FAQ

Broadband is a telecommunication which includes a wide band of frequencys which are available to transfer information. Seem as it is wide band this means that the information can be multiplexed and sent on the different frequencys and channels. This means that alot more information can be transmitted in a given amount of time.

Imagine a country road, its narrow with not a lot of traffic. If you get stuck behind a tractor you've had it! Now imagine broadband as a dual carriageway, multiple lines and a lot faster than a small country road. Now you can see that broadband is a much faster way to connect to the internet.

>> What do you mean when you say “Always on?”

With the system within Langtoft the network is always connected, this means that all you have to do is login using the splash screen and then you are connected for a duration of 12 Hours, after 12 hours your connection will the be lost. This is in order to ensure that your account isn’t connected when you’re not using the internet. If the connection is dropped after 12 hours it shouldn’t be a problem to log back in using the splash screen. After you have logged onto the system multiple times you won't have to logon using the splash screen. This is because every computer has an address and when our system keeps authorizing your address it will automatically log you on.

>> How much does broadband cost?

To use the service there will be a monthly charge of £20-00, and this could go down if more people sign up to use the service.

>> So what is the speed of the broadband service?

The current speed of the broadband service that you will receive is 1Mbps download and 256kbps upload. Due to the service being via a satellite, there is a short delay while the inital contact with the sattelite is made, after this web page loading should be virtually instant.

>> The download speed and the upload speed are different why?

The speeds are different because the service is optimized for downloads as this is what most people use it for.

>> How can I get broadband?

The Langtoft exchange is not going be made available for broadband by BT. This means that the only way that you can get broadband would be via Satellite. To get satellite broadband you will need to get in contact with us. Although this doesn’t mean that you will get it installed right away as the installations are being done in phases.

>> Will broadband help my business?

Broadband can be a big step in the right direction for your business, it can help your business in many different ways; it can help save money and open new ways to serve your business and advertise it to a wider audience of people.

>> Are there any security risks or problems that I should be aware of when using broadband?

When using broadband there are different risks that you should be aware of. The most common ones would be Hackers and Viruses. There are solutions to these problems that should be implemented onto your system.
These risks are more apparent because with broadband you are connected for longer periods of time which means that the connection is more vulnerable.

You can find more information about this on our security page.

>> Will you need to change or modify my computer for me to be able to have broadband?

We may have to install a Network Interface Card (NIC) into your machine, this is just an extra card that will be placed inside your pc and will allow your machine to connect to our network and the internet. You may not need this card installing in your machine as it may already have one, if your pc is new then it will be likely that it will have ethernet implemented onto the mainboard.

>> We have more than one pc that we would like to use the service, is this possible?

Yes this is possible, although the other computers that want to use the service need to be connected some how, it can be connected “hard wired” using a cable to a network hub, or it can be connected using a wireless network card. Another method that you can use is Ethernet Over Mains (EOM) These devices plug into a socket near your pc and a cable from the device to your computer. The network signal goes through the mains into the device and into your computer. This technology is very handy as you can move the device anywhere within the house as long as you have an electric socket.

>> Are there any requirements on the operating system that will need to be installed for the system?

We are currently installing the broadband system on any Windows operating system, Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Server 2003. As common practice we do not install on Mac OS or Linux, but please give us a call if would like to use the service on these operating systems. Please note we do not provide support for Mac OS or Linux.

We prefer not to install Wireless broadband on a Windows 98 machine, this is because Windows 98 acts differently to Windows XP. This can mean it will run into problems later on, it’s like installing new technology onto an older technology.

>> Can I use your system for online gaming?

Seem as the system goes through a satellite connection it means that there is a millisecond delay, this means that the system will be quite slow when used with fast action games such as first person shooters. This will not be as apparent when used with slower games such as strategy games.

>> If I have a wireless LAN will it pose a risk to my health?

Extensive research has been done into wireless networks and it conclues that wireless networks are not a risk for your health, more information can be found in our health and safety section.

>> Do you offer support?

Yes we do offer support for the service, and we will kindly answer any questions you may have about hardware or software.

More FAQs will be added when they arise; if you have anymore questions then please contact us.

>> Are you going to be installing a big mast in our area?

No, we will not be installing a big mast in your area. We will only need to install aerials at the points where our nodes will be. These aerials are small and very inconspicous, and run at very low power.

>> How long does it take to do the installation?

For a client installation it should take around 2-3 hours to get you connected to the internet, a mesh node installation will take around 4 hours to complete.