The Xplornet Blog http://www.xplornet.com/blog en-CA Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:57:00 Richard Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:57:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/happy-holidays-2012/?lang=en#blgComment We'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season! We hope that you'll spend time with your family and friends, and that you'll find some time to play online, too! We recently sent out a holiday card - you might recognize the photo above from it! If you haven't received it, you can check your bulk mail folder. How do you spread holiday cheer? With holiday cards or time spent in a sunny destination? Perhaps you volunteer your time in the community. Let us know in the comments below! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/happy-holidays-2012/?lang=en 2671 Richard Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:08:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/routers/?lang=en#blgComment Unless you only have one computer and it's in the same room as your modem, chances are you may be interested in using a router. What does a router do ? Routers perform the "traffic directing" functions on the Internet. A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through the networks that constitute the internetwork until it gets to its destination. In other words, if you have multiple devices trying to access the Internet, a router can handle all of the various requests and direct each device in the right direction. Xplornet provides all customers with a modem, but not with a router. There are different kinds of routers, and many different brands, so choosing which one is right for you may be a bit tricky. Take a look at this guide from PCWorld for a good primer. Similarly, here's a good guide about setting up your router . To help get you started with your search, here's a list of routers that are confirmed to be compatible with our 4G satellite systems, sorted by brand: Apple: Airport Extreme Asus: RT-N16 SuperSpeed N Router Belkin: N150, F5D8236-4 Wireless N v3 Buffalo: WZR-HP-G300NH D-Link:  DI-601, DI-604, DIR-600, DIR-615, DIR-655 Extreme N Gigabit Router, DIR-655SW, DIR-827, FR300RTR, WBR-2310 Fritz Box: 7270, 7390 Linksys: BEFSR41, E1000, E1500, E3000, E3400, E4200, E4200, WRT160N, WRT160N, WRT160N v2, WRT160N V3, WRT310N V2, WRT54G, WRT54G,WRT54G, WRT54GL MediaLink: MWN-WAPR150N NetGear: N600, N600 WNR3500L, Range MAX, WGR614 v10, WGT624, WNDR4500/N900, WNR2000, N300 WNR3500L Do you have a router that isn't on this list? It might still work, but it might also cause you problems. Here are some options for trouble-shooting your router issues, regardless of the make and model: Upgrade the router's firmware, following the manufacturer's instructions. Power down all devices (Xplornet modem, router, other peripherals, computer). Power up all devices in this order: Xplornet modem, router, other peripherals, computer. Important: After you power up the Xplornet modem, give the modem 4 to 5 minutes to complete its network registration process. If you power up the router before the modem fully registers with Xplornet, the activation process might not work. Time to do a check: Confirm normal Internet connectivity. If you can connect to the Internet, stop here, you're set! If you can't connect, go to step 6. Retry the power up process (step 3). This time, allow 7 to 8 minutes for the Xplornet modem to complete the registration process. If you still can't connect to the Internet: Disconnect the router from the modem and connect the modem directly to your computer. Then attempt to connect to the Internet again. If this works, chances are good that your router is incompatible with your Xplornet equipment. Do you have any hints or tips for selecting a router? If you're using a router now, what make and model is it? http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/routers/?lang=en 2654 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:32:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/xplornet-receives-outstanding-employer-award/?lang=en#blgComment Today, we received The Learning Partnership's Canada's 2012 Outstanding Employer Award in recognition of our achievements in educational and community programs! We're very thankful, and we're humbled to be in the company of the nine other prestigious winners from across the country. At Xplornet, we encourage our employees to further their education and work with their local communities. Some programs that we organize and participate in: Xplornet has partnered with SkillSoft, one of the World's leading e-learning organizations, to provide employees with Xplornet University . Xplornet University allows all employees to access approximately 350 online training courses at work, home or on the road. Courses range from MS Office, networking and routers to leadership and development and accounting. There are courses that everyone in can benefit from and fresh content is added each year. We're involved in the PALS (Partners Assisting Local Schools)  with two elementary schools in New Brunswick. The program fosters the growth of students and helps them become self-sufficient and successful youths. PALS offers these students opportunities they may not have otherwise had. Xplornet also partners with community colleges through work or co-op placements. In the past, we've also participated in theTurnaround Awards with local high schools, recognizing students who have made significant improvements in their overall attitude and educational achievements. Most recently, our employees from Fredericton, NB and our head office in Woodstock, NB brought their grade 9 son or daughter to see what a day in their work-life looks like. The program, Take Our Kids to Work by The Learning Partnership , began in 1994 in Ontario and has since spread nationwide. "The Take Our Kids to Work program is viewed highly by the company" says Vicki, the Human Resource lead responsible for the program. "It's a way to further our involvement with the students in our communities and assist them in their future career planning and success." A variety of departments showed off how the company works with a tour of our offices and operations. The Learning Partnership outlines the program on their site, explaining that it's meant to be "more than a fun day". It's an opportunity to: Understand the importance of staying in school by learning first-hand what skills are required in today's workplace. Develop an appreciation for their parents' careers and roles in supporting their families. Start exploring career options in a practical way and gain a better understanding of just how many career choices are open to them. Vicky from Customer Care really enjoyed her time with her daughter. "The day was great!" she said, "I enjoyed being able to share with my daughter what I do here. She thought it was fun for the most part, and thought the staff here was great. We talked after we got home and now she knows why sometimes, when I get home, I just want to take a few moments to clear my head. I think it brought us together a little more because she got to see what a day in my shoes is like, so to speak." We're looking forward to continuing our work in this and other educational and community programs, including participating in the Take Our Kids to Work program again next year! We'd love to hear from you! What kind of educational and community programs are important to you? http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/xplornet-receives-outstanding-employer-award/?lang=en 2635 Richard Fri, 30 Nov 2012 12:12:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/latency/?lang=en#blgComment Do you know where your Internet service comes from? That's an easy one: It comes from us! But how we deliver it to your home or work is the tricky part. Xplornet has two different types of platforms: Fixed Wirelesstechnology allows us to place a tower within 30 km of you and the Xplornet antenna on the side of your house then links up with the tower to access the Internet. Satellitetechnology uses a satellite orbiting Earth. The difference is that, instead of communicating with a nearby tower, the dish on your roof communicates directly with the satellite in space. Both of these platforms provide broadband-level speeds, which allows you to do things like watch streaming video, download faster, and have multiple people in your family or business online at the same time. While both platforms can deliver the speed you need to do what you want online, there's one key difference between the two platforms. Whereas a Fixed Wireless tower is on the ground and in a nearby area, satellite technology provides coverage in remote areas using equipment in orbit -very, very far away. It's so far away that the speed of light starts to matter to the characteristic known as latency. The term latency refers to a number of different kinds of delays that can happen when accessing a service or application with the Internet. A low latency network connection is one that generally experiences small delay times, while a high latency connection generally suffers from long delays. Latency doesn't affect all types of Internet activities but it can cause issues with some applications that rely on real-time access. For the most part, this means that activities that require fast reactions will take about three quarters of a second longer on a Satellite network. Some applications or activities that could be affected: Online gaming, especially MMO (massively multiplayer online) or shooter games VPN services, often used by teleworkers Real-time stock or auction trading In general, if you're looking to access services or games like this, the latency of Satellite technology would make them unusable. Fixed Wireless, with its lower latency, is still an option. Don't forget: Satellite latency doesn't affect regular Internet browsing, using email, transferring large files, and watching streaming video and music! Only fast reaction and real-time activities are a concern with Satellite technology latency. Do you have questions about latency or the kinds of things you want to do online? Let us know in the comments! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/latency/?lang=en 2628 Richard Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:23:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/a-new-4g-satellite-for-canada!/?lang=en#blgComment On July 5 th , 2012, our newest 4G broadband satellite - EchoStar XVII - was launched from French Guiana. The satellite is now in a geosynchronous orbit 35,888 kilometers above sea-level, high enough to get a clear view of the vast Canadian territory it will be covering. This means that, starting today, more customers will be able to experience our 4G technology in their homes! Just like our first 4G broadband satellite, EchoStar XVII is capable of providing Internet access to Canadians in rural and remote areas. For over 2 million of the 2.4 million Canadian households located in regions we now serve (and where wired broadband is unavailable), this is great news! Customers from British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are all set to experience the difference. Thanks to 4G, accessing popular online entertainment sites and activities is easier with more bandwidth and faster speeds . Stream a movie, download new music from your favourite artist, or share your vacation photos! Take a look at the satellite launch video  from earlier this year and while you're watching, give us a call to see if you're in the coverage area ! Have you got a question about the new satellite or 4G technology? Let us know in the comments!  http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/a-new-4g-satellite-for-canada!/?lang=en 2603 Richard Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:34:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/seasonal-and-cottage-program/?lang=en#blgComment We understand that your living arrangements can vary with the seasons. That's why  we've introduced changes to our seasonal and cottage program! We're providing a  solution for cottagers and for Snowbirds, so you can have your Internet only when  you need it. How does it work? Give us a call before your leave for the season. Choose any package that suits you for the summer or the peak season. Choose either the Seasonal (200MB/mo) or Cottage (2GB/mo) program during the off-season, depending on your Internet usage needs. You're allowed one hold every 12 months. You can take advantage of the program for any amount of time between 6 weeks and 6 months. When you make the request, your account will be placed on hold at the end of the next billing cycle. There are no deactivation or reactivation fees! You have to provide a reactivation date at the time of the program request. Stay in touch while you're away - your Xplornet email address will remain active! There's a seasonal program for all of our different platforms, with some differences depending on your service, so be sure to call us  for specific details about your account. Do you usually make a move with the seasons? Where do you like to go? Let us know in the comments!   http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/seasonal-and-cottage-program/?lang=en 2591 Richard Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:59:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/you've-got-(web)-mail!/?lang=en#blgComment Si vous êtes arrivé ici par erreur de notre bulletin électronique en français, s'il vous plaît sélectionner "Français" dans le coin en haut et à droite de la page. Nous sommes profondément désolés de cet incident. Have you seen the classic film You've Got Mail , featuring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan? If so, then you probably know that the title of the movie comes from the classic sound played by AOL when new email arrived in an inbox. While Xplornet doesn't comment on or rate movies from the late 90s, we do know a thing or two about webmail! While AOL seems like a distant memory (it's still around!), email is still a big part of our day-to-day lives. We use it to keep in touch with friends and family and for work, and despite the advent of social media , email doesn't appear to be going away any time soon. In the early days, you needed to have dedicated email software on your computer to access your email inbox. Today, webmail providers are prevalent - chances are you have heard of Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. These providers give you an email address and let you access your inbox by logging into their service through a traditional web browser, your mobile phone or your tablet. Xplornet also offers email through webmail to all of our customers using a couple of different webmail systems. If you have an Xplornet.ca email address, you can access your email inbox using our Gmail Apps webmail login . It's powered by Google, and it gives you the same features as their Gmail suite of applications. Do you have a different email address? If your address address ends with @xplornet.com, @everus.ca, @hsfx.ca, or @highspeedfx.net, you can login to Xplornet's webmail . Similar to Gmail Apps webmail, you get great spam protection, plenty of space and access to your email anywhere you have Internet access. Can't access your webmail? Have a question about setting up your email inbox through a different client? Let us know if the comments - we're happy to help!   Webmail Use on the Rise (from Email Marketing Reports ) An April, 2008  USA Today article  cited ComScore Media Metrix figures for February, 2008: Microsoft webmail properties: 256.2 million users Yahoo: 254.6 million users Google: 91.6 million users AOL webmail properties: 48.9 million users In a June 2012  blog post , Google revealed Gmail now has 425 million active users globally. Only six months earlier, in January 2012, they claimed they had 350 million active users during an  earnings call . Comparatively, an October 2011 Comscore  report  put Hotmail's user base at 350 million. The same report estimated Yahoo! Mail had 310 million users. In July 2012, AOL rolled out a new look for their webmail to 24 million users.     http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/you've-got-(web)-mail!/?lang=en 2578 Richard Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:00:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/smn-explained/?lang=en#blgComment Si vous êtes arrivé ici par erreur de notre bulletin électronique en français, s'il vous plaît sélectionner "Français" dans le coin en haut et à droite de la page. Nous sommes profondément désolés de cet incident.       Quick! How many of those social media networks do you recognize? I'm sure you got "The Big 3": Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. What about the others? To help you out, we'll explain what each network does (without using donuts) in 140 characters or less! Twitter : For messaging-in-the-moment and great for short discussions. Messages are 140 characters or less to make it compatible with text messaging. Facebook : To connect to friends, family, and brands. If it's your only social media network, that's probably ok. Foursquare : Location-based social media network. Check-in to locations, compete with friends for points and get deals from businesses. YouTube : The undisputed leader in online video viewing and sharing. The number 2 search engine behind only their owner, Google. Instagram : Take photos using your iOS or Android device, and then apply a creative filter. Browse millions of other photos. Pinterest : Create themed collections of images. Use it to help plan a wedding, build a wardrobe or anything in between. Imgur : Pronounced image-er, this network makes image sharing easy. Place uploaded images on other networks in just a few clicks. LinkedIn : Sometimes referred to as "Facebook for professionals". Meant for business connections and networking. Spotify : A music streaming service that analyzes your music preferences and builds your unique playlist. Soon to be available in Canada. Google+ : Highly visual social media network, focused on integrating with your Google accounts. Live streaming group video calling feature is unique. What's your favourite social media network? If it's Twitter , Facebook , YouTube or Google+ , be sure to connect with us! Image via GeekInHeels   http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/smn-explained/?lang=en 2573 Richard Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:15:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/intro-post/?lang=en#blgComment Sorry for the hiatus! We've left you hanging for a while, but now we're back. We promise not to leave again - we have lots to catch up on, and we're sure you have lots you want to talk about! First, some quick introductions: My name is Richard, and I'm the new guy at Xplornet. I've been here for a few months now, and I've really enjoyed working with my colleagues across Canada. I'm going to be curating a lot of the content on the blog, and along with Jeff, Avis, and various guest bloggers, I'll be doing some writing, too! Feel free to reach out to us and let us know what you'd like to hear about - you can tell us in the comments, or we can be reached through your favourite social media channel. We have some great posts planned for you in the coming weeks. Here's a sneak peek at what's coming up: Social media networks explained - We break down the differences between various social media sites in common language, using 140 characters or less! Slow speeds? We've got some info on what you can do to increase and manage your Internet speeds. Show us your community spirit! Tell us why your community is special, through words, photos and video! Can you think of anything else we should cover? Tell us in the comments! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/intro-post/?lang=en 2567 Xplornet Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:51:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/welcome-to-the-xplornet-blog!/?lang=en#blgComment Hello!  As you can see, we've redesigned our website to make it easier for you to find the information you want from Xplornet, and this blog is a part of that effort. In this space, we'll be bringing you regular updates on our services and technology, thoughts from our CEO, tips on what's new (and worthwhile) online.  Our intention for this blog, along with our Twitter and Facebook pages, is to offer an additional place for customers to communicate with us.  We know that we serve a very digitally-engaged group and we'd like to get the conversation going! NEW: MyXplornet Self-Service Customer Portal We're also really pleased to announce the launch of a revamped MyXplornet Self-Service Customer Portal.  It was designed to provide a safe, simple and secure way to manage the administrative aspects of your Xplornet account in one central location 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some of the features include: Resetting your email password Changing or updating your payment and contact information Viewing your invoices Support articles  So be sure to log in here , and you can also check out a full guide to using our customer portal services here. If you have any questions, please give us a shout! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2012/welcome-to-the-xplornet-blog!/?lang=en 1625 Richard Mon, 13 May 2013 10:15:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/become-a-lifelong-student/?lang=en#blgComment One of the greatest things about being online is that you have access to a huge amount of shared knowledge. With an Internet connection and a bit of smart searching, you'll find that there are a ton of great resources online for learning about any subject you can imagine! Before diving in headfirst, it would be best for you to determine how you like to learn: Is it by reading and absorbing text? Perhaps you learn better by watching videos? Or is by putting your lessons into practice and doing it yourself? Whatever method you find works best for you, you're sure to find the right material online. From "beginner" and "101"-level courses to more advanced topics in a field; you'll find everything you need to grow your knowledge and expertise in nearly any subject area. We've included links and descriptions for some great free resources to help you get started. General "How-To" Sites These sites are great for when you're looking to learn how do something specific. eHow - It's actually more than just a "how-to" site: eHow provides general tips and tricks, top 10 lists and coaching for various topics, including style, health, money and food. About.com - About offers a number of informative articles, but their videos are where they really shine. Some Springtime favourites? How about learning how to properly wash your car , or getting some gardening tips ! WikiHow - What's a wiki, you ask? "A Web site developed collaboratively by a community of users, allowing any user to add and edit content." In other words, each article has many writers and editors sharing their knowledge on a subject. WikiHow is a collection of over 150,000 "how-to" articles contributed by thousands of individuals from all over the world. If you want to know how to do something, chances are that you'll find out how at WikiHow! A Thirst for Knowledge Sometimes, you just want to learn something new! These sites will quench your thirst for knowledge and learning. TED Talks - If you're looking to learn, to be inspired, or to be persuaded, TED is the place to visit. The acronym stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Design", but you'd be surprised by how many subjects fit into these three broad categories. Not sure where to start? TED Talks has 11 suggestions , and this shared Google Doc ranks the best "rated" Talks of all-time . Apple's iTunes U - Though the website is geared towards instructors and educators, the iTunes U application can be accessed by anyone with a willingness to learn. With the iTunes U application for your iOS device , you can access courses from top universities like Yale, Duke and Harvard. If you don't have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you can still access iTunes U videos through your computer using iTunes itself . Knowledge in the Places You'd Least Expect It The above sites are dedicated to learning and development, but a quick Google search on any subject will often reveal many, many sources of information. Sometimes, it's a YouTube video series on how to play the piano . Other times, it's a site with dedicated lesson plans and actual on-site exercises, like Codeacademy , where you pick a "learning track", monitor your progress throughout the course, and then graduate as a bonafide coder! Try searching for something that interests you and you'll be amazed at what kind of help is available online! Do you have a website you like to visit when you want to learn something? Be sure to share it with everyone in the comments section! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/become-a-lifelong-student/?lang=en 2919 Richard Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:14:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/top-employers-award-2013/?lang=en#blgComment Xplornet had an exciting year in 2012. Not only did we launch a couple of new satellites , we were also named one of The Learning Partnership's Canada's 2012 Outstanding Employer ! We're only a few months in, but we've already started 2013 off with a bang as well - Xplornet is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of Atlantic Canada's Top Employers for 2013! As a New Brunswick owned company and major local employer in Fredericton and Woodstock, we are thrilled to share this honour with other amazing companies in the Atlantic region. We strive to be an employer of choice and are honoured to be among the winners of this prestigious award for the second time since 2010. The selection process for the Top Employer awards are done from a job seeker's perspective and are primarily based on two major factors: being an industry leader in attracting and retaining quality employees, and the ability to offer exciting employment prospects. What is it about Xplornet that attracts such remarkable talent? On top of a competitive salary and benefits plan, Xplornet offers a range of amenities and perks to its employees. This includes free on-site fitness facilities in both New Brunswick locations, including shower facilities, free parking and excellent training and development opportunities and programs. We work with our employees to help them with their work-life balance, a key piece to employee happiness. Of course, this award wouldn't be possible without our amazing customers. Have you ever received great service from an Xplornet employee? Let us know  - we'll be sure they receive the kudos! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/top-employers-award-2013/?lang=en 2891 Richard Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:00:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/how-to-google/?lang=en#blgComment Google began as a simple, minimalist search engine in 1996. The brainchild of Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google has had a meteoric rise to prominence, and its online suite of services now occupies much of our time. Yes, Google has: Video with YouTube; Advertising with AdWords; Social media with Google+; Workplace productivity with Google Docs; And much, much more. But no matter what they come up with next, Google's roots are still in search, and it remains the most used search engine in the world. What does this mean for you? How can you access this treasure trove of information without going into information overload? How To Geek wrote an article with 11 tips and tricks to help you Google like a pro, and we think it's a great starting place! (Example searches are bold for you try out for yourself) Want to search for a specific phrase? Use quotation marks! Example: "Xplornet 4G"  gives results for those two terms together (it also makes concessions for "Xplornet's 4G"). Do you know of a common term that could show up in your search results and mess them up? Use a minus symbol in front of the word to remove it from your results. Example: Xplornet 4G - cell will remove any reference to cell phones. It's possible to search a specific site without even visiting it. You can use the term site: along with the website address to search a specific site. Example: site:Xplornet.com 4G would search for the term4Gon Xplornet.com only. You can use a tilde to search for similar keywords to the one you enter. Example: ~satellite internet will deliver results for satellite internet, like Xplornet, as well as satellite TV, like our partner Shaw Direct . Not sure what exactly you're searching for? Using an asterisk will act as a "wildcard" and will match any word! Example: xplornet * internet in * will return results for satellite or fixed-wireless internet in a variety of locations! Believe it or not, the internet has been humming along for a quite a while! Sometimes you might want to search a specific date range - that's where the time range operator (two periods in a row) comes in handy. Example: Xplornet 2005..2011 will display results for Xplornet from between our inception and 2011. There are times when you know just what you want. If there's a specific file type that you're looking for, like PDF, ZIP or PPT, you can use the file type operator to narrow your results. Example:filetype:pdf Xplornet FAQwill return results of frequently asked question documents in the PDF format. Comparing 2 or more things in Google is as straight-forward as using the word "OR". Note the capitalization! Example: Satellite OR Fixed-wireless  will compare the two technologies Xplornet uses to deliver internet service. Technology has some pretty crazy language and lingo. We try to make things easy to understand, but sometimes you need a definition. Google will often deliver a definition or Wikipedia entry on the first page of results, but you can also use the "define" operator to see the definition clearly at the top of the search page. Example: define:Mbps explains a common term used when talking about internet speeds. Did you know your computer is also one giant calculator? Sure, that may be a bit of an oversimplification, but it's also kind of true. Of course, Google can perform some of the same calculations as your calculator or a calculator. (Direct from How to Geek) Example: (4 + 2) * (6 / 3)  will spit out the result, 12! You can use any combination of +, -, * (multiply) and / (divide), as well as brackets like in the example. Have you ever been at the grocery store with a recipe in hand where the recipe gives a measurement in milliliters, but the ingredient you need is in ounces? Take out your smartphone and ask Google to do the conversion! It can convert between related unit types. Example: 1024 MB in GB  tells us that it takes 1024 MB to make up 1 GB. Use these tricks and tips to increase the relevance of your search results and decrease the time spent looking for the things you need! Have some other search tips or tricks? Be sure to share them in the comments below! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/how-to-google/?lang=en 2886 Richard Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:36:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/network-improvements/?lang=en#blgComment The Internet is a big, beautiful place and Xplornet believes everyone should have access to it. Canada is also a big, beautiful place, which means Canadians need a network to reach the very corners of the country. Since 2004, Xplornet has been enhancing our network to include the latest technologies and improved processes, all while adding and improving Internet access for more and more Canadians. So, what have we been up to? 2012 - A year in review We were a pretty busy bunch last year. In February, we unveiled our first 4G satellite. Then, only nine months later in November, our second satellite came online! Why the back-to-back launches? Because our customers are doing more with the Internet and demanding more bandwidth. To launch our new 4G satellites to the public, there was so much work going on behind the scenes: - First, the satellite must be built! We worked with multiple companies to accomplish this so it's a group effort. Still, this can take years from start (signing contracts) to finish (launching the satellite into orbit). - Next, we need gateways: the earth stations that route Internet traffic from the satellite to your home or business. Each gateway takes nearly 6 months to build and is operated by a team of up to 30 professionals from around the world. - Finally, we also test, test and test again. Why? To ensure that everything is running smoothly before service launch. This includes daily readiness testing with trial subscribers - customers who sign up to try our system to help us find and fix any issues. But wait, there's more! Since customers are changing the way they use the Internet and demanding more bandwidth, we knew we had to upgrade our network capacity. So we upgraded all of the fibre links at three 4G satellite gateways, which increased our traffic capacity by a factor of 10! In addition to these satellite gateway builds and expansions, we expanded the reach and quality of our fixed wireless 4G service in 2012. - We built over 50 new wireless 4G towers. - We performed more than 100 4G overlays to existing towers - this means we changed towers from 3G to 4G to provide faster and more reliable speeds. We did a lot in 2012 and we aren't stopping in 2013. We're only two months into the year and we've already built 4 new towers and completed 20 upgrades! There's more to come! We've accomplished a lot in the early days of 2013 but there's much more to do. We plan to expand even further both the capacity and the coverage area of our satellite network. And we aren't just focusing on 4G. In 2013, customers on our 3G platforms will see improvements as early as April. For example, we've updated our F2 satellite system (which provides our KaT service) so customers can enjoy speeds up to 3 Mbps and a better online experience, especially during periods of low congestion. We're also making improvements to our traffic management policies, which will improve connectivity to content, improve response speed , and provide redundancy to further ensure that your service is there when you need it. What does all of this mean for you? That regardless of the platform you use or the package you're on, we're always working to enhance and improve the network that delivers your Internet. 2012 was a great year for that network, and 2013 and beyond looks to be even better. Xplornet looks forward to sharing more of our changes and improvements with you as they arrive! Do you have a network question, even a technical one? Let us know in the comments! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/network-improvements/?lang=en 2857 Richard Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:15:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/setting-it-straight-apple/?lang=en#blgComment Is Xplornet slowing down Apple downloads and updates? All non-streaming services and non-time sensitive services, like music downloads and operating system updates, are subject to your platform's traffic management policy . This includes any type of Apple download or software update. Although these downloads and updates have always been covered by your platform's policy, Xplornet has only started managing this data in October last year. Thanks to the feedback we received, we did discover that browsing the iTunes store was not working the way it should. We have implemented a fix and browsing the iTunes store should now be like browsing any other webpage. We are sorry for this temporary inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience while we fixed it. How can I get my updates and downloads? One option is to initiate downloads and schedule updates during non-peak times . Many updates, including those from Apple and Windows, can be scheduled to run during non-peak times so you do not even need to be at your computer when they happen. Here are some guides for scheduling updates for various services: Apple updates Windows updates Java updates Do you have any questions? Send us an email any time and we'll be happy to help! http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/setting-it-straight-apple/?lang=en 2772 Richard Wed, 30 Jan 2013 12:14:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/perfect-partners-shaw-direct-and-xplornet/?lang=en#blgComment (Hint: Did we pique your interest? Take a look at the bottom of this post for a special offer from Shaw and Xplornet!) The Internet is still a relatively new technology compared to its print, radio and television counterparts. Today, the Internet can help deliver and enhance all of these communication channels. In the case of Shaw Direct and Xplornet, the pairing of television and Internet is a perfect match. Shaw Direct delivers television via satellite to customers across Canada. This is very similar to how Xplornet delivers our satellite Internet service. In both cases, this technology allows Shaw Direct and Xplornet to reach the furthest corners of the country. And with the dramatic shift in how people are using and consuming television and the Internet, this overlap is pretty handy. For example, think about the phenomenon known as the "second screen experience", defined by Wikipedia : Second screen, sometimes also referred to as "companion device" (or "companion apps" when referring to a software application), is a term that refers to an additional electronic device (e.g.tablet, smartphone) that allows a television audience to interact with the content they are consuming, such as a TV show and movies. What this means is, with Internet access and your device of choice, you can interact with your favourite movies and shows in a whole new way. Chat with friends, fans, even the show's creators on Twitter during the latest episode of your favourite series. Look up actors and actresses' mid-movie on IMDB. There are a myriad of ways Internet and television partner well together! There's also been a shift in how viewers expect this content to be delivered into their homes. It's great to have access to satellite televisions to catch your weekly shows as they air. But what if you miss an episode? Or what if you're in the mood to see the latest movies instead? With Shaw Direct On Demand , you can watch what you want, whenever you want! But to get Shaw Direct On Demand you need - that's right - Internet access! For all of these reasons, we've partnered with Shaw Direct to help meet your entertainment needs and save more! With Shaw Direct Satellite TV, there's a great big galaxy of entertainment just waiting to be explored. And there's no better way to experience it than picture-perfect High Definition. When you sign up for Shaw Direct Satellite TV , Xplornet customers will receive a free HDPVR rental, plus an Essential HD Receiver for $0 (after credits), when you sign up on a three year term. Plus,  you'll  receive a 5% discount on your Xplornet monthly service fee! In addition to the free HDPVR rental, get all your favourites, at half price. The Digital Favourites package with up to 225 channels is now just $29.99 a month for three months. Visit shawdirect.ca/favourites to check out all the included channels. Not enough to watch? Well, this special offer also includes a $50 credit to Shaw Direct On Demand and the Timeshift Bundle free for the first 4 months! Visit shawdirect.ca/HDPVR for more details. Have a question? Want to let us know your favourite show or movie, or share the latest tips and tricks for the best second screen experience? Let us know in the comments!  http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/perfect-partners-shaw-direct-and-xplornet/?lang=en 2697 Richard Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:05:00 http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/new-years-resolutions/?lang=en#blgComment "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."  - Edith Lovejoy Pierce The New Year is universally accepted as a great time to make changes in your life. We all have something we'd like to work on, and with the advent of the Internet, we have a wealth of resources available to us to help track our progress. Like anything worth doing, setting New Year's resolutions is a good place to start. If nothing comes to mind, try browsing online to see what others are planning to do in the New Year. The Day Zero Project allows users to set out 100 things they'd like to do in the next 1000 days. While the timeframe is longer than the 365 days you're probably setting, you can browse the myriad of ideas on the site and choose the ones that interest you. Once you've set your resolutions, you'll new some place to track your progress. The Day Zero Project site will help you with this, or you could use a site that focuses on a more specific goal or theme. Mint.com is great for money and finances. Have a fitness goal? Try one of these sites, as recommended by Lifehacker . -  Fitocracy : Turn your fitness tracking into a social game! -  Runkeeper : If you're into running, this social community will help you keep track of your progress and motivate you to keep up. -  Dailyburn : If you have a smart phone, you can use this app to keep track of your daily food intake. You can also use the web app when you're near a computer. A general motivational tool is Don't Break the Chain . It's a simple tracker that motivates you to keep doing what you're doing every day, visually showing a chain of days where you've been successful. You may also want to take a more traditional route to your planning and motivation. Penguin.ca has organized a list with a ton of books that will help you tackle some of the most common resolutions.   What are your resolutions for 2013? How will the Internet help you achieve your goals? http://www.xplornet.com/blog/xplornet-blog/2013/new-years-resolutions/?lang=en 2683