SRT.COM

Blog

Fiber vs. 5G: Which is Better for Your Home Internet?

Fiber vs. 5G: Which is Better for Your Home Internet?

News_fibervs5G640x320

The option of 5G home internet has grown in recent years. This can be confusing when deciding between fiber internet and 5G home internet. A look at the differences can help you determine which is the better option for your home.

The Unseen Limitations of 5G

The technology behind 5G home internet, which uses radio waves traveling through the air from 5G cellular network towers, is quite different from SRT Fiber Internet, which is delivered via fiber optic cables buried underground directly to the customer’s home. This core difference leads to a few potential issues for 5G users:

  • Unstable Service: Wireless signals are more apt to be disrupted by weather, physical obstructions, and distance from the cellular tower. This is especially true in rural areas where 5G towers are not as prominent as they are in larger cities. This can lead to frustratingly inconsistent speeds and buffering, unlike our Fiber network that brings a dedicated, fast Internet connection straight to your home.
  • Deprioritization During Peak Hours: Because 5G is a shared network, your connection competes with other 5G home internet users in your area. During busy times, your service may be “deprioritized,” which means your speeds are intentionally slowed down to ensure a baseline service for everyone on the 5G network. With SRT Fiber, your connection is yours alone, which means no sharing and no slowdown times during the day or evening.
  • Slower Than Advertised Speeds: 5G home internet promises top speeds, but the speeds a customer may experience in their home are different than those advertised due to network congestion and signal interference. With our Fiber network and a hardwired connection to your devices, you get the service you pay for with matching upload and download speeds, and an overall more reliable home internet experience.

The Advantage of SRT Fiber Internet

SRT invested in building the area’s only 100% Fiber network because we know how important fast, reliable Internet is to your everyday life Whether you work from home, are an avid gamer, or simply have multiple smart devices in your home, SRT Fiber Internet will support everything you do

The only potential downside to Fiber internet is that it’s not available in every corner of the United States. But don’t worry; SRT has you covered. We built our Fiber network to every business, home, school, and farm in our service area, making sure everyone has access to the fastest, most reliable Fiber Internet today.

Don’t settle for the unpredictable performance of a shared 5G wireless connection. Choose SRT Fiber for the stability, speed, and reliability you and your family deserve.

How to Spot a Phishing Email

How to Spot a Phishing Email

2022_internet_phishing_news
Be on the lookout! A lot of phishing is going on (and not the fun kind involving North Dakota lakes in summer). Bad actors are better than ever at making emails seem realistic and tricking unsuspecting people into clicking malicious links or opening infected documents. Often, phishing emails will have a company logo, and at first glance, seem quite realistic. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has also made phishing scams more believable. However, there are some simple things to do when opening an email that can save you time and stress in the long run.
 

Check the Sender Address

Hover over the from address to see if the email is who it says it is. A quick Google search will often provide you with what the legitimate email address should be.

Look for Grammatical Errors

Legitimate companies are less likely to have grammatical errors as opposed to someone posing as a legitimate company.

Check the Salutation

If you receive an email with a generic salutation such as “hello sir/madam,” or “hi dear,” it is likely to be a scam. Reputable companies will have your name on file and are unlikely to address you in this manner.

Watch for Urgency

If an email is flagged or the subject line includes words like “urgent, time-sensitive, immediate action required,” it is likely not a legitimate email.  

Question the Need for Credentials or Personal Information

Rarely will a legitimate company or agency request personal information through an automated email. SRT will never ask you for sensitive information over email, so if you receive an email request supposedly from SRT to provide personal credentials, it is best to call our direct company phone number and confirm the request.

Don’t Click on Suspicious Documents or Links

If there are documents or links within a questionable and unexpected email, it is most likely a scam. When in doubt, it’s best not to click on any links or download documents until you have confirmed the legitimacy of an email.

Think Critically

Some bad actors are trying so hard to fool unsuspecting people that they don’t think to ensure you utilize the service or company they are pretending to be. For example, you receive an email from someone claiming to be from Netflix, you panic, and open the link. However, you didn’t stop to remember that you don’t have a Netflix account. Something as simple as knowing you do not use the service can save you from opening a bad link.

However, if you do have an account with the company that you received an email from, like SRT, it is always best to call the number on their official website and verify. We are always happy to clear up any misconceptions and set your mind at ease. Keeping your personal information secure is our top priority!

Foundation for Rural Service Now Accepting Community Grant Applications

Foundation for Rural Service Now Accepting Community Grant Applications

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) is currently accepting applications for their Community Grant Program.  FRS is a nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association to sustain and enhance the quality of life in America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. As a member of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, rural communities within SRT’s area can apply for the Community Grant Program offered by FRS. This grant program looks for current projects that will improve quality of life and create sustainable rural communities for its residents. The FRS Community Grant Program is a great way for projects in rural communities to receive potential financial assistance. If accepted, the grants awarded range from $250 to $5,000.
 
FRS provides priority to projects that:
 
  • Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of $5,000 or have at least 75% of the project currently funded.
  • Technology and broadband enabled focused projects.
  • Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents.
  • Promote community participation and engagement.
  • Create a more sustainable rural community.
SRT has had two local recipients in recent years. In 2023, $5,000 was awarded to the Minot Regional Impact Centers to develop and launch an online app to identify uneaten prepared food that can be collected and distributed through a network of programs that feed the hungry. 
 
In 2024, Local Motives in Minot received $5,000 to procure three checker/chessboard picnic tables for Citizens Alley to enhance passive recreation, foster community engagement, and enrich the public plaza experience. Citizens Alley will be open to the public this summer.
 
Interested? Click here to fill out an application or pick up an application guide at SRT headquarters in Minot, 3615 N Broadway.
 
The deadline to submit your application proposal is September 3, 2025.

Choosing Your Own Streaming

Choosing Your Own Streaming

News_choosingyourownstreaming640x320

 

With more than 200 streaming services available, the options may seem endless and a little overwhelming. But narrowing down your choices to what suits you best is quick and painless.

To find the perfect streaming for you, start by asking yourself a few questions about your TV watching habits.

What are my must-watch TV shows and channels? We all have beloved shows or televised events we simply can’t live without! Rest assured there is a way to stream them. Make a list of the shows and channels you and your family watch regularly. Then, before signing up, browse each streaming service’s channel listing to see if they carry the channels you want.

In some cases you’ll be able to replace your favorite channel programming with a streaming service such as Netflix or Hulu, though many current-season episodes may not be available immediately.

The best substitute for your old cable box is a live TV streaming service. Each offers a package of live channels you can watch on a streaming app that works like cable but better! They include program guides, cloud DVRs, and extras your cable box can’t deliver, including user profiles and mobile streaming. Many of the cable replacement services also offer a free trial period.

Remember, for all of these services you can cancel and restart service anytime without contracts or penalties, unlike with cable. You can subscribe to follow a particular show, for example, and then cancel after a finale.

Are local news and sports important to me? If you like to watch sports, local news, and channels such as NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, or PBS, several services could be a good fit for you. Live streaming services like YouTube TV, HULU + Live TV, Sling TV, or DirectTV Stream let you watch many of the live channels available on your cable box with no contracts to sign, so you can cancel anytime.

Can’t get enough professional sports? You have several options that offer the full gameday experience. Prime Video has the exclusive rights to Thursday night football. Apple TV carries Friday Night Baseball. And services such as ESPN+, Sling TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and DirectTV Stream all give you access to a variety of sports.

You can also search for a service or service bundle that includes more sports features. NFL Sunday Ticket is available exclusively on YouTube as a standalone channel or as an add-on to a YouTube TV base plan. You can watch all the out-of-market regular season NFL games with unlimited simultaneous streams at home, real time stats, your Fantasy Football metrics, and the ability to watch four games at once. 

Keep in mind that if you like to chat with friends in real-time during the game, or follow live games on social media, be aware that streaming sports are often delayed compared to the “live” game on cable. The Super Bowl, for example, lags 30 seconds to a minute behind cable.

 Do I use my DVR a lot? You might be familiar with recording shows using an in-home digital video recorder (DVR) from your pay TV provider. However, these might have limited storage or come with a monthly fee. Fortunately, a cloud-based DVR feature is built into many streaming services. Instead of storing your favorite video recordings on a hard-drive device in your living room, cloud DVRs don’t require hardware to worry about and let you watch your recordings on various mobile devices.

Several live streaming services include unlimited DVR. Also, live TV services such as YouTube TV offer both on-demand videos and a library feature where you can add your selected shows for recording and watching later. With on-demand services such as Netflix, Hulu, or Prime Video, you don’t need to record shows in the traditional sense; the video library is already available to watch whenever you want.

Remember, to replace cable TV with streaming you just need a good internet connection to get started. From there, the apps built into your smart TV or running on an inexpensive streamer such as a Roku will give you access to some of the most popular streaming services. Then you can add or change anything you want.

SRT can make your selection even easier. 

You don’t have to memorize which services carry which channels or constantly research to keep up with the latest streaming offers and bundles. SRT has a tool called MyBundle that will help you find everything you love to watch in minutes. Visit Find Your Streaming Service with SRT Communications and MyBundle show you the streaming services that have what you want – plus the best deals.

You can even search for a particular channel, show, or genre, and MyBundle will instantly tell you where it’s available. Try it! Just click https://mybundle.tv/srt/discover and type in the search bar. Do you like the Cowboy Channel? Looks like it’s available on Sling TV and RIDE TV.

Finally, SRT is here to help. We can walk you through and 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 favorites.

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

SRT Recognizes Month of the Military Child

SRT Recognizes Month of the Military Child

News_MonthofMilitaryChild640x320

This April, SRT joins the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) in celebrating Month of the Military Child. Nearly 2 million children in military families face unique challenges, including frequent moves and family separations. These remarkable young people demonstrate incredible strength and courage while adapting to new schools, making new friends, and supporting their families’ service to our nation.

We encourage our community to wear purple on Purple Up! Day on April 15, 2025, to show support for military children. Military kids are essential members of our community who deserve recognition for their strength and sacrifices.

To learn more about supporting military-connected children, visit militarychild.org.