FAQ & Glossary
Everything at IC Connex is built to offer redundant, encrypted and symmetrical internet to our customers.
What does that mean?
It means we did it right and we want you to share the value of your internet service,
so we built you our “Internet 101” FAQ and Glossary of Terms.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
First Closed Accordion Item
What is Wireless vs. WiFi?
Wireless connections are created without the use of wires. For example, wireless phone, wireless internet connections, etc. However, the wireless signal is being transmitted from a root device – something plugged in at a starting point (your router, etc.).
WiFi is a trademark for the WiFi Alliance that manufacturers may use to brand products that use radio frequency technology for connecting a computer to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). At IC Connex, our Citywide Connex (WiFi service) is built as a VLAN to provide a secure, reliable and encrypted network.
What is Citywide Connex? How does it work?
Citywide Connex is our WiFi service that allows you to connect your chosen personal wireless devices throughout the city limits – essentially turning the city into a WiFi hotspot. Our WiFi is provided via radio antennas connected to our fiber optic mesh throughout the city. Citywide Connex allows for ease of access around town for your smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.
How does it work?
In simplest terms, you get a username and password and then your personal wireless devices can connect to our mesh web through an encrypted network. Our secure and encrypted network will speak to your devices through each device’s unique IP address. It is important to note that your connection speeds are also reliant upon your technology. If you are using dated technology, you may not have full access to the speeds we are serving up.
How do I switch my Citywide Connex devices?
As of this time, for security reasons, you must contact our office to switch your personal devices that you want connected to the Citywide Connex (WiFI) system. To ensure that we can offer you the ultimate in security, your device speaks to the Citywide Connex (WiFi) through your device’s unique IP address. You may change your devices 1xmonth, or as needed if you purchase a new device.
What is dedicated wireless service? How does it work?
Dedicated Wireless Service
Dedicated wireless is an internet connection that requires no landline, however, it is connected to a dedicated fiber optic line via a wireless connection and therefore capable of delivering speeds higher than traditional connections. It is currently the most cost-effective way to ensure security, reliability, and speed and allows for guaranteed symmetrical speeds – up and down
How does it work?
We mount a radio antenna to the outside of your home, then run an ethernet cable to connect directly to your wireless router on the inside of your home or business. The radio antenna speaks directly to the closest access point on our Citywide Connex (fiber optic mesh) and delivers the internet connection to your router and therefore all of your personal devices.
What is direct fiber service? How does it work?
Direct Fiber Service
Direct Fiber provides you with your own dedicated fiber line and connects direct from our fiber network to your modem, located inside your home or business. Direct Fiber is our future-proof service for critical connections and is often required by certain industries responsible for handling confidential information. We are able to offer both IP phones and symmetrical speeds, as high as 1000 Mbps , depending on a customer’s bandwidth requirements.
How does it work?
We install a fiber optic line from your home or business directly to our fiber network that runs throughout the city. From your direct fiber connection, we then connect to a modem located inside your dwelling.
Interesting FIBER FACT: A direct fiber internet connection increases your real estate value anywhere from $2000-$5000? Well, it does.
What are IP Phones?
IP Phones
IP phones allow for the transmission of voice over the internet, or what is better known as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. Our IP phone service requires the use of an ATA device and are only available to our Fiber for Business customers.
What are ATA Devices?
ATA Devices for IP Phones
One ATA device can service two IP Phone Lines. ATA devices or analog telephone adapters (ATA) connect your standard analog telephones to IC Connex digital IP telephone system. A common use of two IP lines is one for phone and one for fax and credit card machine.
What are up and down speeds?
Up speeds refer to the speed at which your internet connection can upload your data – send emails, upload photos, connect your internet browser, etc.
Down speeds refer to the speed at which your internet connection allows you to download data, stream video, receive email, etc.
Test Your Speed Today and see what your current “up to” internet service is delivering to you with: speedtest.net – just make sure you have closed all other applications to guarantee accuracy.
What is IPTV?
Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is a television service delivered via the Internet protocols (http, rtsp, igmp, etc.) over a packet-switched network such as a LAN or the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional satellite signal or cable television formats. It is an evolving technology that is reliable, can operate live or pre-recorded and runs over the IC Connex managed/closed network. You can continue to enjoy Netflix, Hulu and AmazonPrime, plus select either HBO, Cinemax, STARS, or Showtime. To help explain it, watch this great video, from Ericcson!
How is IPTV different than Internet TV?
While Internet TV is still delivered via the Internet protocols (http, rtsp, igmp, etc.) there is no guaranteed ‘quality of service’ and it runs on your PC browser or an un-managed network.
What is the difference between Megabits and Megabytes?
Megabits (Mb) versus Megabytes (MB): What is the difference between the big b and the little b? A Megabyte (used for file size) and a Megabit (used for download speeds). People often assume that a download speed of 1 Megabit per second (1 Mbps) will allow them to download a 1 Megabyte file in one second. This is not the case, a Megabit is 1/8 as big as a Megabyte, meaning that to download a 1MB file in 1 second you would need a connection of 8Mbps. (Source: http://opensignal.com/knowledgebase/the-difference-between-megabyte-and-megabit.php)
GLOSSARY
Bandwidth is the data transfer rate or the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another in a given time period (usually a second). Bandwidth refers to the data rate that is supported by the network connection or the interfaces that connect to the network. Bandwidth is usually expressed in bits (of data) per second (bps). For example, a communication link with high bandwidth is one that may be able to carry enough information to display images in a video presentation without buffering caused by latency
DSL: a digital subscriber line that uses the same wires as a regular telephone line
Encrypted: to convert, information or data, into code format in order to prevent unauthorized access
Fiber Optic Lines: strands of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair that carry digital information over long distances at the speed of light
Fiber-Optic Mesh: a digital network that transmits information from one place to another by sending pulses of light through optical fiber
IP: internet protocol
IP Address: a unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each computer using the Internet Protocol to communicate over a network. A good example, is the zip code system we use to ship mail via the postal system.
IPTV: internet protocol television
LAN: a local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building, using network media.
Latency: (also referred to as “ping”) refers to delays incurred in the processing of network data – your actual bandwidth varies over time and is affected by high latencies. Excessive latency creates bottlenecks that prevent data from filling the network pipe, thus decreasing effective bandwidth.
MAC: Media Access Control is technology provides unique identification and access control for computers on an Internet Protocol (IP) network. In wireless networking, MAC is the radio control protocol on the wireless.
Mbps: Megabits Per Second (Mbps) refers to data transfer speeds as measured in megabits (Mb).
Megabits (Mb) versus Megabytes (MB): What is the difference between the big b and the little b? A Megabyte (used for file size) and a Megabit (used for download speeds). People often assume that a download speed of 1 Megabit per second (1 Mbps) will allow them to download a 1 Megabyte file in one second. This is not the case, a Megabit is 1/8 as big as a Megabyte, meaning that to download a 1MB file in 1 second you would need a connection of 8Mbps. (Source: http://opensignal.com/knowledgebase/the-difference-between-megabyte-and-megabit.php)
Modem: a combined device for modulation and demodulation – it communicates between the digital data of a computer and the analog signal of a telephone line
Redundant (or reliable) internet connections means that we are built on two lines, so if one goes down you still have internet.
Routers are small devices that join two or more networks. For example, our wireless network and your private, internal network – this is what allows for the internet at large.
Symmetrical speeds means that you have the same up and down internet speeds.
VLANs (Virtual LANs) are a group of devices on one or more LANs that are configured to communicate as if they were attached to the same wire, when in fact they are located on a number of different LAN segments.
Wireless Router: A router that also functions as a wireless access point to allow wireless communication throughout your home or business. It works the same as a standard router, but a wireless router also allows you to connect devices wirelessly, via radio waves, within your home or business.
WLAN is a Wireless Local Area Network that doesn’t rely on wired Ethernet connections.
CITYWIDE WiFi* allows you to connect your devices anywhere within the Gunnison city limits, outside your home.
SPEAK TO OUR SPECIALISTS TODAY: 970-642-1100