Author: jameskinler

Cutting the cable cord is a great way to save money and break free from cable companies. According to Fortune Magazine, “cord cutters averaged $85 a month in savings, even including the amounts spent for Internet service and streaming video providers.” Cutting the cord may seem overwhelming, however, we aim to make it simple to cut the cord and start streaming all of your favorite TV shows and movies. Ensure that you have adequate Internet speed. In order to stream reliably and without buffering, make sure that your Internet plan is fast enough to support streaming. For SD streaming, your download speeds need to be at least 3 Mbps. and for HD streaming, you need at least 5 Mbps. If you are looking to stream on more than one device simultaneously, make sure that you have enough speed for each device. Choose a streaming device or smart TV. Most newer TVs are Internet-ready, which means they are already equipped to stream all of your favorite streaming services. If you do not have a smart TV, there are streaming devices that you can purchase that hook up directly into the HDMI or USB port of your TV. Here are some of our favorites: • Roku Streaming Stick • Apple TV • Amazon Fire TV Stick • Chromecast You can also use streaming services on a computer or mobile device such as your phone or iPad. BONUS: Although this may seem old-school to some, with an HD antenna, you can also get most local channels. By purchasing and installing an over-the-air antenna, you can watch local channels such as NBC, FOX, ABC and CBS. Subscribe to streaming services. Once you have all of the necessary equipment, it is time to decide which streaming services to subscribe to. Make a list of all of your must-have channels and TV shows, so that you don't miss a thing when you cut the cable! Here are some streaming services to watch favorite TV shows and movies: • Best for live TV - Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, Sling • On-demand options - Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video • Keep up with sports - ESPN+ • Perfect for kids - Disney+ Cancel your cable provider. If you are wanting to take the plunge and cut your cable cord, the final step is to call and cancel your current cable service. Your provider might try to offer you a better deal if you decide to stay with them, but stay strong! Cutting the cable cord can be worth it to save money, and the hassle of dealing with a TV provider.

Many Americans are making the big move to the country, as city and suburban life is getting increasingly costly, loud and stress-inducing. There are so many reasons, now more than ever, to move to the country or rural area. Here are just a few: More space Homes in rural areas typically have more square footage and acreage. The streets are emptier, and stores are less crowded. Just simply having more room to breathe and live is a great benefit of living in the country. Proximity to nature Living in the country puts you closer to nature and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You also have easy access to all of the outdoor activities that you love, including fishing, hunting, hiking, camping or climbing. When living in a rural area, you can do virtually all of these right in your backyard! Cleaner air Country living also means less cars and traffic on the road, which naturally means less pollution and better air quality! There are lots of trees and grass, which can actually improve the quality of the air as well. City lights are also pretty much non-existent in the country; reduced air pollution and reduced light pollution makes it easier see the stars at night. Cheaper cost of living When purchasing a home in a rural area, you can get more square footage and land for less money than you typically would in a suburban or urban area. Living expenses such as utilities, groceries, toiletries and entertainment are typically cheaper in rural areas, as well. Increased safety Statistically speaking, rural residents are less likely to be a victim of a crime. Because there are less people in the country, your chances of encountering a criminal or someone with ill-will are reduced. People are also more likely to look out for one another in rural areas so you can feel safer letting your kids play outside, going for a run, or just doing normal everyday activities! Less noise Without all of the traffic, sirens, and general noise that comes with city living, you will find that your life is much quieter when you live in a rural area. The only noises you will probably hear in the country are sounds normally found in nature, like birds chirping, wind whistling through trees or even wildlife. A quieter life can actually reduce your stress levels, making you more at peace and relaxed. More privacy You don’t have to worry about nosey neighbors invading your privacy when you live in the country. Since there are acres and acres between homes in the country, you can enjoy your privacy and not worry about neighbors eavesdropping on your conversations or about playing your music too loud! Lower stress All of these benefits to living in a rural community lead to one thing: less stress! Studies show that those who live a rural area are less stressed due to the close proximity to nature, reduced noise, cheaper cost of living, cleaner air and more room to breathe.

Some people may think that social media is just for trendy companies and brands, but social media is a great way to build awareness for all businesses, no matter your size or industry. In fact, social media can even expand the reach and influence of your agriculture business. Here are some easy ways to get started using social media for ag! Just start somewhere! If you don’t already have a social media account for your business, create one! We suggest starting with Facebook, as it has the most active users and it is super easy to create a business page. Other ideas of social media platforms to start with are Instagram or Twitter. Post on a regular basis. Staying active on social media is a great way to gain a following. Make sure that you are posting on a regular basis and even create a schedule, if that helps you stay consistent. Here are some ideas of what to post on social media if you get stuck: • Inspiring quotes • Videos of employees at work • Photos of your products • Fun facts about your industry or business • Events • Questions and polls Network and build community. Social media can be a great networking opportunity for your business and a great way to make some friends along the way. Make sure that you are following other farmers or members of the agriculture community. You can find new people to follow by joining ag-related groups or searching ag-related hashtags! Respond to comments. Another great way to build community is to comment on other’s posts and reply to the comments on your own posts. Staying active and interacting with your community helps you stay relevant. If you don’t know where to start, try setting goal to spend 5 minutes every day replying to posts and comments. Showcase the faces and stories behind your business. People love to see the behind the scenes, so show them! Whether it’s harvesting raisins, the almond blossoms in the spring or some of your employees in the office, people love to see the behind the scenes of your business. Try choosing one day a week to showcase an employee that you want to recognize on social media. All you have to do is snap a picture and write a short caption about them! It’s a super easy way to start putting a face behind your brand.

In the big wide world of social media, it can be easy to forget some basic etiquette and best practices to stay safe and maintain connections. Here’s a little refresher to make sure that you don’t make a mistake you regret on social media: Posting too frequently Your friends love to see what’s going on in your life on social media, but we don’t necessarily need an update every 5 minutes. Whether it’s your latest Candy Crush scores, what you ate for breakfast or your baby’s diaper blowout, pick and choose what you share. Try to keep posts to 1 or 2 a day per social media account and aim for quality over quantity. Oversharing Oversharing on social media can be a detriment to your personal safety. Posting your address, phone number or other private information can be harmful as well. Even if you think your social media profiles are private, that information can still get into the wrong hands. If you want to share that information, do so in a private message or offline. Everything you share on social media is permanent, even if you delete the post. Your friends, future employers and more could be able to see those images, so be mindful of what you’re sharing. Think about the consequences of posting something you may regret later. Tagging or posting photos without permission It’s just not kind to post pictures of someone without their permission, especially if the picture may be embarrassing or unflattering. Always ask permission before posting a picture of someone or tagging them. And, if someone asks you to remove a picture, honor their request.

unWired Broadband is proud to announce that we have launched a new microsite in Stockton, CA. Microsites are a powered by a small wireless Internet transmitter that is designed specifically to target connections in a specialized area. Located in the Stockton Verde Mobile Home Park, this microsite will serve residents in the park that were previously unable to get any type of Internet service. This is unWired’s 4th microsite. Special thanks to one of our Installation Technicians, Vance Haskin, who identified this location and worked with property management and unWired leadership to secure an agreement to get this new microsite up and running. The addition of a new microsite in Stockton is the most recent expression of unWired’s continued commitment to providing fast & reliable Internet to those in rural and underserved areas throughout Central California. In the coming months, we look forward to making continued improvements to our existing network, as well as expanding our coverage area. To find out if you can get unWired where you live or work, give us a call at (844) 650-3278!

unWired Broadband is proud to announce that we have launched a new tower in McFarland, CA. Coming in at 120 feet tall, this tower will serve existing customers in McFarland and Delano, as well as provide the capacity to serve even more new customers. This is the 9th tower that unWired has launched so far in 2020. Special thanks to Ben Amesquita, our Facilities Coordinator, who is responsible for ensuring the tower site is operational and ready for customers. Ben performs vital testing to ensure unWired continues to offer the same great service we are known for. The addition of a new tower in McFarland is the most recent expression of unWired’s continued commitment to providing fast & reliable Internet to those in rural and underserved areas throughout Central California. In the coming months, we look forward to making continued improvements to our existing network, as well as expanding our coverage area. To find out if you can get unWired where you live or work, give us a call at (844) 650-3278!

unWired Broadband is proud to announce that we have launched a new tower in Delano, CA. Coming in at 216 feet tall, this tower will serve existing customers in east Delano and Richgrove, as well as provide the capacity to serve even more new customers. This is the 8th tower that unWired has launched so far in 2020. Special thanks to one of our Field Construction Specialists, Nick Brown, who came up with an electrical solution that allowed us to get the tower up and running quicker. By understanding unWired's goals, and having a strong grasp on code compliance, Nick did a fantastic job of identifying a problem and coming up with a great solution. The addition of a new tower in Delano is the most recent expression of unWired’s continued commitment to providing fast & reliable Internet to those in rural and underserved areas throughout Central California. In the coming months, we look forward to making continued improvements to our existing network, as well as expanding our coverage area. To find out if you can get unWired where you live or work, give us a call at (844) 650-3278!

If you or your team is working remotely, you know that communication can sometimes be disorganized! But, you can communicate with ease via chat, video or audio using these apps that make communicating with your team easy and simple. Zoom Meetings Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing apps on the market right now. Zoom is perfect for large webinars or small meetings. You can get your entire team together with a maximum of 1000 participants and 49 videos on the screen at one time. They even have a Virtual Background feature that allows you to change the background of your video; perfect for those times when you want to hide your messy house or office. The free plan includes up to 100 participants, unlimited meetings and a 40-minute time limit. There are also paid plans available. Google Hangouts Meet If you already use Google products or G suite, Google Hangouts Meet might be perfect for you! All you have to do is set up a meeting and share the link with the participants. There are no plug-ins or special accounts required. All you need is the link. For those that already use G suite, you can send meeting invites right from your Google Calendar or Gmail. Google Hangouts Meet is included in G suite and plans start at $6 a month. GoToMeeting Plans start at $12 a month for 150 participants or you can host webinars on GoToWebinar starting at $49.99. You can even host a meeting on the go with commuter mode. Other features include conference calling (either audio or video), screensharing, cloud recording and voice commands to join or start a meeting. Skype With Skype, you can share an online meeting with just 3 clicks…no sign-ups or downloads required to get started. You can use Skype on desktop, any smart device or even Xbox! Skype also has a text chat or voice call option for you to keep in touch with your team throughout the day. Features like call recording or screen sharing (even on mobile!) are also available. Skype is free to use, but you can upgrade your plan to utilize even more features for your team.

You don’t have to have a fancy gym membership to get a great workout! These apps make it easy and fast to burn calories and build strength from the comfort of your own home or neighborhood. Here are some of our favorites: Sworkit No matter where you are in the world, you can have access to over 50 workouts right from your phone. Sworkit has 5-60 minute videos that guide you through your workouts and can be personalized based on your fitness level. They will even connect you with a personal trainer to get personalized advice for your fitness journey. Couch to 5K Couch to 5K will guide you through every step of their nine-week program that gradually prepares you for a 5K run. This app will track your distance and times, allow you to sync your playlists and share your progress with your friends on social media! Simply plug in your headphones and follow the prompts on your phone. You can even listen to your favorite playlists with their in-app music player. The app costs $2.99 to download and is free to use after that! FitOn FitOn offers workouts from celebrity trainers that you can stream to all of your devices including TV, phone and other smart devices. They have a variety of workouts depending on your fitness level and preference, including cardio, HIIT, barre, yoga and more. The best part is that all of the workouts are completely free! Tone It Up From HIIT to barre to kettlebell and boxing, Tone It Up has something for every woman…no matter their fitness level. Starting at $14.99, this app even has live classes, so you can join in with others around the world. Hundreds of workouts and easy to make recipes make this a great option for any woman looking to up her fitness game! Aaptiv This app offers a variety of workouts depending on your duration, style and trainer preferences. The workouts even include music that you know and love! You can enroll in programs customized to your personal fitness needs, whether you want to lose weight, become more flexible or run faster. After a free-trial period, Aaptiv is $14.99 a month! Sweat Sweat is a fitness app specifically geared towards women! With plans starting at $19.99 a month, you can gain access to hundreds of workouts, including post-pregnancy, low-intensity cardio, and the ever-popular HIIT. The app even includes weekly meal plans and shopping lists! Nike Training Club Gain access to world-class trainers with the Nike Training Club app. Every program and workout is designed by a Nike Master Trainer, with video workouts and interval training. Their bodyweight only workouts allow you get in a workout even if you do not have any workout equipment. NTC offers a premium version for $14.99 a month of $199.99 annually. This paid version offers even more content, as well as 4-6 week programs and wellness guidance to help you meet your fitness and health goals.

unWired Broadband is proud to announce that we have launched a new tower in Madera, CA. Coming in at 148 feet tall, this tower will serve existing customers in Chowchilla and northwest Madera, as well as provide the capacity to serve even more new customers. This is the 9th unWired tower in the Madera area and the 8th tower that unWired has launched so far in 2020. Did you know that it takes approximately 500 hours to design, engineer, install, test and turn up a new tower into our network?