next-step

Top Benefits of a Professionally Installed Wired or Wireless Gig capable Network

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 19:46:33 GMT

Why You Should Consider a Professionally Installed Internet Network in Your Northern Colorado Home

Next Step Communications Provides Professional Networking Services to Residents of Colorado’s Front Range

There are many advantages to having a professionally wired or wireless gigabit network installed in your Northern Colorado home, versus a Wifi mesh or consumer-installed router.

“When designing a network, it’s critical to understand the needs of today’s home office, audio, and video from a networking standpoint,” says Jason Parmley, owner of Next Step Communications, Northern Colorado’s leading provider of in-home wired and wireless networking solutions. “The user-installed mesh systems readily available today have considerable limitations in the modern home.”

A mesh system, in which you plug one small router the size of a hockey puck into your modem, and place a series of similar devices around your home to create a web network, have limited range and customers that own one of these systems soon find that they have to keep buying more units to try to get even coverage throughout the home. “They speak wirelessly to each other, but are limited to between 20 and 30 feet and have to be sitting on a table or piece of furniture so they tend to clutter the home,” Parmley explains. “This results in the loss of speed and continuity between each device, as they aren’t individually wired together in most cases. So the further away you move from the router, the slower your Internet speeds will be and the more pucks you will need to buy.”

Compare this to professionally installed wired or wireless networks, and you can clearly see the benefits of the latter. “At Next Step Communications, our professional network installers hardwire from the modem location with Cat-6 cable, which is Gig network capable, to individual access points that can be ceiling- or wall-mounted,” Parmley describes. “Those wireless access points are fed the needed power and Internet over the same Cat6 cable from a POE switch so close to the same speed that the modem is giving out the wireless access points are broadcasting it throughout the home is the speed delivered to your laptop, phone, television, and more. This results in very low latency from the actual internet device that is giving the entire network internet access to the device that is broadcasting the wireless.”

Another thing we typically like to do for our customers’ network is to install all of their network equipment in a central location in a small wall-mounted open frame rack system. This is a low cost way to organize the wiring and leave room for switches, battery backups/surge protection modems, and home automation hubs to keep everything nice and neat, labeled, and easy for the customer or us to work on or add to in the future.

In addition to providing faster speeds to clients using Internet from Comcast, Century Link, Next Light, Fort Collins new Fiber network, or TDS in the Northern Colorado region, Next Step Communications’ networking services offer more security than web or mesh networks. “Our networks feature a standalone commercial-grade VPN firewall router, which is much more secure,” says Parmley.

Lastly, Next Step supports its network installs 100%. So if you suddenly run into a problem with your Internet access, you can bypass phone support from your Internet provider and go directly to Next Step as your first stop for help. “If our customers have an internet issue, Next Step’s team can log into the router remotely and quickly assess if it’s an equipment issue or an issue with the Internet provider,” says Parmley. “Having our team there to diagnose issues on the spot saves our customers a lot of time and headaches.”

If you are a homeowner on Colorado’s Front Range looking to outfit your home with a professional wired or wireless networking system, contact Next Step Communications today for a free estimate .

Northern Colorado 24/7 Color View Camera For Home Surveillance

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:13:10 GMT

Home Surveillance in Full Color from Next Step Communications

Install 24/7 Color Video Surveillance on Your Northern Colorado Property

Northern Colorado home and business owners rely on Next Step Communications in Mead, Colorado, for the latest in residential and commercial video surveillance equipment. Next Step is pleased to now offer its clients the top of the line 24/7 Full Time Color Bullet Camera. You can now survey your property at all times in full color view with this remarkable camera. Features include:

Switchable TV1, AHD, CVI, CVBS
5MP (2560 x 1944 Resolution)
2.8 mm Fixed Lens
65-foot Visable Light Range
130dB WDR
IP67 Rated
DC12V

“These new surveillance cameras have extreme lowlight sensors, so you see full color surveillance footage—even at night,” says Jason Parmley, owner of Next Step Communications. “An integrated floodlight that is manually controlled or timed, as well as a microphone, puts this camera over the top.”

Are you a home or business owner looking for full-color video surveillance of your property in Longmont, Boulder, Mead, Erie, Broomfield, Johnstown, Windsor, Loveland, Firestone, Frederick, or Berthoud? Contact our team of the most experienced video surveillance design and installation experts in all of Northern Colorado for your free estimate today.

Colorado’s Leader For In-Home Networking During The Coronavirus Pandemic

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 19:08:50 GMT

Prepare for Coronavirus Pandemic with In-Home Networking for Colorado’s Front Range

Quarantine or Playing it Safe Requires a Solid Internet Connection for Your Family

Minimize Service Calls with Next Step’s Remote Assistance to Keep Exposure to Outside Sources to a Minimum

With the recent school closures across Colorado due to the Coronavirus, as well as the many Front Range businesses that are asking their employees to work from home, it’s more important now than ever to have a fast, solid in-home network. Next Step Communications is the leader in Northern Colorado in designing and installing wired or wireless networking systems for your home.

With your children home from school using added bandwidth congestion for gaming, watching streaming services such as Netflix, and FaceTiming with friends, it’s important to boost your Internet speeds if you are trying to get work done from home. Our team of expert installers at Next Step Communications will work with you and your family to design a network that is best for your family's needs. We follow the CDC’s recommended guidelines when on the job, so you can rest assured we will be respectful of your family’s health and safety as well as your network.

With the kiddos at home from school during these unsettling times it is also important to limit the amount of internet use and content your family receives. Our network systems will give you the peace of mind that you can limit and control the amount, time of day or night, and ratings or you feel are appropriate for them. All is controlled with an easy-to-use App on your phone that will manage the users on the network.

If you are a resident of Longmont, Loveland, Boulder, Erie, Broomfield, Windsor, Berthoud, Frederic, Johnstown, or elsewhere on Colorado’s Front Range, contact Next Step Communications today for all your networking and surveillance needs.

Ring Versus IP Cameras for Home Surveillance on Colorado’s Front Range

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 19:27:27 GMT

Next Step Communications Warns Against the Dangers of Data Breaches with Ring Cameras

Why an IP Camera System Is the Safest Option for Your Colorado Home

You may have heard in the news of late about some security flaws with the Ring system. Most recently, it’s been reported that Ring fired some employees for watching customer videos .

If you are a homeowner in Colorado’s Front Range who wants to feel totally secure that your home video surveillance footage is not in the wrong hands, contact Next Step Communications. A top service provider of video surveillance equipment and installation in Northern Colorado, the team at Next Step is primarily concerned about your privacy.

“Our doorbell and other home surveillance security cameras connect to a DVR that records video footage to a memory stick inside the device, as well as the hard drive of the system,” says Jason Parmley, owner of Next Step Communications. “Not only does this mean that you and only you have access to your footage and it’s not stored on a massive server somewhere, but you also have the benefit of having that footage on a portable flash drive if needed.”

Parmley says this comes in particularly handy in police investigations, where providing the home surveillance footage on a flash drive is preferable to trying to email or upload it.

“This is definitely a more attractive option to our customers, as it provides them with full access and control of their surveillance footage,” says Parmley. “There is no way someone can change, edit, or delete the footage.”

In addition, Parmley adds that his Northern Colorado home security clients have the option of selecting between two Apps that connect to their home surveillance systems, so they can monitor their residences from anywhere, at any time. Both Apps are triple encrypted, giving Colorado homeowners added peace of mind.

“My family and I had considered a traditional alarm system for our home security, but we have two large dogs who make us feel pretty safe,” says Joshua from Boulder County. “Moreso, we were concerned with the rash of break ins, particularly to vehicles in front of homes, when we began to consider our options. Jason at Next Step came out and did a compete assessment of our situation, and then provided us with a handful of options so we could make the best choice for our home and budget.

“We’ve had our home surveillance system from Next Step now for a few months and absolutely love it. In particular, we appreciate being able to check on our home via the cameras directly from an App on our iPhones. This is definitely a case of where technology can help provide peace of mind. Working in the tech field, I’m very cautious about wireless devices, and anything that could affect the security of my network. I feel 100% safe with this solution.”

If you are a resident of Longmont, Fort Collins, Loveland, Mead, Greeley, Dacono, Frederick, Windsor, Firestone, Louisville, Boulder, or Erie searching for a reliable home security system, contact Next Step Communications today.

Front Range Colorado Home Video Surveillance And The Law

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:05:40 GMT

Boulder Resident Contracts Next Step Communications for Home Video Surveillance System

How Video Surveillance on the Front Range Can Protect Your Interests from a Legal Perspective

When Vanessa was building her new home in North Boulder, Colorado, she received a disturbing email from a neighbor. “He said that my construction was damaging his property, and was demanding cash within 24 hours or he would file a lawsuit,” she reports. “I forwarded the email to my insurance broker and my general contractor. My insurance broker replied all, ‘Security Cameras!’”

Based on the recommendation of her Boulder-area general contractor, Vanessa contacted the video surveillance experts at Next Step Communications, experts in security camera installations for homes and businesses across Colorado’s Front Range.

Next Step installed video security cameras around Vanessa’s Boulder residence, whichshe can now access via an app on her cell phone. “They were so patient with me, and [knowledgeable about the technology and the equipment],” she says.

“Given Vanessa’s situation, our team found the best fit for her video surveillance needs and budget,” says Jason Parmley, owner of Next Step Communications. “In addition to our residential video surveillance solutions, Vanessa took advantage of other wiring and networking services for her new Boulder home. We were able to work closely with her contractor to ensure that the project was seamless and our client was wired for maximum Internet performance in her new construction.”

Vanessa adds that she is now armed with video footage of the work being done on her Boulder new construction, should any threats of a lawsuit arise again.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Vanessa rates Next Step Communication’s customer service an 11.9 or 12.9. “I’m constantly recommending Next Step Communications,” she says. “A friend in Minnesota texted me the other day asking about security cameras and I told her to call Next Step.”

If you are a resident or business owner in Colorado’s Front Range looking for experts to design and install a video surveillance system for you, contact Next Step Communications today.

The Next Step Difference With CEO Jason Parmley

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 17:37:12 GMT

Top Front Range, Colorado, Networking and Surveillance Company Puts the Customer First

A Q&A with Next Step CEO Jason Parmley

Below Jason Parmley, Co-owner/CEO of Next Step Communications, LLC, discusses how he got into the networking and surveillance business, and how he differentiates his company from the competition.

When did you get started in the industry? In 1997 I had my start in this industry installing cable TV before there was such a thing as high-speed internet. I quickly discovered that I excelled at the job and was a natural for all aspects of the industry—from mainline to basic installs to customer service. I loved what I did and always, always tried my best at whatever project I was working on—and I am proud of the work I have completed. As I honed my skills, I climbed the ladder to supervisor, project manager, and finally operations manager for two large companies. I did this for many years and found the work very stressful.

Why did you decide to go out on your own? Managing on average 30 technicians daily, on top of my own work, became too much. I worked very hard with little reward. After working for other large companies and running their businesses for them, I decided it was the time to take the Next Step with my brother-in-law, Ryan Brungardt, and start a new company that would allow us to express our creativity and personal approach at offering our skills and services. We wanted to mix our combined experience to explore and share the new technologies available on the market to our customers.

What is Next Step Communication’s mission? Our main goal was to create a fun experience, where our customers felt comfortable learning something new about technology, as well as having an incredible audio or video experience. We soon added surveillance camera installation as one of our services, after a customer needed help to catch a peeping tom. Our expertise in the A/V world transferred over to camera installations, and it now makes up a good portion of our work.

I want to offer our customers an experience that would make us stand out from other companies, and want our clients to trust and value our opinions when bringing their ideas to life in their home. In return, they want to share the experience they had with their friends and family. Customer recommendations are our main source of new clientele. We do very little advertising.

We always keep ourselves and staff up to date on any current and new technologies. We are excited about today’s new technology and the next future technology, which includes product day-to-day testing and staying active in our industry’s available training courses.

We hope you will take the “Next Step” and use our expertise and services for your home or business needs to see the difference for yourself. Schedule a free consultation with our team today for your Northern Colorado home or business networking or surveillance needs.