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Call 811 Before You Dig

Posted on by DataVision

On occasion, almost everyone has occasion to do a little yardwork—and sometimes it involves using a shovel. Maybe you want to do some spring gardening or plant a bush. Perhaps you’re installing a new mailbox. It doesn’t matter the reason, if you’re putting a shovel into the ground—you really need to make sure you’re doing it safely.

That’s why you need to call 811 or check with your state 811 center before you do any kind of digging on your property.

Why is calling 811 so important?

It’s a matter of safety for you—and your community! If you were to accidentally strike a buried line while digging, it could disrupt utility service for you and your neighbors, cost a lot of money to repair, or even cause severe injury or death. That’s why you always want to contact your 811 center before putting a shovel in the ground.

When you dial 811, you’ll automatically be connected to a representative from your state’s 811 center, and they’ll ask you a few simple questions about the location and details about where you plan to dig. If you make your request online, you’ll enter the same information into a form. Regardless of which method you use to contact them, you’ll receive a ticket number, instructions for how much time utilities have to respond to your request, and how to confirm that all utilities have responded before you can safely dig.

It’s not just a good idea—it’s the law!

Here’s what happens after you’ve reached out to 811 with your request:

  • A utility locator will visit your home or business.
  • The contractor will locate natural gas and utility lines on your property—free of charge!
  • The contractor will put down visual markers to identify the lines—that way you’ll know where it’s safe to dig, and which areas you should avoid.

Remember, even if you think it’s a small project, like planting a garden, if it involves putting a shovel into the ground, the law requires you to contact 811.

At DataVision we care about your safety!

Whether it’s protecting the safety of your home and family with one of our high-quality home security systems or simply keeping you up to date on the safest ways to go about your home projects, at DataVision, we value our role as your trusted advisor. Have questions? Reach out to us at 503-792-3611.

Broadband’s Impact on Agriculture

Posted on by DataVision

How important is the expansion of broadband to the health of the agriculture industry?

The short answer is: very.

According to data from the US Department of Agriculture and the American Farm Bureau Federation, domestic farms could contribute up to $23 billion to the U.S. economy each year with the help of precision agriculture technology—but to make that happen, more broadband is needed.

Rural broadband is essential to modern agriculture

To the casual observer, unfamiliar with the modern farming industry, pastoral images of farming can make it appear to be a low-tech, hands-on, and practical business that primarily involves planting, harvesting, and selling. But as technology continues to advance, precision agriculture tools that rely on the internet and massive amounts of data are used by farmers every day.

Tools, such as yield mapping, guidance systems, and soil mapping, which provide farmers with data on how much water and fertilizer their crops require, need the internet to provide accurate data. And broadband is essential when it comes to updating the software in farm equipment and speeding efficiency for the farm as a whole.

Each new piece of precision agriculture technology affords the farming industry new opportunity to grow and prosper, but the current lack of internet access in rural America is holding it back.

When technological innovation in agriculture is encouraged and made possible through greater connectivity,  the efficiency of the American farmer is vastly improved,  providing valuable growth to the economy, increasing environmental sustainability, and enhancing the stature of our rural communities.

That’s why we’re hard at work every day, helping to bring the best broadband service available to our vital rural communities.

At DataVision, we care about our farming communities!

Contact DataVision today to learn how we can partner with you to bring high-speed internet to your agriculture business.

Whether working with our local farmers or simply helping you get the most out of your broadband connection, DataVision values our role as your trusted advisor. Have questions? Reach out to us at 503-792-3611.

Setting Up Your Wi-Fi Router

Posted on by DataVision

Get the best signal for your home

At DataVision, we want you to have the best internet experience possible. So, when you’re setting up your router, we want to be sure you’re armed with the information you need to get started—and that means knowing a few secrets that will deliver the best signal possible.

Here are three simple things to keep in mind when selecting a location for your router:

Pick the right spot
Putting your router inside a cabinet, behind a wall, or next to something metal can weaken the signal—routers are most effective when they are out in the open and placed in a central location. Furthermore, placing your router in the highest location possible, such as the second floor of your home, or even a high shelf, can give a boost to your speed!

Avoid signal eaters
Certain home appliances, like microwave ovens or wireless phones, can have adverse effects on your Wi-Fi signal. Investing in a dual band router can help with this, but placing your router farther from these appliances is also a good idea.

Consider getting a boost
Even when you have a great router placed in the best location, you’ll occasionally find that you have dead spots in your home where the signal can’t reach. That’s when it’s handy to know about Wi-Fi boosters, Wi-Fi extenders, and mesh networks. Wi-Fi boosters and extenders are relatively inexpensive ways to make your signal go farther. Wi-Fi mesh networks can be slightly more expensive, but can provide whole home coverage when you’ve got a larger home or want the signal to reach all corners of your property.

DataVision is here to help!
As the world speeds up, we like to keep up with it, and here at DataVision, we’re proud to provide the fastest internet available. By paying attention to the simple issues outlined in this article, you’ll be in good shape to have that speed delivered to all the devices in your home.

And if you ever have any questions about your service, we’re here and we’d love to hear from you!

5 Essentials for Your Home Office

Posted on by DataVision

What makes a home office workable?

In an ideal world, you have a designated space in your home in which to work. While it might be necessary for some to operate from their bedrooms or the kitchen table, we don’t advise this solution unless you have no other options. It’s better for your mental health to have at least a little separation between your home and work life.

Here are some basics:

  1. Desk
    As a general rule, the surface of your desk should stand between 28 to 30 inches above the floor and provide enough room for a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Having a comfortable, but supportive chair is good, too.
  2. Lighting
    Good lighting is important—it helps you look professional in online meetings, and it can help prevent eye strain and fatigue during a long workday. We always recommend facing your desk toward a window as a great source for natural light.
  3. Best Wi-Fi Router
    Having the best Wi-Fi router available makes good business sense because it’s essential to keep you connected—wherever you’re working from in your home. At <<placeholder for company name>>, we’re always here to help you select the best router available to help you get your job done.
  4. A Good Bluetooth or USB Headset
    If lawnmowers, outside construction workers, and barking dogs crowd your soundscape, a headset that features a noise cancelling microphone to filter out the background noise is something your co-workers will thank you for.
  5. Surge Protector
    A good power strip with a built-in surge protector is a great (and inexpensive) way to protect your equipment and your work.

With these essentials, along with a good PC or laptop, you should be in great shape to get the job done from the comfort of your home

DataVision is here to help! At DataVision, we value our role as your trusted advisor when it comes to making the most of our internet services, whether you’re using them in your home office or simply kicking back to enjoy an evening’s entertainment.

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Streaming Media – Device Comparisons

Posted on by DataVision

Get to know your streaming devices

As more and more people cut the cord to stream their favorite movies and TV shows, an increasing number of companies are jumping into the fray by manufacturing new devices and platforms for viewing the content you want to watch.

We’ve picked five of our favorite media streaming devices (in alphabetical order) to help you get an idea of what’s available. We’ve included basic information, along with a few pros and cons, to give you an idea of their distinguishing features.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max is currently the fastest Fire TV Stick that Amazon offers—and it’s definitely the way to go if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber. It comes with all the apps you’ll need for streaming, and features Dolby Atmos sound, Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HDR10+. It also supports Wi-Fi 6, and has great live TV integration. If you’re thinking about an Amazon Fire TV streaming device, this model is the one to get.

Pros: Fastest performance from any of the current line of Amazon Fire TV Sticks. Handy live TV integration. So many apps.

Cons: An abundance of Amazon ad content.

Apple TV 4K

If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, this is one of the fastest and most practical 4K streaming devices available. It allows you to share your tvOS on-screen content quickly and easily from most Apple computers, iPads, or iPhones. The Apple TV 4K tends to be on the pricey side, so it might not make sense for people who don’t already use Apple devices or have streaming Apple media in their libraries.

Pros: New and improved remote. HDR streaming. Multi-user support.

Cons: Relatively expensive.

Chromecast (Google TV)

If  you don’t have a favorite platform, the Google Chromecast offers a neutral gateway to all your streaming devices. Chromecast hooks directly into the HDMI port on the back of your TV, and draws its power from the USB port. It can then function as a receiver for streaming video links sent from your PC, phone, or tablet. 

Pros: Generally lower-priced than most of its competitors. Lots of available streaming services.

Cons: 4K streaming requires an upgrade to the Chromecast Ultra.

Roku Streaming Stick+

With a quad-core processor, the Roku Streaming Stick+ is one of the faster streaming sticks on the market today and it can access all of your favorite platforms, such as Netflix and Hulu, as well as many other apps in 4K UHD.

Pros: Relatively inexpensive. Fully 4K HDR capable. Large app selection. 

Cons:  Yes, it has a large selection of apps, but they’re a mixed bag in terms of quality.

TiVo Stream 4K

The TiVo Stream 4K features a sleek design, a voice-enabled remote, and an Android TV platform with access to thousands of apps. Furthermore, Chromecast is built in. The TiVo Stream 4K aggregates apps and content from a wide variety of channels, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney Plus and HBO Max through its own app interface.

Pros: Fast 4K streaming. Supports most services and apps.

Cons: Live TV guide offering is overly weighted towards Sling TV. 

Are these the only devices you can use to stream content?

Not at all. We’re only scratched the surface with a few of the most popular ones currently on the market. There are a wide variety of devices that you can use to watch your favorite movies and TV shows—from your personal laptop or tablet to many popular video game consoles.

DataVision is here to help!

As the world speeds up, we like to keep up with it, and here at DataVision, we’re proud to provide the fastest internet and Wi-Fi available.

Have questions? We’re here and we’d love to hear from you!

Contact Us