Fixed Wireless FAQ
What is the difference between Fixed Wireless and Satellite Internet?
Fixed wireless internet is the operation of wireless devices or systems used to connect two fixed locations with a radio or other wireless link. A signal is transmitted from a tower or access point less than 10 miles to the receiving structure.
Satellite internet is the ability to transmit and receive data from a satellite dish which communicates with an orbiting satellite above the earth’s equator.
Essentially Fixed Wireless is an internet connection to a localized tower site, and satellite internet is a connection to a satellite much further away in Earth’s orbit.
What is the POE or POE Brick?
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology for implementing wired Ethernet local area networks (LANs) that enables the electrical current necessary for operating each device to be carried by Ethernet data cables instead of standard electrical power cords and wiring. This allows for a single ethernet cable to provide electrical power and data to a device, therefore eliminating the need for a second wire to provide power.
With Fixed Wireless, POE is generally provided through a small “brick” that is roughly 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. It has a power cord in, and two ethernet ports. The POE brick is usually white in color but can also be black.
Why does my connection keep dropping?
There are a few different variables that can cause issues with your internet connection. Please reference the following troubleshooting steps to attempt to resolve your issue:
Ensure all of your connections are securely connected.
Reboot your computer.
Check to see that all cords are connected in securely and tightly. The cable from the POE port connects to the CPE (dish) on the outside of your premises. The cable from the LAN port connects to the router’s WAN Ethernet port.
Unplug the POE adapter from the surge protector. Leave unplugged for 1 minute.
Plug the POE back into the surge protector, and check to see if your internet connection has been reestablished.
If you are still experiencing connection issues, ensure your computer is not performing updates or background processes while you are performing these troubleshooting steps. Ensure there is a singular solid white, blue, or green light on the POE when plugged in. If there is a red light on the POE or the POE light is off, ensure the power outlet/surge protector it is plugged into is not failing. If power outlet/surge protector is working properly, and there are still Internet connection issues, after the above completed steps, contact Technical Support at 877-745-4646 or report a service issue via SmartHub.
Why can’t I get Fixed Wireless Internet service?
With fixed wireless internet, eligibility is strictly a case-by-case scenario because of the method this form of internet gets to your location. Unlike line-provided forms of internet, such as DSL & Fiber, fixed wireless internet needs a clear line of sight to the tower or Access Point (AP). There are situations when one location can receive reliable internet service, but the signal to a different location - such as a neighbor - cannot because of an obstruction in the line of sight or the Fresnel zone (the ellipsoid shape surrounding the line of sight line) from the tower/AP to the customer location.
During an initial site-survey, one of our technicians will determine if there is good line of site to the tower/AP location, or if there is Fresnel zone interference. If there is Freznel interference, then “no line of site” is determined. Our technicians will also notate the time they did the survey in question, as sometimes, a fixed wireless site survey may be good in the Fall\Winter with no foliage, but during Spring\Summer, the connection may suffer.