7 Tech Tips to Be Internet Savvy: Smithville Smart
When it comes to internet technology, the terminology can be confusing. Internet service providers commonly use terms like 5G, 1 Gig and symmetrical speeds to describe their services. But how do these terms translate into real-world experiences? To shed light on the subject, we created Smithville Smart to empower people to make informed decisions about the ISP and internet service they choose. We provide tech tips to understand industry terms, stay safe online, and learn from on-the-job employee experiences, customer stories, and project updates.
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Tech Tips to Be Internet Savvy
We’ve covered many topics in Smithville Smart, but here are seven technology insights that can help inform and simplify your life.
Understand Fiber vs. DSL
Fiber is faster than DSL internet, but why? The major difference is how the data is transferred. Fiber Internet uses Fiber optic cables with data traveling on light signals, while DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, uses electrical impulses on a copper cable. Learn more about Fiber vs. DSL.
Know how to spot a phishing email
Phishing emails are sneaky, but there are ways to tell them apart from legitimate emails, including poor spelling and grammar. A phishing email is intended to trick you into clicking a harmful link or attachment, or entering your username and password. See the full list to spot a scam email.
Choose Fiber for gaming
Nolan Penter is a police officer and video game enthusiast. He chose Smithville’s Fast Fiber Internet to support gaming with his family and friends on multiple devices at once. Watch the interview.
Protect your connection with safe digging
Before you dig in a new location, call 811 to locate buried utilities in your yard. By planning ahead and playing it safe, you can stay connected and avoid costly repairs or serious injury from cutting a line. Watch the five tips for safe digging.
Decipher 5G vs. 1 Gig Fiber
When comparing these two types of internet connections, start with the names. 5G stands for “5th generation mobile network” and is typically used for cell phones. A 1 Gig Fiber connection refers to an internet connection to a fixed location using a Fiber optic cable that can transfer data at speeds of 1 Gigabit per second. Learn more about 5G vs 1 Gig.
Discover cellular vs. hardwired internet
All wireless is the same, right? While cellular and hardwired internet with Wi-Fi can both produce a wireless signal, there are major differences in how you’re connected, impacting your access, bandwidth, speed and reliability. See the benefits of each.
Explore a new POV: Fiber construction technician
See the physical work it takes to bring Fiber to your home. Go on-site with Josh Lee as he describes life on the job as a construction technician at Smithville. See Josh’s POV as a Fiber tech.
Watch the playlist of these tech tips
Watch these seven videos and visit our YouTube channel Smithville Media for even more Smithville Smart videos. Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for notifications of our new videos.
