1       Compare Fixed Wireless VS. Fiber?

Both Fixed Wireless and FIber are solutions for the access layer which is the method the internet service is delivered to the subscriber.  For TCI, the path is identical from the office to Dallas and the internet.  The access technologies have significant differences.  Wireless performance is affected by distance from the Access Point on the tower, objects in the line of sight, weather, and interference. Fiber performance can be affected by defects in the fiber, like cuts (breakage), bad splices and dirty connections, which all lower the signal strength. but assuming it is correctly installed and not physically damaged, the only real limitations are the settings on the equipment.  Fiber allows data rates up to 1 Gigabit per second  in residential settings where wireless rates are typically 25 to 50 Mbps. Latency is better with fiber as well with fiber latency about 14-16 ms (milliseconds) and wireless typically 25-35 ms.   TCI Fixed Wireless performance is actually quite good when compared to cable or Wireline (DSL) technologies. However Fiber is the best choice compared to any other technology available today.

2      What is the Power Block plugged into the black cable going to the outside?

The power block is a power injector that powers the outside antenna. The black cable going outside should plug into the connection marked POE. The other connection is marked LAN and connects to the Internet port (WAN) on the router.

3      What do I do to reset (reboot) the router? 

First of all, never push the reset button on the router. These usually require a paper clip and will restore the router to factory default. Those settings will not allow traffic to flow to the internet. Instead, either power cycle the router from the switch, or if no switch, unplug the router, count to 10 and plug it back in.

4     Why do some of my devices not reach the internet after a power failure?

The devices in your home are all connected to the router and each is assigned a unique IP address.  When a power failure occurs, the router and devices without internal batteries will reboot when the power is restored.  So the router no longer knows the previous IP assignments.  If any devices have batteries, like Cell Phones, Laptops, or Tablets, they do not reboot and still have their prior IP assignment.  As the rebooted devices return to service they ask for and are assigned IP addresses. SInce the router doesn't remember the prior assignments, sometimes an IP address gets reassigned to a second device.  This causes an IP conflict, and the router gets confused. Both of the devices with a conflict will not work properly.  This can be resolved by either power cycling the battery powered devices, or in the case of cell phones, put them in and out of airplane mode.  This causes a new IP address to be assigned and eliminates the conflict.

5    Can I get a Public/Static IP Address?

Yes you can, however, most of the time, the system assigned (DHCP) IP Addresses are all that is needed.  A Public IP is required when a device needs to be reached from outside the area network.  VPN server for business, Some Camera Systems, and Web Servers are examples where the public ip is required.  The Private IP addresses assigned through the network are often better for residences, because they provide a high degree of security from outside hackers.  In effect, your home network is hidden behind the Private IP.

6    Can I use Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+,  or Hulu (plus many more)? Will ROKU or Amazon Firestick devices work?

Yes both Streaming services and devices will work.  If you figure each service/device needs a Download Speed of 10-15 Mbps, you can determine how may you can use simultaneously based on the download speed purchased. The higher Fixed Wireless and any of the FIber speeds will support multiple streams.

7    Will Meeting tools such as Zoom or MS Teams work with these services?

All of our service offering are designed to work with meeting tools. The meeting tools require 1 to 1.5 Mbps upload speed at a minimum for othe people in the meeting to hear and see your camera input.  All of our services have at least a 2 Mbps upload speed and some have far mose.  Other companies offer DSL, Cable, or Satellite services which often do not support enough upload, so your video feed appears choppy or doesn't work at all.

8    Is your Autopay and payments system secure.

Yes, we use a 3rd party billing portal which is secured with SSL and store tokens for credit card numbers.  Your actual card data is not stored in our portal. The portal connects to the merchant account which works with the credit card vendors and banks. 

9    How do I set up Autopay?

You can go directly to the billing portal address if you saved it, or go to www.triplecrowninternet.com/billing which will have a link to direct you to the portal.  Your user name is set up when you were installed and should be something easy to remember. It is often your first initial followed by your last name.  If you don't remember the password, use the forgot/set new password function.

10    How do I get an accurate Speed Test?

Speed Tests can be accurate but often are not. Speed Test services often use a geographically close server to test speed. But the internet is connected through Internet Exchange Points, also called peering points. In Texas, all traffic uses Dallas as the major peering point. So to get to most sites on the internet, the traffic routes through Dallas. The speed that matters is the speed at the peering point. TCI is directly connected to one of the biggest data centers in Dallas. For an accurate speed test, use a speed test server in Dallas.  Also beware that the servers get overloaded, so if you test at multiple servers, the fast one most closely reflects the connection speed.