What does FUN stand for?
Fiber User Network
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Why fiber?
John Watson created Cable TV in 1948. We thought it was time for an improvement.
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No seriously, why fiber?
RTC feels that just as communities that were passed by the interstate highway system prosper, communities that have a fiber optic infrastructure will thrive economically. Fiber Optics will be vital in attracting new industry (more jobs) and new home owners.
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Is FUN compatible with...(Windows 7, Vista, XP, Mac OS X, Linux)?
Yes.
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What are some advantages of fiber optics?
Speed - Fiber signals are sent at the speed of light, therefore we've only begun to scratch the surface on download/upload speeds. Fiber optic service is the future of communications and entertainment
Gaming - Fiber optic internet is much more efficient for online game. We are able to control the latency (if you're not a gamer, you've never heard this term) more effectively when on a fiber network.
New (undeveloped) Applications - Could you ever have imagined paying all your bills online, buying music online, shopping online, downloading movies online, and video conferencing on a single DSL connection? A fiber optic internet will allow for a lot more innovation. As the old saying goes, 'If you build it, he will come'. We think the 'he' is the new generation of internet applications. Things will be faster, more detailed, and more interactive.
Low power - Because signals in optical fibers degrade less, lower-power transmitters can be used instead of the high-voltage electrical transmitters needed for copper wires.
Digital signals - Optical fibers are ideally suited for carrying digital information, which is especially useful in computer networks and television
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Does FUN have a hidden bandwidth cap?
At the present time, RTC does not impose any hidden bandwidth caps, etc. However, the RTC usage policy stills stands. (policy is located at http://www.catt.com/staticpages/index.php/aup)
As you may very well know, viruses, etc. that infect your machine can cause more damage "behind the scenes", which can in result use your net traffic for malicious content and acts.
If you believe there's any type of security (virus, spyware, etc) intrusion on your computer(s), it's recommended your machine receive the proper care from a technician.
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My house will require CAT 5 wiring. I would like to prewire this cable while the house is under construction. Will RTC supply this cable to me in advance?
No, you are responsible for all internal wiring unless done during the actual installation of our FUN service. Service charges may apply. We highly encourage you to ask your builder to home run CAT5 wiring to where all of your TV's will be located.
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Can I use my wireless router with FUN Internet?
Yes. Please have it with you at the time of installation so we can input it's MAC (media access control) address into our system. If you do not have one, RTC can lease you one for $9.95 per month (includes full support).
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What brand of router should I buy?
We use Linksys brand routers, but any Netgear, D-Link, Microsoft, or Apple branded router should work fine. We only offer support for routers if you lease one from us. It's really hard to diagnose equipment we did not install, so that is why we only support the ones we lease.
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Why are certain shows in HD and others are not? Can you all fix that?
No, the broadcaster determines when/if to offer a channel/show in HD. RTC has no control over this. We love to watch HD as much as you do, though.
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Can you carry (insert channel you'd like to see) ?
It depends. Let us know via email (information below) about a channel you'd like to have and if we get enough responses, we'll look into it.
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Do you have HD DVR's?
Yes.
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What is the difference between FUN-TV/Internet/Voice and Cable/Satellite/Regular Phone Service?
Your services (TV channels, voice, Internet) are sent over a fiber optic network, to your home, which results in no degradation of the signal. You get pristine picture quality, very reliable (and super fast) Internet service, and clear voice conversations. It's comparable to driving a car with a manual transmission and then driving one with automatic transmission. It's simply faster, easier, and more 'FUN'
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So, what are the actual differences in equipment in my home?
The set top boxes (connected to each TV that has FUN-TV) are very similar to what we use now. It will change if you upgrade to an HD set top box or an HD-DVR set top box. We also replace the NID (Network Interface Device) on the outside of your house with an ONT (Optical Network Terminal). Examples below are pictured below. The ONT also replaces your Internet modem on the inside of the house. Some houses may require a small switch depending on the number of TV's connected.
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I just bought a LCD (or plasma) TV. Should I upgrade to HD service?
We highly recommend signing up for HD service if you have an HDTV. Not doing so would be like having a Mercedes and not putting gas in it. What would be the point of buying one? Once you watch a movie or a football game in high definition, you'll be asking yourself why you waited so long to upgrade. Trust us, HD is worth it.
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I have an analog (not LCD or plasma) TV and I have the FUN-TV service, am I ready for the switch to all digital signals? (https://www.dtv2009.gov/AboutProgram.aspx)
Yes. FUN-TV is 100% digital. The only people who are affected by the digital switchover are the people who use an antenna to receive their TV channels.
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What happens when the power goes out?
RTC installs a battery backup that will provide voice service for approximately 8 hours. It will not provide power for the Internet or TV service
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How does FUN affect my home security system?
Not much at all. Your security system and the ONT each have a built in battery backup that will power themselves in the event of power failure.
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Do I get to keep my same phone number when I switch to FUN?
Yes.
Did we leave something out? Still have questions about Fiber Optics? Send us an email or visit our online forum.
RTC Fiber User Network
http://www.rtcfiber.com/staticpages/index.php/fiber-optic-frequently-asked-questions