Updated September 2024:
- Now that the wireless carriers are offering Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) Internet service in many areas, there’s more choices for internet speeds and service levels. However, FWA may not be as reliable.
- You may be able to downgrade the speed provided by your current Internet provider to save money with little or no noticeable difference.
- Consider bundling home Internet and wireless service to save money.
Internet service providers offer different speed tiers and pricing based on the speed of the internet connection you can expect at your Internet Service Provider’s (ISP) modem/gateway located in your home.
In the Reno area as of September 2024, Charter’s Spectrum service offers Internet speeds of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps), 400, 500, 600 and 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps or often referred 1 Gig). Just a few years ago, 100 Mbps was their standard bottom-tier “Internet” speed offering – it’s now 400 Mbps. AT&T’s xDSL & Internet service offers slower download speeds ranging from less than 1 Mbps to 100 Mbps, but their expanding AT&T Fiber network offers speeds ranging from 300-5000 Mbps (5 Gbps).
FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) can be cheaper, but less reliable
In July 2022 T-Mobile began offering wireless home internet service in the Reno area via Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). Download speeds are advertised at 30-245 Mbps, which is fast enough to stream UHD/4K video quality. In May 2023 Verizon began offering FWA in specific areas of Reno where they’ve upgraded their cell towers, with download speeds advertised at 85-300 Mbps. In late 2023 AT&T’s Internet Air became available in certain areas of Reno with download speeds varying from 75-225 Mbps. As of May 2024, AT&T has been encouraging some of their home non-fiber internet customers to switch to Internet Air.
Thought FWA is often cheaper, unlike xDSL, Cable or Fiber Internet, FWA can be less reliable since the service is shared with hundreds or thousands of other users in your area using the same cell tower/node. Therefore speeds during peak times can be slower, or during an extended power outage you could temporarily lose service altogether. Before considering FWA, check out “5G” Home Internet vs. Spectrum Internet.
Save money by choosing a slower Internet speed plan
Count on spending at least $50/month for reliable internet service, but anything above $80/month is probably unnecessary for small-to-medium households. If you’re on a faster speed tier with your Internet Service Provider, you may be able to save money by switching to a lower speed plan.
Faster internet speeds do not make your computer faster
If your computer seems slow, contact Computer Techs before calling your ISP to increase your internet speed – because it’s likely that the bottleneck is with your computer. Internet speed only affects how fast web pages load in your web browser, or how clear and smoothly videos stream to your device. If your computer is slow to start or open programs – that has nothing to do with your internet speed.
Speeds are guaranteed at the router/gateway – not at your device
Even if you subscribe to an internet service plan at 1 Gbps or more, don’t expect to see those speeds on a Wi-Fi connected device. Wi-Fi speeds vary by frequency and distance from your wireless router. On the 2.4 GHz frequency Wi-Fi band, you’ll rarely get speeds near 100 Mbps due to its narrow bandwidth channels and interference from neighbor Wi-Fi networks in most areas that limit the connection speed. The 5 GHz band’s wide bandwidth channels can achieve speeds of 800 Mbps or more, but only if you’re within approximately 20 feet and line-of-sight to the wireless router/gateway. Once you go to another room or move further away, speeds begin to fall off dramatically.
Why pay for gigabit internet speeds if your wireless devices can’t deliver speeds that fast?
One reason there’s typically no reason for the average family household to subscribe to 1 Gbps or more internet speeds is because most wireless devices currently can’t transfer data as fast as a gigabit internet connection. Another reason is the bandwidth required for one of the most bandwidth sensitive actions such as streaming video is only 25 Mbps.
Do you need speeds above 25 Mbps?
The FCC’s Household Broadband Guide recommends download speeds of at least 3 Mbps for typical online activities for one user. Video streaming uses the most bandwidth on your network. To stream video that’s clear and interruption free, Netflix recommends that you should have a 15 Mbps connection (at your TV or device) to stream their highest quality video – Ultra HD or 4K. In theory, if you have a 100 Mbps internet connection, you could simultaneously stream six 4K movies with ease. But if your TV is across the house from your internet gateway/router, or if your Wi-Fi becomes congested, your TV could be getting speeds far below the recommended speeds for streaming.
| Measure the internet speed on your current device here. |
FCC re-sets the bar for Internet Service Providers to provide a minimum of 100/20 Mbps
In March 2024, the FCC increased their speed benchmark for high-speed fixed broadband Internet Service Providers to a minimum of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. In the chart below we feature the most common Internet Service Providers in the Reno area, current speed offerings, and pros and cons of each service.
| Broadband Technology (2024 speeds) – Provider(s) in Reno area | Pros | Cons |
| xDSL (1-100 Mbps) – AT&T DSL/Internet | None | – Slowest speeds – Old technology using copper wiring |
| Cable (100-1000 Mbps symmetrical) – Charter Spectrum | – Faster & more reliable than xDSL – “Internet 100” is one of the best deals for internet service as of August 2024 | – Likely will go down if there’s a neighborhood power outage |
| Fiber (100-5000 Mbps symmetrical) – AT&T Fiber | – Fastest & most reliable speeds and latency – Can continue to work if there’s a neighborhood power outage | – Difficult and lengthy process to repair if fiber optic cable is cut. |
| Fixed Wireless Access via your cellular provider (30-300 Mbps) – AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon | – Currently less expensive than most services that run a wire (cable or fiber) to your house. | – Highly variable speeds depending on how many other users are online in the neighborhood – Can go down if there’s a neighborhood power outage and no cell-site generator power |
The bottleneck – your WiFi connection
If there’s lots of distance or walls between your internet gateway/Wi-Fi router and your devices, and you’re experiencing wireless speeds that aren’t keeping up with your advertised internet connection speed, you may need to replace your Wi-Fi.
Consider bundling home Internet with wireless to save money
As mentioned above, you may be able to lower your monthly Internet service bill by switching to a slower/cheaper speed tier. You can also consider bundling home Internet and mobile service. Spectrum offers discounts when bundling home Internet and WiFi, with their Spectrum Mobile service which uses the Verizon wireless network. AT&T offers a 25% discount when bundling home Internet and wireless services.
We can help you optimize your home Wi-Fi connections and save money on Internet service.
Contact us to discuss your internet and wireless needs – we can help!
References:
AT&T – Understanding internet speeds
T-Mobile Internet service policies
Important Information About Verizon Wireless Broadband Internet Access Services