Broadband Arrives in Brinnon
07/29/2024 - WCCBP - ~3 Minutes
Neighbors:
It’s been a while since our last update , and we have some very exciting news: HCC’s network is now coming online in Brinnon! The rollout is gradual, starting with folks near the fire station and near the Lazy C. It will work its way further west and north over the coming months.
Signup
HCC will call you a few days before the installation to set up your account and confirm your final services. As a reminder, they offer Internet and phone services and a variety of speeds. If you aren’t sure what to buy, check our summary here.
What to expect
If you already have your own router and WiFi gear, HCC will provide you with a fiber terminal and a small battery backup unit! The battery lasts about 8 hours, but it’s intended for phone services, so you will need another battery for your WiFi.
The fiber terminal connects to either your own router/WiFi or one you rent from HCC. It’s always cheaper to buy equipment than rent it, and if your WiFi is 3 years old or less, you don’t need to replace it! Read our article here for more info. (We all use our own routers, mostly the Amazon Eero Pro 6 ).
How fast is it?
For the first time, we were able to get our hands on almost every service available in Brinnon! We tested things on a Friday evening at a real home in Brinnon. Here’s what we learned:
| Provider | Advertised Speed (down/up) | Tested Speed (5pm) | Latency | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Olympic Data Centers | 40 / 20 | 25 / 15 | 14ms | $120 | |
| Starlink | 145 / 22 | 43 / 9 | 24ms | $120 | Round dish, 1.43% obstruction. |
| HCC (Fiber) | 1000 / 1000 | 940 / 940 | 6ms | $82 | Note 940 is maximum Ethernet speeds. |
| T-Mobile 5G Home Internet | 245 / 31 (max) | 122 / 3 | 48ms | $40 | Placed at inside window. |
Of all of the speeds tested, only HCC delivered the advertised speeds. They also did so with a lot less latency, and with the second-lowest price of the group. We’ve had service for a few weeks now, and can confirm this is not some mistake. It really is that fast.
Thoughts
We started this journey a decade ago, and ramped public outreach in 2016. We celebrated when NOPDC launched their network in 2017. We survived a pandemic that stressed those networks to the breaking points.
Collectively we’ve spent hundreds of hours behind the scenes supporting grants, in meetings, gathering data, and working with the numerous stakeholders. By the end of the year, most of us in Brinnon south will have fiber to our homes at the edge of the wilderness.
We couldn’t have done this without your help. We still have our eye on Beacon Point down in Mason County, but for now, it’s time to hang up the spurs. Thank you for your support, and enjoy what lies ahead!