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Service FAQs
- Is your service available in my area?
- Click here to view our current service area map and see if you are included in one of the coverage areas. If you are, there is a very high probability that we can provide service to you. If not, check back often as we are always expanding and looking to add to our service area. (hide)
- How fast is your service?
- With our entry level broadband package you can expect your service to be roughly 15x faster than a dial-up connection. In general you will be getting about 80% or more of what your service package states. Routing overhead and other factors can use up to 20% of the total available bandwidth. (hide)
- How much does it cost?
- You can check out our pricing to get a full run-down of the services we offer and what they cost. (hide)
- Does your service penetrate trees?
- It depends. The access points in Campbell, MN and Doran, MN operate in a different frequency band than the rest of our network and lack the foliage penetration capabilities. In general, it is good to have a clear line of sight and some height (tower, roof, etc) that we can mount to in order to provide you with the best, most reliable service possible. (hide)
- Does your service provide mobility like the cell phone company offerings?
- No. Our service is a fixed wireless broadband service. It is very similar to DSL except we use wireless communications instead of cable to get service to your home. Once there, we have to run a cable from your computer or networking device to our modem on your roof or tower. (hide)
- Do I have to buy equipment?
- No. The wireless equipment is leased for $10.00 per month. (hide)
- Is there a limit to how much time I spend online?
- No. We impose absolutely no useage or time limits on our internet connections. (hide)
- What does always-on mean?
- Our internet connections are always-on which means you do not have to dial up to get online and you do not have to disconnect when you are done. It is an always available internet connection. (hide)
- What is line of sight?
- Line of sight can effectively be translated to how well you can see our access point. In general, if you can see our broadcast point and there are no obstructions (trees, buildings, etc) in the path, then you have a clear line of sight. If there are some tree claims or obstacles in the way, but you can still see the broadcast point, then you have a partial line of sight. If you cannot see the broadcast point, you have no line of sight. Keep in mind, it can sometimes be difficult to verify this from the ground. (hide)
- Is your service affected by the weather?
- No. Unlike satellite internet, our service operates in different frequency bands doesn't have to travel nearly as far to get to its destination, therefore heavy rains, fog, etc. will not affect performance. (hide)
Installation FAQs
- What does the installation require?
- Generally, installation is a fairly simple process that can be completed in about two hours. We will come out to your location and install a radio transceiver (the modem) and an antenna on your roof or tower. We then run Cat5 ethernet cable from the modem into your house to your computer or into your networking equipment. Our modem requires access to one standard 120v electrical outlet near the computer or networking equipment to provide power. (hide)
- How do you determine the modem and antenna mounting location?
- We look for two things: height and path obstruction. In general, we like to be as high as possible, as the higher we go the more reliable and stable the signal. Keeping this in mind we choose a location that has as little obstruction between the access point and the subscriber modem as possible. We try to avoid mounting anything on the ground (such as on a pipe or railing) as this can cause issues later on with signal propagation. (hide)
- What are the hardware requirements?
- We recommend at least a 1GHz processor with 512MB available RAM and 5GB available hard disk drive space. You also need an available ethernet port which can be installed separately if needed. (hide)
- Do I need to install any special software?
- No. As long as you have a web browser and standard mail software, you should be ready to go. We recommend active anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a firewall for protection against the threats of the internet. Your computer should be running at least Mac OS9 or Microsoft Windows 2000 for best performance. (hide)
- I want to hook up more than one computer to your service. Is this possible?
- Absolutely. Keep in mind our standard installation rates only cover the cost and configuration of one computer or device. We would be glad to provide a quote to add additional devices. (hide)
- Anything else I should know?
- We will only install our equipment on top of rooftops, towers, grain leg railing and other sturdy platforms. Cable runs generally should not exceed 300 feet and we do not trench cable. If your installation requires trenching you will be responsible for the cost of trenching. (hide)
Technical FAQs
- I did a speed test at website name - why does it seem so slow?
- One thing to keep in mind with speed tests is they can be hosted anywhere by anyone. Because the internet is such a large network with so many different parties involved, it is impossible for us to control the speeds beyond our own network. We recommend that if you want to gauge your internet performance, you always test at locations that are closest to you and you do multiple tests with different sites. We recommend you use our speed test located here to test your Ag Wireless broadband connection. (hide)
- Can I play games or use VPN on your service?
- Absolutely. Our low-latency service, like fiber or DSL, is ideal for online gaming, including XBOX Live, MMORPGs, and other online systems and is 100% compatible with VPN connections. (hide)
- Can I use any web browser with your service?
- Yes, however we will only provide support for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. (hide)
- Can I use any email client with your service?
- Yes. Any email client that support the POP3 and SMTP protocols will work fine with our service, however we will only provide support for Microsoft Outlook Express, Microsoft Outlook, Windows Mail and Mozilla Thunderbird. Email configuration instructions for those programs can be found here. (hide)
- Does your service support VoIP (Voice over IP)?
- Yes. Our system fully supports voice over IP however, VoIP uses the internet which is a "best effort" service. Quality of VoIP calls may vary. (hide)
- Does your service support Linux?
- Yes. Our system fully supports all networking devices and operating systems, however our staff will only support Windows and Mac. (hide)
- Does your service provide any firewalling, antivirus or content filtering?
- Yes. SecureIT is available for $4.95/mo. Email accounts provided by RRT are automatically subscribed to our Red Condor SPAM filtering service at no additional charge. (hide)
Billing FAQs
- What kind of taxes and fees can I expect on my bill?
- The only taxes you might see (depending on your state) would be standard sales tax. There are no hidden costs associated with our service. (hide)
- Where do I send payment?
- You can send payment to:
Red River Telephone
P.O. Box 136
Abercrombie, ND 58001 (hide)
- Am I prebilled or billed as I go?
- We prebill one month in advance. (hide)
- Can I pay in advance?
- Red River Telephone also offers an annual pre-payment option. (hide)
- What's this about a contract?
- In order to provide you the wireless equipment at reasonable rates, we require you sign a 2-year agreement. A $150.00 early termination will apply if you cancel your service before your contract end date. (hide)
- What are my payment options?
- Red River Telephone offers several billing options for your convenience. You can pay your monthly service charges by check, credit card, or automatic withdraw from your bank account. Your first billing will contain information on billing options as well as other required information to ensure your account privacy. (hide)
Other FAQs
- Where is your main office located?
- Our office is at 510 Broadway in Abercrombie, ND. (hide)
- What are your business hours?
- Our office hours are 7:30AM-4:30PM Monday through Friday. We are closed on holidays. (hide)
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