Make moving your cable, phone and internet easier

By Gayle Kesten

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In a word, moving is stressful. The volume of decisions you have to make can be overwhelming, especially those related to today's array of digital and electronic devices. To help you focus, here’s a rundown of options to consider while you’re packing the china.

Web of Wires

First thing’s first: Spend some time planning how you’ll want to wire each room for your TVs, telephones, and Internet or networking needs. You’ll need to consider where you’ll be placing your equipment; you don't want to have an outlet on one side of the room, only to realize the TV is better suited on the opposite wall.  After all, there are nicer ways to decorate your walls than with wires.

Adding new wires is easier when you have an unfinished basement or attic where you can run them out of sight. With a little luck, the previous tenant or home owner already cabled the rooms the way you generally want them or can work with. Keep in mind that if you rent, you could be prohibited from drilling holes in the walls. That could also hold true if you’re moving to an historic property; you’ll likely be restricted from doing anything that alters or affects the aesthetics of your home’s exterior. This is where a wireless alternative will come in handy.

What about wireless? You didn’t buy that new home with a lake view to be holed up in a windowless spare room. But be mindful about where you place a wireless adapter.  Put it too close to a big-screen TV, cordless phone system, microwave or even a brick wall and your Internet access could be compromised. Also, don’t forget about security; drive-by bad guys would like nothing better than to jump onto your wireless connection and wreak havoc. Read our article here about these topics.

Two final notes: A house with large electrical loads will require 200-amp service. If you have less than that, get in touch with a licensed electrician for an upgrade. Also, complicated cabling jobs more likely will require that electrician versus a local phone or cable technician. For instance, some styles of home have a room that’s between the main and top levels and is perfect for, say, a home theater. Before you get too excited, know that wiring the room is a bigger project because you don’t have direct access to your attic or basement.  

Traveling the I-Highway

Still using dial-up to access the Internet? Depending on your online reliance—do you have a home-based business that requires you to always be on, do you just need e-mail and general surfing access, or something in-between?—this might be the perfect time to upgrade to one of the high-speed options we describe here for DSL, cable, or satellite connections. Similarly, if you’re unhappy with your present high-speed provider, this could be a good time to switch to another company. Word to the wise: Maintain your current account until a week after you move to avoid uninterrupted service. If you’re moving to a new city, DigitialLanding.com is the perfect place to check out what high-speed Internet connections are available. Just type in your address on our home page and you'll see who provides service in your area.

I Want My DTV

Moving and buying a new television is a rite of passage and the perfect reason/excuse to go wide, flat and digital, according to an unscientific survey of mostly males. If you forgo the flat part of that equation, realize a boxy TV will require more space.  A flat-panel TV, which can be wall-mounted, will help in that department, though either way the bigger the screen the farther away you’ll want to place your easy chair.

One thing you need to make sure is whichever TV you buy can support HDTV, plus any other electronic equipment you plan to hook into it. Also, find out whether the TV has built-in HD tuners or whether you’ll need to purchase a stand-alone tuner, cable or satellite set-top box, or CableCard to view your programs. Read our article here to find out more about your HD options.

Talk To Me

Not even Alexander Graham Bell could have foreseen the options available for telephone service.  Which way you go boils down to how much you rely on your phone and where you call most. These days most people pay for two types of services: traditional landline (cord and cordless) and cell.

There are several phone options to consider: One is to use the existing local wired phone carrier that serves your neighborhood, and purchase a bundled plan that includes all local and long distance calls from that line. Another is to purchase Internet phone service (VoIP) that can do the same thing, but over your high-speed Internet connection. That means your phone and computer become their own network. Should the power goes out, though, you’re doubly out of service.

A third option is to use your cell phone as your primary phone number, and purchase sufficient minutes to handle your call volume. Again, a blackout could disrupt service, as can a high volume of fellow cell-phone users.  An easy solution? Plan on at least one old-fashioned landline to stay connected.

Good Things Come In Packages

Although you have the freedom to pick and choose your Internet, TV and phone services from different providers, you could save money by signing up with one for two or more services.  Do what any smart shopper does and check out your options ahead of time, when you’re not pressed to make a quick decision--when you’re not overly stressed. Moving will do that to you, you know.