SERVICE
AVAILABILITY:
How do I determine if service is available at my location?
Please
fill out the Order Request Form
and we will respond within 24 hours to determine if coverage
is available. SkyRiver provides service for LANs, PCs and
laptops at an established location (i.e. not yet available
for mobile laptops).
Do
I need a clear line of sight to a SkyRiver
network antenna to receive service?
In most
cases, yes. But depending on your distance from a SkyRiver
network antenna, the signal can pass through some types of
building materials and other obstructions, so you may be able
to get service even if you can't see the antenna. Optimal
range is 5-7 miles.
How
will I know if I need an external antenna?
As with
any wireless network, we may need to measure signal strength,
especially if you are on the fringe of a service area. If
you appear to be located in a fringe area, we will schedule
an appointment to have a technician come to measure the signal,
select an appropriate external antenna (if necessary), and
install the service. The most commonly used external antenna
is 6" by 6" and can be placed just about anywhere
to get peak performance.
How
do I order SkyRiver T1 service?
A subscriber
can contact PointivityConnect Sales Advisor directly
at (858) 777-6900.
Once
service is ordered, how long will it take to install service?
Installations
can be completed in five (5) business days or less; typically,
your service will be up and running in 3 days. This is much
faster than the typical installation requirement of 2-4 weeks
for T1 service, and 3-6 weeks needed for DSL.
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RELIABILITY:
Is the network reliable for business
applications?
Yes, the
service is great for businesses that have dozens of concurrent
Web users, send or receive large graphic or database files,
use delay-sensitive applications and real-time collaboration,
or that simply want enterprise-level throughput at small business
prices. Data throughput and uptime is consistent with industry
standards.
Can
I talk on the phone and use SkyRiver T1 at the same time?
Yes. SkyRiver
service uses a dedicated, "always on" connection
that does not interfere with your telephone service.
Will
cell phones or cordless phones interfere with SkyRiver T1?
Cell phones
and 900MHz cordless phones operate on a different frequency
thanSkyRiver does, and will have no impact. A 2.4GHz phone,
baby monitor or any other device operating at 2.4GHz may cause
fuzziness, but not to the extent that you would notice.
Does
SkyRiver support voice and data?
Not at
this time. SkyRiver service is a data-only service. However,
they continue to watch for routers that can handle voice as
well; if any become available that meet their standards, they
may offer voice and data service in the future.
Does
it matter which web browser I use?
If you
use an established browser like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft
Internet Explorer, you should be able to access any page on
the web.
What
if I'm already an AOL user and still want to access AOL?
No problem.
You can continue to use your AOL account via our wireless
service.
Does
rain or snow interfere with service?
No. 2.4GHz
spectrum is virtually unaffected by foliage or weather conditions.
How
reliable is SkyRiver's distribution?
Very reliable.
The network, managed and owned by SkyRiver, has been developed
with redundancy in key infrastructure components. And SkyRiver
partners, such as PointivityConnect, only with financially
stable, well-established ISPs for distribution and resale.
Is
this technology new?
No, wireless
broadband has been available for more than five years, but
until now, had been quite expensive. The SkyRiver business
model has brought this superior technology down to very affordable
prices.
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SPEED:
Is wireless broadband as fast as
wireline?
Yes, in
most cases it is faster. San Diego T-1 features high-speed
symmetrical bandwidth, delivering the same throughput for
both uploads and downloads. Plus, you are only two physical
hops from the Internet backbone, which reduces data delay.
How
much faster is SkyRiver service than T-1, DSL and cable?
With symmetrical bandwidth, the baseline service (1.5 Mbps)
has a data speed that is 10-20% faster than a T-1, four times
faster than SDSL and 10-15 times faster upstream than cable
or ADSL. SkyRiver premium service (2.5 Mbps) is even faster
than this.
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SAFETY
AND SECURITY:
How secure is the SkyRiver's network?
While
no network is 100% secure, we believe that the SkyRiver network
is as secure or more secure than any other service you can
use for Internet access. SkyRiver provides security at three
levels:
- Signal
security.
SkyRiver uses Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), a
method that was developed for military applications requiring
resistance to noise, interference, jamming and unauthorized
listening.
- Station
authentication.
In order for a wireless modem to connect with an access
point (the next device on the wireless network), it must
present a special 64-bit value that is set when the access
point is configured. Without the correct value, the wireless
modem cannot learn the DSSS algorithm required to obtain
and decode the next message from that access point.
-
User authentication.
To access the SkyRiver network, your ISP will provide a
valid user ID and password combination.
How
does SkyRiver security compare with cable service security?
SkyRiver service is actually more secure than cable service.
With SkyRiver, each wireless modem receives and passes to
its associated Ethernet card only those messages addressed
to that card. Whereas, on a cable network, every computer
in the neighborhood can listen to all messages on the local
network using readily available "sniffer" software.
And if a cable access user has turned on file sharing, other
users in the neighborhood can potentially access your files
and programs. This is not possible when connected to the SkyRiver
network.
Can
other users see my messages?
Practically speaking, no. SkyRiver uses a signal scrambling
technology that was developed for secure military communications.
For each message the radio signal is spread over multiple
channels. Outsiders cannot "see" your message without
going to the extreme expense of simultaneously monitoring
all channels, figuring out where message fragments from one
user begin and end, reassembling the fragments, and decoding
the messages.
Can
other users see files on my computer?
No.
Can
SkyRiver provide enhanced security if requested?
Yes. We can provide 3 types of encryption for those subscribers
dealing with sensitive information, and can support standard
VPN and firewall solutions.
Note: PointivityConnect provides enhanced Security
protection for all SkyRiver Installations.
Are
there health risks associated with cell phones and other wireless
devices?
No. There's very strong scientific evidence that cell phones
and other wireless devices like SkyRiver's T-1 service do
not have any health risks associated with their use. Given
that SkyRiver's wireless modem outputs a much weaker radio
signal than the equipment used in these studies, at a less
sustained rate, and is generally positioned further from the
user than is a cell phone, it is safe to conclude that the
favorable results of these studies apply to SkyRiver equipment
as well.
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AFFORDABILITY:
How much does the service cost?
SkyRiver Wireless Broadband Service is available for a fraction
of the cost that companies would pay for traditional wireline
T1s - less than $300 per month - and provides data speed that
is 10-20% faster than a T1. Call a PointivityConnect
sales advisor at (858) 777-6900 for specifics.
What
equipment will be installed at my location? Is it expensive?
As part of the installation process, PointivityConnect
will install an antenna inside a window or on a rooftop. The
antenna will then connect to equipment that can directly connect
to your LAN, PC or laptop. PointivityConnect offers
two "free" service hours to install and configure
your new SkyRiver service. If additional security is requested,
additional fees may apply.
How
is service billed? Will I receive different bills from PointivityConnect
and SkyRiver?
No, you'll receive one flat rate bill from PointivityConnect,
and SkyRiver remains your single point of contact for customer
service.
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