Are you Tired of Robo Calls?

Receiving calls about your expiring car warranty is annoying. Robo calls are even more annoying because you can’t tell the person on the other end of the phone to remove you from their list. Robo calls can be made to both your landlines and your cell phones and can become a real nuisance if you are trying to work from home. So, what is the best way to deal with these unwanted calls?

Home Phone Fixes

Robo calls have reached peak performance, with many people receiving multiple calls a day, some being illegal. There are a number of things you can do avoid receiving robo calls. Here are some to try:

1. Use the Federal Do Not Call list. This will stop all legitimate telemarketers, but it does not stop robocallers or scammers. These callers are illegally calling anyone and everyone and not following a list. This will stop salesmen or recruiters. It is free to register. Some calls can still go through, including charities, political groups, surveys and collections. You should report any unwanted calls you receive after being on the registry for 31 days.
2. Use Caller ID. If you get a call from a number you don’t recognize, don’t answer it. Caller ID can be added to any LHTC Broadband landline. Contact our Customer Service department for more information.
3. If you do answer a robo call, do not say anything and hang up immediately. If you talk or press a number this will tell them it is a legitimate number and they will attempt to call again. Most importantly, never say “yes” to a robo call, as there really is a scam where they can record your affirmative and use it to steal your identity. If someone says, “Can you hear me?” and you don’t know who it is, hang up!
4. Use your LHTC Broadband invoice for the call details to see where the unwanted numbers are coming from. You can block specific numbers or report them. Be aware that the worst scammers spoof or rotate their numbers. They also use numbers that appear to be your own phone number. Avoid answering those numbers.
5. Turn on anonymous call rejection. This will block a lot of robo calls because they don’t want caller ID picking up their numbers. To turn on anonymous call rejection pick up your home phone and dial *77. To turn it off dial *87.
6. While not the most practical fix, if you are getting a lot of robo calls, you can always turn your ringer off. If you are running a business or are someone’s primary contact, this isn’t the best solution. It has, however, been quite effective for many people. Scammers often give up on a number if nobody ever answers the phone.
7. The best and easiest solution to handle robo calls is add the Robocall Blocker feature to your landline. The Robocall Blocker is available to phone customers in the Stahlstown and Indian Head exchanges and will eliminate telemarketers, political calls, phone spam, and tele-scammers. You can add up to 10 numbers that can ring through automatically without having to listen to the robocall message for family and friends calling your home.

If you would like to try any of these solutions or add Caller ID, Anonymous Call Rejection or Robocall Blocker please contact one of our Customer Service Representatives today at 724-593-2411!

Don’t abandon your landline phone service just yet. Yes, we are the phone company and we love cell phones just as much as the next person. They are an important part of our business, but cell phones and landlines are two completely different pieces of technology. So, let me explain how landlines have evolved and why they are still a valuable service.

Reason #1
In case of an emergency

We live in rural areas and cell phones use GPS-based methods to report your location to 911 which can sometimes be a general location, not a specific location. A landline phone is connected to your home address, so the 911 operator knows exactly where to send help even if you can’t tell them.  Also, cell phones need good reception in order to report your location and we know all too well that many of our homes are located in poor service areas.

Reason #2
Call Quality

Landlines are known to produce better quality of sound and clarity than on a cell phone. According to Consumer Reports, their tests show the voice quality for talking and listening was better than that of the best cell phones. This becomes very important for those that suffer from hearing loss or for businesses who need a clear connection.

Reason #3
Power Outages

Yes, cell phones do work in power outages, but they have a finite battery life. It is hard to know when the power will be restored and your phone can’t be charged without power. Power banks will only last for so long. Landline phones work even if the power is out. The battery backup will keep you connected up to 8 hours after an outage, which will allow you to make emergency calls if needed. To be prepared for a power outage we suggest having at least one corded phone and for extra security we sell 24-hour batteries.

Reason #4
Home Security Systems

Many home security systems require a landline connection to monitor your fire or burglar alarm sensors. They may also need it as a backup for the security company to use as a contact. If you don’t have a landline, some security companies will charge an extra fee of $15 or more to have a device installed that communicates with their office via a cellular connection.

Reason #5
Easy for children to locate and use

Cell phones are not always easy to find, especially in an emergency situation involving a parent. Not to mention getting past screen locks or facial recognition. Landline phone are good to have on hand for children to use in case of these emergencies. They can be easily taught how to dial 911 and since landlines are tied to a service address, as mentioned earlier, this will help find them faster. Landlines are also a good way to let children use the phone before they are given a cell phone.

Life is a little different these days and we are all more dependent on our Internet service more than we have ever been before. Working from home, virtual school, family movie night, online grocery shopping, and the list goes on and on. Even though we are spending all this extra time at home, that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do these things faster. Your Internet service needs to be working for you. So how can you ensure your Internet service is performing at its peak?

First and foremost, know your speed. What speed Internet service are you subscribing to and what is it capable of doing? More importantly what are the download and upload speeds. Download speeds reflect how quickly you can access things online. Faster download speeds will load your websites, Netflix movies, and work email more quickly. While upload speeds tell you how quickly you can put things on the internet. Faster upload speeds will not only get that PDF attached to your email in a jiffy but also keep your beautiful smile looking picture-perfect during your Zoom call. One benefit to LHTC Broadband’s Internet service is its speeds are synchronous, which means that you get the same download and upload speeds. Many other providers offer higher download speeds, but much lower upload speeds which can affect your experience.

Another thing to consider is data. Everything you do online uses data, with streaming and downloading large files typically using up the most data overall. Most internet providers allow you to use at least one TB of data each month. LHTC Broadband offers unlimited data so if you are backing up a large amount of data at the end of workday from home there is no need to worry about being interrupted by a data cap.

One of the most asked questions we received when customers are signing up for Internet service is what speed do I need? Our customer service representatives will ask questions about what you are using your Internet service for on a daily basis to help you determine which speed best fits your needs and budget. Now that many of us are working or attending school from home, those needs may have changed. Download speeds of 100 Mbps should keep most families productive at home for work and school. Then after work and school, it’s enough speed to binge watch your favorite shows while your teenagers’ game and video chat with friends.

If you have a smart home and a family that loves to spend most of their time online, whether it be for work or play, then you may want to consider 200 Mbps. This download speed is perfect for livestreaming and constant streaming. If you think you may need to increase you speed, you can upgrade your LHTC Broadband Internet service to the next speed for FREE for 30 days. Call our office today and ask about our Speed Upgrade special.

Currently, many families are spending their days at home in front of the TV. We’ve all had that problem, where each member of the family wants to watch a different live show, and if you don’t have control of the remote, you may end up missing it. Well, we have a solution to that problem, and that’s with watchTVeverywhere (WTVE). With your current LHTC Broadband cable subscription you have FREE access, that’s right, FREE access to WTVE services.

What is WTVE you may ask? It’s a service that gives current LHTC Broadband TV subscribers access to view their favorite TV programs on their laptop, PC, tablet, or smartphone anytime or anywhere. When using WTVE there isn’t a limit to the number of devices that can be on the account at one time. However, some TV networks may limit the number of devices per account when trying to view a show.

How do you access WTVE? A one-time registration is the first step to start using WTVE. Go to www.watchtveverywhere.com and select LHTC Broadband as your cable service provider from the drop-down menu. Next, you’ll need to have your last invoice on hand. From your invoice you’ll need your account number and the last name on the account. Finally, click “Register” to start the registration process. Once you’ve completed the registration process you can log into your WTVE account. Choose a TV Network you want to watch, and you’ll see a list of available programs. You can also download TV network apps on your cellphone and tablets to go directly to those channels.

What sets WTVE apart from other streaming services, such as Netflix and Disney+, is that you can watch your shows live, or if you’d happen to miss your show, the episode will be able to be viewed within days of the original premier. It’s important to remember that you can watch any WTVE program as long as it’s on a network that’s a part of your current TV subscription. Also, there are some networks, such as ABC, that don’t allow you to watch live TV, but you will be able to view any episode of your favorite show from the current season the next day after it premiers.

Also, if you subscribe to HBO on your LHTC Broadband TV account, WTVE will allow you to access HBOMax for free. HBOMax includes original movies and series, as well as, many new movie premiers that are set to release in theaters. With HBOMax you’re getting exclusive access to these new movies at no additional cost.

For more information on how WTVE works and how you can access it, visit our website at, watchTVeverywhere | LHTC Broadband. If you have any other questions, contact our office today and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.