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MEGANET FAQs

1. What is Plateau's Meganet High Speed Internet Service?

Plateau Meganet is high speed Internet access using wireless technology. Data rates from 128k for the Nickel plan up to 1.5m for the Platinum plan may be achieved using this service. High speed Internet service may be used for Internet access, video conferencing, and work at home applications. Plateau's Meganet service is provided using two types of technologies: Licensed MMDS spectrum is used for customers on the lower bandwidth plans like the Nickel and Bronze plans and 5.8 spectrum for customers on the higher bandwidth plans like the Silver, Gold or Platinum. (Eventually, MMDS will be available for all price plans). The MMDS equipment consists of a broadband wireless access modem that is installed by the customer at the customer premise. The 5.8 installation consists of an unobtrusive external antenna mounted at the customer premise using a bracket, non penetrating mounting device or pole attachment, depending upon the application. The customer antenna is pointed to a central base station antenna mounted on a tower. CAT 5 cable is run from the customer antenna to a wall jack near the customer's computer or computer room, dependant upon the customer requirements. Plateau's Meganet service can provide symmetrical (same speed upstream and downstream) transmission of data of up to 1.5Mbps downstream (from the Internet) and upstream (to the Internet), depending upon distance from the base station antenna, RF propagation, signal strength, and other factors.

2. Where is Plateau's Meganet service offered?

Plateau offers its Meganet service in the cities of Clovis and Tucumcari, New Mexico only. The service will be available soon in Roswell, Artesia and Carlsbad, New Mexico. Certain physical conditions may affect the ability to receive service. Distance from the customer premise site to the base station antenna, RF propagation, trees, buildings or other objects in the line of site may affect whether or not your home or business can receive the service. Plateau has taken considerable measures in order to provide access to as many customers as possible.

3. How Does Plateau's Meganet service compare to other types of Internet Services?

• Regular Dial-up Service (Average time to download a 3.75Mb video clip (min:sec)):
  • 14.4 Kbps dial up modem: 35:53
  • 28.8 Kbps dial up modem: 17:47
  • 33.6 Kbps dial up modem: 15:14
  • 56 Kbps dial up modem: 09:09
  • 1.5 Mbps DSL modem: 00:20
    
• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

  DSL is a technology that uses existing copper wiring in the customer premise to offer high speed data connections. Most DSL data rates are similar to those offered by Plateau's Meganet service using wireless technology.

• Cable Modem

  Plateau's Meganet service offers lightning fast speeds of up to 1.5Mbps, depending on plan type. Plateau's High Speed Internet connection allows you to transfer important files with the peace of mind that comes with having a dedicated connection. Overall, Plateau believes that its High Speed Internet connection is the optimum choice for your high speed Internet connection.

4. Does Plateau's Meganet connection affect my existing phone line?

Absolutely not. Plateau's Meganet Internet access uses separate wiring to connect your computer or other device to the Internet and does not affect your telephone line at all.

5. Does Plateau's High Speed Internet service affect my current dial-up Internet service to Plateau?

Your current dial-up service to Plateau Internet or other ISP will work. When you change to Plateau's Meganet service, you can keep your existing dial-up plan at an additional charge, if you wish.

6. Why does the customer premise have to be within a certain distance of the base station antenna?

As with any wireless technology, distance from the customer premise antenna and the base station antenna must be within reasonable distances in order to maintain a quality signal strength. However, just because your home or business may be on the edge of the service area does not mean that service will be negatively affected. Plateau's Meganet service will work at a high level of service even if the customer premise may be on the edge of coverage. However, if the customer premise is outside of the service area, the quality of service decreases dramatically.

7. What do the terms RF and Propagation mean?

• RF stands for Radio Frequency. RF is electromagnetic waves operating between 10 kHz and 3 MHz propagated without guide (wire or cable) in free space.
• Propagation is the time required for an electrical wave to travel between two points over a transmission circuit.

8. What equipment do I need?

• Network Interface Card (NIC). This piece of equipment can be purchased at most any store that handles computers or electronic devices. Plateau's Meganet customers are responsible for having the NIC installed. The NIC is required in order to connect the CAT 5 Ethernet connection coming from the wall jack to the computer. Most Network Interface Cards can be purchased for under $20. Customers will be required to have a NIC installed at the time the service is installed. If the NIC is not installed when the technician completes the installation, the customer will be required to connect their computer to the power unit. Plateau will provide free technical support for customers who need help in setting up their computer at this point.
• Antenna. Customers will require the installation of an antenna on their home or business. Plateau technicians will provide and mount the antenna on the customer premise and ownership of the antenna will remain with Plateau. Customers who rent or lease property may be required to obtain written permission of the landlord or property owner before Plateau can install the equipment at the premise.
• Router with NAT plus an IP network: Customers who have multiple computers will require a router capable of NAT (Network Address Translation) plus an IP network.

9. What is the minimum equipment (computer) standard?

• Windows: Version Windows 95 or higher, one PCI port available, 16Mb of RAM, 40Mb available on hard disk, CD-ROM or 3.5" 1.44Mb floppy, 486 DX2 66 or higher, Network Interface Card (NIC),. The minimum hardware recommended by Microsoft can be obtained at the following link:
  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q304297* .
  
• Macintosh: OS 7.0 or higher, 68030 processor, 16Mb of RAM, 40Mb available on hard disk, Network Interface Card (NIC).

  Plateau Telecommunications cannot guarantee that service will be compatible with all computer system configurations.

10. What is a standard installation?

• MMDS technology: This technology is used for the Nickel and Bronze plans. This technology is easy to install and is designed to be installed by the customer. A wireless broadband access modem is given to the customer and should be mounted in a location at the customer premise that offers adequate signal strength. The modem is attached to the Network Interface Card in the customer's computer using the CAT 5 cable provided with the modem. Any customer requiring professional installation will be charged $48 per hour.
  
• 5.8 technology: This technology is used for the Silver, Gold and Platinum plans. A standard installation is defined as 150 feet of cable, standard antenna mount, line of sight to the base station antenna that is within six miles and adequate signal strength. Plateau will also run the cable in any inside wall but will not "fish" an outside wall and will be considered a non-standard installation. Any customer requiring a non standard installation may incur additional charges. Plateau reserves the right to refuse to complete a non standard installation.
  

11. What are the speed capabilities of Plateau's Meganet Internet service?

The connect rates are up to 1.5Mbps downstream and upstream, dependant upon the plan that is purchased. Because of technical factors beyond our control, speed rates cannot be guaranteed.

12. Why does Plateau not guarantee the speed at which I am connected?

There are several factors outside of the control of the service provider which prohibits Plateau from guaranteeing the rates at which customers connect. These may include, but are not limited to, the distance from the customer premise antenna and the base station antenna, amount of traffic on the upstream server or web site and the Internet backbone itself.

13. What are some of the reasons a customer does not qualify for service?

• The customer premise is outside of the service area. Plateau's service area covers up to six (6) miles from the base station antenna.
  
• Obstacles between the customer premise antenna and the base station antenna such as trees, buildings, or other obstructions can hinder the line of site necessary to establish a connection. For 5.8 technology (Silver, Gold and Platinum plans), a constant, clear line of site between the customer antenna and the base station antenna must be maintained. For MMDS (Nickel and Bronze plans), line of sight is not necessary; however, certain obstacle like too many obstacles, metal structures and walls with metal inside of them like stucco walls or walls with metal studs may hinder the signal strength of this service. This service acts very much like cellular service.

14. What is included with Plateau's Meganet Service?

Plateau's Meganet service includes the customer premise equipment, unlimited use, always-on, high speed access to the Internet with up to five free email addresses and a public, dynamic IP address.

15. What is not included with Plateau's Meganet Service?

Plateau does not provide the network interface card for your computer or network equipment for your IP network, but one may be purchased at any Plateau retail outlet and at most stores that handle computers or electronics.

16. What is an IP Address?

An IP address is an Internet Protocol address and may be thought of as an "Internet Phone Number". Everyone who uses the Internet needs an IP address; the only question is which type of address to I need??

17. What is a Static IP Address and Do I Need One?

A Static IP address is one that remains the same every time a user logs on to the Internet and is generally public. Because it is a "fixed" address, it is easier for other Internet users to locate and connect to the hosting computer. It enables a user to "host" a web site, or other type of server connection (e.g., an email or FTP server). This type of addressing is only available to Plateau High Speed Internet customers at an additional cost and subject to Plateau Internet Terms and Conditions.

18. What is a Dynamic IP and can I get one?

This is an IP address that enables a computer to be identified on the Internet while the user is on-line. A dynamic IP address is one that is temporarily assigned to a user from a pool of IP addresses from a centrally administered server. The user has a different IP address each time the user logs on to the Internet or after a period of time a user is logged on, also called a lease period. Plateau uses this type of IP addressing for its High Speed and dial-up Internet customers.

19. Can I talk to a "live" person regarding this service?

Absolutely! Plateau's friendly Customer Service Representatives or Technical Support Staff can be reached toll free at 1-800-432-2369 or in the Clovis area at (505) 769-1823.