The government doesn't need to be involved.
Check the coverage map, that area is mostly rural. (That is the only link on the below FAQ that I corrected the rest won't work from here, so you need to go to the above web page to see them.)
This is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about our service. If your question is not answered in the list below, contact us for the answer and maybe we will add it!
| How fast is it? | |
| The radios we use can transfer data at nearly 2 Mbps (million bits per second)! Since the total connection speed will be shared with your neighbor, we will try to make sure your connection stays at least 256 Kbps (thousand bits per second) for uploading and downloading. As we add customers, we will increase the total available bandwidth in order to keep your bandwidth the same.
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| How much does it cost? | |
| Residential service is only $50 per month. For business service and other pricing information, see the pricing page.
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| Can I get it at my location? | |
| That depends--these radios require a "line of site" to our access point. Basically this means you need to be able to see our antenna from somewhere on your house. However, you will need a site survey to determine whether or not you can receive service since you may just need a short antenna mast to clear an obstacle. Also see our coverage map.
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| Do I need a phone line? | |
| Absolutely not! In fact, you don't even have to talk to the phone company to get this connection. You will not ever get busy signals because your kids have been on the Internet for 2 hours. You won't have to wait as your modem screeches on the phone, only to connect at 28.8 Kbps or less--this connection is always on!
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| What about latency? | |
| Unlike satellite Internet systems, latency (delay in the signal starting) is not a problem because you are connecting wirelessly to an Access Point that is at most only a few miles away. Satellites are 22,300 miles above the equator, which adds a significant delay to the transmission and reception of Internet data. This means that your online gaming, computer remote control, and even web browsing are much better experiences!
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| How does it connect it to my computer? | |
| In most cases, your computer will need to have a USB port to connect. This means we can "plug and play" and not open up your computer to install an internal device. If you have a Mac, decide to use our premium equipment, or require a connection for your network, you will need to have a 10 base T or better network card installed. We can provide this as well if you need it.
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| What does this antenna look like? | |
| The antennas vary in size depending on your location. However they are all relatively small panels or parabolic mesh grids for very long distances, most measuring less than 1 square foot. And in case you are wondering, FCC rules prohibit local homeowner associations from disallowing installation of these antennas as well as satellite and conventional television antennas.
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| What will my email address be? | |
| Your email address will be yourname@mtwirefree.net. Reserve your name now by signing up! We can also service any domain name email or web site needs for name@yourcompany.com.
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| Can I host a web site from my computer? | |
| Yes! Contact us about a business connection to support this. For your personal web sites, we provide 5 MB of free personal web space on our server. Please help us keep wireless bandwidth available by not hosting web sites on your residential account.
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| Can I connect my Mac? | |
| Yes! Although the normal radios we use for residential service do not currently have Mac drivers, we want to provide access for everyone. To do this, we will furnish you with our business class radio at the same price as the residential radio. When drivers for the Mac are released, you will have the option of trading in your radio or keeping the business class radio and paying the price difference.
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| Can I connect my Linux box? | |
| Yes! Our residential radios have Linux drivers.
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| What are the requirements for my computer? | |
| For a Windows PC, we require Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with an available USB slot (for the standard equipment) or Ethernet port (for premium equipment installation). In addition 32 MB of RAM and as much free hard drive space as memory in your computer are also required. For Macs, any System software and an available 10 Base T network connection are required. Linux users should be prepared to perform the installation themselves, as we will only provide the radio and drivers. Users should know how to configure TCP/IP to use DHCP and be familiar with installing drivers for USB devices.
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| Will I get a static IP? | |
| IP addresses are normally dynamic; you can get a static IP for an additional charge (see pricing). Contact us if you would like this additional service.
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| How long until you come to my area? | |
| That depends--if you can show that there are 6 people interested in our service for your area, we can connect you as a local wireless provider! You would serve as the connection point for your neighbors and receive reduced price service. Otherwise, check back to the web site often as we are expanding rapidly throughout the Southern York County area.
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| Is your service affected by weather? | |
| No! Although there is a measurable signal loss in hurricane type rainstorms or fog, your service is not affected because the system is designed with a "fade margin" so the bandwidth delivered by the digital signal is not affected. Remember that your satellite system that occasionally goes out during the rain is receiving a signal through thousands of miles and our signal goes through less than 10 miles.
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| Can I be a beta tester in my area? | |
| Sign up now and we will keep your name for when we are expanding to your area. Beta testers receive free installation and use our equipment for free during the test period. Testers are under no obligation to use the service once it becomes available. | |
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