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FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. How does Phoenix Internet's wireless broadband
compare to dial-up?
A. Dial-up operates at 56Kbps. Our service operates from
500Kbps to 2,000Kbps depending on the service plan
subscribed to, a performance improvement of 8 to 30
times dial-up. Our service is ‘always on’ so you don’t
need to re-establish your connection each time you want
to use it. Phoenix Internet does not require any phone
lines.
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Q. How does Phoenix Internet's wireless broadband
compare to DSL and Cable Modem?
A. Unlike DSL or Cable Modem, our service does not
depend on telephone or cable TV infrastructure. This
enables Phoenix Internet to reach many neighborhoods
where DSL and Cable Modem are unable or unwilling to go.
Our service plans offer performance comparable to DSL
and Cable Modem, but with some important differences.
* Better upload speeds than comparably priced DSL or
Cable Modem.
* Optional static IPs even on residential service and no
restrictions against using servers or VPNs.
* Superior customer service because we are a local
company and can be at your location within hours if
necessary.
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Q. How does wireless broadband compare to Satellite?
A. Wireless broadband is sometimes confused with
Satellite because they are both forms of wireless
communication. The difference is that Phoenix Internet
uses a terrestrial microwave system that uses
short-range wireless links that are no more than 14
miles long. The latency on these short-range links is
comparable to wired links like DSL and Cable Modem so
the performance remains high.
Satellite links have a large propagation delay due to
the roughly 23,000-mile distance to geosynchronous
satellites. This latency imposes a huge performance
penalty on two-way interactive applications, regardless
of bandwidth speed. For this reason Satellite should
only be considered as a last resort for Internet
service.
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Q. How secure is Phoenix Internet' Service?
A. There has been much press recently about the security
issues of Wireless LAN technology known as 802.11b or
Wi-fi. It is true that if the user uses the default
settings with most Wi-Fi products it is very easy for an
outsider to get onto the network. However, just changing
a few settings can make the network secure.
The wireless system Phoenix Internet uses is completely
different than 802.11 or Wi-fi technology. Phoenix
Internet uses a system developed by Motorola. This
Motorola system has 3 features that make it very secure.
1. Proprietary. The Motorola system uses completely
proprietary technology for the Radio Frequency signals
as well as the data protocols. So a potential hacker
would first have to reverse engineer the Motorola radio
equipment.
2. Authentication. No Motorola radio can communicate
with our tower without first having its Electronic
Serial Number authenticated against our list of allowed
radios.
3. Encryption. The Motorola Canopy encrypts the user
data over the air using 128 bit DES encryption.
These characteristics make our service at least as
secure as DSL or Cable modem systems. As an example, it
would probably be easier to tap into your phone line
outside your home than hack through the encryption.
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Q. How does the weather affect Phoenix Internet's
Service?
A. The effects of weather on Microwave radio signals
vary based on the frequency used and the distance the
signal travels. With the frequencies and distances in
our network, signal degradation due to heavy rain, snow,
or fog are negligible. The degradation due to heavy rain
is less than .2 db and our system is designed with at
least a 10 db signal fade margin.
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Q. How large is the antenna used to provide your
service? Will I need a permit or HOA approval to place
it on my building or home?
A. The antenna we use is 12" tall x 3.5" wide and weighs
less than 1 pound with an optional reflector dish used
to boost the signal.
Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
prohibits restrictions on the use of “Over-the-Air
Reception Devices” from government (cities or counties)
or non-government (landlords or homeowner associations)
entities. The ruling pertains to antennas less than 1
meter in diameter and less than 12 feet above roofline.
You may still want to contact your homeowners
association or landlord for any guidelines they may have
on placement of the antenna. For more information, you
can get a fact sheet from the FCC at
www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html or contact us with
any questions.
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Q. Are there any health or safety concerns with the
wireless signal?
A. No. The technology used by Phoenix Internet operates
at very low power levels, similar to a cell phone, and
much less than the amount that is emitted by your
microwave oven. Also, radio frequency power drops
dramatically as you move away from the power source.
Typically, our antennas would not be placed where any
person would be able to stand right in front of it for
any significant period of time.
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Q. What are the system requirements for my PC to use
Phoenix Internet's service?
Your PC must have a 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet Network
Interface Card (NIC). We do not load any software onto
your computer. All your PC needs is TCP/IP software and
a web browser. Windows 95 or newer and MAC OS 8.5 or
greater include TCP/IP and a browser.
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Q. What router can be used with Phoenix Internet's
service?
A. Any broadband router that has an Ethernet port
(10BaseT or 100BaseT) as its WAN or Internet port will
work. This includes the wireless routers that are
currently popular.
Additional benefits of the router include firewall
protection as well as multiple Ethernet ports and IP
Addresses to allow multiple computers to be online at
the same time.
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Q. Can more than one computer share the connection?
A. Yes, there is no additional charge for multiple
computers. Our service requires a router to separate the
customer’s network from Phoenix Internet’. The router
acts as a firewall to protect the customer’s home
network from Internet attackers and is an administrative
demarcation point that allows customers to build their
home network independently. Phoenix Internet supports
the innovative use of home networking and charges based
on total household bandwidth consumption rather than on
the number of computers.
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Q.
What is involved in the installation?
A. We install a small antenna on or near the roof of
your home or business. Then a Cat5 cable is run down and
into your home.
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Q. What is the typical lead time to have your service
installed?
A. If your location is within range of one of our towers
and has line of site to that tower, we can usually
install in less then a week.
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Q. Do I need to have a separate ISP service with
Phoenix Internet's service?
A. No, the ISP is included as part of our service. We
provide IP addresses and email accounts as part of our
plans.
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Q. Can I keep
my AOL service?
A.Yes. AOL offers a 'Bring Your Own Access' service
currently priced at $14.95 per month. You may keep your
existing AOL email addresses. Contact AOL directly for
information on this service.
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