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 Frequently Asked Questions |
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What is the WildBlue service?
WildBlue is a two-way, high-speed Internet access service that can be used in homes, home offices, and small offices. WildBlue is an efficient two-way broadband connection that requires no phone line connection to the Internet!
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When and where will the service be available?
Great Plains Communications Netlink expects to begin offering the WildBlue service in May, 2005. The service will be available in all our current telephone exchanges and in the areas surrounding the communities where we provide telephone and Internet services today.
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What is the target market for the WildBlue service?
Great Plains Communications Netlink plans to offer the WildBlue high-speed Internet service to customers who do not have access to other broadband technologies such as DSL, cable modem, or wireless.
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Why should I get WildBlue?
WildBlue provides access to the Internet at much higher speeds than dial-up access - up to 1.5 Mbps. That speed is more than 30 times faster than a typical dial-up connection. A whole new world of content will open up to you with your broadband connection. And with WildBlue, you get an "always on" connection that means no more dialing or other annoying delays to get high-speed access to the Internet.
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What will WildBlue cost?
There are two costs for the Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue service - a one-time setup fee and a monthly service rate for the high-speed Internet access.
The one-time set up fee is $199. We are certain that our upfront fees will be the lowest available anywhere.
In case of cancellation of the service, the setup fee is nonrefundable.
The monthly service options are available as follows:
Service Name |
Monthly Rates |
Speeds |
Value |
$49.95 |
512 Kbps download
128 Kbps upload |
Select |
$69.95 |
1.0 Mbps download
200 Kbps upload |
Pro |
$79.95 |
1.5 Mbps download
256 Kbps upload |
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What will the installation process be like? Is the service hard to use?
All you need is a WildBlue mini dish and a WildBlue modem, and a clear view of the southern sky to receive a signal from the WildBlue satellite. Great Plains Communications Netlink will have our local technicians professionally trained and certified to quickly and efficiently perform the WildBlue equipment installations.
The satellite mini-dish is about 26 inches x 28 inches and can be easily mounted on a roof, outside wall, or on a pole. A cable from the dish will connect to a satellite modem (a small box that will be placed next to your PC), which will then connect to your computer via an Ethernet connection.
Installation will require a certified professional to make sure that the dish is pointed accurately at the WildBlue satellite and to verify that all cables and connections are safely and properly made. Due to FCC regulations, self-installation is not currently being offered.
Once Great Plains Communications Netlink installs your WildBlue system, you are ready to surf the Internet at lightning fast speeds. You can use your same web-browser, go to the same sites, use your current gpcom.net email address, etc. You will access the Internet just like you always have...but a whole lot faster!
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How fast is this service in comparison to a cable modems or DSL broadband service?
Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue's always on broadband Internet connection provides a user experience that is very similar to Netlink's current high-speed DSL and cable modem services. The standard service offering will provide 512 Kbps download speeds (from the Internet to your PC). As noted above, other services with up to 1.5 Mbps download speeds are also available if your use of the Internet requires that level of access speed.
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How can I indicate my interest in getting the WildBlue service?
Please visit this web page: You may call 1-888-343-8014 or email us at wildblue@gpcom.net.
All you will need to do is give us your name, address, telephone number (and email address if you have one) and we contact you as soon as the service is available in your area and we are ready to begin installations. By providing this information to us, you are under no obligation to sign up for the Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue service. We just want to insure you are aware of when we are beginning to do installations in your area.
Great Plains Communications Netlink is interested in serving as many people as possible with this new service. If you have a family member, friend, or associate who is located in another part of the state that you feel would benefit from having WildBlue, please let them know about the information on this website.
If you have any questions about this service, please contact the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467 or send us an email at wildblue@gpcom.net.
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What PC operating systems are compatible with the WildBlue service?
Windows/PC: Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP (note: Windows NT is not compatible with the WildBlue service)
Mac: OS 9.x, OS 10.2 or higher
If you are not sure what operating system your PC uses, please call the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467 or send us an email at wildblue@gpcom.net and we will assist you with that analysis.
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Will WildBlue work with Macintosh computers?
Yes. The WildBlue service is compatible with Macintosh computers.
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What Web browsers and email clients does WildBlue support?
| Web Browsers: |
| Windows/PC: |
Internet Explorer 5.5 & 6, Netscape 6 & 7.x, Firefox 1.x |
| Mac: |
Netscape 7.x, Safari 1.x, Firefox 1.x |
| Email Clients: |
| Windows/PC: |
Outlook Express 5 & 6, Outlook XP & 2003, Netscape Mail 6 & 7, Thunderbird |
| Mac: |
Outlook Express 5, Outlook 2001, Outlook 2004, Netscape Mail 6 & 7, Apple Mail, Thunderbird |
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What are my minimum computer system requirements to get WildBlue?
Most computers in use today will meet the minimum system requirements. If you do not know if your PC meets those requirements, please call the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467 or send us an email at wildblue@gpcom.net and we will assist you with that analysis.
PC/ Windows: 300 MHz or faster processing speed, minimum 128 MB Random Access Memory (RAM), and Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP Home or XP Professional operating system. 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required. Also, you must have anti-virus software installed on your machine!
Macintosh: 300 MHz or faster processing speed, 128MB Random Access Memory (RAM), and OS 9.x, OS 10.2 or higher operating system. 100 MB of hard drive space and an ethernet card are required.
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What if my computer does not have a Network Interface Card (NIC)? What can I do?
Many computers can be upgraded with a 10/100 Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) - which you can find at almost any consumer electronics store, or at an online store. If you are comfortable with opening your computer and installing hardware, most Ethernet NICs can be self-installed. Check with your computer manufacturer for more information on the right Ethernet NIC for your system.
Also, if you have an available USB port on your computer, you can purchase a USB Ethernet adapter (available at almost any consumer electronics store, or online). This may be easier to install than a PCI card in your computer. For a laptop, you can purchase a standard PCMCIA card that provides an Ethernet connection, or you can purchase a USB Ethernet adapter as well. We recommend that you upgrade your computer to meet all of the requirements listed above to get the most out of your Internet experience.
Once again, if you need assistance with determining your PCs hardware capabilities, please call the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467 or send us an email at wildblue@gpcom.net and we will assist you with that analysis.
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Do I get dial-up service with my WildBlue account?
Yes. Great Plains Communications Netlink will offer free dial-up service to its WildBlue customers that reside within our current telephone exchanges. We also offer another low-cost service - Netlink World Wide - that will allow you to access your email when you are not at home or out of the office. Instructions for both forms of remote access will be included with your installation information.
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What other services are provided with the WildBlue Service?
As a Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue customer, you will receive all the current value-added services we provide to all our Internet customers. These include 3 free email addresses, free pop-up blocker software, free anti-virus and spam protection for your email, and your monthly WildBlue service rate (and monthly setup fee, if applicable) will be included on your current telephone statement from Great Plains Communications.
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Do you offer a limited warranty on the equipment?
Yes. You will receive a 90-day labor/12 month parts limited warranty on all equipment at no charge when you become a Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue customer.
To further protect you against equipment failure or other damage to your WildBlue equipment, Great Plains Communications Netlink will be offering an equipment protection plan for $3.95 a month. Additional details on this plan will be provided to you at the time you officially sign up for the WildBlue service.
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Can I use wireless home networking with WildBlue?
Yes. The WildBlue service is compatible with all major wireless home networking products. If you are interested in having this type of network installed in your home, please call the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467 or send us an email at wildblue@gpcom.net
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What is the impact of latency? Can I play real-time Internet games or make Internet phone calls on your service?
The WildBlue system is engineered to help offset the impact of latency, which is the delay caused by sending signals from the earth to the satellite and back again.
However, there is a delay of about 0.25 seconds as the signal travels up to the satellite and back down to the ground. For most applications this latency does not affect performance, however, there are some applications like voice over IP (telephone service delivered over the Internet, also known as VoIP), or real-time interactive gaming, where latency will have a noticeable effect on performance over the WildBlue network, as it would on any satellite-delivered service.
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Will I be able to use a virtual private network (VPN) with the WildBlue service?
Yes. Great Plains Communications Netlink recommends the use of SSL-based VPNs. They will work well on the WildBlue satellite network. Users of IP Sec-based VPNs will find that their VPN will work over the WildBlue network, but it may be slower due to the effects of latency. If you have any questions about your current or future use of a VPN, please contact the Netlink Service Center at 1-800-734-7467.
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Is WildBlue service affected by weather?
The WildBlue service is only minimally affected by weather, and only under extreme conditions. The WildBlue service will offer availability equal to that of satellite TV. Like the satellite TV services, during a very heavy rainstorm, you may notice slower transmission speeds, but this should normally only last a few minutes.
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Will you limit heavy bandwidth users?
As is standard with other Internet Service Providers, WildBlue will ensure that its service operates at optimum speeds for all of its customers. Since WildBlue is a shared network, there will be a fair access policy to ensure that extraordinary usage by a few customers does not negatively affect the normal usage of other customers.
For the vast majority of users, the fair access policy will have no effect on their usage. For a few very heavy bandwidth users, the WildBlue system may restrict their bandwidth and therefore their speed. The fair access policy will be well documented and communicated to you before you agree to become a Great Plains Communications Netlink-WildBlue customer.
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Can I get the WildBlue service in a mobile vehicle like an RV or boat?
Not at this time. The WildBlue service was designed for stationary locations like homes and small businesses. We do not offer broadband service for mobile vehicles at this time.
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What is WildBlue's Fair Access Policy FAP?
WildBlue's Fair Access Policy (or FAP) intends to ensure the consistent delivery of speeds to all customers by curtailing the heaviest data users in order to benefit the majority of customers.
Every satellite broadband provider employes a FAP of some kind.
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What is changing in WildBlue's FAP ?
WildBlue has determined that reducing the monthly data usage threshold (applicable only to the heaviest of users) will best serve the WildBlue customer base with more consistent speeds. By curtailing the speeds of the most extreme users when their usage is excessive, WildBlue will increase the likelihood of maintaining the browsing speeds of all the other WildBlue customers. We think this is the right tradeoff to make for the satisfaction of the overall WildBlue community and we hope you agree. Please see WildBlue FAP document for the current FAP.
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Will this affect subscribers?
The vast majority of WildBlue subscribers will see no difference, other than receiving a more consistent delivery of Internet access speed. WildBlue estimates that approximately 3 percent of all WildBlue customers (those with extremely heavy use) will be affected.
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Why did WildBlue lower the FAP threshold?
WildBlue wants to make sure that the vast majority of customers maintain their WildBlue speeds. WildBlue lowered the thresholds to allow the normal WildBlue user better browsing speeds and ensure that all customers have an equitable experience across the WildBlue network. Through our initial months, we have discovered that the original FAP levels were allowing some users to possibly influence the browsing speeds of others. To help balance the experience, WildBlue has made this change.
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How do FAP thresholds relate to the "speed" of service?
The Usage Threshold is the maximum amount of data usage any account may have during the previous 30 days without affecting a customer's speed. If this threshold limit is exceeded, the user's speed is reduced until the usage over the previous 30 days falls below 80 percent of the Usage Thresholds.
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Why were the FAP levels changed now?
WildBlue intends to provide a consistent service across all users, and by changing the FAP levels, we believe we are helping to ensure the experience isn't influenced by only a few individuals. WildBlue has no plans at this time to change the FAP levels at this time.
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Are the WildBlue FAP thresholds too low?
The new FAP levels will affect only a very small percent of WildBlue Customers. WildBlue strives to offer equitable and fair access to all users of the WildBlue service and may change the FAP thresholds to ensure a few users do not adversely influence the experience of others.
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