FAQ

 

What special winter weather care instructions should I be aware of?

 

Have you lost power? If so, your antenna will not function. Once power has been restored, turn your computer back on and your antenna will re-register, and your internet will likely return. If it does not, call Tech Support to verify that both your computer and Subscriber Module (SM) are properly plugged in.

 

Has your service become inconsistent? If one moment you have service and the next moment you do not, this could be due to very high winds. Your antenna is directed at a particular structure in your area. Heavy winds (storm strength) can cause your subscriber module to move, thus pushing it out of alignment. If the issue is still occurring after the winds have subsided, contact our Support Desk to schedule a possible re-alignment of your antenna.

 

Has the service slowed down? Many people choose to stay home in order to avoid extreme weather conditions. This generally means that more people are using their home computers at the same time, particularly those with home or business network setups (more than one computer hooked up to a connection). Heavy uploading and downloading can cause the connection to the internet on one or more of the systems to slow. Though we ensure our service is reliable and fast for all users, the speed will be affected if everyone on the system is using the service at the same time.

 

Have you lost service completely? Check to make sure that there is no heavy build up of snow that is burying your antenna, as this may cause service problems.

 

How much will Seaside High-Speed wireless Internet cost?

High-Speed Internet with Seaside High-Speed costs only $46.95 per month. With the selection of our 3 year service package, your installation of our service is free. For seasonal customers, there will be a $15 per month suspension fee during the months when the service is not active. This pricing is subject to change without notice and does not apply to service offerings in Halifax County. Please click here to see our three pricing options.

 

 

When should I expect to receive service?

The exact timing of when particular areas will receive service is difficult to know until we have all of the necessary approvals from the landowners who agree to have poles or towers placed on their properties and from individual municipalities. Once we have these approvals, we can begin to install transmitters on the poles and towers, and launch access to the service.

 

How will I know when service will be available in my community?

Check the Seaside website regularly to find out when service is available in your area. We encourage you to complete our online form to have your contact information added to our list, so we can advise you when service becomes available in your community. If you do not have Internet access, you can contact the Seaside Customer Service Centre at 1 888 965 5511 to have your contact information added to our list.

 

My neighbour has service, but I don't - why?

Because of the rugged nature of Nova Scotia's landscape, not everyone who lives within view of a tower may get a signal right away. Sometimes, there will be cases where people's neighbours receive service while they still don't have access, and we understand this may create some frustration. It is important to remember that we will get a high-speed signal to every single civic address in the zones we are serving over the course of the build, but some will take longer than others to reach. 

 

What does broadband mean?

Broadband means high-speed Internet service. The term commonly refers to Internet access provided using a cable or wireless system with a transmission rate connection to the Internet of up to 1.5 megabits per second or more.

 

How does wireless high-speed Internet work?

Seaside is using Motorola Canopy technology for this project. Transmitters mounted on poles or towers are used to send a wireless high-speed signal to homes. Using a satellite dish bracket, we mount antennas to the home of anyone who wants to access the service. A "CAT5 Ethernet Cable" is then run from the antenna into your house, and connected to your computer.

 

How much faster is Seaside High-Speed Internet than dial-up?

Our wireless service is up to 25 times faster than dial-up, and offers speeds up to 1.5 mbps (megabits per second), and upload speeds up to 512 kbps (kilobits per second).

 

What is the difference between mbps (megabits per second) and MBps (Megabytes per second)?

Usually, data communication speed is measured in bits/kilobits/megabits per second, while storage space is measured in bytes/kilobytes/megabytes. Network speeds are labelled in megabits, so it is important to not confuse it with the more familiar megabytes. Here is a breakdown of some useful info:

 

1 byte = 8 bits

1 Kilobyte = 1000 bytes

1 Megabyte = 1,024 kilobytes

1 megabit = 1,000,000 bits, or 125,000 bytes

1 Megabyte = 1,000,000 bytes

 

How is wireless high-speed Internet different from other high-speed Internet services?

While other high-speed Internet services use technologies such as phone lines, cable lines or satellite, the wireless system uses radio signals to reach remote communities with affordable high-speed Internet service.

 

Is wireless Internet completely wire-free?

All wireless systems have to connect to a cable at some point. Our wireless service is only "wireless" from the tower or pole-mounted transmitter to the antenna on your home. A cable is used to connect your antenna to the power supply that plugs into your computer.

 

Does Seaside High-Speed have any other advantages over dial-up, satellite or DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)?

Unlike dial-up services, our broadband service will not block your telephone line. There are no latency (delay) issues. It can be more easily deployed in areas where DSL and cable are not available.

 

How far does the radio signal travel before it loses strength?

Seaside uses Motorola Canopy technology, which we have set to transmit a maximum distance of 28 kilometres. After this distance the signal will deteriorate, but within this distance, the signal strength is determined by topographical factors such as terrain and foliage.

 

Will Seaside service slow down at peak usage time?

We do not experience significant slowing of our service at peak usage times (normally the daytime). The service can be slow due to set up and configuration of home computers. The more computers on a home network, the slower the "throughput" time at one's home.

 

What are the minimum requirements for my computer?

Your computer must either be running the latest versions of Windows 2000, XP, or Vista, or the latest OS X version for a Mac. It must have a spare "RJ45" Ethernet/network port or broadband networking capabilities, and a functional NIC (Network Interface Card). If in doubt, please contact your computer dealer, or check with us prior to installation.

 

Can I set up the system myself?

No. Our certified technicians will install the equipment during customer sign-up. Our technicians are trained in all aspects of wireless installations, from how to best position your modem to how best to bring the cable in to your building. They will also make sure that your connection is working properly before they leave, and answer any questions that you might have about the service.

 

What should I do if my connection stops working?

Please contact our technical support line at 1 888 965 5511.

 

Will thunder and lightning affect my service?

We advise you to unplug all electronic equipment, including computers and televisions, during an electrical storm.

 

Will I be able to connect more than one computer to wireless Internet?

Yes, if you purchase a router, and set it up with the directions given to you by the manufacturer, more than one computer can connect to wireless Internet at the same time. If you have any trouble or difficulty hooking up a router, we suggest contacting the manufacturer's technical support.

 

Can I access my email when I'm on the road?

Yes. Emails can be accessed via your webmail account. Click on "Seaside Webmail" at the top of our homepage, or click here to go to: webmail.seasidehighspeed.com. You will have to log in by typing the first part of your Seaside email address (only that part before @seasidehighspeed.com), and the password that you were assigned when you set up one of your five email accounts.

 

Can I keep my existing address book and past correspondence?

Yes, if your current ISP (Internet Service Provider) offers POP3 email service. You will be able to keep all undeleted emails sent and received at that address. If your address book information is stored in Microsoft Outlook or Mac Mail, you will also have the option of continuing to use that package with your new email address.

 

Where can I test my speed?

Far too often, people misjudge the speed of their connection. Transfer speeds and other public speed tests are not necessarily accurate, because your test will be affected by the slowest link within that path to accessing that information. The internet is only as fast as the slowest link from your computer to the target site.  There are many free speed testing utilities available for download. We recommend Speedtest.net.

 

What can I expect for down/upload speeds?

 The average speed a customer can expect is between 900-1200kbps, or 1.0 to 1.2Mbps with a potential maximum of 1.5Mbps.

 

What is the average latency I can expect?

The average latency our customers can expect is under 100ms which is more than sufficient for an Xbox Live connection or other online gaming services such as World of Warcraft, Nintendo Wii, or PlayStation Online.

 

Does Seaside do throttling or bandwidth capping?

Seaside has no such restrictions in place at the current time, but reserves the right to enforce any such policies in the future. Currently customers are allowed to use their connections as much as they please.