Connectivity Tips

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Optimization Guide

There are a variety of factors that can affect the performance of your WiFi. Find out how to optimize your Internet network.

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Voicemail User Guide

Your voicemail system is menu driven. Learn how to retrieve your messages anytime or anywhere!

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Staying Connected With CVFiber

More and more people rely on “Wifi Calling”. This feature allows you to make and receive calls on your wifi connected cell phone even when it’s not connected to the cellular network.

This handy feature is not perfect however. Your phone device may prioritize a cellular network connection over WiFi. This can be problematic when the cell signal is low or fading in and out.

  • When this happens the call can drop. Setting your phone to “Airplane” mode with wifi on will usually prevent this from happening. Remember to shut off airplane mode when not connected to your wifi though.
  • Also, if you are anywhere near another wifi network (neighbors wifi etc) that you have connected to in the past you should tell your device to “forget” that network. Your phone may try to connect to that network and in the process, your call could drop.

Legitimate companies will never ask you to provide personal information via email. They also won’t threaten to change or disable your account if you don’t click a link or share private information. If you receive such an email, delete it immediately. If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of an email, call the company using a known, legitimate phone number to verify. Do not use any phone numbers provided in the suspicious email.

It’s highly recommended! While email platforms scan for viruses transmitted via email, they cannot catch them all. Having up to date anti-virus software on your computer will offer protection against viruses transmitted via both web surfing and email.

It is not enough to just have anti-virus software installed, you must also keep the virus definitions up-to-date and scan your machine on a regular basis. Also, practicing safe browsing will help protect you against viruses and other malicious software. If your anti-virus software is warning you that a website is potentially unsafe, steer clear of it until you can verify that it is a safe site.

Disconnect the affected computer from the Internet ASAP. This will keep the virus from “calling home” or spreading from your computer to others via email until the virus can be removed.

Virus removal can sometimes be a bit tricky. Most anti-virus software has virus removal capabilities. Instructions on removing viruses can also be found at the McAfee and Norton websites. If you are not comfortable with the virus removal procedure you should contact your local computer repair shop.

1. Reduce wireless interference

The most common wireless routers operate on a 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) frequency. This is the same frequency used by many other common devices that may be found in your home (such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, baby monitors, garage door openers, and other wireless electronics).  If you use these wireless devices in your home, try keeping them as far apart as possible.  This will help your computer “hear” your router over the noise coming from the other devices.

2. Position your wireless router or access point in a central location

When possible, place your wireless router in a central location in your home. If your wireless router, modem router, or access point is against an outside wall of your home, the signal could be weakened on the other side of your home.

Move the router off the floor and away from walls. Metal objects (such as metal file cabinets), walls, and floors will interfere with your router’s wireless signals. The closer your router is to these obstructions, the more severe the interference, and the weaker your connection may be.

4. Change your wireless channel

Wireless routers can broadcast on several different channels, and sometimes one wireless channel is clearer than others. Try changing your wireless router’s channel through your router’s configuration page to see if your signal strength improves. You don’t need to change your computer’s configuration, because it can automatically detect the new channel.  If you need assistance with changing the channel on your router, refer to the owner’s manual for your device or call Tech Support at 802-583-4628.

While there are a lot of factors that are at play in order to a wireless network to function in an efficient manner, the steps involved are pretty basic and involve minimizing interference and optimizing the wireless network for the location and equipment you will be using.

Most of this can be accomplished in three steps:

  1. Optimize wireless router placement
  2. Optimize the channel
  3. Minimize interference
Optimize Wireless Router Placement

When installing your router, there are many factors that go into its placement. The primary of which will most likely be availability of phone jacks and the location of any computers which do not have wireless capabilities, as you will need to run an Ethernet cord from any these directly into the modem. Ideally, you will be placing your modem in a location central to all of the places where you want to have a usable wireless signal. It isn’t a practical to place your wireless router at the far end of a house in the basement and expect to have a functioning wireless signal upstairs on the other side of the house.

Optimize the Channel

Probably the most common cause of interference for a wireless network are other devices operating in the 2.4Ghz spectrum, which includes other wireless routers. While there are 11 channels to use in the 2.4Ghz spectrum, each channel has bleed over which affects the surrounding 3 channels. Think of the 2.4Ghz spectrum as a big highway with 11 lanes with cars that take up 6 lanes each. For example a router on channel 6 will interfere with channels 3-9 so in essence it is best to use either channel 1, 6, or 11 for setting up your wireless router. If things aren’t working well on channel 1 then go ahead and try channel 6, if that doesn’t resolve the issue then try channel 11. (See the articles in this category re: changing your wireless channel)

Minimize Interference

Next, you will want to take inventory of the wide variety of devices already in your home which could be causing interference. Some common causes are microwaves (while in use), anything using 2.4Ghz spectrum (older cordless phones are one of the main culprits here), and florescent light ballasts. Another factor is metal objects which tend to reflect the wireless signals (you don’t want to place your wireless router right next to the refrigerator or a big metal object). One of the hardest things for radio waves to penetrate is water which absorbs them. Its very difficult to transmit a usable wireless signal through things like metal foil backed insulation or radiant floor heating. Also the density of the building materials used in the walls, floors and ceilings play a big factor on whether the radio waves can penetrate or are reflected back.

By minimizing the sources of interference, centralizing your routers location and optimizing its channel, you stand the best chance of having a usable wireless signal.

Power surges, outages or lightening strikes can be detrimental to electronics such as your DSL modem, router and computer. Green Mountain Access recommends proper surge protection for these devices. A DSL rated surge protector will suffice in most cases, but if your area is prone to power surges or outages, a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) may be a better option for you.

What’s the difference?

A surge protector stops a power surge from hitting your electronics, but if you are working on your computer at the time of the surge or outage, once power is lost, you will lose your work.

A UPS also protects your electronics from electrical surges, but it has a built-in battery back up so even after power is lost your computer will be running off of the battery, allowing you to save any work and shut down your computer properly.

If you have any questions about protection for your computer or related devices, please feel free to call Tech Support at 802-583-4628.

If you are buying your own router/mesh system, make sure it is capable of the speed you selected with CVFiber. For example, if you bought 1 Gig service, but are using your own router that is only capable of 100 Mbps, then you will not be able to get the speed you’re paying for.

Vermont Consumer Bill of Rights


1. Consumers shall have the right to know and control what they are buying.
2. Consumers shall have the right to know from whom they are buying.
3. Consumers shall have the right to know the full price of the goods and services that they are purchasing.
4. Consumers shall have the right to reasonable payment terms.
5. Consumers shall have the right to fair treatment from all providers.
6. Consumers shall have the right to impartial resolution of disputes.
7. Consumers shall have the right to reasonable compensation for poor service quality.
8. Consumers shall have the right of access to basic local exchange service as long as basic local exchange service charges are paid, regardless of whether they have paid any charges for non-basic local exchange service.
9. Consumers shall have the right to be free of improper discrimination in prices, terms, conditions, or offers.
10. Consumers shall have the right to privacy by controlling the release of information about themselves and their calling patterns and by controlling unreasonable intrusions upon their privacy.
11. Consumers shall have the right to join with other consumers for mutual benefits.