Text Area - FAQFrequently Asked Questions
How does your internet service work? Unlike dial-up and ADSL, our products do not rely on cable or phone lines, allowing us to affordably serve the rural area well. A radio signal travels between our link to the world wide web and our backhaul, which is a direct connection. This signal is then transmitted via radio waves through our access points, located on our various towers, to the subscriber module (a radio and antenna) located at your premises. In addition to our 270' foot communications grade tower, we have a number of smaller towers across Parkland, Lac Ste Anne and Leduc Counties.
Unlike dial-up and ADSL, our products do not rely on cable or phone lines, allowing us to affordably serve the rural area well. A radio signal travels between our link to the world wide web and our backhaul, which is a direct connection. This signal is then transmitted via radio waves through our access points, located on our various towers, to the subscriber module (a radio and antenna) located at your premises.
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How can an independent small business compete with other internet service providers? We know companies can't be experts at everything; thus, we have contracted services from some of the top providers allowing us to focus on what we do best - provide high speed internet to the rural community. By contracting with the best, we are assured that our servers are located in the safest vault in Edmonton and that our connections to the world wide web are as short as possible by using the SuperNet. Instead of needing to purchase expensive specialized equipment and maintain the specialized staff to run it, we purchase services from the best at a margin of the cost; therefore making it possible to provide great service where there is not a huge population base. Only through this approach, is it possible to make ends meet in rural areas.
Why should I buy my service from canadasurfs? We are a strong, vibrant company that continues to reinvest, supporting unprecedented growth to under and un-served communities. We are responsible and work within the laws and regulations, and with the community in planning and developing our deployments. We hire community members and use local businesses where possible. Our respect for the environment far exceeds email billing and communication practices. We have one tower that is totally off the grid, powered by sun and wind. We plan further deployments using only green power.
Our pricing may look higher, however, once you factor in the extra charges often hidden in the long contracts you may sign with other companies, we have the best deal around. We don't need three year contracts as our service is that good that once people purchase the service, they rarely leave – we often have clients moving and contacting us for service in their new location.
We get to know our clients and visa-versa. You are not an account number – we are not anonymous voices on the other end of the line. As we largely rely on word of mouth to sell our services, we know our reputation must stay solid. This is only possible by providing a fast, reliable internet at a reasonable cost, backing it up with friendly, effective service. Why would you go with anyone but us? Check out our clients testimonials about their experiences.
What are your download limits? We manage our download limits through our acceptable use policy, which means that you are not limited by set arbitrary limits like many other companies and then charged for overages. You receive consistent, fast high speed internet you can count on to be delivered to ensure fair and equitable access. Ask us how this works - call 780-686-SURF!
What is a gigabyte (gig) of download/upload? According Archive Builders Home Page: it is the equivalent of 2 file cabinets of paper scanned = 10 cubic feet = 1,000 MBytes = 1 GigaByte (gig) According to Internet Archive: 1 MB is one mystery novel, 1 copy of Encyclopedia Britannica = 1 gigabyte (2,619 pages per copy so 409,981 bytes or about 400 KB per page). This sounds like a lot doesn't it? Wait until you think of the average download size of a movie...1.5 gig according to Quickfix movie download service. How about a game for the X-Box 360 at 6.8 gig? A song at 4.2 MB...think about how you might want to use your high speed both today and in the future, before you sign up for plans with low upload and download limits. You could find yourself paying far more than you thought you would and be stuck in a three year contract.
Are you an environmentally friendly company? We not only bill through email reducing the use of paper and our carbon footprint in this manner, but go far beyond in our efforts to conserve our environment. We have outfitted one tower which is solar powered with wind power back up. We are plannig other towers that only rely on green energy - we are truly working to minimize our impact on the environment!
What kind of equipment do you use? We use Cambium (formerly Motorola) designed, engineered and manufactured equipment. These products have been running in real life customer applications for years and have an exceptional product life. These products are fully upgradeable ensuring we have the latest tools at our fingertips and employ multiple levels of security. These products are extensively used by reputable providers and have the capacity to coordinate settings to reduce interference .
How do you protect the equipment from lightning? This part of Alberta has a high incidence of lightning storms and strikes. Our towers are all properly grounded with lightning protection and have staff certified specifically in this area. At your home, we follow manufacturer's recommendations with regard to surge suppression and grounding. Not all provider's take this precaution - we don't believe those risks are worthwhile taking, after all it is your safety we are talking about.
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PC: On a PC, the easiest way to determine the IP address is to run the ipconfig command. Hold down the windows key (the key on the bottom left between the control and alt key with the windows symbol on it) and press the R key. In the Run window, type in “cmd” and hit OK. This will open a command prompt window. Type in “ipconfig” and press enter. The IP address will be listed. If this address begins with 192.168, you have a router which needs to be checked. Please refer to the page on troubleshooting Routers.
Mac: On a Mac, go to the Apple menu at the top left hand corner of the screen and click on System Preferences. Under the View section, click on the Network icon.
Do I need a modem? Wired services like those provided by Shaw and Telus require a modem in your house to connect to the internet. The radios that we mount to the outside of your house do the same thing as a modem, so you do not need a modem inside your home. We do require a power supply inside the house to run electricity to the radio.