Frequently Asked Questions About Northwinds Net 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. Northwinds Net will provide high speed cost effective solutions for Internet access telecommunications 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 connected to the Internet 24/7. Using a brand new technology, Northwinds Net provides cost effective, high speed NEAR-LINE OF SIGHT Wireless Internet access to Northern Minnesota. What equipment is needed? The customer will need a wireless radio, a network capable computer, the antenna and the cable running to it. How fast is Wireless Internet? A wireless Internet connection's speed allows the customer to connect at speeds anywhere from 128-512kbps. [TOP OF FAQ]
We think it's secure enough for most uses. Each unit is programmable to use different frequency hopping patterns within the 79 frequencies in the spectrum, and to hop between these frequencies at 8-30 times per second. If this is not enough security, encryption can be used to further secure the signal at the radio level. In addition, more robust encryption boxes can be positioned at each end of the link to further protect the signal. [TOP OF FAQ]
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 OF FAQ]
Many times you might find yourself sitting on your computer waiting up to a few minutes just for one home page to load. Most of the time is because it is "Content Rich," meaning it has many pictures, animation, 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 OF FAQ]
The outdoor antennas range in size from a flat panel 7.5" x 11" x 3.5", to a 24" x 36" grilled directional unit. They are all very lightweight and are no more difficult to install than a satellite television mini-dish.[TOP OF FAQ]
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 OF FAQ]
Cable Modems and DSL 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 OF FAQ]
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 OF FAQ]
No! Wireless Internet is bi-directional unlike some 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 DSL, cable modems or ISDN. [TOP OF FAQ]
Yes. Clients wishing to run servers over a wireless link will need to pay for that ability. The running of servers of any kind is prohibited in the basic wireless access plan. [TOP OF FAQ]
No. Wireless Internet connections do not require a modem. However, Northwinds Net does offer wireless customers a dialup account as a backup to be used in the event the wireless link stops functioning. The dialup account is not meant to be used as a primary access method, nor should it be used in combination with a working wireless access system. Wireless customers who abuse their dialup access while a wireless customer will be charged for a standard dialup account in addition to any wireless charges. Also, you will need to keep your modem in your computer if you use it for fax services. [TOP OF FAQ]
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 could take as little as 1 hour. More complex installations may take longer. Each location and house will be specific to its own needs and obstacles. [TOP OF FAQ]
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 OF FAQ]
Lightening arrestors are included in the external antenna units. Further measures are recommended to protect your entire system. [TOP OF FAQ]
A site inspection will need to be performed for potential customers. Click here to see our coverage area. If you know where our access points are, and you can see one, then you should be able to get a good signal.[TOP OF FAQ]
If you are located more than 2 miles from a cell, the wireless Internet connection will require a 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 OF FAQ]
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. DSL slows down as the distance between your connection and the telephone company's offices increases, and doesn't work at all if you are more than 18,000 feet away (About 3 to 4 miles). [TOP OF FAQ]
As mentioned above, you get what you pay for. Bandwidth costs money, and by charging a little more realistically for it, you get better connection rates. Installation and activation can start as low as $199, although some locations are hard to reach, and will require additional hardware to make the connection, this will change as the infrastructure grows and access points are installed throughout the area by Northwinds Net. [TOP OF FAQ]