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Frequently Asked Questions:
The
answers to these questions will vary depending on if you are connected
to the Woodburn, Harlan, or Grabill tower. Please contact us for
details.
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HERE TO ORDER WIRELESS INTERNET!
- What is high speed
wireless internet?
- What is a CPE?
- Do I have to have line-of-site to the
base station?
- What type of speeds should I expect?
- How much does it cost?
- Where is wireless internet available?
- Is wireless internet secure?
- Can I get wireless internet at my
home?
- Can I get wireless internet at work?
- Does wireless internet use a phone line?
- Can I use a wireless network (a
wireless LAN) with wireless internet?
- What does NOC stand for and what is it?
- Does weather affect wireless
internet?
- Can wireless internet be networked?
- How can I attempt to prevent
hackers from entering my computer?
- Does LightningNet offer a static IP?
- Is there excessive latency with
wireless internet?
- How do I setup my email account(s)
once I have purchased high-speed internet service from
LightningNet?
- Can I access my email online?
- Can I get rid of AOL or my currnet ISP
after signing up with LightningNet?
- Can I host my own website using my
connection to LightningNet?
Wireless technology has been used for years to connect computer networks where wires
are not available or very expensive to install. Over the past several years, it has
evolved to carry frequencies that can carry high-speed internet.
This same technology is even being used by the U.S. military more
readily than satellite technology because wireless internet is much
more secure.
LightningNet uses the latest technology to implement wireless
high-speed internet. A base station is placed on a high point
such as a water tower. Then, there is a very small unit placed at your business or residence which aims directly at the
tower. The small unit is called customer premise equipment (CPE).
The CPE then hooks into your computer or computer network through
either a USB or Ethernet connection to deliver high-speed internet
to your personal computer or network.
The CPE (Customer Premise
Equipment) is the unit (or antenna) that is placed at your home or
business in order to receive wireless internet service. The
CPE is small (approximately 5.5" x 3.5") making it easy to
mount at your home or business without having to worry about
cosmetic appearances. If your home or business is further
away from the tower, you may need the optional larger antenna to
receive a better signal. This antenna is approximately 8.7"
x 7.9" x 1.4," and is still considerably small. For more information on how the CPE
works, see "What is wireless
high-speed internet?"
Typically, yes you do have to
have an un-obstructed view to the base station (the access point on
the tower). However, within 1 mile of a tower, some obstructions
may be able to be present. The only way to
know for sure is to have a site survey done. If you believe
you need a site survey, please contact
LightningNet.
Wireless internet is better
than cable internet in that it is not like a party line.
Normally, the more people that use cable internet at the same time,
the slower the connection. This is not the case with wireless
internet. However, speeds will vary due to overall total
internet usage at peak times. That is, when a majority of
people are on the internet at the same time - internet wide, not
network wide. Speeds will be about 10 - 20 times faster than
dialup internet access. You may not see the top speed at all times,
especially during peak times when the entire internet is being
heavily used. Our high-tech system has excellent download
speeds, and great upload speeds.
For current pricing
information, please contact LightningNet.
Currently, we are located in the general areas of
Grabill, Harlan, and Woodburn. We are constantly expanding
our service area. For current locations where wireless internet is
available, please contact LightningNet.
Absolutely! Other
wireless internet service providers do not use the same technology
that LightningNet uses. Our system is designed to give you
peace of mind when it comes to sending and receiving information
over the internet. LightningNet uses technology that is nearly
identical to the technology the U.S. military uses. This
particular technology "jumps" frequencies many times a second in a
digital signal to ensure the security of your internet surfing.
It is nearly impossible for anyone outside authorized users to gain access
to the network.
Although your radio frequency connection
from your CPE to the NOC is secure, any computer hooked
to the internet is still vulnerable to hackers. LightningNet strongly
recommends that you use at least one line of protection on your
computer to prevent access from hackers operating on the
internet. This is known as a firewall. You may download
a free firewall at http://www.zonealarm.com.
Also, any computer that is on the internet is susceptible to
viruses. LightningNet requires all of its customers to run
anti-virus software. You can download anti-virus software for
free from http://www.grisoft.com.
Yes, wireless internet is
available for both the home and the workplace. Contact
LightningNet for pricing.
Yes, wireless internet is
available for both residential and business use. Contact
LightningNet for pricing.
No, wireless internet needs no
phone line, so you will have no extra charge for a second phone
line as many people have for dial-up internet.
Yes, since LightningNet uses the latest
in wireless internet technology, you are able to use a wireless Local Area
Network (LAN).
NOC stands for Network
Operations Center. The NOC is where the backbone of the
wireless internet structure is kept. All critical information
from the network to the internet runs through the NOC.
Typically, weather does
not affect wireless internet. Only under extreme conditions
might outages be possible such as in tornados where towers might be
destroyed. However, the possibilities of this are minimal.
If you would be
connecting through the Grabill tower, please contact us for details
regarding this question. For those connecting through the
Woodburn and Harlan towers: Yes, you may opt for a
CPE that has an Ethernet connection rather than a USB
connection. The Ethernet connection on the CPE can be hooked
directly into a router to network the wireless internet.
Prices per month for more than one computer will vary as well as
the price for the CPE. Please contact
LightningNet for the latest pricing information.
Although your radio
frequency connection from your CPE all the way to the NOC is
secure, any computer hooked to the internet is still vulnerable to
hackers. LightningNet strongly recommends that you use at least one
line of protection on your computer to help prevent access from hackers
residing on the internet. This is known as a firewall.
You may download a free firewall at http://www.zonealarm.com.
If you would be
connecting through the Grabill tower, please contact us for details
regarding this question. For those connecting through the
Woodburn and Harlan towers: Yes, you may opt for a
static IP. Normal
installations will have a dynamic IP address. Static IP's are
available at special request, and may incur a monthly fee.
Contact LightningNet for current information and pricing.
No, unlike satellite
internet systems, there is no excessive latency, which makes it
possible to play games and have secure internet connections over
the internet using our wireless system.
LightningNet supports
both Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. However, we
typically recommend Outlook Express. Step-by-step
instructions to setup your email account in Outlook Express are
available by clicking here.
Yes, you can access your
email online if you have an email account with LightningNet.
You can access your email by clicking here,
or by typing http://webmail.lightningnet.net
into your browser.
ABSOLUTELY! Once you
have signed up with LightningNet, there will be no need for another
Internet Service Provider (ISP). LightningNet provides all of
the standard internet services through its wireless internet system.
NO. Hosting a website
on your connection to LightningNet is strictly forbidden.
LightningNet offers webhosting packages
at a separate monthly rate.
Our Frequently Asked Questions
are constantly being updated. If you have a question that is
not answered here, please email
LightningNet.
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