Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is Quickline Symmetrical Broadband?It is a premium Symmetrical Broadband service aimed at the business user delivered over a fixed radio (wireless) link. It fills the gap between low quality business ADSL broadband and leased lines. How is Quickline Symmetrical different?An ordinary broadband connection has a slower upload speed than download speed, even a 8Mbs ADSL service may only deliver up to 256kbs upload. These 'Asymmetrical' services are designed to meet the requirements of a home user requiring a low cost means of browsing the internet; it does not meet the needs of a modern business. Also broadband services are subject to the quoted bandwidth being shared between a number of users usually 50:1, Quickline services have a managed bandwidth which equates to a much lower contention ratio making it ideal where a number of networked PCs have access to the internet and/or email. This service will allow users to:
How is the service received at my premises?The service is delivered over radio using an externally mounted antenna on your premises. This antenna is fitted by an engineer during the installation process. What are the key benefits of the service?Key benefits include:
What is the technical specification?
What is included in the service?The key features of the service are:
How much does it cost?Quickline Symmetrical Broadband is priced in two parts:
Do I need a phone line to receive this service?The service is delivered over separate radio technology so there is no requirement to have a telephone line at all to receive the service. Does the service affect the use of my phone lineThe service is provided independent of your telephone line so when they're on the internet you can use your telephone as usual. If my premises are in a serviceable area will I definitely be able to receive the service?A line of sight is required from one of our transmitters therefore it is impossible to guarantee that service can be received in any particular location. For this reason service is offered on a 'subject to survey' basis. On the day of installation our engineers will endeavour to provide service where possible, but there will be some premises where viable service installation is not achievable. What is the order lead-time for the service?Once the service is available in your area the standard order lead-time is targeted to be 14 working days, subject to survey. How can I check the progress of my order?The Helpdesk can be contacted on 08700 429760, 08.00 - 22.00, 365 days a year. What happens on the day of installation?On the day of installation the engineer will call at your premises to carry out a survey. If suitable radio signal can be received they will then complete the installation of the equipment and commission the service. You will be able to gain access to the internet immediately. What equipment will be installed at my premises?On the outside of your premises we will need to install a small radio antenna which communicates with a local base station to send and receive signal. The antenna is then connected via a single cable to a small indoor unit inside your premises. The indoor unit also provides the data connection to your computer or network and connects to the mains power. Can I decide where the antenna is mounted?In general, the antenna will need to be placed facing towards one our transmitters but our engineer will endeavour to put it where it is least obvious - the final location will be at our engineer's discretion to achieve the strongest signal and thus the best quality of service. What will the equipment look like?The antenna (below) is approximately 33cm (high) x17cm (wide) x10cm (Deep) and the indoor unit is about the size and shape of a single mains socket. 
Will I need planning permission to have the antenna installed at my premises?It is not generally necessary to obtain planning permission to install the small radio antenna on your premises. However if you suspect that planning permission will be required for your premises, it is your responsibility to inform us at the time of placing the order and this must have been achieved prior to fitting. Examples of where planning permission may be required are: Listed Buildings, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Conservation Areas, Historic Parks and Nature Reserves. I.e. where planning permission is required to fit a Sky dish. What if I do not own the premises?If you do not own the premises it is your responsibility to obtain your landlords permission for the antenna to be installed. Further, you will need to ensure that any necessary access via neighbouring properties is agreed in advance of the installation date. What network connection and cabling is provided?The indoor unit provides a single 10/100 base-T Ethernet port which can be used to connect either directly to your PC or to a router (wireless or otherwise), a 3m Crossover CAT5 cable is provided on installation to enable you to connect the service to your PC immediately. If an alternative cable or cable length is required this should be purchased separately. What is the minimum computer specification required?For PC:
For Apple Mac:
What if I do not have an Ethernet port/card in my PC?Ethernet is present on a large number of modern computers but where this capability is not supported a plug in card/adapter can be used to provide it. These may be PCI internal cards for desktops, plug in PCMCIA cards for laptops, or USB adapters, these can be purchased for a modest price from a wide range of outlets. Is the radio connection as reliable as wired connections?The service has been designed and built using state of the art Wimax technology to provide reliability equivalent to wired services. The network will be monitored to ensure that service is maintained and that any faults are addressed as soon as they arise. Is the connection secure?Yes. The design of the service incorporates a number of advanced security mechanisms so that you can have confidence that the service has an appropriate level of security and cannot be accessed by unauthorised equipment. However, as with all internet access services, it is your responsibility to take the appropriate steps to secure your own data using applications such as firewalls. What types of application are supported by the service?The QuickBIZ services are intended for business use and are generally suitable for connections between sites, file transfer, video streaming, hosting of email or web servers and most VOIP applications for small and medium businesses. The QuickSTART service is aimed at email and internet browsing. Who should I contact if I have a billing query?The Helpdesk can be contacted on 08700 429760, 08.00 - 22.00, 365 days a year. Who should I contact if I have a technical query or suspect a fault?The Helpdesk can be contacted on 08700 429760, 08.00 - 22.00, 365 days a year. They can help to solve any minor issues and can also work with our network management team to investigate more serious issues; this will occur inside normal working hours, 08.00 - 17.00 Mon - Fri. Is email or web space provided?No - Quickline provide connectivity only. |
