|
|
|
Lightning Jack High Speed Internet - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lightning Jack?
How does Lightning Jack work?
How fast is it?
Do I need a second phone line for Lightning Jack over DSL?
Is an “always available” connection secure?
Are there any limitations?
Will Lightning Jack work with my company network?
What is a dynamic IP address?
How does the ordering process work?
Minimum System Requirements for Lightning Jack.
Glossary
- What is Lightning Jack?
- Lightning Jack High-Speed Internet is Nex-Tech's broadband Internet service. We provide Lightning Jack in many types including DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), Cable Modem (Over your cable television connection), and Fixed Wireless (Wireless to your home). Lightning Jack is an always-available high-speed Internet connection. Lightning Jack is billed per month, for a fixed price, with unlimited Internet usage. The key advantage of Lightning Jack over a dial-up modem is SPEED. For small businesses, Lightning Jack is a great way to save money compared to pay-per-minute ISDN data or expensive T-1 lines.
Lightning Jack High-Speed INternet provides instant Internet and network access at speeds up to 200 times faster than a 28.8 Kbps modem on a standard analog phone line. There are no dial-up delays and no busy signals. What used to take minutes or hours to download will take just seconds or minutes. With Lightning Jack High-Speed Internet service you can download graphic-heavy files, large documents, music, software, photos, email attachments and more — instantly. It’s perfect for real-time, interactive multimedia, broadcast quality video, distance learning and video-on-demand. Because Lightning Jack sends data and voice over the same line, you can talk on the phone while you connect.
Lightning Jack technology allows you to surf the Internet, connect to your corporate network and download files to your computer with amazing speed. You’ll be able to play online computer games faster than before — and streaming audio and video are becoming popular applications for use with Lightning Jack.
Unlike the dial-up connections required for analog modems, Lightning Jack High-Speed Internet can be turned on almost instantly. Since Lightning Jack is always available, there are no more busy signals and there is no more waiting for the connection to happen — it’s there at the click of your mouse.
- How does Lightning Jack work?
- DSL is a modem technology that transforms ordinary phone lines into high-speed digital lines for ultra-fast Internet access. DSL modems use digital coding techniques to squeeze up to 99% more capacity out of a phone line without interfering with your regular phone services. You are then able to talk on the phone or send a fax while browsing the Internet on the same line.
-
- Cable Modem connections utilize open channels in the RF frequency of your cable television signal to provide high speed Internet to your home or business. You won't need a separate cable connection to enjoy Lightning Jack over a cable modem.
-
- Fixed Wireless allows you to receive Lightning Jack over the air using unlicensed RF frequencies. The technology that Nex-Tech uses works great through all types of weather but does require line of site (LOS) for a successful installation.
- How fast is it?
- Connection speeds for Lightning Jack typically range from 256 Kbps to 6 Mbps downstream and 256 Kbps upstream.
Note: Service and speed options not available in some areas. Minimum connection speed is guaranteed between customer location and DSL gateway. Connection speeds may be higher under optimal conditions. Actual data transfer, or throughput, may be lower than sync-rate due to Internet congestion, server or router speeds, protocol overheads and other factors that cannot be controlled by Nex-Tech.
- Do I need a second phone line for Lightning Jack over DSL?
- DSL does not interfere with your existing phone service. Using a DSL connection makes it possible to receive and make calls while on the Internet. With no obligation, Nex-Tech will have the phone company test your telephone line to see if it has the capacity to handle DSL before you commit to using DSL.
- Is an “always available” connection secure?
- "Always available" Lightning Jack connections can be connected and disconnected at the simple click of a mouse - so this makes it easy to take your computer off the Internet so hackers won’t be able to find you. Additionally, basic Lightning Jack uses a dynamic IP address, which means every time you log onto 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. With all of that being said, we still recommend you use a firewall to protect your pc or network. You should also have anti-virus software on your computer. If you would like complete PC protection, Nex-Tech provides Lighting Jack SecureIT.
- Are there any limitations?
- DSL is limited in a couple of ways. First, the actual speed you receive, and even your ability to subscribe to DSL, depends on your location in relation to the DSL gateway. Nex-Tech is co-locating services for the DSL gateway and is leasing the copper lines to transmit DSL. You must live within a three mile radius in order to get DSL. Second, connection speeds are directly related to your distance from the DSL gateway. Limits within this system affect Nex-Tech’s ability to offer DSL to you.
-
Cable modem connections are only limited if you don't have cable (coax) facilities at your location.
-
Fixed wireless is limited by distance and line of site (LOS). Depending on the community and the technology used we can cover up to a 14 mile radius from the tower. You will also need clear LOS for the wireless signal to work at all times.
- Will Lightning Jack work with my company network?
- With all flavors of Lightning Jack, you will have a standard Ethernet port, allowing easy connection to your network. However, with any "always available" Internet service, it is recommended to install either a firewall or proxy server for your protection.
-
- What is a dynamic IP address?
- IP stands for “Internet Protocol.” An IP address enables a computer to be identified on the Internet while the user is online. A dynamic IP address (included in Nex-Tech Lightning Jack service) 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 he/she logs onto the Internet. By having a dynamic IP address, every time you log on to the Internet you will also have another layer of security. This is not a replacement for a firewall, but it may act as a deterrent.
- How does the ordering process work?
- First, Nex-Tech will check the system or complete a site survey to see if Lightning Jack is available at your location. There is no cost or obligation to pre-qualify your line. You can submit a form to us online at: www.nex-tech.com.
We'll get back to you soon, usually within three to five business days, with an answer on whether your phone line qualifies. If your lines qualifies, we can take your order and submit the paperwork for the installation. We will coordinate a time with you to do the small bit of inside wiring that involves the cpe equipment. Finally, technicians will install any networking hardware in your machine and check to make sure your connection is working properly.
Your monthly Lightning Jack charge from Nex-Tech includes all Internet usage.
- Minimum System Requirements for Lightning Jack.
-
- Windows
-
- Pentium-class processor, 166 MHz or faster (including Celeron and AMD K6-2 or K7-x or faster)
- Windows 2000, XP SP2, Vista
- Internet browser (for example, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox)
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- 65 MB of free disk space if you want the customized browser or 25 MB of free disk space if you already have a browser
- 64 MB of RAM
Notes:You must have your computer manufacturer’s Owner’s Guide and your computer’s Operating System on installation media (CD or diskettes)
- Macintosh
-
- PowerPC Macintosh computer
- MacOS version 9 or higher
- Internet browser (for example, Internet Explorer)
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- 65 MB of free disk space if you install the customized browser or 25 MB of free disk space if you already have a browser
- 64 MB of RAM
Notes:You must have your computer manufacturer’s Owner’s Guide and your computer’s Operating System on installation media (CD or diskettes)
- Glossary
-
- 56K
- The term 56K refers to a new generation of modems that improve the speed of communication between personal computers and the Internet. The previous speed standard of v.34 provided communication at speeds as high as 33,600 bits per second (bps). The new 56K modems increase that speed to a theoretical maximum of 57,600 or 56 Kbps. In the past, two different technologies emerged enabling 56K communication: K56flex and x2. They have been replaced by a new, international standard for 56K data communications known as v.90.
- ADSL
- Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the most popular form of DSL technology.
- ADSL Lite
- A lower data rate version of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL).
- Broadband
- A term for high-speed, high-capacity Internet and data connections.
- CAP
- Carrier-less Amplitude/Phase (CAP) modulation; incoming data modulates a single carrier that is then transmitted down a telephone line. The carrier itself is suppressed before transmission (it contains no information, and can be reconstructed at the receiver), hence the adjective “carrier-less.” CAP and DMT are two modulation systems currently on the market for ADSL.
- CPE
- Communications equipment that resides on the customer's premises. The CPE for DSL services is a DSL modem.
- CDSL
- Consumer Digital Subscriber Line (CDSL) is a proprietary technology trademarked by Rockwell International.
- DMT
- Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) multi-carrier modulation uses 256 QAM modulation tones simultaneously to create the ADSL signal. DMT is the basis of ANSI Standard T1.413, and has the support of other world standards bodies. CAP and DMT are two modulation systems currently on the market for ADSL.
- DSL
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) provides a dedicated digital circuit between a residence and a telephone company’s central office, allowing high-speed data transport over existing twisted copper telephone lines. We currently offer two ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) product options to support information transfer rates of 1.5+Mbps downstream and 384Kbps upstream, or 384+Kbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream.
- HDSL
- High Bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) is generally used as a substitute for T1/E1.
- IDSL
- ISDN based DSL developed originally by Ascend Communications.
- LAN
- Local Area Networks.
- NIC
- Network Interface Card; an Ethernet adapter “PC card” that needs to be installed in the computer when certain DSL modems are used. Along with the modem, the NIC enables the DSL connection at the customer’s home or business.
- POTS splitter
- A Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) splitter, also known as a low-pass/high-pass filter, separates the voice and data portions of the DSL line. Current DSL technology requires two POTS splitters: one in our central office, and one in the customer’s premises.
- PVC
- Private Virtual Circuit (PVC) is a point-to-point circuit from the customer premise equipment to either their Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Enterprise Network.
- RADSL
- Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (RADSL) is any rate adaptive DSL modem, but may specifically refer to a proprietary modulation standard designed by Globespan Semiconductor.
- SDSL
- Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) is a 2-wire implementation of (HDSL).
- v.90
- A new, international standard for 56K data communications
- VDSL
- Very High Bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL) is proposed for shorter local loops, perhaps up to 3000 ft.
- WAN
- Wide area networks.
- XDSL
- Refers to the family of digital subscriber line technologies, such as ADSL, HDSL, and RADSL.
|
|
|
|
|