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Frequently Asked Questions

What equipment do I need to get the service?
Each customer will need to purchase (at our cost) a Subscriber Unit (SU), which is the receiving radio that will be installed on the outside of your home or office.

Can I install my own system?
Due to the complexity of the system, wiring and programming, we do not allow self-installation. We do a custom install at each site to insure the best quality of service.

What does the installation fee cover?
Our basic installation fee of $150.00 includes connecting you to the Internet with the most direct route from the SU to one computer or router in your home/office. It includes SU mounting hardware and up to 100’ of shielded Cat5 cable. 

Can I connect more than one computer?
Absolutely! If you purchase a router from SDWISP at the time of installation, we will configure it and secure your wireless network for sharing in your home or office at no extra labor charge.

Are there any cancellation fees?
No, and we offer a 30 Day Unconditional Money Back Guarantee. If in the first 30 days you are not completely satisfied with the performance of the service, we will give a full refund on the equipment (must be in original condition) and any monthly service fees.

Is there a monthly plan?
Yes, however the plan will be $10 more and requires a credit card on file for autopay.

Do I get an email account?
SDWISP does not host email. We recommend that you choose from one of the many free email services available from companies such as Gmail.com, Yahoo.com, or Hotmail.com.

Can I share my wireless connection with neighbors?
No. For security reasons, sharing your service with anyone not located on your property is a direct violation of our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and is just plain bad for business.

Do I need line-of-sight to receive a signal from your radios?
Typically, yes. However, each house is unique and in certain circumstances can be connected with near line-of-sight. This can be determined with a no cost site survey.

Can I play online games?
Yes. SDWISP users are very happy with our ping time of less than 100 milliseconds. However, we are a shared community network and we can’t guarantee the quality for gaming in the remote back country.

Can I make Zoom calls or Wifi calling
Absolutely, yes! Many of our users have VOIP phone service since it is very cost effective.
*Even though all our sites have large battery backups, SDWISP is reliant on commercial power. SDWISP recommends customers have a land line to insure emergency communication and to receive Reverse 911 calls.

Is the service affected by weather?
Our service is typically not affected by weather unless under extreme weather conditions. Users may notice slower speeds or shortages during very heavy rain or snowstorms.

What if the power is out?
The SDWISP network is reliant on the power grid. All of our sites have very large battery backups for extended power outages.  It is possible that users may not have internet service if there is no power on the grid. We are happy to report that we have 99% up time.

What exactly is fixed wireless broadband?
"Fixed" means a permanently mounted antenna is required. "Wireless" means what it implies - no wires. The connection between the subscriber and SDWISPs network occurs wirelessly through the air.

Is SDWISP satellite?
Not even close. It is a common misconception that wireless means satellite. Our low power wireless radios send and receive data through the air from our ground stations. Our wireless signals stay here on earth and have very low latency compared to satellite technology.

How is SDWISP and satellite different?
It is important for a consumer to understand latency. Latency is the time it takes for requested information from your computer to get to the server and return the requested information back to you. Because SDWISP is tied to a local fiber optic connection, our network is REALLY quick. With satellite, simply put, the signal has to travel very long distances from earth to a geo satellite, to a ground station, and then back to the user. This results in poor web browsing performance and lousy VOIP connections. 

Is it Secure?
SDWISP wireless security is secured with the latest military grade encryption. We do not apply any content filtering. 

How does SDWISP compare to cellular data networks?
In the back country where there is limited cellar service, Fixed Wireless is faster and more reliable overall. The further you are from the cell tower, the lower the performance. With fixed wireless, the speed paid for is the speed delivered. Our system is over-engineered to ensure high quality, consistent performance.

Are the radio waves from your equipment safe?
Our subscriber and repeater equipment transmit at very low RF power levels. All of our equipment is FCC Part 15 Class A certified, meaning that they're certified safe for indoor use per UL and FCC testing.

Do I own the equipment?
Yes. The Subscriber Unit you purchase (at cost) at installation belongs to you, so you do not pay a monthly rental charge. If at any time you no longer need our services, there will be no need to return any of your equipment.

Do I need any sort of special software?
No. Our service does not require any special software. Our service will work with any computer system that understands standard TCP/IP networking protocols, including Windows, Macintosh, and Linux, as well as video game consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii.

What if I have cable in my house already?
Our connection requires a single shield CAT5 cable from the SU into the house. Satellite or TV coaxial cable will not work for our connection.

Do I need a working computer at the time of install?
We request that you have all devices you wish to connect to the SDWISP network available and powered up so that we can insure all your connection needs are met. If you’re not able to have a working computer on site the installer will show you with their computer that service is up and running to complete his install obligation. Return visits to connect devices may be arranged and will be charged at the installer’s hourly rate.

My life is dependent on internet service!
Ours to! If your need for internet is more urgent than the average user, we highly recommend that you have a backup way to access the Internet. The owner of SDWISP carries 2 data air time cards in the unusual event that he will need to work on his day off.

What are my minimum computer system requirements?
Most computers in use today will meet our minimum system requirements. An Ethernet port or Wi-Fi card is necessary and anti-virus/spyware software is required!

Referral program
We love it when our customers enjoy our service and tell their friends and neighbors.  Existing customers receive a free month of service when a new customer they refer signs up.