How do i find wifi in my area

The largest Cable companies in the United States are:. DSL has been around since the late s and early s when researchers found that copper phone lines could transmit both broadband signals and voice. Because DSL can run on existing phone lines, it is the most commonly available type of internet connection. Depending on the type of connection available to you, you may have data caps that restrict how much you can stream. Here are the requirements for streaming:. To summarize, we would recommend the following minimum download speeds for streaming on one device at a time:.

The amount of data you need depends on your internet usage, streaming uses the most data. Streaming six hours of high definition video per day uses GB per month versus streaming six hours of standard definition uses GB per month. Downloading one movie every day would use 60 GB per month. Downloading new games over the internet can use 30 to GB of data in one short burst and playing online for five hours per day can use 9 GB of data per month.

Listening to six hours of audio each day would use 5 GB per month. Speaking from personal experience, a family of three that streams Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime shows daily, watches movies weekly, streams music daily, and uploads photos frequently uses to GB each month.

Megabits Mb are what internet service providers use for measuring speeds. Megabytes MB are used for measuring file sizes and data usage. To convert bits to bytes, divide the bits by 8.

To convert bytes to bits, multiply the bytes by 8. Choosing the right provider for your needs depends on your normal internet usage and what is available in your area. If you are constantly streaming data, then Fiber, Cable, or DSL plans would work best for you in that order since speeds are fastest.

Your home's location plays a huge role in choosing the right provider since most internet providers differ in availability, whereas Wireless and Satellite internet providers have the most coverage, but have data caps on usage and limits on streaming.

We recommend starting with the top 2 most available providers in your area and compare their speed and price. You may have specific speed requirements, and one provider will stand out to you, or if you are on a fixed income, you may want to choose the cheaper option. Some providers may provide internet service in your area, even on your street, but your home may not be able to get connected because of distance limitations.

In the rare event that your first choice is unable to provide access to your home, have a backup provider in mind such as a DSL, Wireless or Satellite connection which are much more likely to be available. Homes in rural areas have an especially difficult time getting fast internet connections from providers because the speeds degrade as you get further away from their infrastructure.

They generally only install expensive Fiber-Optic backbones to fix the distance limitations in densely populated cities where there are far more potential customers. Your home may have already been connected to one or more ISPs by a previous owner or tenant. One or more providers may have already connected your home to their network, but you could still have more options available to you, possibly with faster speeds or lower prices.

To find your existing internet provider look for equipment with recognizable logos or company names inside your home, in the closets or laundry room inside a smart panel; on the exterior walls of your home near the main electrical panel for wiring panels; and, in the front yards of your neighborhood on telecommunication boxes. The telecommunication and broadband equipment can vary in design, but you will likely find the provider's name or logo on any of these items, look for equipment similar to these examples:.

This smart panel is located in a laundry room with coaxial cable and telephone wires inside, but no company name anywhere. These service panels are located on the exterior of the home adjacent to the main electrical panel, both units have a company name. These boxes can be found in neighborhoods with underground wiring. Stickers clearly show which provider uses this box for service.

Which Connection Is Best? Can I get Fiber Internet? Who has the best Cable? You might even be able to stand outside the store and access the free Wi-Fi on the street. See below for our list of the most popular national food and retail chains that give you free Wi-Fi. This includes most of the big names, like Cox, Spectrum, and Xfinity. There are tons of these public hotspots—Xfinity claims there are millions of hotspots in its network.

Xfinity even offers a convenient app to locate hotspots near you, available for iOS and Android. Enter your ZIP code to see available plans near you. There are a number of smartphone and web apps that can be used to help find hotspots.

These apps use crowdsourced data to build global hotspot maps. Wi-Fi Map is especially impressive, with over million hotspots in its database. Since Wi-Fi hotspots are easily accessible to the public, that also makes them easy to target by hackers, malware, and other security breaches. If you have to do anything involving sensitive personal data such as tax documents or online banking , we highly recommend not doing this over a public Wi-Fi network. See our guide to the best VPNs. The upside to using a mobile hotspot on your phone is that you have a secure hotspot with you pretty much wherever you have cell service—no need to hunt down a good connection.

However, many cell providers limit hotspot usage and charge additional fees to get more. It also uses up your battery power and data, so this works better as a quick fix than a long-term option. Read our guide to the best hotspots to learn more. Internet hotspots are Wi-Fi access points that are generally available to the public. Many hotspots are free, including those in restaurants, shopping malls, airports, and other public places.

If you want, you can just make one up to avoid the spam. In other words, this is your chance to finally put wizardchipmunk yahoo.

Just be aware that free hotspots also sometimes come with a higher security risk. So take extra precautions and avoid doing anything too sensitive on your computer if you can. This seems to be most common on flights and hotels, and the prices can get downright ridiculous. There are dedicated Wi-Fi hotspot devices that function like portable routers Huawei makes a nice one and use a SIM card for service.

See full disclaimer. Hotspots are basically public Wi-Fi networks, so they work just like your home or office network. With your phone, you can usually find available networks through your Settings page. Once you find the network list, select the one you want and enter the password if required. Many places will have a sticker or other sign advertising free Wi-Fi in the window. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.

Author - Peter Holslin. DSL uses existing telephone lines and tops out at Mbps, which makes it faster than dial-up but slower than most cable and fiber internet plans. If not, Viasat and HughesNet offer nationwide internet coverage with satellite internet. Not every internet provider will offer home internet in your area. Enter your zip code below to see which internet providers and internet plans are available to you.

Search by zip code Search Providers. Many internet providers deliver good service with wide availability across the country. Most likely, only one or two of these providers are available where you live, but this list of national providers is a great place to start your search. This list is based on combined insights gained from customer feedback , speed test data , and our annual customer satisfaction survey results.

See our guide to cheap internet for more details on affordable internet and Wi-Fi. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Prices listed are introductory and may require a contract. This list shows some of the most popular internet service providers ISPs nationwide, but we have information on over 1, Just enter your zip code to see ISPs near you.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Available Internet speeds may vary by address. Gig capable modem required for Gig speed. For a list of Gig capable modems, visit Spectrum. Entering your zip code to access our database of over 1, internet providers will give you the best idea of which internet providers are available where you live. Fiber internet is mainly available in densely populated areas. Are you moving to a new city?

Atlanta, for example, has nearly zip codes—six in the neighborhood of Buckhead alone. Using the correct zip code for your home will give you the most accurate internet provider results. The fastest accessible internet service in your area depends on where you live. Fiber plans can reach up to 2, Mbps. Fiber internet also supports symmetrical upload and download speeds—great for remote workers who need to upload large files to the corporate server, Twitch livestreamers, or households where multiple people are on video conferences at the same time.

Cable internet from providers like Xfinity, Sparklight, and Spectrum is the most widespread fast connection type. Cable internet plans reach up to 1, Mbps, which is not as fast as fiber but still plenty fast. In some areas, you may see cable internet plans with only — Mbps internet speeds.

DSL is essentially a step up from dial-up, offering internet speeds up to Mbps. But satellite internet might be your fastest option if you live in a rural area. Enter your zip code below to find the best internet providers in your area. Its maximum speed is just Mbps—faster than dial-up but slower than most cable and fiber plans.

Cable internet uses the same coaxial cable lines that deliver cable television, making it easy to bundle with TV. Fiber is the best internet on the market today, with speeds up to 2, Mbps. But its availability remains limited because fiber networks are expensive to build. Satellite internet uses transmitters orbiting Earth to beam internet to subscriber dishes on the ground.

The only downside is the long transmission distance, resulting in slower speeds and more lag. Most providers with 5G internet services give you a break on extra fees, including unlimited data and a router at no extra cost.

Like 5G, 4G LTE internet uses a fixed wireless connection over a cellular network to give you decent speeds. Some 4G providers specifically serve rural users and digital nomads, providing internet over travel routers that you can install anywhere.