What is GWI
Broadband?
GWI (Great
Works Internet) Broadband
utilizes state-of-the-art high-speed technology, using a modem that turns ordinary phone
lines into high-speed digital lines for fast Internet access. GWI Broadband uses the
higher bandwidth from your telephone line that does not get used during voice
communications.
How Fast is GWI Broadband?
GWI Broadband offers speeds up to 100 times faster than a typical 56.6k modem! The speed
you obtain at your specific location will depend on factors such as distance from the
phone company central office in your town and phone line quality.
What are the Other Benefits to Using GWI Broadband?
With GWI Broadband you get:
Simultaneous Internet access and voice/fax capabilities over the same phone line.
Dedicated, high-speed Internet access that's always online - no dialing in, no busy
signals, no interruptions!
Increased security when transferring data due to having your own dedicated service (unlike
cable services where data travels over shared lines).
GWI Broadband is cost effective for the individual, family, small business or home office
and is easy to install.
Increased productivity due to faster speeds - download and upload large files quicker,
speed up database and search engine inquiries, faster file transfers between locations,
send and receive emails with large file attachments.
Improved access to new multimedia applications including video on demand, multiplayer
gaming, distance learning, and video conferencing.
How does GWI Broadband Work?
Your phone line is split at your home or office, carrying voice communications to your
telephone and/or fax machine and data to your computer through the modem. You will need to
have an Ethernet card in your computer to interface with the modem, connected via a
standard Ethernet cable. The higher bandwidth (100 kHz-1 MHz) of your phone line is used
to carry data to and from your computer while the lower bandwidth (0-4 kHz) carries voice
transmissions.
Can I Get GWI Broadband?
Currently, GWI Broadband is available in the areas listed on our Broadband Service
Availability page. We plan to add more locations in the future, so you may want to check
back periodically. GWI Broadband is also distance sensitive, meaning that your location
needs to be within a specified distance from the phone company's central office. To find
out if your location qualifies, call 633-7856. If we can not provide GWI Broadband to you
now, we will keep you on file and notify you when service is available in your area.
Does GWI Broadband Require Another Phone Line?
No. Since GWI Broadband uses different frequency spectrums for voice and data
transmissions, only a single phone line is needed. With GWI Broadband, you can be talking
on the phone or receiving a fax while you are using your computer.
What is a MAC Address?
MAC stands for Media Access Control and is a unique address associated with an Ethernet
card. Your MAC address is transmitted as part of the header in all data packets sent from
any computer on a network. We will need your MAC address in order to set you up for GWI
Broadband service. Attached here are instructions on how to find your MAC address.
Your GWI Broadband account allows you to use two MAC addresses to put two computers on
your service. If you need to use more than two computers, we recommend that you purchase a
router with a firewall running NAT (Network Address Translation). This router will have
the broadband connection and an Ethernet interface that the other computers will plug in
through. We recommend you consider one of the following:
General Use:
DLink DI-604
Linksys BEFSR41
Netgear RP614
Utilizing a VPN:
DLink DI-804HV (VPN)
Linksys BEFVP41 (VPN)
Netgear FVS318 (VPN)
How Does GWI Broadband Compare to Cable Modems?
Some major advantages of GWI Broadband over cable include:
GWI Broadband provides you with a dedicated service over a single phone line, whereas
cable modems give you access over shared cable lines.
While cable modems may initially provide greater downstream bandwidth capabilities, that
bandwidth is shared amongst all users on a line. This means that cable modem speeds can
vary dramatically as more users in your neighborhood get online simultaneously, and will
in many cases be slower than GWI Broadband.
Since your GWI Broadband line is dedicated to you, your speeds are not affected by others
going online.
Because GWI Broadband uses a dedicated line, your data is more secure than data sent over
cable modems.
