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Frequently Asked Questions

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Wireless Broadband Internet
  1. How does KyWiMax's wireless broadband compare to dial-up?

    Dial-up operates at 56Kbps. Our service operates from 128Kbps 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. KyWiMax Internet Services does not require phone service, satellite tv or cable tv service.

  2. How does KyWiMax '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 KyWiMax to reach many neighborhoods where DSL and Cable Modem are not available. Our service plans offer performance comparable to DSL and Cable Modem, but with some important differences.

    • Better upload speeds than comparably priced DSL or Cable Modem.
    • Optional static IPs even on residential service and no restrictions against using servers or VPNs.
    • Superior customer service because we are a local company and can be at your location within hours if necessary.

  3. 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 KyWiMax uses a terrestrial microwave system that uses short-range wireless links that are no more than 2-3 miles long. The latency on these short-range links is comparable to wired links like DSL and Cable Modem s 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.

  4. How secure is KyWiMax Internet's 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. However, just changing a few settings can make the network secure.

    The wireless system KyWiMax uses is completely different than 802.11 or Wi-fi technology. KyWiMax uses a system developed by Motorola. This Motorola system has 3 features that make it very secure.

    • 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.
    • Authentication - No Motorola radio can communicate with our tower without first having its Electronic Serial Number authenticated against our list of allowed radios.
    • 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 break through the encryption.

  5. How does the weather affect KyWiMax'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.

  6. 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 typical antenna we use is 12" tall x 3.5" wide and weighs less than 1 pound. 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.

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

    No. The technology used by KyWiMax 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.

  8. What are the system requirements for my PC to use KyWiMax's service?

    Your PC must have a 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) available. We do not load any software onto your computer. All your PC needs is TCP/IP software and a web browser. Windows 98 or newer and MAC OS 8.5 or greater include TCP/IP and a browser.

  9. What router can be used with KyWiMax's service and why is it required?

    Any broadband router that has an Ethernet port (10BaseT or 100BaseT) as it's WAN or Internet port will work. KyWiMax Internet 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.

  10. 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 KyWiMax Internet. 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. KyWiMax Internet supports the innovative use of home networking and charges based on total household bandwidth consumption rather than on the number of computers.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. Do I need to have a separate ISP service with KyWiMax's service?

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