Norbury Broadband Community

NORBURY BROADBAND COMMUNITY

(NobCo) - FAQs

What do I need to connect to the system?

The most important thing you need is a view of one of the relays. The subscriber unit is installed on an outside wall (or on a mast) in a location where it can be seen from the relay. A simple power supply inside the house provides the necessary connections - a combined signal and power cable to the subscriber unit, a mains power supply, and a second network cable to connect to your computer or router.

What type of computer can I connect?

Just about anything, as long as it has a standard RJ-45 network port. It can be Windows, Mac or Linux, it doesn't matter. There is no software to install on the computer or user configuration to set up. Just plug in the cable and go!

How many computers can I connect?

If you have just a single computer that you want to plug into the subscriber unit, you won't need any other equipment. However, if you want to use broadband on multiple computers (any number) you will need to set up a home LAN. A DSL router (costing about £30-£60) will be required to act as the focus of your network and interface with the broadband service. Using a wireless router enables you to connect wireless devices in your home to broadband.

What else can I connect?

Just about anything designed to be connected to a broadband network - desktop computers, wireless laptops or netbooks, games consoles, home theatre systems, etc.

Can I connect to my company network via VPN?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology allows users to connect securely to a remote company server. A number of existing NobCo customers use VPN services without any problems.

Should I leave the subscriber unit on all the time or switch off when I am not using?

There is no simple answer to this question. If you switch it off when not in use, you are certainly saving electricity in the short term. However, electronic equipment most commonly fails when it is being switched on or off, so leaving it running at all times may actually extend the equipment life, so save the resources consumed by manufacturing a replacement. Ultimately it's a personal choice - there is no right or wrong answer.

If we are all connected to the same broadband line, is my data secure?

Yes. The control hardware and software at Bickleywood ensures that users cannot connect to each other. Similarly, although your access to the system can be controlled remotely, there is no way data on your computers can be accessed from outside your own local network. System useage is logged for maintenance purposes, but only as an aggregate record of the amount of data transmitted. There is no ability to record what the data was or where it came from.

What speed can I expect?

The connection to the outside world at Bickleywood supports about 4 Mbps. This is divided between the number of users online at any one time, but remember that you are only transmitting or receiving data for a small fraction of the time you are online. Simply reading a webpage that has downloaded does not use bandwidth. The radio links between Bickleywood and the hubs all support speeds well above 4 Mbps, so in practice most users should see around 2 Mbps most of the time. Remember however that the speed of your local broadband connection is only one factor - if there are bottlenecks elsewhere on the internet, your system will slow down, whatever the speed of your local connection.

How can I improve a slow or unstable connection?

By far the most important factor is having a clear line of sight between your customer unit and the relay mast. Even a single tree in the way can degrade the signal significantly, resulting in reduced connection speed and reliability. Remember that what might have been a clear view two or three years ago may not be now as trees grow. Unfortunately there is little that can be done to correct this other than a bit of tree surgery. My own experience was that lopping a few feet of the top of a garden tree really did make a huge difference.

Can my own wireless network interfere with NobCo?

The signals that carry the broadband connection between your subscriber unit and the local relays are exactly the same as those used in wireless networks around the house. There are only a very limited number of channels available for these signals, and it is possible that your subscriber unit will see either your network or even your neighbour's as a stronger signal than that from the local relay. The 2.4 GHz band covers a series of 13 channels spaced 5 MHz apart, but unfortunately Wi-Fi networks require 25 MHz between channels to avoid interference. This means that there are only three truly independent channels, #1, 6 and 11. Transmitting channels for the NobCo relays are given below:

Bickley Wood - Channels 1 and 8
Villa Farm - Channels 5 and 6
Higher Hall - Channels 5 and 9
Outridge Barn - Channel 11

Typically, most wireless routers are set at one of the non-overlapping channels, 1, 6 or 11. However, this could cause problems if your router uses the same channel as your NobCo signal. Villa Farm users are advised to set their router to either Channel 1 or 11, Higher Hall users to Channel 1, and Outridge Barn users to either Channel 1 or 6. Changing the wireless channel will require going into your router's set-up menu. If you have other wireless users within range (which can be up to 100 m), it may require some experimentation to determine the optimum settings.

Some routers have the option of changing the channel width, where a smaller width reduces potential interference but at the cost of reduced range. In general, you should use the smallest width that gives a satisfactory signal wherever you need it. In particular, be very careful in using the 40 MHz "Turbo" width offered by some routers. It gives you excellent range, but effectively blocks out almost every other wireless channel. Expect a knock on the door from your neighbour if you overdo this mode!

How do I sign up?

Use the links on our contacts page to get in touch. We are still designing the installation package, but we expect to be connecting new users during the summer.

How much will it cost?

All members pay the same monthly fee and receive the same quality of service - there is no tiering of packages. The standard subscription is £20 per month, with a minimum commitment of one year. New members will be required to purchase a subscriber unit, but we have not yet finalised the installation package. There may be options for DIY installation at reduced cost, and/or spreading the installation costs over several months.