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What is Streaming?

What is Streaming?

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Streaming may sound mysterious or complicated, but at its heart, it’s simply a new, improved way to enjoy one of our favorite past-times: watching TV. As technology often does, it adds to your experience with a familiar activity.

Look at cell phones, for example. They have evolved from big boxy things with a coiled car charger, to a rad flip phone, to the smart phones we use today. Essentially a little computer in your hand that can do just about anything. But you can still count on it for a good old-fashioned phone call (or text!) to mom. You can just do a lot of other stuff, too.

The same is true for TV. The old cable box is giving way to online streaming, but you’re still breaking out the popcorn to enjoy a fun movie with your family. Watching TV is still watching TV. You can just do a lot of other stuff, too – such as searching, creating your own watch list, sorting your channel lineup, and more.

Today you have more options and more control over your viewing experience, all thanks to streaming.

Streaming in a Nutshell

Put simply, streaming is when you watch or listen to media content over your internet connection instead of through a cable box or satellite dish. If you watch a movie on Netflix, or listen to music or a podcast on Spotify, you are streaming.

Streaming can be “live” like what you might be accustomed to with cable TV – when you tune in to watch a show scheduled in the TV guide. An example of a live streaming service would be YouTube TV. Or streaming can be “on demand” – when you select any movie or show you want to watch now from a service like Netflix.

No Need to Download

With streaming, the media file you’re watching or listening to is stored remotely (not on your own device) and is transmitted a little at a time over your SRT Internet connection. Streaming happens in real-time, while you’re watching your program, and is more efficient than downloading media files.

When you download a video, a copy of the whole file is saved locally on your device. You can’t play the video until the download is complete. That takes time and storage space. However, when you stream, you can play the video without saving it to your device.

The Nuts and Bolts (and Packets) of Streaming

Video data travels over the Internet as little “packets.” Each packet contains a small piece of the video, which your device receives continuously. Once the packets reach your device, your media player turns them back into video.  

What do these tiny packets add up to? When you sit down to watch the latest Stranger Things season or a true crime documentary, it will play instantly without interruption. And you’ll be too busy enjoying your show to be thinking about data packets!

It’s All About Your Experience

The key to streaming is having a good Internet connection and solid Whole Home WiFi. From there, it’s pure entertainment! With your reliable SRT Internet, you can stream your favorite TV channels, shows, movies, documentaries, and more – live or on demand. You won’t need a set top box anymore to watch endless content from services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, or Max.

SRT can walk you through your options and help you get exactly what you want based on your preferences. We can also offer you a free in-home setup of the TV streaming service you’d like. We’d do all the work and all you have to do is enjoy watching your favorite programming.

To get started, click Find Your Streaming Service with SRT Communications or call us at 701-858-1200 for a free streaming checkup.

NEXT UP: We’ll share the benefits of streaming in our next streaming blog post.

SRT Reaches 25,000 Internet Customers

SRT Reaches 25,000 Internet Customers

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Minot, N.D. – SRT Communications reached a milestone this week, when the telecommunications cooperative welcomed its 25,000th Internet customer on February 12.

SRT was formed in 1951 to bring telephone service to the rural communities of north-central North Dakota. Forty-five years later, local dial-up internet became available from every SRT phone exchange. In another two years Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) internet was added to SRT’s services. Today the cooperative maintains a 100% fiber network connecting its entire rural service area, as well as the city of Minot and Minot Air Force Base.

“From day one, our mission has been to connect people and bring opportunity to our communities. SRT started with telephone service, one home at a time, and has since evolved to the most advanced technology for high-speed Internet,” said Cassidy Hjelmstad, SRT CEO and General Manager. “We are humbled that 25,000 North Dakotan homes and businesses turn to us for their Internet and are committed to serving their evolving future needs.”

Because SRT is a member-owned telecommunications cooperative, each SRT Internet customer receives the benefits of membership. These include voting in SRT annual elections for the Board of Directors and capital credits paid back to members.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 26,000 customers across north central North Dakota. SRT earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017. Services include high-speed fiber internet, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

Technology: A Helpful Hand on Farm or Ranch

Technology: A Helpful Hand on Farm or Ranch

Farmers and ranchers not only run their own businesses; they oversee the food supply. That’s a big responsibility. And considering that a North Dakota farm or ranch averages more than 1500 acres, that’s a big area to manage.

How do you make sure livestock and crops are safe? Buildings are secure? Heating and water systems are working as they should? Fortunately, high-tech security and surveillance options are available to keep a close eye on farm/ranch operations from anywhere, at any time.

Security systems equipped with video cameras can help deter theft and protect agricultural assets such as fuel tanks, machinery, outbuildings, holding pens, grain bins, water supplies – anything that needs oversight to ensure safety and profitability. They can also monitor driveways and structures to detect people entering the property. These systems offer remotely accessible tools such as door and window sensors, glass break detectors, smart light controls, and door auto-locks. With 24/7 support, any disturbance triggers a live security response.

Families own or operate more than 85 percent of North Dakota’s farms. In many cases, these owners head to warmer states during the winter and ask a friend or relative to check on the farm. But often that friend or relative is not onsite 24/7. A security system can help fill the need to check in and make sure all is well. Temperature and water sensors let farmers monitor things remotely and detect a problem early, so they can fix issues they otherwise may not have known about until it was too late. For example, a temperature sensor sends the farmer an alert via phone or other smart device if the furnace quits working. This mobile access allows them to arrange for repairs quickly, even when they are miles away. Additional security features such as door sensors and motion detectors provide many family farmers the peace of mind and confidence that their home and business will be waiting safely for them when they return.

Security and surveillance specialists can design the right system for a farm’s or ranch’s unique needs. Whether the goal is safeguarding crops, animals, and property, or ensuring all systems are go, these high-tech options take on the job of protecting what matters.

SRT Offers More Scholarship Opportunities, Applications Now Open

SRT Offers More Scholarship Opportunities, Applications Now Open

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MINOT, N.D. – The 2025 SRT College Scholarship Program applications are now available. SRT is excited to announce an increase in scholarship awards and dollar amounts: Seven local scholarships totaling $15,000 will be awarded to students in 2025. National scholarships are also available through SRT’s partnership with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS).

The SRT College Scholarship program now awards six $2,000 scholarships. The program evaluates community involvement, school activities, an essay response, and grade point average.

The SRT Technical Scholarship will award $3,000 to one student. This scholarship is open to graduating high school seniors or undergraduate students studying telecommunications or other computer-technology-related fields.

SRT is also proud to be a member of FRS to participate in a national scholarship program. Local students submitting an FRS application are eligible for multiple national scholarship opportunities.

Applications are available online at srt.com/srtcares. FRS Scholarship applications are due February 14 and SRT Scholarship applications are due by 5:00 pm on March 31. Scholarship recipients will be announced in April and an awards luncheon will be held for the winners.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 25,000 customers across north central North Dakota. SRT earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017. Services include high-speed internet, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

SRT Voted Best Internet Provider 20th Straight Year in Minot Daily News Readers’ Choice Awards

SRT Voted Best Internet Provider 20th Straight Year in Minot Daily News Readers’ Choice Awards

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Two decades ago, Apple launched the iPod mini, Nintendo released the latest in portable gaming systems, and Broadband Internet connections surpassed dial-up for the first time in the United States.

We’ve come a long way since even those notable tech milestones, but one constant for 20 years running has been SRT voted Best Internet Provider from our valued customers and Minot Daily News readers.

And we have 20 times the gratitude.

While SRT is beyond proud to earn this honor 20 years in a row, what really makes us happy is knowing you enjoy a positive experience with our Internet service. Your confidence and trust inspires us every day to find new and better ways to serve you.

A little background on the “Best of the Best” contest: Readers are given the opportunity to nominate various types of businesses within the region. After the nomination period, there is a voting round. Readers may vote online once per day for their favorite business within the specific categories. Once voting has closed and votes have been counted, one winner and two finalists are announced for each category.

Thank you to Minot Daily News and your readers! We can’t wait to reach the next big next tech milestone together.