What is "Wireless Internet Access"?
Wireless
Internet access is a form of high speed, or Broadband Internet access, that
uses a radio frequency instead of phone or cable lines. WisperNet, Inc. is
providing high speed cost effective solutions for Internet access via wireless,
NO PHONE LINES NEEDED! There is no need to worry about slow downloads, busy
signals, or disconnections anymore, with Wireless Internet your computer is
always on the Internet. CCIS is proud to bring cost effective, high speed
Internet access to Missouri. What equipment is needed? The customer will need a
radio card or access point, a network capable computer, the antenna and the
cable running to it. Battery backup is also highly recommended, and surge
devices should be used with all computers and their various connections. How
fast is Wireless Internet? A wireless Internet connection's speed allows the
customer to connect at speeds anywhere from 64kbps all the way up to 1.544mbps,
which is equal to the speed of a T1 connection. [TOP]
Download Comparison Chart
2
megabyte file at full download speed
How secure is the
signal?
We think it's secure enough for most uses. The equipment
was designed by an Israeli outfit for use in tank-to-tank, and tank to HQ,
real-time communication for telemetry and computer communication. The nature of
wireless makes it very difficult to intercept. nbsp; In addition, more robust
encryption boxes can be positioned at each end of the link to further protect
the signal. [TOP]
Will I have to learn anything
new to use this system?
If you already know how to use a Web
browser you will find our system totally transparent. You are always online.
You click on your browser icon, and you are online with no delay- no waiting
for a free line or a connection. [TOP]
What
are the minimum computer requirements for CCIS's wireless services?
The minimum hardware
requirements for CCIS's service are listed below. If you need help in
determining whether your computer meets the minimum requirements, please call
us. Windows Machines Pentium class 133Mhz CPU (or greater) 32 MB of RAM, One
(1) available ISA or PCI slot or Ethernet connection Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000,
or ME Operating system Original Operating System Software disk or CD-Rom
Macintosh Machines PowerMac or higher 32 MB of RAM 10BaseT Ethernet connection
Mac OS 7.6.1 or greater. [TOP]
What are some benefits to having
fast Internet access?
Many times you might find yourself sitting on
your computer waiting up to 5 minutes just for one home page to load. Most of
the time is because it is "Content Rich," meaning it has many pictures and
active moving things, sometimes even sound. This makes it very hard for a slow
modem connection to process so much information. As the Internet evolves, so
will "content." People are finding new ways to express themselves through
"content rich pages," leaving modem users frustrated because they have to wait
for the pages to load. With fast Wireless Internet access, there is no need to
wait. You can play real time videos, make Internet phone calls without breaking
up, play your favorite MP3 in real time, watch live video streams, send and
receive files at blazing speeds, and best of all, general browsing is more
enjoyable. [TOP]
What does the equipment look
like?
The antennas range in size from a flat panel 7.5" x 11" x
3.5" (approx. size of a VCR tape), to an 11" x 14" long round pole, to a 24" x
36" grilled directional unit. They are all very lightweight and are no more
difficult to install that a DishTV or DirectTV dish. The cables used for
exterior mounting come in set lengths, but can be ordered longer, and sometime
shorter depending on the application. The cables are 1/2" and 3/4" in diameter,
with the connectors being slightly larger. The cable is fairly stiff and should
not be bent too sharply. LMR-500 and LMR-400 are the two most common cable
types. [TOP]
Do I need a phone
line?
NO! A phone like is not needed. The Wireless Internet
connection is bi-directional, meaning your unit will send and receive
information, making it a complete solution for Internet connectivity.
[TOP]
Is this like Cable modems or
ADSL?
Cable Modems and ADSL are all dependent on physical wires,
and a middle man (i.e. phone/cable company). With Wireless Internet access you
are dealing with no wires, but directly with the ISP. There is no middle man.
[TOP]
Is Internet access
unlimited?
With Wireless Internet access your computer is always
connected. There are no time limits or restrictions of how long you can use it.
Your computer is connected 24 hours a day 7 days a week 364 1/4 days a year.
[TOP]
Is this the same as "satellite"
Internet?
No! Wireless Internet is bi-directional unlike satellite
solutions, where you download via the dish antenna, but you are also connected
by phone line to the Internet for uploading information. This wireless solution
eliminates the need for any dedicated phone lines, and therefore reduces your
costs, while providing data rates much better than cable modems or ISDN.
[TOP]
Will I still need my
modem?
NO, Wireless Internet connections do not require a modem.
You may want to have a dial-up connection in the unlikely event that your wireless connection is unavaliable. Currently we do not offer backup dial in access, however, we will coordinate any arrangments for you.
Also, you will need to keep your modem in your
computer if you use it for fax services. [TOP]
How long will it
take to install the antenna and cable?
Prior to
installation, a visit may be scheduled to ensure your location has proper
signal coverage. This visit may not require your presence as the technician
will be evaluating your location externally as long as accommodations are made
to allow the technician access to the roof of your location. Once proper signal
coverage is determined, we will set up a convenient time for installation.
[TOP]
How long will it take to
install the AP unit?
Once your location has been surveyed and
approved for wireless, a date will be set for installing your unit. When a
service tech is on-sight it should take from as little as 1 hour to 3 hours.
More complex installations may take longer. Each location and house will be
specific to its own needs and obstacles. [TOP]
Can I get Busy
Signals?
NO, you always have an Internet connection 24 hours a day,
7 days a week 364 1/4 days a year. A wireless connection requires no phone line
making it impossible to get a busy signal. [TOP]
What about lightning
protection?
Lightning arrestors are available for the external
antenna units. Further measures are recommended to protect your entire system.
A surge arrestor is available for the Ethernet connections, as well as power
and phone connections. We highly recommend that be used, in addition to battery
backup for the power pack on the radios and computers.
[TOP]
Is it available in my
area?
A site inspection will need to be performed for almost all
potential customers to evaluate the ability to use wireless at your location.
If you know where our access points are, and you can see one, then you should
be able to get a working signal. A site survey must be done prior to installing
any wireless hardware. [TOP]
What is the downside with
wireless Internet?
Wireless Internet connections require direct
radio line of sight. As a general rule, if you cannot get a direct radio line
of sight from your location to an access point, you can't get wireless access.
In some instances you might be able to see one of our access points in the
winter but in the summer when the leaves come out you're connection will be
lost. Installation costs, can vary greatly (depending on location) but can be
justified by saving in recurring telephone costs, increase in speed and
reliability. [TOP]
How does this access method
compare to Cable and/or DSL?
As with any Internet connection your
provider is sharing access (bandwidth) with all of it's customers, so your most
limiting factor is the amount of bandwidth the ISP has available. Cable and DSL
charge enticingly low rates for what they call "high speed access," which might
seem like a good thing, but charging so little means there is not enough money
coming in to provide the bandwidth needed for your customers, so typically you
will find your connection slows drastically when other people are using it
heavily. You seldom actually get the speed they boast you will. You get what
you pay for. You'll realize this to be true as more and more cable and DSL
providers are putting speed controls on the customers. Cable and DSL are not
available in the area here, and probably won't be for at least a year. DSL has
a major limitation - Distance. DSL slows down the further away from the telco
CO your connection is, and doesn't work at all if you are more than 18,000 feet
away (About 3 to 4 miles). [TOP]
Can I host a website on my
CCIS connection?
CCIS terms
and conditions of use specifically prohibit end users from running programs or
servers that provide network services to others through the wireless connection
("web hosting"). These services include, but are not limited to operating a
web/mail/ftp server to serve external connections. If you are in need of
webhosting services, CCIS can provide these services for a fee. [TOP]
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