A. Dial-up operates at 56 kbps. extend^SM operates from 384 kbps to more than 1,500 kbps depending on the service plan subscribed to, a performance improvement of 5 to 25 times better than dial-up. extend^SM service is 'always on' so you don't need to re-establish your connection each time you want to use it. extend^SM does not require any phone lines.

A. Unlike DSL or cable, extend^SM does not depend on the availability of legacy telephone or cable TV infrastructure. This enables extend^SM to reach those neighborhoods where DSL and cable providers are unable or unwilling to go. The extend^SM service plans offer performance comparable to DSL and Cable Modem, but with some important differences.

• extend^SM offers better upload speeds than comparably priced DSL or cable service.
• extend^SM offers quick installation- often in a matter of days, not weeks or months.
  
  

A. extend^SM wireless broadband is sometimes confused with satellite because they are both forms of wireless communication. The difference is that extend^SM is a terrestrial microwave system that uses short-range wireless links. The latency on these short-range links is comparable to wired links like DSL and cable service so the performance remains high. Satellite links have a large propagation delay due the roughly 23,000-mile (or greater) distance to geosynchronous satellites. This latency imposes a huge performance penalty on two-way interactive applications, regardless of bandwidth speed. For this reason satellite should only be considered as a last resort for Internet service.

A. 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 your network. However, just changing a couple settings can make the network very secure. extend^SM is not Wi-Fi.

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

1. 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.

2. Authentication. No Motorola radio can communicate with our tower radios without first having its MAC address (or Electronic Serial Number) authenticated against our list of valid radios.

3. 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 systems. As an example, it would probably be easier to tap into your phone line outside your home than hack through the encryption.

A. No. 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.

A. One antenna we use within a 2 mile range of an Access Point is approximately 11.5" tall x 3.5" wide and weighs less than 1 pound. To extend out to 10 miles a small elliptical reflector is added that measures approximately 18"x24". Another antenna option measures approximately 20" tall and 12" wide.

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.

A. No. The technology used by Pixius 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 (Access Point- not the subscriber unit). 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, such as the top of towers and high rise roof tops with controlled access.

A. Your PC must have a 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC). We do not provide this or load any software onto your computer. All your PC needs is TCP/IP software and a web browser. Windows 95 or newer and MAC OS 8.5 or greater include TCP/IP and a browser.

A. Yes, extend^SM is capable of providing broadband service for multiple computers.

A. A small antenna is installed 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 and pictures of representative equipment.

A. If your location is within range of one of our Access Points we can usually install within a week.

A. No, Pixius is a full service ISP. We provide IP addresses, email accounts, and storage space as part of our service plans.

A. Yes. At last check, AOL offers a 'Bring Your Own Access' service. Contact AOL directly for information on this service.

A. The Pixius provided router is an administrative demarcation point between the Pixius network and the customer's. It is not to be considered a firewall. extend^SM wireless broadband is an "always on" service and therefore it is recommended that you install and maintain a firewall. The firewall helps prevent unwanted and often times unknown attempts to access your computer. This is a normal situation that Pixius has no control over. Please consider installing a firewall to protect yourself. Many quality products are commercially available, easy to install and free or at reasonable prices.