Another hot topic, best TV service in Babcock...

With cell phones there was a clear winner as selected by a vast majority…Verizon. Some folks liked other options as noted. However, opinions on TV service vary widely. Here they are, names removed but comments in tact.

We are settling on our new home in Babcock Ranch tomorrow. We are struggling a bit to identify what will be the best TV service to go with. What are your suggestions on what package and or does anyone have DirecTV and is that permitted? Would you advise it?

1) We just use the Roku and don’t use cable anymore. Save so much money and have more than what we need!

2) We use Hulu streaming and get pretty much every station we got on cable for only $50 a month . Best move we ever made.

3) We don’t have cable. We use an inside antenna. Hide or report this

4) I’ve used cable for years and was a bit gun shy about streaming cable. We figured there was no harm in trying Hulu since there’s no contract and we could cancel at any time. We tried it and love it. We are saving so much money (it’s $50 for two TVs and I believe $65 for unlimited TVs). If you don’t have a smart TV you will need a device such as Roku or Fire Stick. We have Fire sticks.)

5) We Use Hulu as well. As to direct TV if you want it the HOA can't say no. The federal government has written a law blocking HOAs from banning small dishes and antennas. It has to be on your property.

6) I’ve got directtv now on my Apple TV and it’s great.

7) We have cable with CenturyLink and hate it. We are going to switch

8) I think we are getting ready to try YouTube TV. What's included for $49.99/month Live sports, news, and shows from 70+ channels.…

9) When you have a minute, can you share what sports channels are on YouTube TV? Thank you. Hide or report this Here is the link to all the channels. https://tv.youtube.com/welcome/?utm_source=pm... TV.YOUTUBE.COM YouTube TV - Watch & DVR Live Sports, Shows & News YouTube TV - Watch & DVR Live Sports, Shows & News

10) I use YouTube TV, same as Hulu but cheaper for more. $50 3 TV’s unlimited storage & more sports channels.

11) We are using YouTube..Has everything worth watching and then some..

12) Thank you everyone so much for your prompt replies here. It's all been very helpful. We have a bit of work cut out for us in choosing but you have given us some great ideas. So looking forward to being a part of this community.

13) We decided when we moved to Babcock we would have no cable TV just the Internet so we can spend more time outdoors

14) An antenna is pretty much all you need.

15) that’s what we have plus Roku

16) I am planning to keep my DIRECTV - mostly because it is one less thing to have to learn.

17) We like DISH.

18) Hulu live on a firestick or some other streaming device $45/ mo

19) Keep my DirecTV for now. Have to have my NFL Sunday ticket to watch DA BEARS!!!

The hot topic of "best" cell phone coverage in Babcock...

Who has best Cell phone coverage in The Ranch? Currently I have T- Mobile and when I am up there checking on my house progress find that I have little to zero reception. Appreciate a few comments if you have a provider you are happy with. Thanks

1) I have Verizon and have all bars everywhere I go up there. I haven’t moved in yet, but when I visit the house and get kids from school I don’t have any issues. I should add, I switched over roast year from AT&T and am saving about $100 a month!

2) We have T mobile and never have service. Only in our house when we r connected to WiFi and on 31 you will go in and out of service. We wanna switch to but it’s cheaper

3) We have had & remain with Verizon. Thought about changing to cheaper service; but we've never had a problem with service, so we stay.

4) We have Verizon as well and full coverage. Once your house is built, you can set your cell phone to WiFi service. If you don't want to pay the extra cost of Verizon. There is also community WiFi at a lot of places, so you can still get calls at the town center.

5) VERIZON

6) Verizon

7) Verizon

8) We switched from Verizon to T-mobile when we got kids phones. We all ready had Verizon with 3 phones but to add 2 more the monthly bill would of been way to much. So when we first started coming to Babcock with T-mobile was last year and the service has gotten a lot better. We use wifi calling when in the house and also have a signal booster in the house T-mobile gave me. I wouldn't switch just yet. And like Eric said wifi is all over the town for wifi calling you just have to have that option turned on in your settings.

9) Verizon

10) Verizon has worked everywhere for me when others couldn't get reception.

11) We have Sprint. We have pretty good coverage. We had checked into others service providers last year but some had very spotty service out here so stuck with Sprint.

12) Verizon just works, period. 1 Edit or delete this Like ·

13) Verizon

14) 5 bars on Verizon for us here at BR

15) I've traveled the country for years...always had friends and colleagues struggle with coverage...never with VZW...you get what you pay for.

16) We have Verizon and have never had an issue here

17) I have ATT, have roamed all over the developed and undeveloped parts of the town footprint leading media tours and the only place I sometimes have weak signal is up on the solar field

18) I am very pleased with Verizon.

19) Verizon. No issues so far

20) AT&T works for me

21) Verizon

22) We had T-Mobile and it worked everywhere but here so we had to switch to Verizon. And I don’t know how, because T-Mobile was so cheap, but our bill went down!! And it works everywhere out here.

23) My T-Mobile is terrible. We are looking at a Verizon change once the house is done. My husband made the WiFi argument, But I even have a hard time hooking up to Babcock WiFi when I’m at the school. Heaven forbid we’re at the community pool, someone gets hurt and I can’t call EMS. That theoretical scenario scares me enough.

24) That’s the no. 1 reason why we changed, in case of emergency we needed our phones. And also because it got annoying real fast not being able to get ahold of each other if we were split up.

25) My T-Mobile is absolutely horrible. Only have service when connected to WiFi! Hoping it will be better once the sprint and T-Mobile merger is over. We switched from sprint to t mobile and almost regret it.

26) I'm doing good with 4 bars and I've got Verizon

Technology, written for Lennar but probably has value in all of BR, Thank you Eric Buscher

Lennar Smarthome 

-George Buscher

If you have questions you can ping me on Facebook in:

Babcock Ranch Technology+ https://www.facebook.com/groups/384467712466585/

Or

Trails Edge at Babcock Ranch Community Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/734913600173930/

With a Lennar purchase you get the following devices:

  • CenturyLink Router - Required to get access to the internet

  • Pre wired ethernet to all the rooms in your house

  • Ring doorbell - Some are WiFi some are POE (Power Over Ethernet)

  • Kwikset smart front door lock or Schlage Smart front door lock

  • Ruckus WiFi attached to your ceiling

  • Smart garage door opener 

  • Honeywell Lyric thermostat

You are required to setup an Amazon visit that will provide:

  • Ruckus power over ethernet - needed to power the WiFi

  • Samsung Smartthings device - needed to connect your door lock.  If you get the Schlage door lock you won’t get the SmartThings device.

  • Echo dot

Some basic network information:

You have 3 options for how to connect to the internet in your house.  I will be using a few acronyms that many have heard but a lot of people don’t actually know their meaning.

  • Gb stands for gigabit (1 billion bits) when looking at tech acronyms a little b means bit (the smallest piece of data a computer can handle), a capital B means byte which is 8 bits.  Little b is used when talking about speed and big B is used for storage.  I think it is this way for us geeks to confuse everyone else :)

  • Mb megabit (1 million bits) 

  • /s stand for per second

  • WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity, and is commonly used as a generic term to describe any wireless connection to a network

  • GHz stands for Gigahertz.  The number specified (2.4 or 5) is the frequency used for that wireless setup.  

  • POE is Power Over Ethernet.  With the correct equipment, you can power up your devices using this instead of needing a power outlet.

Network type and speed:

  1. Ethernet - this is a wired connection and usually available on Laptops, desktops, TVs and other non portable devices.  This is your fastest connection and the only one that can get close to 1 Gb of speed. You will likely never see this speed outside of a speed test program.

  2. 5GHz WiFi, this is the fastest WiFi right now, but also has the shortest range.  You can expect to see speeds averaging around 300Mb/s.

  3. 2.4GHz, this is a slower WiFi averaging about 50 Mb/s but will have a longer range.  Also many of the Smarthome devices only work on this frequency.

Low voltage closet - Pre Amazon

What your low voltage closet will look like when you move in.

  • Your CenturyLink router

  • The blue cables are the ethernet cables to your rooms and the fastest internet connection you will have.

  • The white cable is the cable to connect and power your Ruckus after you get the Ruckus router.

  • The black cables are coaxial and completely useless to us.

Low voltage closet - Post Amazon

Your closet with the Amazon devices.

  • Blue Arrow -Plastic mounting board.  Has 4 plugs to hang it from the holes

  • Red Arrow - Samsung SmartThings device.  Connect your front door look and other Z-wave devices you might buy.  Z-wave is a standard for smart devices as it requires less power than WiFi.  If you get the Schlage door lock you won’t have this.

  • Black Arrow - Ruckus POE Router.  Power your Ruckus WiFi and give you enough ethernet outlets to connect all of your rooms.

  • Green arrow - basic surge suppressor.

CenturyLink router

This is a device provided by Centurylink to connect you to your internet.  There are a few things you will want to do here.

  1. Set up your internet. http://centurylink.com/on go to this site and pick your options.  For television channels I recommend an antenna and streaming Hulu or YouTube TV, the CenturyLink TV service is just a streaming box, costs you more and based on people’s posts it is very unstable.

  2. Set the device to allow special characters.  The default setting causes issues with a lot of devices.  Basically many devices have a space in their names now and that is considered a special character.  

  3. Pre Amazon - GIve your WiFi friendly names and passwords

  4. Post Amazon - Disable your WiFi.  Too many WiFi signals in your house will cause loss of quality and possible disconnects.

Connect to your CenturyLink Router

  • Connect your device to your network.  I recommend a laptop or desktop for these steps as the screen is bigger and easier to read :).  If you can plug into the ethernet, use that option otherwise, on the CenturyLink router there is a sticker with your wireless name and password.

  • Open a browser and enter http://192.168.0.1/

  • Enter the admin information provided on the sticker to log on

  • Select Wireless Setup.  Starting with the 2.4 GHz

    • Click Wireless Setup (silver icon) 

    • Select 2.4 GHz on the left menu

    • If you have your Ruckus working select disable

    • If you don’t have the Ruckus working, you can change the WiFi name to something easier to remember.  Make sure to be able to clearly see which is 2.4 and which is 5 in your name.

      • Also click on wireless security and in section 4 enter a friendly Security Key /Passphrase. 

    • Warning, if you are using the CenturyLink 2.4 GHz WiFi, these changes will disconnect you.  You will need to go to your device's WiFi and change the connection after you hit apply.

    • Click 5 GHz and follow the same steps as you did for the 2.4 GHz.  

  • Select Advanced Setup (red icon)

    • On the left menu select DHCP Settings

    • In section 4 select the radio button for Allow Special Characters.

    • Select apply

  • Unless you need some special setup for work this should be all you have to do with the router.

Ring Doorbell

This can be setup pre Amazon and use your CenturyLink 2.4 GHz WiFi

We have different models in the community, so I am going to point you to the instructions that come with the device.  If you just moved in, search through your kitchen cabinets and you will find a ring box.  You will need the tool in the box to take off the faceplate when you get to that step.

The only tricky part here is that you need to make sure your phone is connected to the 2.4 GHz wireless network.  Ring will not work on the 5 GHz but it doesn’t tell you that.

If you hit a snag, ping me on Facebook and I will help you through it.

Honeywell Thermostat

This device causes the most issues for everyone here in the neighborhood (including me when I did the first setup).  There is one default option that needs to be changed, I will note that when I get to the step.

  • Make sure you phone is connected to the 2.4GHz network

  • Download Honeywell Home app.  The icon is a red box with a white house outline.

  • You will have to create an account if this is your first time with Honeywell

  • Touch the + to add a new device

  • Select Lyric Round Wi-Fi

  • Follow the prompts on the app

  • Near the end you will get to your thermostat configuration.  The default is central air.  We have HeatPumps here.  If you miss this change, your system will blow very hot air when it should be cooling.  You can run through the process again to change the heating system.

  • To interface with Alexa, you will need to add the Honeywell Home skill to your Alexa account.  Enter your Honeywell account info to connect to your device.

Garage door

Kwikset front door lock

Installation

This requires that the Samsung SmartThings device has been installed.  It is one of the pieces of hardware that you get from Amazon.

  • Take off the cover on the back of your lock.  2 or 3 small screws on the sides.

  • Download the SmartThings App

  • You will need to create a Samsung account if you don’t have one

  • Click on the + to add a new device

  • Select Device

  • Select by brand

  • Select Kwikset

  • Select door locks

  • Select Kwikset Z-Wave

  • Select start

  • The hub should say SmartThings Hub 

  • For room, select from the dropdown or create a new one.  This is just a description so you can use whatever you want.

  • Press the A button on the back of the lock.

  • The device should be found on the app

  • Follow the rest of the prompts.

Add key code

  • From the SmartThings app

  • Select Smart Lock Guest Access

  • Select the down arrow next to Locks

  • Select Lock Codes

  • Select Invite a Guest at the bottom

  • Enter the code info

Schlage door lock

The newer homes are now coming with this door lock.  It looks like an easy way to tell the difference is that the Schlage lock has a white keypad and the Kwikset lock has a black keypad. 

I don’t have this lock so I can’t get too specific.  

This lock uses WiFi so you should be able set it up form day 1.  

Download the Schlage Home app to set up the lock to your WiFi.

https://www.schlage.com/en/home/support/encode-works-with.html

Alexa Skills

Add the following skills to your Amazon account and you can have Alexa control your devices

You can change your temperature, mode, and turn on or off.  

You can lock or unlock your front door.  For the unlock you will have to setup an Alexa routine.  They don’t want people to be able to yell through your window “Alexa unlock front door”

Open and close your garage door.

Using the Alexa app I have a command to lock my door, close my garage, and turn off other devices I have installed.  I tell Alexa good night and it does the rest.

Install the Amazon devices yourself

If you have Amazon ship your devices, these steps will help you get everything setup.

You should receive a plastic sheet with 2 devices and a surge suppressor attached.  You can see them in the picture I have at the start of the document.

  • Hang the sheet in your low voltage closet.

    • This will be easier if you have 2 people because the cables like to get in the way.

    • Line the holes up on the plastic with the holes in the back of your panel.  

    • Push the plastic plugs provided in tight to lock the devices in place

  • Unplug all of the ethernet cables (blue) from the back of your CenturyLink router

  • Plug them into the Ruckus router (white box).

  • Plug in the white ethernet cable - this connects the Ruckus WiFi

  • Take the supplied ethernet cable (grey) and plug it into your CenturyLink router then your Ruckus router.

  • Make sure there is an ethernet cable going from the Smartthings device to the Ruckus.

  • Plug the surge suppressor into the outlets at the bottom of your closet.


Ignore the blue wire, it is for my pool automation.

  • Give the devices about 10 minutes to power up and configure (this is longer than needed, but I prefer people to wait to make sure everything is ready instead of getting confused because a device isn’t online)

  • Check your Ruckus WiFi on the ceiling, it should have green lights now.

If you purchase your own POE router, you can use the same steps above for the router setup, but you might not have enough ports for all of your ethernet cables.  If that is the case, you can use ports on the back of the CentryLink router as well.  Just make sure you have 1 cable going from between both routers for them to talk.

If you get the Ruckus from Lennar or Amazon, it might need some configuration to turn on the PoE.  I helped someone with this last weekend.  These 2 videos tell you exactly what to do.

The first shows you how to connect to the Ruckus.  You will need a USB C cable and a terminal client.  You can get the one they used, but you will have to fill out a questionnaire, or you can download PuTTY

SecureCRT

https://www.vandyke.com/products/securecrt/

PuTTY

https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html

Connect to your Ruckus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXR4xhkw3q8

Configure PoE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrY3g3BwZc&feature=emb_logo

You will also need an Ethernet cable to connect the Ruckus to your CenturyLink router.  The cable that comes with the Ruckus is an oldschool serial cable, and even though it looks like Ethernet, it has the wrong wire pinout.  Pic of cable below.

Configure your Ruckus WiFi Access Point

I was going to type up directions, but Rob Elsesser shared this video that describes the process perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8I5aVwMNMg&app=desktop


Chapter 1, First Blog ever, Living the Better Life in Babcock Ranch

The intent of this Blog is to curate all the good advice for newcomers to Babcock Ranch. I see the same questions asked over and over. Some of our neighbors have invested the effort to assemble various guides, like Info on setting up the Internet, etc.

We have an amazing array of talented neighbors and my goal is to make all of the helpful advice easily available in one spot. Right now there is a great deal of helpful info scattered over 20+ neighborhood Facebook pages.

So bare with me as I enter this new phase of my social media life.

Contact me

Mark W. Wilkerson
815-549-6051
mark@mwwpv.com

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