|
General
Speed
Always
On
One
line
Contacts
and Costs
Technical
What
is DSL technology and how does it affect my phone service?
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology provides high-speed Internet
access by converting your existing analog phone line into a high-speed
digital phone line.
Quadro
Communications High Speed Internet service uses a DSL high speed modem
- enabling simultaneous transmission of voice and data over your existing
phone line. DSL does not 'tie up' your phone line, so you may phone
or fax while still being able to use the Internet. Anything that you can
normally do on your phone line can still be done while connected to your
high speed Internet, since it does not interfere with any calling services
or normal voice/data communications.
What
are the benefits of High Speed Internet Service?
Speed - You will be able to better enjoy the rich
multi-media content that is available on the Internet. DSL technology
allows you to surf the Internet and download files to your computer with
amazing speed. You'll be able to play networked games faster than before
- and streaming audio and video are becoming popular applications for
use with DSL Internet service.
How
fast is Quadro's High Speed Internet Service?
DSL downloads at speeds up to 50 times faster than standard (56 Kbps)
modems. Of course, the speed performance that you will experience at
any time is dependent on other Internet factors such as congestion,
especially for those very popular, very busy sites.
How
does Quadro Communications High Speed Internet Service compare with
cable modems?
Quadro Communications DSL service provides an always available high
speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line. Cable
modems offer high speed Internet access over a shared cable television
line. While cable modems may have greater theoretical downstream (from
the Internet to the home) bandwidth capabilities, that bandwidth is
shared among all users in a neighbourhood, and will therefore vary,
perhaps dramatically, as more users in a neighbourhood get online at
the same time. Upstream traffic (from the customer premise to the Internet)
over cable modems will in many cases be slower than DSL, either because
the particular cable modem is inherently slower, or because too many
people in a neighbourhood are trying to send or receive data at the
same time - causing congestion in the local cable network.
Always on - Unlike dial-up connections required
for analog modems, your DSL connection can be turned on almost instantly.
Since DSL is always available, there are no more busy signals and no more
waiting for the connection to happen - it's there at the click of your
mouse. If you do turn your PC off (or terminate your DSL connection),
it's quick and easy to log on - no more long waits as your analog modem
establishes its connection.
Is
an "always on" connection safe?
"Always on" DSL connections can be connected and disconnected
at the simple click of a mouse - this makes it easy to take your computer
off the Internet so hackers won't be able to find you. Additionally,
Quadro Communications DSL uses a dynamic IP address, which means that
every time access the Internet, you get a new "identity" on
the network. That makes it harder for hackers to find you on the Internet
- and it improves your security.
One
line - Another benefit is that DSL uses your existing telephone line
- you can actually talk on your phone line at the same time you're using
the Internet.
What
is included in Quadro Communications High Speed Internet Service?
* High Speed equipment - Modem, power supply, telephone filters and various
connecting cables
* One free email address for businesses and up to 5 email addresses for
residential customers
* 5 free dial-up internet hours each month
* Unlimited always-on Internet access; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
* Free technical support
* Installation Guide
* One dynamic IP address
What
are the requirements of my computer?
Your computer should be equipped at a minimum with a Pentium II processor,
128MB of RAM, 10 Base-T or 10/100 Base-T Ethernet card and a web browser.
Additionally, we strongly recommend you use a surge protector which protects
from surges through both hydro and phone lines. We sell Panamax Surge
Protectors for $45 which insure your equipment for up to $50,000. You
are responsible for the modem while it is in your care. If the modem is
damaged by an electrical surge, you will be responsible for replacement
cost (currently $100).
If
my DSL modem loses power, do I lose phone service?
No. A DSL modem is designed so that your normal telephone service will
operate even if the modem is unplugged or otherwise disabled.
Is
the High Speed DSL modem a fax modem? Can I send and receive faxes with
it?
The DSL modem is not equipped with faxing capabilities. You will need
to use your regular dial-up fax modem to send or receive faxes through
your computer.
Contacts
and Costs
How
do I contact Quadro Communications about High Speed Internet Service?
For
more information about our High Speed Internet Service, you may contact
us by telephone at (519) 229-8020 or 1-866-292-3332 or email us at info@quadro.net.
To
sign up for High Speed Internet, you will need to visit us at one of our
offices:
1845 Rd 164, Kirkton, Ontario
or
1-485 James St. S., St. Marys, Ontario
Our
business office hours are: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Internet Telephone Support hours
are: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 10:00pm and Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm.
How
much does Quadro Communications High Speed Internet cost?
The cost is $35.00 per month in addition
to your local phone service. There are NO
installation charges and NO hidden costs,
the modem rental and phone filters are included in your monthly charge.
Technical
What
is an Network Interface Card (NIC) and why do I need it?
A NIC provides a standardized way of connecting computers together to
create a network. The DSL technology far exceeds the speed limits of standard
serial/parallel connections now built-in most PCs. The serial and parallel
connections on PCs were created to enable communications between lower
speed devices and are typically limited to approximately 56Kbps. With
connections of up to 3 Mbps/s, a new method of connection is required
to establish the link between the PC and the DSL high-speed modem. The
technology of choice is Ethernet which is more than capable of sustaining
the traffic volume to and from the DSL high-speed modem.
*Quadro
is now offering 10/100Base-T Ethernet PCI cards for only $15.00. We also
have an easy to install USB version of the Network Interface Card for
only $25.00.
How
do I know if my PC is already equipped with an Network Interface Card?
There are two ways of determining the presence of an NIC.
1. Look for the MY COMPUTER icon your desktop. Right click on this icon,
and select PROPERTIES from the menu. Next click on HARDWARE, DEVICE MANAGER
and select NETWORK ADAPTERS from that menu. If you have the designation
that says Ether Link ISA or PCI or PCMIA, Ether card or makes reference
to an Network Interface Card name (e.g., 3Com, D-Link etc.), then a card
is installed in your PC.
2. Go to the bottom left of your desktop. Left-click on START. Select
SETTINGS and you will get a side menu. Click on CONTROL PANEL. Double-click
on NETWORK and check for any reference to Ether Link ISA or PCI or PCMIA,
Ether card or a Network Interface Card name (e.g. 3Com, D-Link etc.).
If you find such a reference, then an NIC is installed in your PC
How
difficult is the Network Interface Card installation?
Installation of Network Interface Cards in the majority of PCs is straightforward.
The physical installation is similar to that of any other PC expansion
card, such as video and sound cards. All of the configuration details
are controlled through software. In a properly configured PC with an available
slot, the NIC installation and software configuration should not take
more than 20 to 30 minutes.
What
type of Network Interface Card should I choose (ISA, PCI, or PCMCIA)?
PCMCIA is a card for PC laptop. If you have a PC laptop with no built-in
Ethernet port, this is the one to install. PCI and ISA are two different
types of internal buses that can be used for connecting NIC in desktop
PC models. They will both work well with your High Speed Internet service,
however, the PCI card is a more recent type of card than the ISA. If you
have the choice and you have a PCI slot free in your computer, we recommend
that you install a PCI card.
How
easy is it to install the DSL modem?
Most customers find the installation of the DSL modem quite easy. There
are three cable connections that need to be made:
* Connect the power supply
* Connect a cable from a telephone jack to the DSL modem
* Connect a cable from the DSL modem to the Network Interface Card in
the computer
A detailed instruction manual is included in the High Speed Internet modem
package.
You will
also be supplied with filters for each phone extension on the line. The
DSL technology causes a 'noise' on the line to enable the modem to work.
The filters will remove the noise for each of your phone sets.
What
is an IP address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address (also called an IP number) is a number
(typically written as four numbers separated by periods, i.e. 107.4.1.3),
which uniquely identifies a computer that is making use of the Internet.
The IP address is used by the Internet to direct data to your computer,
e.g. the data your web browser retrieves when you surf the Internet.
What is a dynamic IP address?
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 s/he logs onto the Internet.
What
is a static IP address?
This is an IP address that is the same every time a user logs on to the
Internet. So it enables a user to "host" a website or some other
type of server connection (for example, an email server), since other
Internet users will always know the identity of the hosting computer and
will be able to connect to it.
What
is MAC address?
It stands for Media Access Control and is a unique address associated
with an Ethernet card. The MAC address is transmitted as part of the header
of all data packets sent from any computer on the network.
|
