In the beginning of 2015, the FCC set the definition of Broadband Internet to be a speed of at least 25 Mbps. Many people in the Taos area still do not have and cannot get broadband Internet. Use this free online tool to test your current Internet speeds. http://www.speedtest.net/
Upgrade Taos Computer Solutions does not provide Internet service, but we are happy to consult with you about your options.
How Much Speed Do You Need?
Download Speeds
- < 1.5 Mbps - This is dial-up speeds and will not be very useful for anything more than e-mail checking, unless you have a lot of patience.
- 1.5 Mbps to 3 Mbps – These speeds would be about the minimum you would need for web browsing and low definition video streaming, with lots of buffering.
- 3 Mbps to 7 Mbps – These speeds will be barely adequate for browsing modern websites and okay for streaming low definition videos with a little bit of buffering.
- 7 Mbps to 12 Mbps – These speeds would be okay for streaming video services such as Netflix.
- > 25 Mbps – This speed is considered broadband as defined by the FCC in 2015. Many people in Taos still do not have and cannot get broadband Internet.
Different Types of Internet Service
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Dial-up Internet
This type of Internet service uses the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to establish a connection by dialing a telephone number on a conventional telephone line. Only slow speeds are available through this type of service and in some rural areas it is the only Internet service available.
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DSL Internet (Digital Subscriber Line)
This type of high-speed Internet is provided through ordinary copper telephone line infrastructure, available through your local phone company.
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Cable Internet
This type of Internet is provided through cable TV infrastructure, available through your local cable TV provider.
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Fiber Optic Internet
Fiber Optics requires its own infrastructure, its technology uses cabling consisting of a bundle of glass threads, which transmits data as light waves. Fiber optics are currently, by far, the fastest technology available for transmitting data, however, fiber optic cables are expensive to install, fragile and difficult to splice.
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Wireless Internet
Wireless Internet refers to the use of a special antenna to connect to a nearby source of wirelessly broadcasted Internet. The nearby source uses one of the previously mentioned types of Internet, which is being broadcast, via another special antenna, usually by a service provider.
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Satellite Internet
Satellite Internet uses a small satellite dish installed on your roof to transmit and receive Internet data with an orbiting satellite 22,300 miles above the Earth. Since the data has to travel so many miles, users experience extremely high latency, which means it takes several seconds for data to begin downloading, but once it starts, it usually comes in at relatively decent speeds.
Taos Internet Service Providers
TaosNET
Visit Taosnet’s website for more information
Provides Dial-up, DSL and Wireless, great phone support, knowledgeable people and decent Internet speeds. Wireless links are slower and cost more in general but are dependable if/when outages occur, speeds from 256 Kbps to 12 Mbps, pricing ranges from $35 to $275 per month.
Comcast/Xfinity
Visit Xfinity’s website for more information
Provides Internet through cable TV infrastructure, terrible phone support, long wait times, will rip off customers in some cases. Sign up for business class for better service. Incredible speeds in town where available, speeds from 3 Mbps to 2 Tbps (2000 Mbps!!!, fastest in town) Pricing ranges from $39.95 to $299.95 per month, but can vary with TV package bundles.
Century Link (formerly known as Qwest)
Visit Century Link’s website for more information
Provides DSL and Dial up, speeds vary greatly depending on location, outlying areas can generally only get 1.5 Mbps, speeds range from 1.5 Mbps to 50 Mbps depending on location. Reasonably good phone support, techs generally do a good job diagnosing problems on-site. Pricing ranges from $19.95 to $79.99 per month. Use their online tool to check speeds for your location (green button in the upper right) Check Internet Speeds In My Area
Kit Carson Internet
Visit Kit Carson Internet’s website
Provides DSL and Wireless (fiber optics in the future). In 2011, Kit Carson Internet was awarded a $44 million Federal grant to install fiber optic cabling in our rural area and as of this writing in 2016, the project is still not complete. They have bad phone support, their support staff is untrained in technical topics. Internet speeds range from 1.5 Mbps to 100 Mbps and pricing ranges from $29.95 to $129.95 per month.
Verizon Wireless
Visit Verizon’s website for more information
Provides Wireless through their cell phone service network, speeds range from 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps. The service is not unlimited, and pricing depends on the amount of data you need to transfer and the type of contract you qualify for.
WildBlue Satellite
Visit Wildblue’s website for more information
Provides Satellite Internet service, speeds up to 12 Mbps, and pricing starts at 39.99 per month.
Hugesnet Satellite
Visit HughesNet’s website for more information
Provides Satellite Internet service. The service is not unlimited, and pricing depends on the amount of data you need to transfer.
