What do I need to get started?

Surprisingly little!

1. Internet service*, & an appropriate TV!   
If you don't already have the Internet (and you're reading this at a library kiosk or something similar), don't worry. We'll help you get that *appropriate Internet service in place without any fuss). If you want to see true "1080p High Definition" video, you'll need at least a 6 Mbps Internet download speed. For just "High Quality 720p" video, you'll need about 4 Mbps. (Click here to start your own safe and unbiased Internet speed test and learn what "Download Mbps" speed YOU have. Just click the ORANGE start button!) You need a TV to view everything, and some of the old-style TV's might work but this experience was made for the quality, size, glamour, and colour of flat-screen TVs. Any size. Simple!

*the absolute minimum is a persistent 3 Mbps download speed for cable-quality video, all the way to our equipment - not just to your modem!

2. A hard wired network connection is better. WiFi is (a lot) worse!
Why? The only reliable way to get a solid high-speed connection between any device and the Internet, is through a hard-wired connection. A slow or unreliable Internet connection (another way of saying WiFi!) is worse than a stuttering sports announcer trying to call a horse race! Don't have one? No problem! We'll install a high-speed (typically 100 Mbps) hard-wired Ethernet link back to your modem for you as part of the basic installation. Certain conditions apply, but we're now able to include this even between several floors in most houses. No drilling required, either! It's all part of our basic service.

3. What's wrong with WiFi?
Our equipment is all WiFi compatible. So ... (1) IF you have a really fast (802.11n or .ac) and robust WiFi modem/ router/ switch ... (2) AND no neighbours near you ... (3) AND no other devices using WiFi in your house, ... (4) AND no microwave oven, ... (5) AND no wireless toys, remote controls, etc., you MAY be able to get by with WiFi. But do those conditions accurately describe YOUR WiFi situation? Probably not. It's difficult to get consistently high connection speeds with WiFi. It's highly variable and quite unreliable. You deserve better.

WiFi may be OK for something quick and temporary like collecting e-mail, but we're providing a reliable and quality viewing experience. A few of our users find WiFi "just bearable". But the Internet connection you're paying for, is usually 5 to 20 times faster than WiFi. Why deliberately cripple that last link, by using WiFi? It's better for everyone if we do things right the first time! Don't be disappointed because you were mislead to think that WiFi was "OK". In almost every case, it isn't. We'll make your connection a lot better.

4. A spare jack for our network cable to plug in to.
Most Cable or DSL modems today come with multiple LAN (also called Ethernet) jacks on the back. So do most network switches and routers. Our network cable needs to plug into one of those empty LAN jacks. It's called an RJ-45 jack, and it looks like a modular telephone jack on steroids. Check the back of your modem or router for an empty one. The picture below shows what they look like (and they may be any colour).

5. A TV that we can connect to!
If your TV is less than 10 years old and has a wide-screen display, you're probably good to go. It doesn't matter if it's Plasma, LED, LCD, OLED, etc. If you're going to replace an older square-ish TV with the newer wide-screen display, the best value for money right now are the 1080p TV's. (Those 4K TV's look great, but they are still too expensive. Wait until at least January 2016, for significant price drops.) 3-D sets seem to have been a novelty that never caught on. Slightly less quality comes in the 720p flavour. We can also (in certain circumstances) even use some models of those big, clunky, old square-ish TV's that have composite video inputs. If you don't want to part with that 25 yr. old TV, perhaps you can continue to use it here, but they only have 240-400 resolution. You'll miss a lot!

6. An installation appointment.
We expect an average installation to take about 90 minutes. That includes about 30 minutes for us to show you how and where to access the movies, TV episodes, shows, events, music and other things (content you're looking for). We can arrange appointments during the day or the early evening hours, and usually on any day of the week (schedule permitting). Appointments can be arranged by completing the Contact Request Form. We'll get in touch to work out the details and the date/time that works best for you. Please note though, that our goal is to teach you how and where to locate everything you desire - not to sit and watch "I Love Lucy" with you! Figuratively speaking, our goal is to teach you how to use the library, not read all the books. We'll show you how to use the TVBox to quickly and easily find the movies or TV shows you want to watch. Before we leave, you'll know how to find everything, all by yourself. It's easy!

7. Payment
We accept cash, or e-Interac for payment (but NOT credit cards, cheques, or gift cards). We complete all the paperwork and payment formalities at the BEGINNING of the installation. We issue a formal invoice for your records. We're required by law to collect HST from everyone, and we post our federal tax license number on the invoice. If you're tax-exempt, you can use the formal paperwork we provide to recover your exemption. When you've paid for a system, you own it completely. There are no daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or "per-use" fees associated with the TVBox, and there are no usage limits.