Equipment

Equipment required for Wireless Internet Access

You'll need some special equipment to connect to our wireless service -- even if you have a computer which already has wireless capabilities built into it.

Why?  Because standard computer wireless equipment is intended for use within 100' or so of an access point.  Most consumer-grade wireless equipment has fairly low-powered transmitters, on the order of 35 mW.  That's fine for a wireless network that covers a single building, but it doesn't work as well over longer distances -- even if you add sensitive external antennas.

Our access points have stronger transmitters, so your computer would be able to receive their signal from longer distances.  BUT (you knew there had to be a but, didn't you?) wireless networking has to work in BOTH directions.  With a low-powered transmitter in the computer, our access point wouldn't be able to receive transmissions from the computer at any significant distance, and the link would fail.

So, what kind of equipment do you need?

As of August 1, 2011 we will begin uprading our field equipment to Ubiquiti products.  All new customers will be receiving internet services from Ukiah Wireless powered by a nanobridge product.  If you are an existing customer and are interested in improving your service, call us about our discounted equipment upgrade program.

* Lightning arrestors, and surge suppressors should also be used to protect your wireless equipment & computer. Ukiah Wireless recommends that you use a lightning arrestor, and have an electrician ground your antenna pole for any roof mounted antenna. We also recommend that you turn off your PCI radio card, and disconnect your antenna cable from your computer if there is any chance of a lightning strike, since lightning arrestors and surge suppressors don't always keep high voltage from reaching sensitive radio and computer components.