NightShift - An Application To Make Xplornet Netflix Viewing Better

Long time readers will realize that I seldom provide links to third party value added applications or commercial offerings. However, occasionally I find out about something that I deem may be of value to broadband (high speed) Internet users in the Algoma District.

My colleagues at Northland Consultants recently sent me a link to an application and product I feel may fit my referral criteria. The product is called NightShift and applies to users who are still stuck with Xplornet satellite service as their primary means of connecting to the Internet.

The concept of NightShift is that it uses a WiFi router and memory stick to download and record Netflix shows during the unrestricted off-peak hours. The product site claims that once recorded, the show can be played back as HD without buffering.  

There is a monthly charge for the service but some users may find it worth the cost.

Are Data Caps the New Rural Internat Divide

Complaints about broadband (high-speed Internet) in the Algoma District area have quieted down considerably over the past year. I attribute this mainly to the activation of the Deferral Account services have come on line under the marketing name Bell Wireless Internet 5.  

As far as I can tell, there are about 300 subscribers to the service spread over the five areas covered by the program.  As to the service itself, all indications are that the Deferral Account network can handle the load. I have only heard one or two complaints about dropped connections and speed degradation but they are rare.  I am glad to see that even with the growth in the number of users, the Deferral Account service is consistently delivering downloads and uploads that is in excess of the CRTC/Industry Canada 2017 target of 5/1 Mbps.

I have had to remind some people that they should do a data hub/router/modem reboot on a regular basis to clear out the "corporate memory" that is built up over time as this can negatively affect speed.  I recommend every two weeks. It could require action more often depending on use.  This action appears to resolves speed and connectivity problems people have contacted me about. Recent third party studies have found that poor wireless LAN performance and congestion at major Internet peering points can be a major cause of slow network speed.

The major draw back to the Deferral Account (BWI 5) service is the data cap.  Latest statistics show a huge increase in the average webpage size in the past 5 years: 

Nov 2010 = 626 KB;

May 2012 = 828 KB;

  May 2013 = 1246 KB;

 Nov 2014 = 1935 KB.

One can attribute much of this increase to growth in the use of images and video. Video's contribution to the data cap overload is insidious as in many cases website "designers" are causing videos to start automatically upon page download. In addition, it is common practise for the video to default to the data hungry HD standard.  I have carried out various local tests that indicate it is possible to reduce a daily data usage in the multi-GB range by controlling the display of video. In many news and technical sites that I access, the sound track from the HD video is almost identical to the written story on the webpage. You can get the information without huge hit to the data cap.

This means that routine web browsing can cause a significant hit to data caps. Of course, the other major hit to the data caps is the growth on popularity of the streaming video services such as Netflix, Crave and Showmi.  User numbers for all three streaming services continue to grow in an almost exponential manner.  

The use of cloud-based services can also cause a user to burn through a data cap quickly.

Overall, Deferral Account (BWI5) users have to monitor their data usage.

Many of these challenges do not exist for users with terrestrial connectivity with the availability of large or unlimited data caps. 

BWI5 Service Package Still Available.

I have had reports that the Internet links to the Bell Wireless Internet 5 (BWI5) pages only work intermittently.  

A search of the Bell website fails to turn up a link or indeed any reference to BWI5 or the Deferral Account connectivity. It is as if the service package did not exist.

However, I have received confirmation from Bell that as of 30 Jun 2015 the BWI5 service package is still available for delivery in the designated Deferral Account areas - namely Echo Bay/Laird, Goulais, SSM-Airport, St. Joseph island  and Wawa.  Interested parties can order the service via Bell direct sales at 1-888-466-2453. 

Submission to the CRTC About the Deferral Account Program.

A reader submitted a comment to the blog entry "Bell Now Taking Deferral Account Sign Ups 22 Aug 2..."

I feel the link in the comment is of such value that it is worthwhile publishing the comment as a separate blog entry in addition to publishing it in the comment section of the targetted blog entry. 

Here is the comment in full including the link. Be forewarned, the complaint in the link runs to over 25 pages plus annexes and contains a very detailed history of the Deferral Account saga.

Quote 

It appears that Bell is either hiding, or has not completed the rollout of the program despite reporting "mission accomplished". 

I have complained to the CRTC Case ID 701360

A copy of the complaint can be found at the link below:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BwEjDkzP4A3qfmExTlNwMUdUTk54N0U3RzlSZTgzaHJBYmtrRDR3NERHNnFRZDY1Rml6dlU&authuser=0

Unquote

Bell Mobility Wants to Expand Into Lake Superior Provincial Park

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) on behave of the Government of Ontario has published a “Proposed Occupational Authority for Communication Towers and Associated Infrastructure in Lake Superior Provincial Park”

Published in the Sault Star on 22 May 2015, the notice identifies Bell Mobility as the telecommunications proponent and lists three specific locations:  a) Gargantua Road b) Coon Lake and c) Sand River Road. The locations shown on the map below are approximate as the exact latitude and longitude of each site was not listed in the public announcement. 

The towers will be 35 metres tall and “designed to mimic a pine tree.” 

 Pictures of similar designs can be seen at this link.

The closing date for public comment to be submitted is 22 May 2015. The principal contacts are:

Matthew Milligan

Advisor, Real Estate and Government Relations

Bell Mobility

Tel: 905-282-2778

e-mail: matthew.milligan@bell.ca

Bob Elliott

Superior Provincial Park Superintendent

Ontario Parks, MNRF

705-856-2284 ext 2225

e-mail: bob.elliott@ontario.ca  

New BWI5 (Deferral Account) Price and Service Structure

It did not take long for Bell to adjust the price and service structure for the Bell Wireless Internet 5 (BWI5), the name of the service provided in the Deferral Account areas.

The major changes are in the hardware, the data caps and the basic costs.

a. The 4G LTE Huawei B882 Turbo Hub replaces the 4G NetGear MBR 1516 Turbo Hub;

b. The new data cap is increased to 40 GB monthly from 20 GB with the option to add an additional 20 GB per month. I received confirmation from Bell that the 20 GB usage insurance will remain at $10.00;

c. The basic service is now $49.95 (plus taxes) per month on a 2 year term, an increase from $41.95. There is no reduction if the user buys the Turbo Hub outright.

As per the usual Bell practise, the new terms are only being offered to new subscribers only. (In Bell-speak, a new subscriber usually means a subscriber who has not had a similar service from Bell within the last 3 months.)

Like the original BWI5 service, this new service is only available on a direct sales basis from Bell Canada at 1-866-668-9104. The local Bell Stores do not handle this product line.

The qualification to receive BWI5 service remains the same i.e. one must live in designated Deferral Account area.

Details can be seen on the Bell Internet Promotions page

BWI5 Available to Both Private and Business Users

There appears to be some confusion as to whether or not the Bell BWI5 (Deferral Account) service is available to business users as well as private residences.

Bell has confirmed to me that the BWI5 service is indeed available to business users provided the business is located within a designated Deferral Account area. The standard BWI5 speeds and data caps apply.

If a Bell Customer Service Representative (CSR) claims otherwise or refuses to enrol a business user, ask to speak to Supervisor Rose Tacconelli or phone her at 905 282-3587.