Tag Archives | NWTel

YKQT 07 – Internet Service Providers

By on June 3, 2010 in Yk Quick Tips

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Yk Quick Tips is your guide to Yellowknife, NT. Whether you are moving to the city,  just visiting or live here, we can offer information about all the best things. The show will contain information about what to do while visiting, things to know about moving to the City and everything else interesting about Yellowknife.

Internet Service Providers are the topic for Episode 7 of Yellowknife Quick Tips and we have all you need to know about this local attraction.

Last week I received an e-mail from a someone who was about to move to Yellowknife. She asked who the Internet Service Providers were in town and if it was possible to get Unlimited Bandwidth.

The two main ISP that I am aware of are SSi Micro and NorthwesTel. That being said, NorthwesTel owns all the internet pipes coming into the north. Therefore, SSi has to purchase the Internet from them and then resell it to residences and businesses. Below is more information about both:

SSi Mirco: Can provide 8gb of bandwidth a month at the price of $59.99. The nice thing about SSi Internet is that they use a wireless system. They give you a modem that connect to their Internet wirelessly, which ultimately means you can take it anywhere in town or where they have coverage. Their wireless modem is also a down fall though. It needs to be in a location it can see the sky and won’t work very well in high traffic areas.

NorthwesTel: Has 3 different options for Cable Internet. Plans ranging from 5gb to 60gb and prices going from $42 to $84. Their cable Internet is, abviously, done through the cable. They install a special modem. NorthwesTel is often times more reliable for steady Internet, but on occasion does has it outages.

Arctic Data: I mention Arctic Data in the show as a reseller of SSi Internet.

Hopefully this answers most of everyone’s question about ISP’s in Yellowknife. If not, please send me an email to info@ykonline.ca or comment below.

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iPhone Overview and Know How

By on November 5, 2009 in FP, Local Profiles, Tech, YKP

The first day of the iPhone sales is over so I thought I would give you all a little feedback on my thoughts of the new phone.

For those who went out and got a new iPhone, you’ll know that the phone didn’t start working right away. The iPhone and new network launched at the same time and nation wide therefore the network became clogged and it took phones several hours to fully activate. But all seems well now. From what I have heard the phones would connect themselves to the network when the network recognized them, but there was at least one report of a phone being able to phone but not use any data. If you are experiencing any problems with the phone or data the best thing to do is restart the device and sync it with iTunes before calling Bell.

Moving on to the sales of the iPhone. Both the NWTel Retail store and Roy’s Audiotronic had the iPhone for sale Wednesday, but only Roy’s had the 32gb iPhone. I dealt mainly with Roy’s as they are in the same mall as I work. I have to tip my hat to the staff working that day. The thing with the iPhone is it is not like any other phone and the plans are all new, so the staff had to learn on the go. The phone did not arrive until the night before therefore there was no way for them to learn before hand. So thanks everyone, I hope you know your work is appreciated.

If you haven’t gone and gotten an iPhone yet but want to, here is some information you should know. Even though it was busy I don’t think either place sold out,  so that is good news. There are 3 sizes: 8gb, 16gb and 32gb. The 8gb is only the iPhone 3G, which does not have video capabilities and is slower among other things. Both the 16gb and 32gb are the iPhone 3GS, which is the latest iPhone with all the features. Roy’s is the only place that offers the 32gb at the moment, but both stores tell me that they have more of all 3 on order. Roy’s sounding more confident about getting more devices in soon. As for plans, they offer 4 different options, a $55, $65, $75 and $95. They all include all the feature you would find on any other plan. The phones retails with no plans for: $599, $699 and $799. If you are going to sign up for a new plan (no existing phone plan) you will have to dive in for 3 year and the prices are: $99, $199 and $299.

So why was I so excited for the iPhone? Simply to better YkOnline. With this faster network I will be able to publish photos, videos and posts at events and on the go. So this benefit you all.

As I find out more about the new network I will let you all know. If you have any question about the iPhone let me know below. Also, tell me Yellowknife what do you think of the iPhone, did you get one? Why? Not?

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This is the interview I did with CBC North Radio Wednesday evening about the iPhone and new Cell Network launch in Yellowknife.

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HSPA Bell Network Launch Date Announced

By on November 2, 2009 in City

NorthwesTel just announced on their Facebook page that Bell will launch its brand new HSPA network on November 4, 2009. NorthwesTel retail stores will carry 12 of the fastest and most powerful phones out there. That includes Apple’s iPhone.

So what does this mean for Yellowknifers. Well for starts we will now be up to speed with the rest of Canada when it comes to cell service and will also be able to use all the features equipped with smartphone. Readers, when the new network launches will you consider upgrading your phone?

UPDATE: iPhone Prices with NO plan/Retail Prices

  • 8gb: 599.99
  • 16gb: 699.99
  • 32gb: 799.99

*YkOnline does not guarantee those are correct.

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NorthwesTel vs.. SSi NorthwesTel

By on September 2, 2009 in City, Discussion, FP

I’m sure by now everyone who reads this is aware of the upgrade Northwestel has just done to their Internet Packages. I know I was excited even though I am unable to use it where I currently am. They are now offering faster speeds and high bandwidth caps the same as their old packages, which for a heavy user such as myself wonderful news. No longer will I need to continuously check my usage, always in fear of going over.

So that brings us to today and to the article in the Yellowknifer about how SSi considers what NWTel is doing unfair towards them. You see NWTel owns all the cable transporting Internet in to the Northwest Territories and so what SSi does is purchases bandwidth (Internet) as a wholesaler. Now you would think if your are purchasing it in bulk they would be getting the better deal or a more discounted price so that they can afford to resell it to the public. Well that does not seem to be the case SSi says. They believe they are paying 5 times more than what NWTel is offering their Internet Packages for to the public and small businesses. NWTel stated in their advertisements that the rates for small businesses will be going down by 40% and also says that over the last year they lowered wholesaler rates by 35%.

Now personally I have always used NWTel because of a couple reasons. One being it is easy to bundle with cable and second being they offer higher limits and faster speeds. The one thing I do like about SSi though is that portability of their modems. I would also like to point out that the average user does not need more than what SSi offers therefore still making it a semi level playing field. A suggestion would be if you can not match NWTel’s prices would be to focus strongly on something like customer service.

Now as everyone who reads this most likely uses one or the other I would love to get your take on the matter and which provider you use. I can see pros and cons with both and that is the case with most things, how do they affect you?

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Greatest Indoor Show

By on May 7, 2009 in City, Events

Well it seems like I have received enough questions on twitter that I should put up a post about it.

Yellowknife’s Greatest Indoor show will be this weekend. May 9, 10 2009. It is put on by Yellowknife’s Chamber of Commerce. It is Yellowknife’s biggest (possible only) trade show. It will feature businesses from all around town as well as some from Edmonton and the south. It will be held in the Multiplex Arena. On one rink there will be business booths as well as the food court and on the other normally Force One and Chrysler take it over.As the chatter of the show picks up I’m starting to here about all of the great business’s and people that will be there this year. You can find out more on the Chambers Website.

Now I remember maybe not last year but definitely the year before Northwest Tel set up an area with nice big couches and free WiFi and I have yet to find out if they will be doing this again but I think it would be a great add on to the show. Although I do remember last summer as I was often in the arena at the indoor skate-park there being WiFi in there being broadcast by the City. I’m hoping it is still available as it would be nice to blog about this event while there. I plan to try and investigate be for hand.

On the note of Internet I will also be Tweeting what is going on with or without the Internet while I’m there and I thought this might be an excellent opportunity for a very casual first YkTweetUp. Chances are we will all go to the Show sometime over the weekend, so why not coordinate a time so we can all put faces to handles? I plan to be at the show from about 12 noon on Saturday into the afternoon sometime. Use the hashtag #yktweetup so I know who to look for or @the_bushman me.

I hope to see you all there. I plan on taking some photos and making a post either during or after the event.

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