FAQs

 Here are several questions that are usually asked about our two main projects. This is an attempt to aid understanding of a few of the key issues involved in these technologies.

Refer to the following quick links for FAQ's:

Fixed Wireless Broadband
Signing up
Interference
Line of sight
Security
System interference
 		 Speed comparison
Installation time and process 
Switching services
Bandwidth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Who do I call if I want to subscribe to high-speed wireless service?

A: Blue Sky Net, Spectrum along with wireless radio vendors are partnering to build the wireless infrastructure to provide the physical requirements for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide access to customers. Bandwidth will be wholesaled to any ISP who wishes to provide service to the end user. Customers are asked to contact their ISP.

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Q: How reliable is the service? What about rain and our harsh conditions? Doesn't that affect the reliability of a fixed wireless connection?

A: In most cases, people asking these questions are somewhat familiar with millimeter-wave microwave radio, used at 23, 28 or 38 GHz. And it is true, that you have to build in sufficient margin in the receive signal level to accommodate the fading that occurs due to rainfall at those frequencies. However, even at millimeter-wave frequencies, a well-designed link should be very reliable 99% of the time. In addition, at 2.4 and 3.5 GHz RF bands, the frequencies that we are using, the attenuation of the radio signal due to rain is insignificant and so rain has no practical impact on the link reliability.

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Q: What about line-of-sight? Don't you need an unobstructed path from one end to the other? Doesn't that restrict deployment?

A: Yes, you do normally need line of sight from both ends of every fixed wireless link in the 2.4 GHz ISM band - and in all other microwave bands, for that matter. Base stations are deployed on towers or the roofs of high buildings, which have a commanding view over adjacent terrain. In some cases, trees and other buildings may cause obstructions, which can be overcome using a mast extension at the user's location. Some new technologies, such as Alvarion's 2.4GHz high power subscriber unit and their OFDM 3.5 GHz technology, promise the ability to operate in non-line-of-sight environments provided there is sufficient multipath signal received via reflections.

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Q: What about security? Can my wireless data be intercepted?

A: The network offers an extremely high level of security for customer traffic. Unlike wireless LAN technology, such as 802.11b, each customer connection is separately encapsulated into a dedicated VLAN connection. To further enhance security, we only employ directional antennas throughout its network to ensure that wireless signals are only received at the locations where they are intended to eliminate interception. Finally, the wireless protocol incorporates a secure encrypted authentication process and uses frequency hopping technology developed for secure communications in Military applications. Because of these advanced security features, our wireless segment is actually more secure than a standard T1.

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Q: Isn't there a potential problem with interference in the unlicensed bands, such as ISM? What happens if another system is installed nearby and causes interference to the wireless connection?

A: It turns out that there is a greater perception of interference problems than actual interference problems! The management probably have more experience than anyone in Canada in the deployment of reliable fixed wireless systems in unlicensed frequency bands over the past 8 years. The first issue is that the system must be well designed, with directional antennas and frequency channel selection: any fixed wireless system that is poorly designed, licensed or unlicensed, will be unreliable. The second issue is that most cases of interference in unlicensed bands have occurred at the densely populated lower ISM frequencies: 900MHz, where there is less path attenuation and directional antennas more difficult to deploy because they are much larger. Our staff have not experienced any interference problems in the 2.4 GHz ISM bands due to Frequency Hopping technology incorporated in the wireless systems that we deploy. Additionally, there is a DOC requirement that unlicensed equipment must not cause interference to any other systems. In practice this means that there is a huge advantage to the first user in deploying his system. And typically, the new user would experience reverse interference himself when he installed a system causing interference to an existing user. So, the new user would not be able to successfully install his system and this would lead to the parties working out a mutually cooperative solution. Finally, as far as we are concerned, the roll-out of this type of service first to rural locations in Ontario removes the possibility of a dominant near-end interferer into the base station, and similar care should achieve the same result at the end-user's location.

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Q: Is this as fast as DSL or Cable?

A: Many businesses today need fast access both upstream and downstream, fixed wireless service supports symmetrical broadband with the flexibility to increase service levels where required. Fixed wireless, DSL and Cable all have benefits as well as drawbacks but wherever available, all services provide a high level of reliability.

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Q: How long does it take to get my service installed and what's the process?

A: Because our wireless technology is not dependent on, or limited by, your local phone company and its copper wires, service can be installed in as little as one day. In most cases, the installation process is relatively simple. First, an appropriate location to place the antenna on your property (preferably on the same building where the computer is located) is selected by finding the best line-of-sight to the tower with the highest signal strength. Once an appropriate location is found, the antenna is set-up and installed pointing towards the tower. An exterior-grade coax cable is run from the antenna into your home where your modem and computer are located. The coax cable is attached to the modem and the modem is then connected to your computer via Ethernet (Cat5) cable. Once all of the cabling is in place, the technician will conduct tests to makes sure you have a solid connection to the Internet.

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Q: If I am an IDSN, DSL or T1 user, how difficult is it to switch to wireless service?

A: It's relatively fast and easy. We can simply plug into your LAN or computer via a standard Ethernet (10 BaseT) connection and will handle all of your IP addressing and allocation.

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Q: How can I scale-up to meet my increased bandwidth needs and how difficult is it to do this with our service?

A: Again, it's easy! Contact you ISP for more information. Typical upgrade choices are to upgrade maximum bandwidth to 512Kbps, 1, 2, 5, 10, 45, 100Mbps.

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Q: What is a Municipal Geographic Information System (GIS)?

 A: A GIS is an “information system” that stores and manages data. These systems are not just software and hardware, but also, and most importantly, the collection of information about where geographic features (roads, buildings, fire hydrants, pipes, crime incidents, ponds, streams, etc.) are located and information associated with these features (age, material, size, etc). Building this database involves compiling the information from maps and/or aerial photos, card files, staff’s personal experience, and existing databases. A GIS integrates all this information so that it can be used together and is accessible through a single program operating on a single computer by presenting multiple layers of data to the end user all referenced back to a single point on a map. Not only does a GIS make sharing information amongst council and staff much easier and consistent, it also facilitates sharing information with others (ratepayers, other communities, etc.) more efficient.

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Q: What will a GIS do for this municipality?

A: Municipalities in Northern Ontario are faced with the double challenge of satisfying requests for information from a wide variety of requesters (internal staff, councillors, ratepayers, investors, business people, officials from other levels of government, the media, and social service organizations) and finding the answers from a widely disparate collection of data (tax rolls, zoning records, inspection data, various local inventories, etc.).

The GIS will simplify these challenges. Through a process of integration and automation, GIS will set up and deliver a set of “views” that customizes the presentation of information to the specific needs, interests and capabilities of different groups of users.

The system will:

ü       Provide municipal officials and staff with a tool that will support and enhance their own activities on behalf of the community and ratepayers.

ü       Provides local officials and staff with a tool through which they can manage their own documentation;

ü       Respond to public demands for better access to government information more efficiently;

ü       Reduce the staff time required to handle general inquiries;

ü       Act as a data repository to address the needs of the Provincial Asset Accounting requirements;

ü       Support Economic Development and Tourism promotion;

ü       Facilitate partnerships with community organizations and display data sets from and for various organizations;

ü       Offer a single-entry system for updating and sharing data such as business directories, economic information, membership lists of business groups, etc.,

ü       Use a convenient Web-based application that can be accessed from the Municipal  website and  reflects the look and feel of that website;

ü       Provide taxpayer self serve options such as zoning changes, building permits, well and septic location, infrastructure enhancement plans.

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Q: Will ratepayers and other members of the public get to use the system?

A: In addition to the system designed specifically for municipal staff and elected officials, there will be a web-based GIS Portal for residents as well as tourism, and economic development purposes that integrates with the Core GIS. Residents and visitors will be able to access the public portions of the GIS through municipal websites. Among the information displayed on this portal is the ability to view parcel boundaries, official plans, zoning by-laws, business locations and contacts as well as any other data deemed beneficial by the municipality. No data considered private and confidential will be displayed on the Portal.

A GIS Portal will enable municipalities to foster business retention, business expansion, new development/ investment, and to increase tourism activity. GIS will not only act as a tool to promote local economic and tourism development but will also foster a stronger regional approach.

The GIS and GIS Portal will enhance economic development activities in each of the participating communities, will help to promote a diversified business climate within the region, will help to maximize the region’s potential for creating and retaining long-term jobs, and will help to revitalize individual communities and the region. 

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Q: How can my Municipality afford this?

A: In the long run, the GIS will reduce many costs incurred by municipalities by decreasing redundancies and increasing productivity. Geographic Information Systems have been in use in various larger municipalities for a decade. They have been implemented to increase efficiencies in capital planning, zoning, permits and maintenance, as well as planning in the areas of Health, Education and Lifestyle. While smaller municipalities could also realize the increased taxpayer service benefits of GIS, implementation for small municipalities has been cost prohibitive.

16 municipalities in the area have banded together to form The Blue Sky Municipal GIS Partnership. This partnership creates economies of scale that will substantially reduce costs of hardware purchasing and system integration. Also, wherever possible, the Project Partners have requested bids from suppliers on different aspects and materials for the project. This allows the municipalities to make informed decisions on what is the most economical way to proceed. Last but certainly not least, funding from the Provincial and Federal Government has been made available to subsidize the GIS and reduce the costs of implementation.

Q: How much will it cost?

A: The net average cost to the municipalities is $37,000/municipality spread over 5 years of the project. Not only will municipalities have access to the GIS, they will also receive subsidized hardware required for implementing the GIS. For example, Municipalities will receive a handheld computer with a highly accurate Global Positioning System to collect information on municipal infrastructure subsidized at 80%.

A prorated formula was developed in order to make cost dispersals amongst municipalities more equitable. The cost sharing formula accounts for percentages based on weighted average of rolls, assessed value, permanent population and total dwellings (includes seasonal dwellings).

Several municipalities have taken steps towards getting themselves closer to using a GIS than others. Similarly the requirements for additional hardware vary by each municipality. Blending these considerations, with the formula described above ensures the most equitable costs based on each municipality’s actual expenditures and usage of the system.

Q: Is this the least expensive solution?

Answer #6: In a word, yes, however other options are available. Many companies offer GIS-based products for municipalities. Most often, these products are very good, but do not offer the “full package”. Through consultation the partnership has developed a system that will best meet the needs of each municipality. This “vision” of an end-product was tendered for companies to propose solutions to meet the municipal partner’s needs. The solution that has been selected is the most economical one while not sacrificing any functionality.

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Q: Who else is contributing?

A: 16 municipalities have partnered on this project. Both Provincial and Federal levels of government recognize the ever increasing demand being placed on municipalities. By contributing to the Blue Sky Municipal GIS Partnership they alleviate some costs on municipalities while ensuring the constancy of the data they require.

Many other organizations expressed interest in sharing their information to become data sets on the GIS. Emergency response times, septic and well information, school bus routing, real estate information, telecommunication network mapping, are all examples of data that could be part of the municipal GIS in the future.

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© Blue Sky Economic Growth Corp. 2009