Questions & Answers

Overview

·  What is Wireless ?
·  How does Wireless Internet range compare to ADSL?
·  benefits of Wireless
·  Is Wireless Internet available now?

Details

·  What equipment is needed for Wireless Internet?
·  What does the equipment cost?
·  Is there an installation charge?
·  What if I move, upgrade my computer, or buy a new one?
·  Are there any additional costs?
·  Is there a minimum contract term?

Reliability

·  Is Wireless Internet reliable?
·  Is Wireless Internet secure?
·  What if my equipment fails?

Performance

·  How are your speed ratings determined?
·  What kind of actual performance can be expected?
·  Are there any bottlenecks in the system?

Networks

·  Can I use Wireless Internet from home and office, or other locations?
·  Do you have mobile wireless units?
·  Can Wireless Internet be used for a network?
·  Is there any limit to network size?
·  Can more than one location be connected to a single network?
·  How are IP addresses assigned?

Commercial Applications

·  Can I redistribute my Wireless Internet service to others?
·  Can I use my Wireless Internet service for commercial web hosting?
·  Can I operate a personal web server?

What is Wireless?

Wireless is a high-speed, often called "broadband," Internet connection. Wireless Internet service is "always on" so there is no waiting for your modem to connect to the Internet. Wireless is much faster than a typical 56k modem connection, and also exceeds speeds available from ISDN service..

How does Wireless Internet RANGE compare to DSL?

4km from your local exchange is about the limit of ADSL , while wireless can easily reach 8 – 10km or more (50km between repeaters with the right equipment). Wireless requires a clear "line of sight." That is, the position of your antenna must have an unobstructed view to any of our base stations

Benefits of  Wireless ?

Wireless access allows you to download images, videos and other large files at lightning fast speeds. It's always on! There is no waiting to get connected, no busy signals, no dialing required, and no phone line required like with ADSL. Another advantage is that your upload speed is not restricted like a ADSL or Cable connection.

Is Wireless Internet available now?

SECNet’s Subsonic Wireless Network currently services most of City of Mt Gambier & the Grant District Council area, with expansion into the Wattle Range & Kingston Council area in the works

What equipment is needed for Wireless Internet?

The general equipment requirement is a "wireless bridge" (a radio transceiver) and a small outdoor antenna. The wireless bridge is enclosed in a white box that must be mounted close to the antenna on your roof. The typical antenna is a small curved grid, slighty less in size than a television dish and roof-mounted in about the same way.

Home accounts must have an Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) in their computer. This can be purchased and installed by the customer, or SECNet will provide and install a NIC at the time of install for additional cost. Business accounts will be provided with a router (a device about the size of a hard-bound book) to connect multiple computers to their wireless connection. Each computer still requires a NIC, which can be purchased from SECNet.

What does the equipment cost?

We offer simple monthly Wireless Service Plans that include wireless Internet access and standard wireless equipment packages, so in most cases there is nothing to purchase. These plans also include free warranty service for as long as the plan is active. Wireless Service Plan deposits are eligible for full refund at any time you may choose to terminate service after one year.

Is there an installation charge?

Our pre-installation survey is free. This consists of a site survey to determine the suitability of your location and a report of the best speeds you can expect given your distance from our towers and other environmental factors. Once you decide to proceed a date and time for installation will be scheduled, and you'll be charged a $600 installation fee to cover the antenna installation & the cost of the equipment required, computer setup, antenna alignment, and online demonstration at your computer.

What if I move, upgrade my computer, or buy a new one?

If a reinstallation is necessary due to a remodel, a move, or a new computer or operating system change, a per hour rate of $60.00 will apply plus a per KM charge for any traveling required that is further than 50km from Mt Gambier. Reinstallations following service cancellation and removal of equipment will be charged the normal $660 installation fee.

Are there any additional costs?

If a NIC (network interface card) is required and your computer does not have one, SECNet will install one at our cost (currently about $35). Equipment charges may require adjustment in unusual circumstances, for example at extended distances or if obstacles block clear line-of-sight to our primary towers. Since our standard installation is "to the radio," separate charges may apply for Business Plans if additional network configuration or other services are required. Any additional charges that might apply will be determined in all cases during our initial site survey.

Is there a minimum contract term?

Yes, 12 months is the minimum contract

Is Wireless Internet reliable?

When compared to use of the old telephone system for high speed Internet service, wireless is far more reliable. This question is often asked in regard to possible weather interference, which again is negligible and in any case far less than we typically experience with phone line problems due to moisture, condensation, hot and cold changes, and so on. Different levels of wireless service are available for different needs, from casual usage to mission critical business operations, please check with SECNet for details.

Is Wireless Internet secure?

Yes. Our service uses a special protocol developed for outdoor use and is specifically designed to keep your traffic from being intercepted.

What if my equipment fails?

Our equipment is proven, highly reliable, and it is all solid state (no moving parts). We don't expect failures to happen often, but of course things can happen. Under our Wireless Service Plan your equipment is covered under a continuous warranty, like insurance - if it breaks we simply replace it at no charge.

How are your speed ratings determined?

When comparing figures of any kind between different types of services and equipment and providers, it is important to apply as much consistency as possible in the interest of objectivity. For each service compared we have used the service or equipment provider's maximum rated speed, which is usually the figure published in advertising but seldom achieved in reality. Since we cannot make judgement calls regarding performance claims from other services, we have also used the maximum rated speeds for our own system. In other words, "your mileage may vary" and almost certainly will, but since virtually all methods of data transport require a certain level of system overhead that reduces actual performance, we feel that the relative comparisons are accurate.

What kind of actual performance can be expected?

Most in-house networks achieve somewhere between 35-50% efficiency after allowing for system overhead, and this general ratio holds reasonably true for most other methods of data transport, including wireless.

Are there any bottlenecks in the system?

The easiest visual metaphor here is a highway system. Imagine that your location is connected to SECNet via a two-lane road, and that SECNet is in turn connected to the Internet via a 16-lane freeway (the numbers are not to scale, they're just to create the idea). Now imagine that you're having a huge party and expecting loads of traffic from out of town - it might flow very smoothly as far as SECNet, but will then get jammed up and slow way down over the final stretch. This image describes typical modem access to the Internet.

Can I use Wireless Internet from home and office, or other locations?

Each location requires a "wireless access point" or CPE and an antenna, You could share an account between home and office with a laptop, a single PCMCIA card wireless adapter, and an antenna at each location.

Do you have mobile wireless units?

Not at present. Other wireless products do indeed have small external units with tiny integrated omnidirectional antennas. However, their maximum speeds and ranges are considerably less. We have a pending project that will require some mobility and we're working on it.

Can Wireless Internet be used for a network?

Of course. Business accounts include a "router" that is built into the CPE unit, it allows multiple computers to share a single Wirelss connection. Basic and Premium accounts may purchase and configure a router themselves, or may purchase a pre-configured router from SECNet.

Is there any limit to network size?

Theoretically no, although performance is always an issue as networks grow, and at more than 250 machines we would need to do some IP address redesign. In terms of cost, our standard Business Plan pricing applies to all networks of up to 12 users, with a simple surcharge scale applied above that point.

Can more than one location be connected to a single network?

Absolutely. That was exactly the purpose of our first wireless installation, connecting several different locations around the community together into a seamless internal WAN, and also to SECNet for access to the Internet. This was installed in only a few days and required no telephone company service at all. Obvious applications here are other communities, schools, businesses and companies with multiple locations.

How are IP addresses assigned??

Wireless accounts are assigned one IP address via DHCP, which is subject to periodic change. Business account networks are normally configured to use NAT for multiple addressing, but may be assigned additional static addresses if necessary. These cases require a specific request, and the additional use of real addresses must be justified according to normal ARIN standards.

Can I redistribute Wireless Internet service to others?

Yes and no. The obvious applications here are apartment complexes, hotels and motels, business parks, or even shopping malls. These are commercial reseller services that are not permitted under our standard wireless plans, but can be addressed on a custom basis. Please contact our Business Development Manager to explore your specific ideas.

Can I use my Wireless Internet service for commercial web hosting?

Yes and no. This too is defined as a commercial reseller service that is not permitted under our standard wireless plans, but could be addressed on a custom basis. Please contact our Business Development Manager to explore your specific ideas.

Can I use my Wireless Internet service to operate a personal server?

Yes and no. A light-duty personal server, for example for a family website, would likely be fine in most cases. However, if a server is technically non-commercial but it is nevertheless generating a high volume of traffic and bandwidth usage it will be subject to bandwidth surcharges.

In some cases the success of wireless service cannot be confirmed until final installation is completed for verification of signal in that specific configuration.
If circumstances are such that service cannot be verified at this final stage, equipment will be removed and any prepayments promptly refunded. SECNet cannot be responsible for repair of any reasonable work required for installation.