IPTV St. Thomas

St. Thomas is a small city with more choice of lines than you might expect. On an independent coverage map built from CRTC network-owner filings (the CRTC is Canada’s telecom regulator), Rogers cable and Bell fibre are mapped in every zone of the city, and a local fibre network now run by Start.ca is mapped in 3 of its 5 zones. For live TV, the line into your home and the Wi-Fi inside it decide how well it plays. Here’s who wires St. Thomas, what Boom TV needs, and how to test it on your own connection first.

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A city of its own inside Elgin County

St. Thomas is the seat of Elgin County, a role it has held since 1844, but it is separated from county administration and runs as its own city. It became a village in 1852, a town in 1861 and a city in 1881, and the village of Millersburg joined it in 1871. Highway 4 links it to London.

It is also a railway town. A total of 26 railways have passed through the city since the first was completed in 1856.

Rogers cable, Bell fibre

That coverage map splits St. Thomas into just 5 zones:

• Rogers cable is mapped in all 5 zones, and no other cable owner is listed. Rogers fibre is mapped in 4.
• Bell fibre-to-the-home is mapped in all 5 zones, with Bell’s older DSL listed everywhere too.
• Start.ca fibre is mapped in 3 of the 5 zones.

These are shares of mapped zones, not homes, so check your own address. The map counts network owners only, so a smaller company may sell you service over one of these lines under its own name.

A local fibre network, now run by Start.ca

St. Thomas had its own local fibre business, which had expanded through the downtown core and industrial areas of the city. On 1 July 2022, Start.ca took it over, and it committed to a three-year buildout of fibre across the entire city, for homes as well as businesses.

That coverage map lists its fibre in 3 of the city’s 5 zones. If you’d like a local option, ask whether it reaches your street.

Boom TV is an app, so 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:

That coverage map lists Bell DSL at 5 to 100 Mbps, so on DSL, run a speed test in the evening before you rely on it for 4K.

Then add up your screens. A 4K TV in the family room and an HD stream on a laptop upstairs need about 35 Mbps between them.

When a fast connection still buffers

The cause is usually inside the house:

• Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, not 2.4 GHz.
• Run Ethernet to the main TV if you can.
• Move the router out of the basement, or add a mesh point for a TV on another floor.
• Count everyone on the network. Video calls and big downloads share the same connection as your TV.
• Test in the evening, when everyone at home is online.

Getting set up in St. Thomas

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

No technician, no new wiring and nothing to return.

Frequently asked questions

Does Boom TV work on Rogers internet in St. Thomas?

Yes. Rogers cable is mapped in every St. Thomas zone, and Boom TV works over Rogers just as it does over Bell or Start.ca. Boom TV doesn’t change anything on your internet account.

Can I get fibre in St. Thomas?

On that coverage map, yes. It lists Bell fibre in all 5 zones, Rogers fibre in 4 and Start.ca fibre in 3. Check your own address.

Who runs the local fibre network?

Start.ca took over the local fibre network in St. Thomas on 1 July 2022. Boom TV works the same on Start.ca, Rogers or Bell.

What do I need for 4K?

About 25 Mbps per 4K stream, plus a device that supports 4K.

Is there a free trial?

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