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The goal of the FMB team is to bring our customers the best Internet connection possible using state-of-the-art wireless and wired technology. We are successful in bringing high speed Internet to rural communities in part because we use industry-proven wireless hardware and software, all of which we have tested rigorously. Our network – from customer premise equipment to access points and towers to routers and servers – has been built with our customers’ needs in mind. We’ve spent many years fine-tuning this system; blazing our own trail, scrutinizing industry methods, and testing new techniques. Now, through a series of most frequently asked questions, we’d like to share with you the traits that we have learned make our service superior in our industry.
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Q: What is wireless Internet?
A: Wireless Internet uses a series of radios and antennas to ultimately bring the Internet to your home or business. The equipment we install at a customer’s location includes an antenna which is strategically placed to gain a clear line-of-sight to an antenna on one of our many towers. Line-of-sight means the path between a customer’s antenna and an antenna on a FMB tower must be unobstructed. Trees, houses, barns, hills – any object that may obstruct a clear path can cause the radio signal to “bounce” and must be overcome to bring you a strong connection to the Internet. Often this means the antenna at your location must be elevated to a height above treetop level in the direction of one of our towers. While this may sound difficult, our installers have studied many methods over the years and have developed techniques to allow us to quickly and accurately install an antenna at the necessary height to bring the Internet to you.
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Q: How does FMB determine if I can get service?
A: First, we use GPS data and elevation maps to determine if you are within our serviceable area. When you call our offices, our sales team utilizes the latest software programs to map your approximate location. While our equipment gives us elevation information and GPS data, it is still important for us to see your unique settings. This is part of what makes FMB different! Most other wireless providers don’t even bother to visit you personally before showing up for an install. Without a visit BEFORE the date of the install, other companies’ installers often don’t know anything about a customer’s unique settings and many times run into problems with trees or outbuildings blocking the wireless signal. FMB strives to plan for all eventualities and work around them before there is a problem. If a tree needs to be trimmed or other prep-work is necessary, we can work with you to meet these needs so that you have quality Internet service from day one! We arrange for a site surveyor/demonstrator to visit your residence or business (at YOUR convenience) to determine the height and location at which an antenna must be installed to clearly communicate with one of our towers. Our site survey rig includes a tower that is raised to just the right height to broadcast and receive an excellent wireless signal. At this point, we can show you just what high speed Internet is. Feel free to ask for a demonstration or take the reigns and visit your favorite web sites!
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Q: What will be installed at my location?
A: Based upon your unique site survey results, our installers will use the appropriate equipment to bring your antenna to the necessary height. Depending on the specifics of your location, the antenna may be installed from near the ground up to almost fifty feet high. Most often, a telescoping mast is bracketed to an eave, peak or wall of your residence or business. The antenna atop this mast is connected via a transmission cable to a radio mounted near the bottom of the mast. The antenna/radio (customer premise equipment, or CPE) then communicates wirelessly with a FMB tower. This customer equipment is very rugged and built to withstand the elements. We currently use several different standard antenna mounting techniques. Each of these mounts is described in detail below.
Standard mounts
Telescoping mast: Our telescoping masts are extendible up to 44’. An eave bracket for the mast is lagged or bolted to an eave or peak of the roof of your structure, with a butt plate anchored to the ground directly beneath the mast. The butt plate secures the base of the mast from moving and the eave bracket keeps the mast upright. An antenna atop a telescoping mast can be pushed up to approximately 10’ above the eave bracket (depending on conditions) without the use of guy wires.
Telescoping mast with guy wires: Any mast that extends more than 10’ above the eave bracket (or less depending on conditions) must be secured with guy wires to be truly protected from severe wind damage. We use 6-strand, 20-gauge guy wire in a 3-direction, 120-degree configuration to achieve this security from the elements. For every 10’ of mast extended above the eave bracket, one set of guy wires must used. For example, if a mast is extended to 44’ and the eave bracket is mounted at 24’, one set of guy wires would be attached at or about 34’, and one set would be attached just beneath the antenna. The guy wires must extend down from the mast in as close to a 120-degree configuration as possible. The guy wires must terminate at a distance of approximately 20’-30’ from the base of the mast, depending on the overall height of the mast. FMB uses special-made guy brackets that can be lagged to roof eaves or other structures for easy attachment of guy wires. If a guy wire must be extended to a point where there is currently no structure for attachment, a guy post (2-3/8” diameter steel pipe, 6’ above-ground length) may be installed in the ground. This post extends the guy attachment point up to a height where the guy wires are not as obtrusive as if they extended down to the ground.
Low-to-ground free-standing mast: In the event a customer is within a very short distance from a tower, we may be able to install a short 2-3/8” diameter pipe directly in the ground near your home or business. The pipe must be buried in concrete at a depth of 2’, with no more than 8’ above ground. The antenna is then attached near the top of the pipe with the radio mounted just beneath it. While this mount is most unobtrusive (no brackets are attached to the structure), it is only feasible in locations where a FMB tower is clearly visible from ground level and only a few miles away.
Dish arm: A dish arm (similar to those used by satellite television services) may be used in instances where a FMB tower is clearly visible from the peak or eave of your facility. The antenna and radio can be mounted directly to this dish arm. A dish arm mounted to an eave or peak keeps all equipment off the ground, but again, this mount can only be used when a tower is within a visible range and the signal path from roof level is clear of any obstructions.
Existing customer tower: If a customer already has a tower (made by Rohn, Radian, or a similar manufacturer) that is of good quality, this structure may be use as a mount. FMB has certified and experienced tower technicians on staff capable of installing equipment on customer towers. A pre-install evaluation by an FMB technician is necessary in most cases to determine structural quality of the tower.
Non-standard mounts
In the event a standard mount cannot be used, FMB may be able to come up with a custom mounting technique that will work for you. These solutions generally require more labor or custom hardware, however. The cost of extra time or equipment may be passed on to the customer in these cases.
If you have questions about another type of custom mount or installation, please ask!
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Q: How does the CPE connect to my computer?
A: FMB installers try to mount the CPE equipment in an area that is near the point of penetration on your home or business. Generally, the network cable that connects the CPE to your computer, router, or switch is stapled under the eave or soffit of your building and routed around the outside to a penetration point on an outside wall. We may use plastic anchors or other fastening devices depending on the materials your structure is made of. The cable will enter an outside wall and terminate in a standard network jack with a faceplate. While our installers may be able to route the cable through attic space, under floors and inside walls, this type of cable run is left at the discretion of the installers. Considering the many different types of buildings and walls in modern structures, it may not be possible for our installers to route cable into interior walls without special tools and extra time. Feel free to discuss any issues dealing with wall penetration with the site surveyor. If a network cable must be routed into an interior wall, we may ask you to hire an outside professional to complete this portion of the installation.
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Q: What is installed inside my home or business?
A: Beyond the point of penetration, a network cable connects to a “power over ethernet injector”. This POE powers the CPE equipment and passes data from the CPE to your computer, router, or switch. The POE must be located near a 110V power source.
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Q: What type of equipment will FMB connect to?
A: FMB provides a single connection to one piece of equipment. Our installers usually program and test the CPE equipment with their laptops, then plug into your computer, router, or switch. They will check network settings on your computers to ensure functionality, but due to the vast number of manufacturers of network equipment, they will not program routers or other devices. All of our CPEs are normally set to pass on the necessary information to your network equipment, so for most routers or switches all you will need to do is plug them in.
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Q: What if I have more questions?
A: Please e-mail or call us! This FAQ section is designed to give you a good idea of how we do what we do, but you may still need more information. Feel free to contact us and let us know if we need to be more descriptive about anything.
