Do you have questions about our service? If so, we have the answers.
Q: Do I need to commit to a long-term contract in order to subscribe to one of your Consumer plans?
A: Not at all. Our Consumer Plans are offered with either no contract, but a higher install fee or contract periods ranging from 1-3 years, with lower install fees for longer contract terms.
Q: Is E-mail included as part of your service, or do I have to pay extra for this?
A: The Internet Value Plan comes with 5 free accounts and the Internet Pro Plan comes with 10 free accounts. Just select a username, and we'll take care of the rest.
Q: What type of equipment is needed for installation?
A: A typical installation consists of an externally mounted antenna (usually a flat panel 12 inches square) and a radio (mounted either internally or externally, depending on selected plan). Any equipment mounted externally must be mounted with a clear line of sight to our nearest base station, so this usually requires placement on the rooftop or upper floors of your home or office. Our installers will strive to find a location which enables a strong signal, yet is as unobtrusive as possible. We provide a single ethernet jack on the back of the radio that you can plug into your router, as desired, for distribution to your in-house network. Each radio requires a wall mount power socket for power.
Q: Can I install the equipment myself?
A: No - We consider it our responsibility to ensure that when you are connected to our network, you are connected with the highest possible signal available. As a result, we require that the equipment be installed by one our approved technicians or installers.
Q: You describe your business service as 'Symmetrical'. What does that mean?
A: A symmetrical link is one in which the data is transferred at the same rate both upstream and downstream. This means that you will experience the fastest connection possible, whether you're downloading data (e.g. surfing the web, opening e-mails, or watching streaming video), or uploading data (e.g. entering in a new URL link, or sending e-mails). While many companies boast high-speed connections, if you look at the fine print, you'll frequently find a disclaimer indicating that the referenced speeds are for 'downloads' only and that the upload speed is a fraction of the advertised rate. With NWNC, you get fast speed.
Q: Is NWNC service available in all areas?
A:Currently, we offer service to customers located throughout McLean County, IL.
Q: Is a 'Line of Sight' required to obtain NWNC Service?
A:Yes. In order to establish the best connection to our network, the antenna mounted on your home or office must have a clear line of sight to one our transmitters. Obstacles such as dense foliage or buildings could impact your line of sight and prevent a clear signal. If service is requested, prior to installing the equipment, we will test your signal strength and determine if an adequate service signal is available. If it is determined that we can not complete the installation due to obstacles or other signal issues, NWNC will reimburse any advance payments for equipment or service.
Q: I just found out that NWNC service is not yet available in my neighborhood. Is there a way to find out when service might be available in my area?
A: We are growing daily and are focused on expanding into areas that are in need of local internet services. If you're in an area that does not have an internet option available, or if you're just interested in finding out when we'll be reaching your neighborhood, drop us a line at sales@nwnc.net. We welcome hearing from you.
Q: Once setup, can I network the equipment to other computers?
A: Yes - under our Consumer plans you can utilize a router to share the connection with up to 4 additional computers in your home. However, you may not share the service with other homes, businesses, or additional third-parties without the explicit written consent of NWNC.
Q: I would like to connect additional home computers to my network but don't know how. Can NWNC help?
A: Yes - once installed with primary service, NWNC staff are available for additional support and custom configurations at a rate of $75/hr. If you would like additional support, please feel free to contact us.
Q: Are there restrictions I should be aware of relative to NWNC service?
A: There are no unusual restrictions associated with service apart from the normal terms and conditions associated with any internet connection. For details, please reference your subscriber agreement and acceptable use policy.
Q: Does NWNC monitor traffic use?
A: Yes - In an effort to ensure that all customers experience the best speeds available, NWNC reserves the right to monitor traffic and treat certain types of traffic with a lower priority on the network. Such lower priority traffic may include file-sharing applications such as Kazaa, and Morpheus, etc.
Q: What type of radios do you use for the Consumer Service Plans?
A: The specific type of radio we use for each home/office varies depending on the type of plan selected as well as the distance from the tower. Overall, we have three radio options for the consumer plans. 1) A 900Mhz radio capable of supporting up to 3 Mb/s data speeds, 2) A 2.4Ghz radio capable of supporting up to 5.5 Mb/s data speeds, and 3) A 5.8Ghz radio capable of supporting up to 10Mb/s data speeds.
Q: I've noticed that when I'm surfing the web, certain web sites are slower than others. What causes this behavior?
A: No matter how fast your connection speed is to the internet, there are certain factors that can affect your download performance times on the internet. Factors that govern such speed include:
- The performance of the server hosting the target web site
- The bandwidth of the connection between the web site's server and the Internet
- The type of file transfer being used (FTP file transfers download at higher speeds than HTML web pages)
- Backbone usage
- Router latency
- Internet traffic patterns - Certain times of the day tend to have higher internet traffic than others
- Your PC (Some internal PC components may impose speed limitations, commonly seen with older computers)