Should I Upgrade to the Spectrum Gig Internet Plan?

Fri, Jan 5, 2024 1:16 AM

When everyone in your family is too busy, waiting for your web browser to load or your Netflix show to buffer can be aggravating. You want fast internet, and you want it now.

But how quick is “quick”? And what kind of high-speed Internet do you really require?

Spectrum Internet, like most Internet service providers, offers a variety of plans with varying speeds and rates. When it comes to selecting the best plan, speed is crucial. We will assist you in finding the right internet provider for your needs. This guide will explain Spectrum's plans, internet speeds, and what they mean for your streaming packages.

What is Spectrum Gig Internet, and How Does It Work?

Spectrum is a telecommunications company that provides internet, television, and phone services to customers around the US. Spectrum serves over 29 million consumers in 44 states as a whole.

Spectrum is a cable provider, which means that their internet and television services are delivered over the same cable rather than fiber-optic lines, which is a new technology that some companies are adopting. Their internet, on the other hand, continues to outperform its rivals in terms of reliability and stability.

Also Read: What is Considered Good Internet Speed?

Spectrum Gig Internet Plans & Pricing

Spectrum has three different internet plans to choose from. Even the slowest Spectrum internet speed is called “high-speed internet,” because it all boils down to the number of people in your household and what they'll be doing online. Here's a detailed breakdown, which includes price, pace, and suggested usage:

• Internet service for $49.99 a month The most basic package offered by Spectrum is the one you'll see promoted the most on their website—this is what they mean when they say "prices starting at." You'll get 200 Mbps of internet, which is more than enough bandwidth for two or three people to do a variety of daily tasks:

  1. Social networking and general web surfing

  2. Medium-sized files take slightly longer to upload and update than larger files.

  3. Video in standard definition (SD).

• $69.99 a month for Internet Ultra: This update doubles the speed of your Spectrum internet connection. With this Spectrum internet package, you'll get 400 Mbps to handle slightly more complex tasks and larger files. This is recommended for three- to four-person families that require internet for the following purposes:

  1. Big file uploads and downloads

  2. High-definition (HD) video streaming

  3. Amazon Echo and voice assistants are examples of smart home devices.

  4. Intensive work-from-home activities or distance schooling

  5. Social networking and general web surfing

  6. Gaming that is taken seriously

• $89.99/month Internet Gig If all of that isn't enough to meet your family's needs, this Spectrum internet plan allows you to upgrade to 940 Mbps. You'll be able to do virtually everything an average family of four or more needs to do online at this speed, including:

  1. Huge files—in vast quantities—are being uploaded and downloaded.

  2. 4K or 8K video streaming

  3. Technology for smart homes

  4. Whether it's virtual reality or multiple live gaming sources, there's something for everyone.

These suggestions come directly from Spectrum, but there's a little more to it than simply saying, "How fast is Spectrum Internet?" What do these figures imply for you and your family?

Spectrum Gig Internet Speeds Basics

Your internet connection's speed is measured in megabits per second, or Mbps. This is the number of tiny bits of data sent every second, or how quickly your computer or system can send and receive data over the internet.

A higher number of Mbps may appear to be more desirable, and it is in many cases. However, if you aren't planning on doing any especially intense online job or work, it isn't always mandatory.

Your internet connection is measured in megabits per second (Mbps), but the files and content you'll be accessing are measured in megabytes per second (MBps). Isn't it perplexing?

Also Read: What is the difference between Bandwidth vs Latency?

Bytes are likely more common to you than bits. You could see the size of each individual file if you looked at your screen right now—a 550 MB audio file, a 10 GB HD movie, for example. Kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes are the units of measurement.A megabyte is 1000 kilobytes, and a gigabyte is 1000 megabytes.

Let's assume your employer sends you some of the files mentioned above, as well as some larger files. How do different internet speeds translate into real-time results for you as a user when you download them to your computer?

• High-definition video of 4.09 GB is the size of a 4.09 GB disk. The topic of internet speeds comes up at this stage. Even so, there isn't much of a difference between the various options:

Waiting a few minutes for your partner to make an update and send over a new version of the files you're working on is a long time. If you exchange large files on a regular basis as part of your work, for example, internet speed can be a factor.

It's worth noting that the majority of internet service providers only advertise their download rates. Your upload speed would be much slower with cable internet, so those minutes could quickly transform into several hours.

Differences Between Advertised and Actual Speeds

The best-case scenario is still advertised by most businesses. That's why apparel retailers advertise Black Friday sales as "up to 50% off" or "as low as $3.99"—there's typically more to the tale than what's written in large, bold letters.

The speed of your connection can differ significantly. Spectrum, like every other internet service provider, is just estimating how fast the internet will be, not how fast it would actually be. Here are a few things that could affect your Spectrum service experience:

• Your location has a major effect on your internet speed. Rural America suffers from particularly poor internet speeds, which can be as low as 0.6 Mbps during the workday.

• Wireless: One of Spectrum's plans explicitly states that "wireless speeds can differ." When your computer is connected directly to the router or hub with an Ethernet cable, the internet speed is at its fastest. Wireless is so easy that it's impossible that anyone in your house will be wired in at all times.

Also Read: How Does My Wireless Router Affect My Internet Performance

• Several connections: A crowded house of remote workers and full-time students can stifle your internet connection. Each computer gets a smaller share of the bandwidth since it is shared by many people. When many people are on the same website—Netflix binge-watching, anyone?—this impact is exacerbated.

• Unfortunately, some internet service providers are simply more dependable than others. While a company can advertise internet speeds of "up to 100 Mbps," this does not guarantee that they will be delivered, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Fortunately, Spectrum is well-known for its consistent speeds. Customers had an average download speed of 93 percent, which is a very high value for this metric. But that doesn't mean you'll still get the same speeds.

Is Wi-Fi included with Spectrum Internet?

With Spectrum, you can get a wireless internet connection in two ways:

• Rent a Spectrum router: Spectrum includes a Wi-Fi router with their internet plans, but there is a fee that isn't always disclosed upfront. Although the price isn't bad—only $5 a month plus a small activation fee—misleading Spectrum's sales tactics can lead consumers to believe it's free.

• You can attach your own router to your internet modem if you have a Spectrum-compatible router. Spectrum advises that using a third-party router won't guarantee top speeds. Learn how to self install spectrum router

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