WiFi Hotspot - What and Where is it?
How a Wi-Fi works
A Wi-Fi Hot Spot is the opposite of a Cellular Dead Spot. The technology serves users who are physically close to an antenna, and generally are located inside buildings or homes. They provide temporary Internet connectivity and they may be eithere secure or insecure, or free or fee, depending on the operator who sets up this service. "Unwired Village" is an example of a service model used in several areas, including Falmouth. That service is free to the users. There are others who provide Wi-Fi, including Falmouth Wireless. Wi-Fi's greatest drawbacks is that it is food for 100'-200' and cannot sustain any more than 3-5 users with bandwidth dropping off as more users come on line.
How does a Wi-Fi Hot Spot work? For those who have a laptop Wi-Fi is usually included. Assuming you are using Microsoft Windows, there will be a scan for WiFi networks, and "falmouthwireless.com" may appear. It indicates it is an "unsecured connection". Please beware you are on a shared connection just like any other Wi-Fi hotspot. A splash screen will show, and you can use the service by calling 617-934-0354 to get a login and password. This method is preferred because you get enhanced security. In other cases you will see "secured wireless network", meaning it is a private network used in a home or other situation. You will not connect to these networks because they require a security code.
Falmouth Wireless has been asked: "Where is your Wi-Fi service"? The answer is: Falmouth Inner Harbor. The antenna is located about 1 block from the harbor master building.
Falmouth Wireless also has designed the Falmouth Public Library that uses 12 Access Points. Additionaly, the Steamship Authority has the system at Woods Hole, Hyannis, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, Hyannis, and Nantucket terminals an inside all the vessels that travel Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds.
An outdoor Wi-Fi hotspot is limited in range, usually a few hundred feet, and it is intended for the occassional eMail or web surfing to find points of interest. For people who download videos and massively take over the hot spot, the choice is to get our professional class service. In case of an emergency in Falmouth, the bandwidth is directed to the use of the Muncipality, federal, and state entities and we go on emergency power.
What is the range? The Falmouth Wireless antenna is high, so you can generally hear it 1/4 mile away with a laptop, and farther if you are on a high spot without obstructions. If you use a laptop, we may hear you, but connection may be more difficult. The range for a Wi-Fi hotspot is generally within 300 feet.
Why it may run slow. If you are the only user, it will run fairly quickly. As more users access the Hot Spot, connecting is made more difficult. All users have to hear each other. So if you are 300 feet to the west, and another user is 300 feet to the east, the Hot Spot gets confused. The solution is to move closer to the Hot Spot antenna. Even then, if there are several users, they all compete for bandwidth, and thus the slow response time. You overcome the problem by using an outdoor antenna. As a vacationer to Cape Cod and the Islands, Hot Spots provide some connectivity, but not like paid service you may be using at home.
Are there other Hot Spots? Yes, and one such Hot Spot is found as the "Unwired Village". That is a different setup, and not affiliated with Falmouth Wireless. If out of range of Falmouth Wireless, then that may be an opportunity to use a convenient method.
What are other alternatives? There are "paid WiFi Hot Spots", usually found in hotels and other establishments. They charge a fee. If you have that service you may use that convenience. There are also a lot of other Hot Spots, unsecured, that may be in people's homes. One should exercise caution. Others have secured Hot Spots, mainly to keep people away from "hacking".
Does Falmouth Wireless have secure, and reliable service? Our specialty is providing "professional class Internet". The connection is an 18 Mbps circuit, making this an extremely desired service. This is a new choice for our users who want to have more choice. Falmouth Wireless uses Wifibernet. This requires you to purchase an integrated antenna, modem, router and point it at a nearby transmitter site. This is the ultimate in reliable, security, and broadband performance. Several plans can be chosen. There is a residential plan if you are affilitaed with a business that has our service. Take a moment to review this web site for a lot of useful information.
Call Peter Butler at 508-299-1404 to request more information about our paid and free services.