Wheat State's May 2019 Newsletter

Cornerstone Group © 2019 Wheat State Technologies • 1/800 442-6835 • www.wheatstate.com Be Prepared When Lightning Strikes National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (the last week in June) was started in 2001 to call attention to this hazard and educate people on what to do to protect themselves. Since then, U.S. lightning fatalities have dropped from about 50 per year to about 30. There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. So remember this: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!” Too many people wait too long to get to a safe place when thunderstorms approach. A lightning bolt can carry billions of watts of electricity. If a strike would occur near your home, its powerful surge could damage your electronics and potentially injure you. To reduce your risk, unplug your computers, televisions, modems, and other elec- tronics before bad weather hits. Also make sure your home has a corded landline phone that will continue to work even if the power goes out. Wheat State Technologies wants you to stay safe this season. For information about landline phone service, call 1/800 442-6835. Let’s start with the basics. Exactly what is 4K? Also known as Ultra HD, 4K refers to a TV resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. That’s four times as many pixels than in a full HD TV—a total of about 8.3 million pixels. Having so many pixels results in a clearer, better defined picture with more detail and texture. Images on the screen appear lifelike, as though you’re looking through a window. While 4K has been buzzed about for years, the technology is now coming into its own. 4K has moved from being something for the tech-minded early adopters to an important new standard for average consumers. Not only will you want to think about 4K the next time you purchase a new TV, you’ll also want to consider it when selecting the speed of your home’s internet plan. Netflix is promoting 4K on its streaming platform and to enjoy it fully, you need a fast internet connection. Why? Higher quality video uses more bandwidth than lower quality video. According to its website, Netflix recommends a download speed of at least 25 Mbps for 4K/Ultra HD quality. But keep in mind that if several members of your family will be streaming in 4K on different devices simultaneously, you’ll probably want even more download speed. After all, no one likes to share inadequate bandwidth and see the buffering icon of death show up on the screen. When you want to enjoy a 4D movie or TV show, you want to enjoy it now. Do you think you may need an internet upgrade to accommodate all of your online activities, including streaming in 4K? Wheat State Technologies offers a range of internet plans with download speeds up to 100 Mbps—all at affordable prices and backed by local service and support. For details on our internet plan availability and pricing, call 1/800 442-6835 or visit www.wheatstate.com. Netflix Recommends Internet Speeds of at Least 25 Mbps for Streaming in 4K