Kansas Broadband Internet - Frequently Asked Questions

Comparisons

How does Kansas Broadband's wireless broadband compare to dial-up?

Dial-up operates at 14.4 - 56Kbps. Our service operates from 250Kbps to 1,500Kbps depending on the service plan subscribed to, a performance improvement of 5 to 25 times dial-up. Our service is always on so you don't need to re-establish your connection each time you want to use it. Kansas Broadband does not require any phone lines.

How does Kansas Broadband's wireless broadband compare to DSL and Cable Modem?

Unlike DSL or Cable Modem, our service does not depend on telephone or cable TV infrastructure. This enables Kansas Broadband to reach many neighborhoods where DSL and Cable Modem are unable or unwilling to go.
Our service plans offer performance comparable to DSL and Cable Modem, but with some important differences.
* Optional static IP's even on residential service and no restrictions against VPN's. *Superior customer service because we are a local company and can be at your location within hours if necessary.

How does wireless broadband compare to Satellite?

Wireless broadband is sometimes confused with Satellite because they are both forms of wireless communication. The difference is that Kansas Broadband uses a terrestrial microwave system that uses short-range wireless links that are no more than 10 miles long. The latency on these short-range links is comparable to wired links like DSL and Cable Modem so the performance remains high.
Satellite links have a large propagation delay due to the roughly 23,000-mile distance to geosynchronous satellites. This latency imposes a huge performance penalty on two-way interactive applications, regardless of bandwidth speed.
Satellite based systems are also subject to weather outages similar to satellite TV reception. For this reason Satellite should only be considered as a last resort for Internet service.

Examples of satellite based services are Wild Blue and Direcway.

Security

How secure is Kansas Broadband's Networks' Service?

There has been much press recently about the security issues of Wireless LAN technology known as 802.11b or Wi-fi. It is true that if the user uses the default settings with most Wi-Fi products it is very easy for an outsider to get onto the network. Wi-Fi systems were never designed for outdoor use.
The wireless system Kansas Broadband uses is completely different than 802.11 or Wi-fi technology. Kansas Broadband uses a system developed by Motorola. This Motorola system has 3 features that make it very secure.
1. Proprietary. The Motorola system uses completely proprietary technology for the Radio Frequency signals as well as the data protocols. So a potential hacker would first have to reverse engineer the Motorola radio equipment.
2. Authentication. No Motorola radio can communicate with our tower without first having its Electronic Serial Number authenticated against our list of allowed radios.
3. Encryption. The Motorola Canopy encrypts the user data over the air using 128 bit DES encryption.
These characteristics make our service at least as secure as DSL or Cable modem systems. As an example, it would probably be easier to tap into your phone line outside your home than hack through the encryption.

Equipment & System Requirements

How large is the antenna used to provide your service? Will I need a permit or HOA approval to place it on my building or home?

The antenna we use is 12" tall x 3.5" wide and weighs less than 1 pound. Depending on distance to the nearest tower we may need to use a reflector that is about 18" in diameter.
Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits restrictions on the use of "Over-the-Air Reception Devices" from government (cities or counties) or non-government (landlords or homeowner associations) entities. The ruling pertains to antennas less than 1 meter in diameter and less than 12 feet above roofline. You may still want to contact your homeowners association or landlord for any guidelines they may have on placement of the antenna. For more information, you can get a fact sheet from the FCC at www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html or contact us with any questions.

What are the system requirements for my PC to use Kansas Broadband's service?

Your PC must have a 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC). We do not load any software onto your computer. All your PC needs is TCP/IP software and a web browser. Windows 95 or newer and MAC OS 8.5 or greater include TCP/IP and a browser.

What router can be used with Kansas Broadband's service and why is it required?

Any broadband router that has an Ethernet port (10BaseT or 100BaseT) as its WAN or Internet port will work. This includes the wireless routers that are currently popular. If you get the router from Kansas Broadband Networks, it will be a Linksys model , which is a router and 4 port Ethernet switch. Several brands that we know work include D-link, Netgear, Belkin, and SMC.
Kansas Broadband Networks requires the use of a router because the radio transceiver we use does not block non-Internet protocols (such as Windows' Netbeui) or Ethernet broadcast packets. For security reasons, you do not want this traffic getting onto our network. For performance and reliability reasons, we want that traffic to be blocked.
Additional benefits of the router include firewall protection as well as multiple Ethernet ports and IP Addresses to allow multiple computers to be online at the same time.

Can more than one computer share the connection?

Yes, there is no additional charge for multiple computers. Our service requires a router to separate the customer's network from Kansas Broadband Networks'. The router acts as a firewall to protect the customer's home network from Internet attackers and is an administrative demarcation point that allows customers to build their home network independently. Kansas Broadband Networks supports the innovative use of home networking and charges based on total household bandwidth consumption rather than on the number of computers.

How does the weather affect Kansas Broadband's Service?

The effects of weather on Microwave radio signals vary based on the frequency used and the distance the signal travels. With the frequencies and distances in our network, signal degradation due to heavy rain, snow, or fog are negligible. The degradation due to heavy rain is less than .2 db and our system is designed with at least a 10 db signal fade margin.

Installation

What is involved in the installation?

We install a small antenna on or near the roof of your home or business. Then a Cat5 cable is run down and into your home. See our "How it works" section for a more detailed description.

What is the typical lead time to have your service installed?

If your location is within range of one of our towers and has line of site to that tower, we can usually install within a week.

Misc

Are there any health or safety concerns with the wireless signal?

No. The technology used by Kansas Broadband operates at very low power levels, similar to a cell phone, and much less than the amount that is emitted by your microwave oven. Also, radio frequency power drops dramatically as you move away from the power source. Typically, our antennas would not be placed where any person would be able to stand right in front of it for any significant period of time.

Do I need to have a separate ISP service with Kansas Broadband's service?

No, the ISP is included as part of our service. We provide IP addresses and email accounts as part of our plans. You may wish to continue using a dial ISP if you travel much. Kansas Broadband does not currently offer a dial service.

Can I keep my AOL service?

Yes. AOL offers a 'Bring Your Own Access' service currently priced at $14.95 per month. You may keep your existing AOL email addresses. Contact AOL directly for information on this service.