BROADBAND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does wireless broadband work? Our wireless broadband system uses microwave radio signals instead of telephone wire (copper, twisted pair), cable or fiber optics to send and receive data. An antenna and radio located on the outside of a subscribers home or business "beams" microwave signals to and from one of the numerous Pass Word, Inc. "Access Points" located thru-out the Spokane area.
Advantages.
- Doesn't require a telephone line.
- Our Pass Word Wireless internet connection is Bi-directional. Meaning your unit will send and receive information over an 802.11 connection. Making it a complete solution for internet connectivity.
- Ranges up to 12 miles.
- Speeds that are comparable to DSL and cable modems, typically ranging from 384 kbps to 1 mbps.
Will I have to do anything new to use our wireless system? If you already know how to use a web browser, you will find our system very user friendly. 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.
Is there any limit to my internet access? With your new Pass Word Wireless internet service your computer is always connected. There are no time limits or restrictions of how long you can stay connected. Your computer is connected 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year.
A typical installation consists of a box called a "CPE" which contains the radio equipment. This is located near the antenna. Several models of antenna are available, and the best for a given application will be chosen after the site survey is completed. The CPE communicates to the PC via ethernet using UTP Category 5 cable. This cable connects to a network interface card (NIC) in the computer. Only "Fixed" wireless services are offered at this time, and Pass Word, Inc. has no plans to provide a mobile service in the near future. All equipment installations are to be done by Pass Word, Inc. in order to insure the best possible operation for all subscribers. Equipment used is type accepted by the F.C.C. In most cases it is required to be "Professionally Installed", as a condition for type acceptance. This greatly reduces the likelihood of causing interference to other users.
How long does an Installation take? Depending on your service address and the location of your computer system and the location of our antenna access point, a complete installation may take between 1 and 4 hours.
Is it available in my area? A site survey will need to be performed for all-potential customers to evaluate the ability to use wireless where you are. If you know where our access points are (See Maps) and you have relatively clear line of site to one of or transmission locations, then you should be able to get a working signal. Line of sight means that you must have an unobstructed path to one of our sites with no Mountains, trees or tall building in the way as an example. If you are more than twelve miles away from a Pass Word transmission site, we may not be able to get signal to your location. We may be able to provide signal to your location if you are between ten and twelve miles from a site with a special antenna dish and receiver. If you would like to be notified when Pass Word Wireless High Speed is available in your area click here.
Can I have more than one computer on our service? Yes, as long as you have a hub, switch or router you can have a home or office network.
Is it wireless inside my home? No, it is wireless from your location (home or office) to our transmission tower. We use a Cat5 cable that connects to your pc, router or switch inside the home. If you want wireless in your home, you would have to purchase a wireless router or access point that connects to our radio equipment.
What are the typical fees and charges for a complete installation? There are few typical installations. Every user, their current computer configuration and their site location make the installation slightly different from the other. Complete installations vary in price by the equipment used, site location and connectivity to your computer We offer equipment on a rental basis and have new and used system available to purchase. Call one of our knowledgeable wireless experts today at 509-624-5235 for a complete quote.
Are there any conditions or limitations for this service? Every high-speed wireless installation requires a service agreement to be signed by the wireless customer. Please read this. It includes, but is not limited to: Our service fees, cancellation of service, IP addressing, re-sale of service and our other acceptable usage policies. While we make every attempt to provide complete coverage in our areas of service, there will still be some locations and conditions that may block or degrade the quality of our wireless internet signal. It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us a location to access our service signal with an outdoor antenna. This may include, but is not limited to, access to a rooftop or placement of a tower.
What is the difference between a secure, private IP address and a static public IP address? You will connect to Pass Word through a secure, private IP address. This ensures the most protection possible for you on our network. With a secure, private IP address you can surf the web, send and receive email, download files just as you have been used to with your previous internet connection. With a secure, private IP address, computers on the internet are not able to connect directly to your computer. You should however still have personal firewalls to prevent access to your PC from other internet users. The benefit to you is another layer of protection from viruses, worms, and hacker attacks. Because your secure IP address doesn't change, you can also perform many advanced internet applications, such as Virtual Private Networking (VPN), with other computers on our network. A static, public IP address also allows the advanced users the option to conduct server hosting, virtual private networking outside of our network, Voice Over IP, etc. Static, public IP address is visible to the internet, and therefore it is more in danger of attacks than the secure, private IP address that Pass Word provides.
What is a wireless LAN? Most Wireless LAN products (transmitters and receivers) are based on a standard called IEEE 802.11B/G (IEEE is the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers), which operates at 2.4 gigahertz and transmits data up to 11-54 mbps. Users share the bandwidth, so a single transmitter can support about 10 users. Some providers also offer products based on another IEEE standard, 802.11a, which operates at 5 gigahertz (which means less interference), transmits data up to 54 mbps, and can support a lot more users. Note: Wireless LANs can offer much greater bandwidth than the typical internet access points they connect to.
What is a VPN? Short for virtual private network, a network that is constructed by using public wires to connect nodes? For example, there are a number of systems that enable you to create networks using the internet as the medium for transporting data. These systems use encryption and other security mechanisms to ensure that only authorized users can access the network and that the data cannot be intercepted.
Do I need virus protection? Virus protection scans and cleans both incoming and outgoing e-mail messages for infection. Downloads of new virus protection updates automatically to protect against new threats and also blocks viruses in instant messaging attachments.
Why Choose Pass Word Wireless? Quite often, wireless service is available to subscribers that are out of reach of Cable TV and DSL providers. Satellite is generally available most everywhere but suffers from slow upload speeds, extremely high Latency, etc. Depending upon the service package chosen, speeds typically range from 384Kbps to over 1Mbps both up and down (to and from the internet). Even the basic package delivers speeds that are over 13 times that of a typical 28.8 Kbps dial-up modem connection. Wireless service is always on so you do not have to wait for your modem to dial up; just open your internet browser, and you are on the internet within seconds.
Pass Word is dedicated to providing reliable "Carrier Grade" services at a reasonable price. A strong background in Radio Communications enables Pass Word, Inc. to have the ability to design a wireless network that is less vulnerable to interference from other carriers. To further insure reliability, Pass Word, Inc. has invested considerable resources in building a carrier grade licensed (10, 23, and 39 GHz) backbone network, which is protected from interference by the FCC. In the interest of providing an economical connection to the end user, unlicensed (2.4, 5.3, 5.7, and 5.8 GHz) frequencies are carefully used. Redundancy, Backup power, and automatic monitoring of the network insure reliable service.
Highlights of various Internet Service Options:
Wireless - Very good speeds (both up and down), Very low Latency (typically 5 to 10 mS), Must have clear unobstructed view to an Access Point, Includes private IP address.
Dial-up - very slow and ties up a telephone line while in use.
Satellite - Available nearly everywhere there is an unobstructed view of the southern sky. Fairly expensive equipment and installation, typically slow upload speeds, very high Latency (there is a significant delay from transmission to receipt of a packet of data over what is typically over a 46,000-mile path). Latency on the order of 700mS is common. This Latency problem is particularly troublesome when using Voice over IP phones, games, and terminal emulation applications.
Cable - good download speeds, lower upload speeds, Private IP addresses often not available, monthly service rates tend to be a little higher than wireless and are subject to additional taxes, Not available in many outlying areas.
DSL - moderate download speeds, requires telephone line but you can talk on it while in use, higher than expected monthly rates after adding cost for ISP and various taxes, Private IP address not typically available in basic packages, and typically not available in outlying areas.
Types of fixed wireless technology (licensed and unlicensed):
Licensed Spectrum MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System) - Originally designed to provide "wireless cable" television services, providers now use the MMDS broadcast spectrum to provide broadband internet access to small businesses and residential customers, primarily in suburban or rural areas that aren't served by DSL or cable modem service. MMDS operates at low frequencies (2 to 3 gigahertz) and can reach customers up to 35 miles away.
LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution System)- LMDS can transmit large amounts of data at very high speeds, limited to distances of no more than 5 miles. It operates in the 28 to 29 gigahertz range. LMDS is most suitable for businesses in dense urban or suburban areas.
Unlicensed Spectrum - Providers can also offer broadband services in the 900-megahertz (ISM band), 2.4 gigahertz, and the 5-6 gigahertz ranges to distances up to 5 miles.
509-624-5235 Phone • 800-669-8737 Toll Free
1303 W. First Ave. • Spokane, WA 99201
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