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Tech Term of the Month - October 2024: Jitter Oct 30, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology There are many factors that contribute to the quality of an internet connection, one of them being jitter. When you send and receive data over the internet, it’s transferred in small packets. The time it takes for data to leave your connected device (smartphone, laptop, tablet), travel to its... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - September 2024: Virtual Private Network (VPN) Sep 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology You've likely seen a TV ad or heard someone mention a VPN recently, but just what is it? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network , and it is essentially an online encryption tool that masks your identity and hides device IP addresses, providing greater privacy online. Many folks use VPNs when... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - May 2024: .exe May 16, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #security #education #technology Have you ever received an email with file type .exe attached to it and wondered what is was? Or maybe you've downloaded an app or program to your computer that ran a .exe file to initiate the download and setup? Like a .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mp3, or .doc, .exe is a naming extension that denotes a... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - April 2024: Bluetooth Apr 18, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology If you've ever connected a pair of wireless earbuds or headphones to your smartphone, laptop, or TV, then you've used Bluetooth technology before. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connection method used for exchanging data between devices, generally limited to about 10 meters (~33 feet)... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - March 2024: The Cloud Mar 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #education You hear about it all the time, but what exactly is 'the cloud?' A shorthand name for 'cloud computing services,' the cloud is essentially a collection of servers that host software and computing infrastructure. For example, when you upload a file or photo to the cloud, like Apple iCloud, Google... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - February 2024: Smartphone Mirroring Feb 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #education Smartphone mirroring is when you wirelessly project the content displayed on your smartphone to another screen, like a television. On Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, this technology is called AirPlay, while Chromecast is the predominant tech used in Android phones. Many modern TVs include... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - January 2024: Augmented Reality Jan 17, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #education Have you ever used the "see it in your space" feature when shopping for furniture or other items online? Or maybe played the popular mobile game Pokémon Go? If so, then you've experienced augmented reality (AR) firsthand. AR is the result of using technology to superimpose computer-generated... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - December 2023: Vishing Dec 14, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #security #education #technology #scams Vishing , short for 'voice phishing' is the fradulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages pretending to be from legitimate companies or organizations intended to get people to reveal personal information. Vishing is similar to phishing, which is when scammers attempt to get... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - November 2023: Refurbished Tech Nov 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology When shopping for tech items online or in-store, like TVs, gaming consoles, cell phones, and others, it's common to see some that are labeled as "refurbished." This means that the product has been restored to a like-new condition by the manufacturer or a specialized third party. When a product... Full Article
Smart TV Terminology Can Be Confusing. We’re Here to Help Shopping for a new TV but confused about the tech jargon? Nov 13, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #tips #technology Looking for a new Smart TV this Black Friday or Cyber Monday for your streaming or gaming needs? Let us help by defining some common terms seen in Smart TV product descriptions and sales.  LED vs. QLED vs. mini-LED vs. OLED:  LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and is the most common... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - October 2023: HTTP Oct 23, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology HTTP, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, is essentially a process that describes the order in which information is presented, used for transferring data over a network. If you look at the URL for a website you're on in the search bar of your internet browser, you'll see that it begins... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - September 2023: Malvertising Sep 13, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #security #education Short for malicious advertising, malvertising uses what looks like legitimate online advertising to distribute malware and other threats with little to no interaction required from users. Typically, scammers submit graphic or text ads infected with malware to legitimate advertising networks,... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - August 2023: Cache Aug 17, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology Have you ever run into an issue with an app or web page and the search results or support team says the cache might need to be cleared? Often times, this can fix many loading or formatting issues. But what exactly is a cache, and what does clearing it do? A cache is the location on a device... Full Article
BCT Awarded USDA Loan to Build Fiber Optic Network Jul 18, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #announcements #news #company information Beaver Creek Cooperative Telephone Company (BCT) is one of a handful of companies in Oregon to have been awarded funds through the USDA ReConnect Program to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network for high-speed internet connectivity.  The ReConnect Program offers loans, grants, and... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - June 2023: bit vs. Byte Jun 21, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology Two common terms in the tech world that often get confused in meaning are  bits  and  Bytes. A  bit (b)  is short for binary digit, and bits are most commonly used to measure the rate of data transfer, like when transferring files from a USB flash drive to a computer.... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - May 2023: HDMI May 17, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and it's a connection method that transfers video and audio signals from a device to a TV screen or computer monitor. HDMI is the current standard to get the highest-quality video and audio content from devices like streaming sticks or boxes,... Full Article
Be Careful When Using Public Device Charging Ports Apr 20, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #tips #technology #security The list of things to be careful plugging into your devices grows as officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation warn travelers and shoppers to avoid public free phone charging ports. They warn that scammers or bad actors could use these ports, which usually include USB or USB-C, to... Full Article
Keep Your Personal Information Safe When Spring Cleaning Apr 19, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #tips #technology #security Ashley found an old Roku in the back of the closet while she was spring cleaning. She had a neighbor that wanted one, so it seemed like a perfect fit. It seemed like the only thing to do was to plug it in and see if it still worked.  Ashley was navigating through the settings... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - April 2023: WiFi Apr 19, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #wifi We sometimes hear that internet service and WiFi are the same thing, but there is a distinct difference. Internet service is the signal sent from our central office to your home over either fiber lines or copper cabling. WiFi, on the other hand, is the wireless distribution of some of that... Full Article
Tech Term of the Month - March 2023: Ethernet Mar 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams #tips #education #education #technology Ethernet  is a type of cable that allows devices to be physically connected to your home internet network. While most people connect their devices to the internet via WiFi, an Ethernet connection can also be used for some devices. This can provide a better experience because a physical... Full Article
Stay Safe from Many Online Threats with Umbrella Defense This online safety feature is included with every BCT Internet subscription. Sep 1, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #security #technology #company information #wifi #announcements BCT has implemented Umbrella Defense - a cyber security solution from Cisco - to help protect internet subscribers. Umbrella Defense is a complimentary, included service that protects all subscribers on a BCT internet connection from accidentally visiting reportedly known websites that may... Full Article
Watch out for emails from scammers posing as computer software company, McAfee. They’re fakes! By Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum Jul 26, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #scams #technology #news Have you received an email with the subject line "Thank you for your purchase!" that looks like it came from McAfee, a computer security software company? The email claims your account has been “re-approved” and your credit or debit card was charged hundreds of dollars. At the very end of the... Full Article
June is Audiobook Appreciation Month Rent audiobooks and eBooks for free with the Libby app Jun 2, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #news #technology #tips #community #wifi Did you know you can use your local library card to rent audiobooks and eBooks for free on your smartphone or eReader? Download the Libby app on your phone or tablet, then log in using a card from a local library system like Libraries in Clackamas County (LINCC). Once rented, you can listen to... Full Article
Create and Store Strong Passwords with a Password Manager May 5, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #tips #security Let’s talk passwords – it’s World Password Day! We all know having strong passwords is important, but are you reusing the same one across multiple websites? This opens the door for vulnerabilities in the event of a data breach.  Image caption:  The LastPass password generator tool... Full Article
On This Day: First Geocache Placed Near Beavercreek in 2000 May 3, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #community #technology Did you know that the international phenomenon of geocaching was first played on this day 22 years ago near Beavercreek in our neighboring region of Viola to the east? For those unfamiliar, geocaching is an outdoor activity where participants use GPS technology and other navigational techniques... Full Article
Possible TV interruptions due to solar flares Mar 3, 2022 | posted by Conner Williams #tv #cable #news #technology #outage During the upcoming Spring Equinox and the surrounding weeks, there is a chance that television services may see interruptions due to an increase in solar flares. This happens for about one week twice per year during the spring and fall equinox seasons and could affect the Cable TV feed.  A... Full Article
Organize Your Computer on National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day Oct 18, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #education #technology #tip Is your computer's desktop full of cluttered shortcuts that are difficult to navigate? Does the above image of a scattered desktop make you as uncomfortable as us? Today is a great day to organize your virtual life as it's National Clean Out Your Virtual Desktop Day!  To celebrate, consider... Full Article
New System Launched to Help Block Unwanted Spam Calls Jun 16, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #company information #technology #news #voice #robocalls Tired of hearing about your car’s manufacturer warranty nearing expiration when you don’t even have one? How about that offer for a free cruise that’s completely real and not a very obvious scam? Well, we’ve got good news! As in, actual good news, not a scam claiming to have good news. Per... Full Article
BCT technicians continue repairs from historic ice storm There may be periods of short outages while repairs are made Jun 4, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #company information #technology #outage #maintenance Your connection is important! As your local communications cooperative, we know how vital it is to have reliable Internet, Video, and Voice services, especially during a time when so many now work, learn, and entertain virtually. The Beavercreek community was challenged when the historic ice and... Full Article
Don’t pass by this password reminder World Password Day is May 6, so use this as a reminder to update your passwords! May 6, 2021 | posted by Conner Williams #support #technology #tip You've heard it before, but we'll say it again. It's important to have strong passwords and change them regularly to help keep your accounts safe. Here are the basics: Don't use personal information. This includes names of people in your family, your address, or birthdays, since this... Full Article
Online learning resources for kids at home Apr 21, 2020 | posted by Conner Williams #news #covid-19 #community #technology While school is out during the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, parents may be looking for some online resources to keep their kids engaged and learning. Here are three free resources available that all focus on educational opportunities.  1. Khan Academy  offers practice... Full Article
Possible TV outages due to upcoming solar flares By Conner Williams Feb 26, 2020 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #announcements #tv #outage During the upcoming Spring Equinox and the surrounding weeks, there is a chance that television services may see interruptions due to an increase in solar flares. This happens for about one week twice per year during the spring and fall equinox seasons and could affect both EZVideo and cable TV... Full Article
Looking back at the top tech innovations of the decade 2010-2019 By Conner Williams Feb 25, 2020 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology With 2020 here, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of the most influential or game-changing technological innovations of the last decade. Since we are an Internet service provider, we thought it would be appropriate to include a list of items that all rely on or have something... Full Article
What's the difference between a modem and a router? A modem is your home's gateway to the Internet, while a router allows devices to connect wirelessly (WiFi) to the Internet By Conner Williams Aug 5, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology It can be easy to mix the two terms up since both pieces of equipment are necessary to provide an Internet signal to your home. A modem is essentially the middleman between the source of Internet from a provider like BCT and your home’s network. It allows the signal that comes from BCT’s... Full Article
Gadget Review: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $49.99 MSRP – Available on Amazon.com and other retail locations and websites By Conner Williams Feb 19, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology #review The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is a great addition to the Fire TV family as it adds two features users have long been anticipating: volume and power control. The power button has been added to the top-left while the volume buttons were added to the bottom of the new next-gen Alexa Voice... Full Article
How to care for electronic devices in the cold By Conner Williams Jan 14, 2019 | posted by Conner Williams #technology Mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, don't like cold weather. When a lithium-ion battery is exposed to cold temperatures, it can drain faster than normal or indicate it has ample power remaining and then suddenly go dead. Low temperatures can also make a device's glass surfaces more... Full Article
Keep in touch with loved ones this holiday season with video calling applications By Conner Williams Nov 30, 2018 | posted by Conner Williams #technology There is now the capability to place a video call to someone at almost any time, any place as long as you’re connected to the Internet via a BCT connection or your wireless carrier’s data plan. Virtually all mobile devices and laptops now have front-facing cameras, so all you need is an app... Full Article
Tech Support Question: Why Does Restarting My Computer Fix Many Problems? By Conner Williams Oct 4, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #support Question:  It seems like every time I contact  a knowledgeable friend or a  professional about a computer  problem, the first thing they say is, "Did you try  rebooting?" Does rebooting (the technical term  for restarting) really solve that many problems and,  if so, how? Answer:  Yes,... Full Article
Gadget Review – Drones By Marcus Jones Oct 4, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #review Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, are finding their way into many aspects of everyday life. Next time you look up, don’t be surprised if you see a drone. They also have a wide variety of uses today - contractors use them for geographical surveying and law enforcement uses them to combat... Full Article
Tech Support Question: What’s the best way to keep track of all my passwords? By Jason Nugent Sep 5, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology #support Answer: Write them down in a secure journal or use an online password manager. If you have only one password that you use universally, it's time to make a change. Using the same password for multiple accounts and services can compromise your online security and allow hackers to access... Full Article
What Is the Cloud and Why Do I Need It? By Jason Nugent Jun 25, 2018 | posted by Jason Nugent #technology It might be time to think about backing up files to a Cloud service to ensure that you will never lose  important information if you currently save everything to a local desktop or flash drive.  Saving important documents to an external flash drive in addition to a local laptop or desktop... Full Article