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Most of the prime time shows are available through inexpensive streaming services, such as Hulu, but I still sometimes want to watch my local broadcast stations for things like news and live local sports. In most cases, the local feeds are currently unavailable from streaming services.

First, I had to educate (really re-educate) myself about over-the-air (OTA) broadcast TV. I had almost forgotten that my local channels are still available for free over-the-air in crystal clear HD quality, often better quality than cable! And the local over-the-air broadcast signal includes secondary channels that are not even part of the Pay TV package.

Step 1: Buy a Decent Over-the-air HDTV Antenna

I decided to buy my antenna from a local store so I could easily return it if I was not satisfied with the picture quality. I initially tried an indoor antenna as I knew this would be the easiest to install. With the indoor antenna, I was able to get some of the local channels, but I wanted to get all of the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, PBS). If the indoor antenna works at your home, you can skip to Step 3.

Given the indoor antenna didn’t meet my needs, I needed to look into my situation more carefully. Most of the TV signals in the SF Bay Area are broadcast from Sutro Tower in San Francisco (or from nearby San Bruno Mountain), about 30 miles away from my home in Palo Alto, CA. Given my distance from the transmission tower and the local terrain with lots of trees and hills, an outdoor amplified antenna was recommended by the salesperson at my local shop. This choice was confirmed by a website that offers antenna advice by zip code. And given that all of my channels are broadcast from roughly the same location, a directional antenna would provide an extra boost. The directional antenna has the advantage of focusing the antenna gain only in one direction. If you are looking for more technical information about setting up your antenna, this website is helpful.

I liked the looks of the TERK LOGTVO antenna, which costs between $100 and $140, but there are other suitable models in a similar price range.

Step 2: Connecting the HDTV Antenna

Before I could watch over-the-air HDTV, I needed to solve a few logistical problems. Where would I mount the antenna? How would I pull a cable into the house? What about my 2nd TV? Fortunately, in my case I was able to reuse hardware and cabling that was already in place, and easily solve all of these problems. If you’ve previously had satellite TV at your house or an old analog TV antenna, you may have similar luck. This realization saved me a significant amount of time.

My new over-the-air HDTV antenna came with a mast, but in my case I was able to reuse the mast that was already in place from the old satellite dish. In my case, the old satellite dish was on the edge of my roof and less than 10 feet above ground level, but it still provided a fairly unobstructed path in the direction of Sutro Tower. The satellite dish mast was a somewhat larger diameter than the mast for my HDTV antenna, but the mounting bracket worked fine. It took a few minutes to remove the old dish, but otherwise not difficult.

Next, I realized that I could reuse the pre-existing coax line from the old satellite dish to connect my TV to the new HDTV antenna without laying any new cable. This was a key breakthrough – no need to pull cable and drill a hole. Even if you have to install a new mast, you may still be able to use a pre-existing coax line from either legacy satellite or cable service, or from an old analog TV antenna.

I then connected the coax line from my roof to the antenna’s power injector module next to my TV, and connected the other side of power injector module to my TV’s over-the-air input.

Step 3: Fine Tuning the HDTV Antenna Direction

I went online to find the compass heading from my home to Sutro Tower, the main Broadcast TV Tower in San Francisco. Remember that magnetic north is a little bit different than true north. For the Bay Area, the magnetic north heading is -14 degrees relative to true north. A GPS normally displays true north, while many smartphone compasses and a traditional magnetic compass point to magnetic north.

Most stations in the Bay Area transmit from Sutro Tower, but a few such as KNTV 11 (NBC) transmit from nearby San Bruno Mountain. From Fremont/Warm Springs, Sutro Tower is 290 degrees relative to magnetic north and San Bruno Mountain is 284 degrees. Due to various effects (terrain, buildings, vegetation), your optimum signal may be slightly different from the ideal compass setting. You might want to start around 287 degrees. If you have good signal with this compass heading, you are done. If you can’t find all of the major channels (or have image quality problems), you can search in a range around 287 degrees, say from 270 to 310 degrees.

I went back and forth a couple of times between my TV and the antenna to fine-tune the antenna direction and optimize signal strength for the major channels. Ideally, you can find someone to help you with the tuning process (talking to each other over a cellphone). Each time I adjusted the antenna direction, my partner did a channel scan from the TV menu then wrote down the number of channels found (around 100 in the best case) and checked TV signal strength from the Samsung TV’s diagnostic menu for a few of the weaker channels. In a two-person team, this process might take 15 to 20 minutes. Note that the primary feed for KNTV 11 is available on both channels 11-1 and 11-3. There may be some difference in the signal strength between these two channels, but you really only need one of these two. And KGO 7 (ABC) is also available on Channel 35. Depending on your location, you may receive a stronger signal from Channel 35 than Channel 7.

Step 4: Connecting the 2nd TV

Next, I realized that I already had a second coax line running through the house going to a 2nd TV. To use this 2nd coax line, I purchased and installed a coax splitter with “passive power pass-through” on one of the jacks. With an amplified antenna, the coax from the TV near the power injector should be connected to the “passive power” input of the splitter. I purchased my splitter for $5.88 on Amazon.

Summary

Over-the-air HDTV now looks great at my house on two TV’s! And in my case, this was relatively easy to accomplish. The entire process cost less than $150 and took a few hours of my time on a Saturday afternoon

Upload speed represents the rate at which you can send data from your home or business. This has a big impact on our everyday tasks like video conferencing. Have you ever seen someone go glitchy on Zoom? That’s because of a poor upload speed. Upload speed also impacts tasks such as sending email with large attachments or photos and using Cloud storage. As more applications are moving to the Cloud and we work more remotely, upload speed is becoming just as important as download speed.

We are all receiving information from the Internet, but how does that information, or content, get sent to us? A small amount of information is requested, then sent, and it waits on an acknowledgement. If confirmation of that information is received, then a little more, and a little larger amount, of information is sent. If you are not acknowledging enough, the Internet Protocol slows down and repeats the information. It is not a bug; it is a built-in feature of the Internet to enhance reliability. If you have a service plan with a low upload speed, this can slow down your online experience — especially if you are uploading large files or sending emails at the same time.

Your choice of internet service makes a difference

Satellite-based internet suffers from the delay (or lag, or latency) of long distance acknowledgements. It is superior to dial-up, and it is fairly good at streaming a continuous amount of data. It is not very good at interactive connections which is why most websites, gaming devices and music streaming don’t work very well.

Telephone company DSL Internet copper wire connections were a vast improvement over dial-up connections. But DSL was not designed for today’s internet. Most of the DSL capacity is reserved for downloading data as the engineers who invented DSL didn’t imagine today’s Cloud-based applications.

Cable company coaxial cable was designed for broadcast video and was never intended for uploading data and as a result the upload capacity of cable is inherently limited. You will notice that cable internet plans usually have very limited upstream with the speed buried in the fine print of the contract. Even as the download speeds increase, you will notice that cable upload speed has gone up slowly.

Fixed wireless providers such as Sail Internet use a new generation of wireless technology that was designed with today’s upload needs in mind. And the flexibility of wireless service delivery has enabled breakthrough download and upload speeds while bypassing the legacy cable and phone companies.

Why is this important to you?

If you are unhappy with your current internet user experience, take a look at your upload speed. A Speedtest will provide some clues as to whether or not you have enough upload speed for your needs. As a rule of thumb, a 4-to-1 ratio (or lower) between download and upload speed is recommended for a smooth internet experience. For example, a 100 Mbps download speed should be accompanied by at least a 25 Mbps upload speed.

And many of the upstream requirements are time sensitive. If your upstream data gets stuck behind a large attachment being emailed by someone else in your household or business, you may perceive your download speed slowing down and becoming jerky (buffering video, voice dropouts in VoIP calls, etc.).

The need for upload speed is almost as important as download these days and the new fixed wireless technology used by Sail is perfectly positioned to deliver in a way the traditional phone and cable providers are unable to do.

I’ve been delaying an upgrade to our home Wi-Fi setup for a while now. Our previous solution used two separate non-coordinated Wi-Fi routers that provided close to whole-home coverage, but it wasn’t ideal.

I had to constantly switch back and forth between the two routers as well as 2.4GHz and 5GHz as I moved through the house. And we still had a few corners with weak signal. It was frankly a big hassle, but I was used to it.

And making any changes to our home Wi-Fi has always been painful. Even though I’ve spent most of my career working on internet access technology and products, I like most people have found it challenging to setup and configure a retail Wi-Fi home router. I’ve spent considerable time staring at confusing network configuration pages: IP Addresses, multiple layers of passwords, Wi-Fi channel configurations, etc. I know the technology under the hood of a Wi-Fi home router is quite complex, but do the makers of these products really expect typical consumers to understand this stuff?

And from running an ISP, I can say without any hesitation that home Wi-Fi is one of the most common reasons our subscribers reach out to us for tech support assistance.

I am happy to report that things are now changing. A new generation of whole-home Wi-Fi mesh systems is not only maturing but also becoming more affordable.

But what is mesh, exactly?

A Wi-Fi mesh network is a group of coordinated home router units that communicate wirelessly with each other to create a single Wi-Fi network that provides a blanket of connectivity. This allows you to have multiple sources of powerful Wi-Fi throughout your home, instead of just a single router.

Since Wi-Fi is broadcast from each Wifi point (and not just a single router), a mesh connected system provides better coverage over a wider space. The mesh system is flexible and scalable, so if you have a larger home, connect as many points as needed to get better Wi-Fi in every room.

After hearing good reports about Google Wifi, I recently bought a 3-pack from Amazon for less than $300 (only slightly more expensive than a single high-end retail Wi-Fi router). Based on my past experience of problems and headaches with Wi-Fi setup, I set aside a few hours to complete this task and deal with any aftermath of the change.

But I am happy to report that Google Wifi setup was incredibly easy. The whole process took maybe 10-20 minutes at my house. Google has an intuitive app that I downloaded to my smartphone, and the rest was a matter of minutes. Google automatically handled all of the complex and confusing networking details, and it literally just worked straight out of the box.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Download and start the Google Wifi app on your smartphone.

2. From inside the app, login to your Google account. If you already have a Google account, this can be just a few clicks.

3. Take a photo of the QR code on the bottom of the first Google “Wifi Point” unit you unpack. The units are physically identical, so it doesn’t matter which one of the 3 units becomes your main unit.

4. Plug-in the first Google Wifi Point to your modem and to a power outlet.

5. Name your Wi-Fi network and create a Wi-Fi password.

6. Name the Wifi Point unit. Such as “Office” or “Family Room”

7. Plugin and name the 2nd and 3rd Wifi Points. Since the Wifi points talk to each other wirelessly, it’s not necessary to have wired connections for the 2nd and 3rd units. Although you may see higher speeds if you can connect the units with cat5e or cat6 cable providing gigabit speeds on the backbone.

And that’s all! Nothing more to do. Not only is my in-home Wi-Fi dramatically improved, but Google saved hours of my time. And the Google Wifi points are much more attractive than the multi-tentacled external antenna units that I previously had at home.

You’ll need a compatible wireless router to connect your devices to our service. You can provide your own WiFi home router, or you can let Sail handle it for you.

Option 1: Supply Your Own Router

Single-Router Solution

If you would like to provide your own router, great! We suggest a high-performance AC1900 (condo/apt) or AC2300 (larger single family home) class WiFi router (or better) with external antennas to have the best online experience.

Please note that AT&T U-Verse or Comcast combination cable modem/routers are not compatible. With Sail, your modem is in the rooftop antenna and no other modem is needed.

You’ll want to use a newer router model. Older routers will slow you down and diminish your online experience. If you use a non-recommended WiFi router, you might not reach our advertised speeds and you may have less than stellar WiFi coverage in your home. When you use a recommended WiFi router, your downloads and uploads will really fly.

For the best online experience, we suggest choosing a router that meets all of these criteria:

Standalone AC1900 class or higher (AC2400 or higher for large homes)
Is NOT an AT&T or Comcast modem/router
802.11ac
External antennas
Dual-band or tri-band

Multi-router “Mesh” Solution

A new category of high-end “coordinated” multi-box Wi-Fi home router products has recently hit the market. Instead of investing lots of engineering into a single high-end router with external antennas, these multi-device solutions provide several small coordinated routers (with internal antennas) that you can distribute throughout the home. These coordinated routers automatically beam the wireless signal between each other and to/from your devices to give you seamless Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home, with only one of the routers needing a “wired” Ethernet connection to your modem. While each of the router pucks may be rated at “only” AC1200, the total solution performance will usually exceed the performance of a single stand-alone router.

Eero, Google WiFi, Orbi offer multi-router mesh products. Check out our blog post about the Google WiFi router at “Wi-Fi Mesh: So Long, Dead Zones“

Option 2: Choose Sail’s WiFi Router

We have found that some Sail customers struggle with selecting and configuring their own Wi-Fi router, and need assistance to fully experience Sail’s blazing fast internet speeds. You can let Sail handle it for you.

Sail Internet typically uses a Google Nest or Google WiFi router.
We install the home router and optimize the range to give the best possible coverage throughout your home.

If you need a router and would like setup help, the Sail WiFi router plan is a great value. If you feel confident in choosing your own router and setting up your own network, providing your own router is the way to go.

Internet surrounds our daily life. It’s central to paying bills, finding a job, working from home and communicating with others. Even our smart appliances require connectivity. As internet technology moves at accelerating speeds, it makes it hard, if not wholly impossible, to grasp all the particulars. Enter Sail Internet who is bringing a different type of internet service to the those who feel they are paying too much for too little.

Sail Internet is helping to introduce fixed wireless technology to an audience who hungers for better, faster and more affordable service. Fixed wireless broadband represents a new way to connect, marking a fresh and compelling example of how emergent technology, shifting media usage and the rise of insurgent companies like Sail Internet have jolted the industry. To understand the future, we need to take a look back at our online journey.

The Early Days

The internet, as we know it today, really took hold in the public imagination around 1994 with the advent of the first consumer browsers by Netscape and Microsoft. By 2000, only half of the country was using the internet. Unlike radio and television, the internet had to overcome tremendous social trepidation and public skepticism. For most people, the only way to access the internet was through a dial-up service that used existing phone lines. It was a frustrating experience—slow, unresponsive and maddening.

Higher Speeds

As a whole, the United States has lagged behind most other countries in internet speed. As internet use expanded, so has our need for speed. Most internet providers started out as phone companies, giving them control of one of the only physical lines that serve each household. The other popular home internet service comes from cable companies. Faster broadband technology has replaced dial-up by providing a permanent connection that is always on.

Can You Hear Me Now?

For most people, using only a cell phone for internet service is insufficient. A small screen makes it more of a challenge to perform everyday tasks while data plans may restrain your usage and a cellular connection will limit your speed.

Lost in Space

For some, a satellite connection is their only option to be online. When you connect, your data is transmitted to and from a satellite that is orbiting above the Earth, resulting in slow and sluggish service. Don’t confuse a large satellite dish with a smaller fixed wireless device whose connection never goes into outer space.

Fiber Fizzles

Google Fiber was the first significant, if isolated, action to alter the landscape by deploying fiber optic technology that converts electrical signals made up of data to light and pushes that through transparent glass fibers. Google promised speeds up to a gigabit, or 1,000 Mbps. The process of either licensing or installing such an extensive fiber network is logistically, technically and politically complex and the rollout has been stymied by rising costs.

So, What is Fixed Wireless?

Fixed wireless is a form of high-speed internet access that connects fiber to end users by operating between two fixed points through wireless signals instead of through cables. Sail Internet’s specially placed antennas beam the broadband transmission directly to subscribers, either individuals or businesses, typically covering a distance of less than a few miles.

Developed originally as a high-speed option for those who live outside cities or municipalities, Sail Internet is using fixed wireless to bypass cable and telecoms to offer fast, secure and affordable service in dense suburban population

This technology is not dependent upon satellite feeds or local telephone service. The point-to-point transmission happens in the air. There is no complex or costly laying of fiber networks. Fixed wireless broadband represents a new way to connect, marking a fresh and compelling example of how emergent technology and the rise of insurgent companies like Sail Internet have jolted the industry.

Fixed wireless points toward a new direction that offers a legitimate alternative to a marketplace often held hostage by entrenched telecom duopolies. One industry estimate says worldwide more than 150 million households will adopt fixed wireless technology by the year 2022. Sail is paving the way to that future.