Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
I want to add a wireless router in my house for my laptop. Do
I need to contact Frontier?
A: YES! When you add a router,
your configuration changes significantly, and if you don't let us know
you have added one, your internet connection may not work properly.
Q:
What is 'wireless broadband'
A: In general, broadband refers
to telecommunication in which a wide band of frequencies are available
to transmit information. Because a wide band of frequencies are available,
information can be multiplexed and sent on many different frequencies
or channels within the band concurrently, allowing more information
to be transmitted in a given amount of time (much as more lanes on a
highway allow more cars to travel on it at the same time). 'Wireless'
is the method of signal delivery. Our coverage area is bound by line
of site, not hardwired city blocks such as cable or DSL.
Q:
What kind of speed can I expect?
A: We have tiered pricing based
on your needs. Our basic speed is 384kbps. Dialup speeds range anywhere
from 28.8 kbps to 56kbps (for information on what 'bps' is see the FAQ
describing 'bps'). So, as one could see, it is many times faster than
dialup.
Q:
My browser is only showing 48k in the browser when downloading,
I thought I would be getting 384k!?
A: Which brings us to defining
speed on the internet... Speed on the internet is measured by 'bps'
or 'bits per second', your browser is reporting in 'bytes', it takes
8 'bits' to make a 'byte' so 384000 / 8 = 48000 (or 48k or 48 'kilobytes').
So your actual speed is 384kbps.
For further historical reference, a 'T1' line is common for some businesses
to buy for internet connectivity. T1 lines are generally too expensive
(we have many T1's) for the layman to pay for on a monthly basis, the
T1 has a rate of 1.4kbps or 1,400,000 bits per second, this actually
equates to an actual data movement rate (providing you are the only
one using the T1) of 175kb (175000 bytes per second). So your browser
only reflects bytes not bits per second.