MTCO Internet Support

If you are experiencing a slow Internet connection, follow these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Try another device

• If you’re experiencing slow internet, try using a different Internet-connected device to determine whether the issue is truly due to the Internet connection or if it is due to a particular device performing poorly.
• Whether due to age, outstanding software upgrades, or other variables, some Internet-connected devices simply don’t perform as well as others.
• If you believe the slow Internet is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 2.

2. Conduct a Speed Test

• There are two ways to conduct a speed test:

1. Direct-connect *recommended*
   • Using a device such as a laptop or PC, connect a CAT5/CAT6 Ethernet cable from the device to the back of your router.
   • To measure the true Internet connection to your home or business, it is essential that you connect directly to your router before conducting a speed test. Testing via Wi-Fi will always result in a slower test, as all Wi-Fi systems (even top-of-the-line options like our Premium Managed Wifi) experience some degree of throughput loss as data travels through the air.
   • Visit our speedtest page to conduct a speed test.
   • If your results are not within 10-20% of your chosen Internet speed package, continue to Step 3: Reboot your router.

2. Use Wi-Fi

   • If you choose this method, please be aware that this is the least reliable method. To measure your home or business's actual Internet connection speed, you must connect directly to your router before conducting a speed test. Testing via Wi-Fi will always result in a slower test, as all Wi-Fi systems (even top-of-the-line options like our Premium Managed Wifi) experience some degree of throughput loss as data travels through the air.
   • Position your device near your router with no physical barriers between the two.
   • · Visit our speedtest page to conduct a speed test.
   • · If your results are not within 20-30% of your chosen Internet speed package, continue to Step 3: Reboot your router.

3. Reboot your router

• Like many other electronic devices, sometimes “rebooting” or restarting a router is all that is needed to resolve issues.

1. Locate the power supply on the back of your router. The power supply is a thin cord with a round connector. You can also find the power supply by tracing the connected cord to the power outlet back to the router.
2. Unplug the power supply and keep it unplugged for ten seconds.
3. Plug the power supply back in and wait a few minutes for the router to restart.
4. If rebooting does not resolve the slow Internet issues, continue to Step 4.

4. Give us a call for further troubleshooting or try a faster speed

• Occasionally, some instances require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.
• Sometimes, you simply need more speed. Contact us to upgrade to the next fastest Internet speed for 3 months at no extra charge – and no obligation to keep the faster speed at the end of the trial. The faster speed may be precisely what you need!

If you have no Internet connection (pages will not load, service is disconnected on your computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.), follow these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Try another device

• If it appears as though your Internet is out completely, try using a different Internet-connected device to determine whether the issue is truly due to the Internet connection or if it is due to a particular device performing poorly.
• Whether due to age, outstanding software upgrades, or other variables, some Internet-connected devices simply don’t perform as well as others.
• If you believe the Internet issue is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 2.

2. Reboot your router

• Like many other electronic devices, sometimes “rebooting” or restarting a router is all that is needed to resolve issues.

1. Locate the power supply on the back of your router. The power supply is a thin cord with a round connector. You can also find the power supply by tracing the connected cord to the power outlet back to the router.
2. Unplug the power supply and keep it unplugged for ten seconds.
3. Plug the power supply back in and wait a few minutes for the router to restart.
4. If rebooting does not resolve the slow Internet issues, continue to Step 3.

3. Contact Us

• Occasionally, some instances require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.

If your Wi-Fi seems to drop intermittently, follow these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Try another device

• If you’re experiencing intermittent Wi-Fi, try using a different Wi-Fi-enabled device to determine whether the issue is truly due to the Wi-Fi connection or if it is due to a particular device performing poorly.
• Whether due to age, outstanding software upgrades, or other variables, some Internet-connected devices simply don’t perform as well as others.
• If you believe the intermittent Wi-Fi is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 2.

2. Reboot your router

• Like many other electronic devices, sometimes “rebooting” or restarting a router is all that is needed to resolve issues.

1. Locate the power supply on the back of your router. The power supply is a thin cord with a round connector. You can also find the power supply by tracing the connected cord to the power outlet back to the router.
2. Unplug the power supply and keep it unplugged for ten seconds.
3. Plug the power supply back in and wait a few minutes for the router to restart.
4. If rebooting does not resolve the Wi-Fi issues, continue to Step 3.

3. Contact Us

• Occasionally, some instances require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.

A dead zone is simply an area within your house, apartment, office, or any other area that's supposed to be covered by Wi-Fi. For example, if you walk into a room with a phone or tablet and that room is in a dead zone, you'll stop getting a Wi-Fi signal.

Anything that interferes with Wi-Fi radio waves produces a dead zone. If you have a large house or office and have your wireless router in one corner of the building, there may be a dead zone in the opposite corner of the building where the Wi-Fi signal can't reach if you can move your router to a more centralized location. The closer you can put your router to the center of your coverage area, the better reception will be throughout your house.

Most houses were built before Wi-Fi was developed, so the floorplan and building materials may interfere with Wi-Fi. Old homes may have thick plaster walls that contain chicken wire for support, and this metal wiring can block Wi-Fi signals. Large metal objects like filing cabinets, ductwork, or metal walls may also block a Wi-Fi connection.

Other devices can also interfere with your connection. Old cordless phones create Wi-Fi dead spots while in use, and a microwave oven blocks Wi-Fi signals while running. Baby monitors, wireless security systems, and wireless sound systems have also been known to cause Wi-Fi issues.

If you live in an area dense with other wireless broadcasts, your Wi-Fi coverage may also be hurt by interference. For example, if you live in an apartment block where every unit has its own wireless router, their signals may "fight”.

Similarly, if your nearby neighbors have their Wi-Fi networks configured on the same wireless channel as yours, this may result in interference, reducing your network's signal strength.

Occasionally, there are instances like this that require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.

If your Wi-Fi is not working at all, follow these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Try another device

• If it appears as though your Wi-Fi is out, try using a different Wi-Fi-enabled device to determine whether the issue is truly due to the Wi-Fi connection or if it is due to a particular device performing poorly.
• Whether due to age, outstanding software upgrades, or other variables, some Wi-Fi-enabled devices simply don’t perform as well as others.
• If you believe the Wi-Fi issue is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 2.

2. Reboot your router

• Like many other electronic devices, sometimes “rebooting” or restarting a router is all that is needed to resolve issues.

1. Locate the power supply on the back of your router. The power supply is a thin cord with a round connector. You can also find the power supply by tracing the connected cord to the power outlet back to the router.
2. Unplug the power supply and keep it unplugged for ten seconds.
3. Plug the power supply back in and wait a few minutes for the router to restart.
4. If rebooting does not resolve the Wi-Fi issues, continue to Step 3

3. Contact Us

• Occasionally, some instances require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.

If you are unable to stream, follow these steps to troubleshoot:

1. Try another streaming device

• If you’re unable to stream, try using a different streaming device to determine whether the issue is truly due to the Internet connection or if it is due to a particular device performing poorly.
• Whether due to age, outstanding software upgrades, or other variables, some streaming devices simply don’t perform as well as others.
• If you believe the inability to stream is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 2.

2. Try another streaming service

• If you are unable to use a particular streaming service, try using a different streaming service (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.).
• If you believe the inability to stream is not related to a specific streaming service, continue to Step 3.

3. Restart your device

• Restarting or unplugging the power from the electronic devices often solves performance issues.
• Turn off or unplug your device, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on or plug it back in. Verify the device is connected to the internet, either hard wired or wireless, with a strong signal. If you believe the inability to browse is not due to a specific device, continue to Step 4.

4. Reboot your router

• Like many other electronic devices, sometimes “rebooting” or restarting a router is all that is needed to resolve issues.

1. Locate the power supply on the back of your router. The power supply is a thin cord with a round connector. You can also find the power supply by tracing the connected cord to the power outlet back to the router.
2. Unplug the power supply and keep it unplugged for ten seconds.
3. Plug the power supply back in and wait a few minutes for the router to restart.
4. If rebooting does not resolve the issues, continue to Step 5.

5. Contact us

• Occasionally, some instances require additional troubleshooting. Contact us , and one of our professionals will take it from there.

Yes. MTCO Internet service does include a data plan.

The base MTCO data plan includes up to 1.5 TB (1,500 GB) of usage. This plan allows for a significant volume of Internet activity. For those who need more data, there is the option of upgrading to a higher data plan of 2 TB or Unlimited at a discounted rate. We’ve provided some usage examples in the following chart.

MTCO DATA PLAN OPTIONS	1.5TB	2TB	Unlimited	*
	$0	$15/mo.	$35/mo.	$14/mo.
Hours of streaming online music	24,855 hours	33,140 hours	Unlimited	Unlimited
Stream one-minute YouTube videos (standard quality)	3,426 videos	4,568 videos	Unlimited	Unlimited
Watch hour-long TV shows online (high quaility)	1,500 shows	2,000 shows	Unlimited	Unlimited
Stream full-length movies (standard definition)	750 SD movies	1,000 SD movies	Unlimited	Unlimited
Stream full-length movies (high definition)	495 HD movies	660 HD movies	Unlimited	Unlimited

A gigabyte (GB) and a terabyte (TB) are both units of measurement of the amount of data that is transmitted over the Internet. A terabyte (TB) is equal to 1,000 gigabytes (GB). A typical standard definition one-hour TV show will consume around 1 GB of data while an HD quality, two-hour movie streamed over the Internet uses approximately 3 GBs. It is important to remember that a GB and a TB represent the amount of data sent over the network, and not the amount of time spent using the Internet.

Time alone is not the determining factor; it is the activity that matters. You could spend several hours reading emails, for example, and use less than 1 GB of data. On the other hand, you could spend 30 minutes downloading a movie and use 2 GB of data. It is important to remember that it is what you are doing on the Internet, not how long you do it, that determines the amount of data that you use.

Usage includes all of the data you have received (downloaded) or sent (uploaded). In addition, we take into account the standard network protocols (such as Ethernet and IP activity) that are used to transmit content via the Internet.

If you access the Internet through your wireless home network using any type of device (including smartphones and tablets), that access will be included. However, if you access the Internet via a public or commercial Wi-Fi hotspot or your cellular provider’s 3G/4G/5G network, that access is not counted toward your usage.

If you have not secured your home wireless gateway/router with a password, someone nearby with a computer or Wi-Fi enabled device could access your home network and use your High-Speed Internet Service, which could increase your monthly usage. MTCO recommends that you secure your wireless router/gateway to prevent others from using your connection. We suggest that you use Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) for Wi-Fi security. Call 800-859-6826 for support in securing MTCO provided devices or your manufacturer’s website for help with securing your wireless router/gateway.

If you exceed your data plan, you will begin incurring overage fees at the rate indicated in the chart below.

DATA PLAN	MONTHLY RATE	OVERAGE FEES
1.5TB	Included	$10 per 50GB
2TB	$15	$7 per 50GB
Unlimited	$35	No Overage Fees
*	$14	No Overage Fees

If at any time throughout your data usage cycle (the 25th of the previous month through the 24th of the current month) you find you are exceeding your data plan, you have the option to upgrade to a data plan that will better fit your needs. Contact our Customer Service at 800-859-6826 for assistance in determining if an upgrade would be the most cost-effective solution for you.

To help you track and manage your usage, contact Customer Service at 800-859-6826 to enroll in text message alerts. Once you are enrolled, MTCO’s billing system will automatically issue a proactive notification at 80% of your usage and again when you have reached 90% and 100%. Alert messages will be issued to your enrolled email address, and you may also sign up to receive alert messages via SMS text message depending on your communication preferences.

MTCO’s online billing system (eBill) does provide your current usage up to the last hour. You can access your eBill portal at https://ebill.mtco.com. After logging in, select your Internet username on the lower portion of your eBill homepage and your current usage will be displayed. The Usage Indicator will reset at 12:01 a.m. on the 25th of each month to begin tracking your new cycle. Your previous month’s usage will be available after the billing cycle closes. For usage history, select Usage on the Dashboard which will give you the ability to look at various usage periods using the dropdown. In addition, your usage and Data Plan will also print on your monthly invoice in the MTCO Internet Usage section.

One step is to only watch HD video when the screen size requires it. For example, you would want to watch an HD streaming video on your flat-screen TV but SD video will look just fine on a tablet or cell phone. All the major Internet video providers provide options to stream either standard definition (SD) or high definition (HD) video. If you tend to binge-watch Netflix video series, be sure to stop the video stream when you are finished watching. Otherwise, this is akin to “leaving the water running” and your usage will increase due to the constant streaming even though you are no longer watching the video. This also relates to the streaming of YouTube videos, so it is wise to turn off the Auto Play feature. If you are a Bit Torrent user, then you may want to limit the ability of other people to access the content on your computer as this can accumulate a high volume of usage on your connection as well. See question #8: 'How can I reduce my data usage?' on our Interent Support page for strategies to reduce your data usage.

All residential customers are given a basic data package of 1.5 TB as part of their internet service (with the option to upgrade). Every time information is downloaded from or uploaded to the internet, part of that data is used. So, what exactly uses data, and how can you reduce your data usage?

Every service uses data, but the amount used will vary. A task like checking email requires very little data, while streaming video or music requires much more.

Streaming Services For most customers, video streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, or Sling will use the most data. Netflix, for example, uses the following amounts of data:

• For SD (standard definition) video, Netflix uses around 0.7 GB an hour
• For HD (High Definition 1080p) video, Netflix uses around 3 GB an hour
• For UHD (Ultra High Definition 4K), Netflix uses around 7 GB an hour

Keep in mind that whenever you watch a video on social media apps like Facebook or Instagram, that counts as streaming video, too. Scrolling through photos on Instagram can also easily use several GB of data if automatic sync is turned on since that means the app is constantly downloading new photos.

Music streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music use a lot of data, too, though not as much as video streaming apps.

If you or your children are gamers, downloading games can also be a cause of substantial data usage. Whether they are console or PC, most games nowadays are upwards of 20 GB in size (and many games are 50 GB or more!). That means every time a new game is downloaded, at least 20 GB of data will be used. For the following account, over 55 GB of data were used 10 different days, and that was all from just downloading games!


Updates to games can easily be several GB in size, so those have the potential to drive up your data usage, too.

If you have a Nest Cam or Dropcam home security camera and subscribe to the associated cloud recording service, the upload data usage can easily exceed a 1.5 TB data package every month.

Any text-based activity—like checking email, surfing the web, looking up a recipe, etc.—uses significantly less data than video, music, or gaming does. Scrolling through social media can also be included here—as long as you have video autoplay turned off.

For most people, the standard 1.5 TB data cap will be more than enough. However, if you find yourself using more than 1.5 TB per month, here are some tips and tricks to reduce your data usage. Change the Video Resolution on Streaming Services
4K streaming uses a lot of data! If you have multiple TVs streaming 4K at all times, consider turning some or all of them to 1080p. For Netflix, that equates to 4 GB of data saved per hour. If you have a streaming box like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Apple TV, you may be able to set the whole box to stream only 1080p. For most streaming boxes, the resolution settings can be accessed in the following ways:

• Roku: Settings > Display Type or Roku bandwidth usage menu
• Fire TV: Settings > Display & Sounds > Display > Video Resolution
• Apple TV: Settings > Video and Audio > Resolution
• Android TV: Settings > Display & Sound > Resolution

If you find you are still using an excess of data, consider turning some of your TVs to SD.

Most streaming services also have a feature that allows you to set the maximum resolution at the account level. This is especially helpful if you regularly watch multiple TVs, or if you have a lot of members on one account and you want to limit usage. On Netflix, this feature can be accessed by going to: Settings > My Profile > Playback Settings and selecting your desired resolution. For Sling, this feature is accessed by going to: Settings > Connection.


Turn off Automatic Updates and Automatic Backups
If you have automatic updates or automatic backups turned on for your apps, consider turning those features off. Cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox are set to automatically upload new photos and videos. This can consume a lot of data, especially if you take a lot of photos or have multiple computers associated with one cloud backup account.


For security cameras, consider setting them to record only when you are not at home and only when they detect motion. This can ensure they are not uploading dozens of GB of recordings at a time, especially when the recordings are of your empty front doorstep!


There is also a feature on most security cameras that will allow you to lower the quality of the recording to save yourself some data.

Plan "New Game Days"
If you are a gamer, consider setting “new game days,” which are days when you know you won’t use a lot of data otherwise, so you dedicate them to downloading new games. These might be days at the end of the month when you have a lot of data left, or days in months when you will be out of town, so you know you won’t go over your data cap.

If you find that none of these solutions are working, feel free to call us at 800-859-6826 or come in to our office to find a data package that works for you!