IPTV Brandon

Brandon’s cable company isn’t one of the national names. Westman Communications Group was founded as a co-operative in 1977. On an independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings, it’s the only cable network owner listed in the city, and it shares the fibre map with two other owners. Here’s how Brandon is wired, and what Boom TV needs to run smoothly on your connection.

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Manitoba’s second city, on the Assiniboine

Brandon became a city in 1882 and sits on the Assiniboine River. It is Manitoba’s second-largest city and the economic hub of the province’s southwest. At the 2021 census it had 51,313 people, up from 48,883 in 2016.

A cable network owned by a co-op

In 2010 Westman launched fibre to the home in Brandon. Today the Government of Canada describes it as a Manitoba-based telecommunications co-operative, and it provides internet in more than 80 communities across the province.

That coverage map divides Brandon into 11 zones. Westman is the only cable owner listed, in seven of them, and is also listed as a fibre owner in five. Neither Rogers nor Shaw appears as a cable owner in Brandon. Rogers is listed for wireless only.

Three fibre owners

Brandon’s fibre map is more crowded than its cable map. Alongside Westman, the coverage map lists:

• RFNOW, a provider serving communities across Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan with fibre and fixed wireless, listed as a fibre owner in all 11 zones.
• Bell MTS, listed as a fibre owner in six zones, and with DSL, which runs over older copper phone lines, in eight.

So knowing the city doesn’t tell you which network you’re on. If streaming feels slower than your plan suggests, ask your provider what technology actually serves your address.

The map also lists fixed wireless from Rogers, RFNOW and Xplore in every zone, Telus in ten, and satellite from Xplore across the city. It counts network owners only, so a reseller may sell you service over one of these lines under its own name.

Boom TV works on any home connection that meets the speeds below. Test it on your own line with the free trial. Boom TV is an app you install and sign into, nothing is installed on the line, and Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

How much speed you actually need

Boom TV’s recommended speeds, per stream:

If a fast connection still buffers, the cause can be inside the house:

• Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi rather than 2.4 GHz. It’s faster, and less crowded in apartment buildings and attached homes.
• Plug the main TV in with Ethernet if you can. A wired connection takes Wi-Fi out of the picture.
• Keep the router out of basements and cabinets. Walls and floors cost signal.
• Count everyone else on the network. Downloads and video calls share the same connection as your TV.

Getting set up in Brandon

1. Start the free 24-hour trial. Test it in the evening, on the TV you actually use.
2. Install the app on a streaming stick, TV box, smart TV, phone, tablet or computer, and sign in with the details sent by email.
3. Connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet and watch for a full evening. If it plays cleanly, choose a plan on the plans page.

No installer, no new wiring, and no change to your internet account.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Westman internet?

Yes. Westman owns the cable network in Brandon, and Boom TV runs over it the same way it runs over fibre. Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

Does it work on Bell MTS or RFNOW fibre?

Yes. Boom TV runs over fibre and doesn’t need anything from your provider.

Can I get Rogers or Shaw cable in Brandon?

Not on the network-owner map. It lists Westman as the only cable owner in Brandon, and Rogers only for wireless.

I’m still on DSL. Can I stream?

Check your speed in the evening, in the room with the TV, and compare it with the table above. If it falls short, ask your provider what else serves your address.

What speed do I need for 4K?

About 25 Mbps per 4K stream, and about 10 Mbps per HD stream. Add them together for several screens.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. It lasts 24 hours and is free. Start the trial or see the plans.