BWE Neighborhood ISP Details

Any resident within ½-mile of BWE’s outdoor wireless access point and clear line of sight to the access point, should be able to use a standard 802.11b wireless networking card to gain access to our network for free.

Residents will need to have access to a computer running Windows XP and one of the following types of 802.11b radio/antenna customer premises equipment solutions:

Smallest Coverage Ring - Within 500 ft. of the wireless access point, users can use an 802.11b PCMCIA wireless network adapter or a laptop with an 802.11b chipset on the motherboard. We recommend a 200 mW PCMCIA card (1500 WLAN Card) from Parkervision.

Medium Coverage Ring  - Within 1000 ft. of the wireless access point, users can use an 802.11b USB network adapter with an omni directional antenna. 200 mW USB antenna (1500 USB Wireless Adapter) from Parkervision.

Largest Coverage Ring - Within ½-mile of the wireless access point, users can use an 802.11b USB network adapter with a power-over-Ethernet powered directional antenna.  The further away a customer is the more important clear line-of-site becomes.  Most customers will need direct line of site from their customer premises antenna to the wireless access point in order to maintain a fast wireless connection. BWE is currently looking for solutions to test in this category. Vendors should contact Robert Hoskins.

If you already have a computer with an 802.11b-networking device, you may already be able to gain access to our wireless network.  Please follow these steps to look for a wireless network with a computer configured with Windows XP operating system:

1. Look at the bottom right hand menu bar.  There will be a computer icon or a wireless tower icon.

2. Right click on the icon and select view Available Wireless Networks.

3. Select the network labeled Sputnik_200

4. Check the box that says Allow Me to Connect to the Selected Wireless Network, even though it is not secure.

5. This should get you on the system.  If not, please call 480-218-4441 and we will help you get the system set up.

Like most Internet connections, this Internet connection is not completely secure, so only use it for general web browsing and email.  If you conduct business or send confidential information over the Internet, you should install a wireless router and/or a virtual private network that will encrypt your data.  Security on this network connection will be your responsibility.

The broadband wireless network we are testing in your neighborhood is called a Neighborhood Internet Service Provider (NISP).  The NISP is designed for small neighborhoods with no cable modem or DSL service.  Once testing is completed and the network design is proved successful, the system will be approved for sale directly to the public. For those interesting in learning more about BWE’s NISP, please look up the following URL: www.bbwexchange.com/neighborhood