the same day entitled How to Differentiate Your Network with Better Customer Experience, along with Harry and Utopia Fiber representatives. The panel will offer insights into key industry trends, including shifting customer expectations and the importance of fostering a customer-centric culture. It will discuss how Tier 2 and Tier 3 ISPs can meet and exceed these expectations and build lasting brand loyalty by leveraging customer feedback, such as Net Promoter Scores and other performance metrics.

 Elkins, in particular, is interested in delving into marketing tactics for both urban and rural communities.

“I am excited to be part of the BBC Summit West and to be on these panels with such prestigious industry leaders,” said Elkins. “The topics we will discuss are very rich and pertinent to service providers and their customers. I hope attendees will get a lot out of our sessions and the conference overall.”

About Broadband Communities

Broadband Communities Summit West is the newest addition to the Broadband Communities event portfolio, which is part of Total Telecom. The conference series offers leading events for community leaders, property owners, network infrastructure builders, and telco service providers to meet and discuss strategies for delivering connectivity for communities all over the United States. Celebrating its inaugural year, Broadband Communities Summit West offers a regional platform and focuses on how to connect every community in the Western United States with next-generation communications infrastructure – from densely populated cities to rural towns, multifamily properties to master planned developments, suburban areas to Native land and more.

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