FAQ

Wireless Equipment FAQ

Why do the radio units sometimes stall?

Generally high or low voltage is the main contributor to a radio stalling. Dimming lights when large appliances start up (i.e. refrigerator, washer, dryer and furnace or AC) or during storms is a clear sign of fluctuating voltage. Some customers have seen positive results after installing a battery backup system. The battery backup will ensure stable, cleaner power to any piece of equipment that is plugged into it. If you have any questions concerning radio stalls and or battery backup systems please call our office at (815)452-2804.

If my radio unit stalls, what should I do?

Unplugging the power supply to the small white box (POE) and then plugging it back in will restart the radio unit outside and

generally will restore internet service. Occasionally the router and or computer will also need to be powered down.

If there is a router in your network, it can be restarted by unplugging its power cable from the back of the unit and plugging it back in. Routers have an operation system just like a computer and boot at restart. Generally, the power light will blink during restart.

Start up times for both the radio unit and the router will be several minutes. After taking these steps, you find that you still do not have internet access, please contact our office at (815)452-2804.

For further wireless troubleshooting information, click on the here below.

Networking FAQ

Why is my internet access slower when multiple computer are connected to my router?

Maxiis Internet utilizes a system of controls that ensures that each customer receives a set amount of bandwidth (Which generally equates to browsing speed.). This is helpful to ensure that one customer does not pull bandwidth away from another because of a large download or a virus. Because of this, if multiple computers are accessing the internet on the same network (From the same location.), there may be some reduction in browsing speeds. However, it should not be noticeable with normal internet browsing. Generally it is only noticed when one computer is using larger portions of bandwidth because of file transfers, media streaming or virus related issues. A good analogy is a garden hose. If the hose is connected directly to the spout, water flow is as expected. If a splitter is attached at the spout and multiple hoses are connected, there will be a reduction in flow at the end of each hose. Hence, multiple computers browsing = slower browsing speeds. If you are concerned that you are not receiving the appropriate amount of bandwidth, please contact our office at (815)452-2804.

If my bandwidth is controlled, why is the internet slower at some times but not at others?

The internet could be thought of as an intricate highway system. Highway traffic moves slower during rush hour and internet traffic moves slower during peak usage hours. If a portion of the highway is under construction then traffic must be rerouted causing bottlenecks. The same could be said for internet traffic. If a lot of drivers are all commuting toward a popular restaurant, a backup in traffic might occur. If a lot of internet users are attempting to access a certain web page, access times to that site might increase.
Bandwidth can only be used if space for that bandwidth is available. We at Maxiis allocate a set amount of bandwidth , to and from the internet, for each customer. A customer will be able to use that amount of allocated bandwidth 99%+ of the time.
We have no control of what happens beyond our network. Loading a web site at 2:00 PM on Tuesday may not take the same amount of time at 7:00 PM because of traffic flow and routing on the actual internet.
Maxiis Internet is constantly improving bandwidth performance and access to the internet within our network. If you have any questions concerning this or other issues, please contact our office at (815)452-2804.

How do I connect a router to my network?

At some point in time, you may wish to add or replace a router at you home or business. Here are some simple steps to follow when installing a router.

First and most importantly, it is necessary to contact our office any time new equipment is added to your personal network. This will help ensure that your internet speeds remain at the proper rate. Our office number is (815)452-2804.
Now attach the Ethernet cable from the PC port on the POE (small white box) to the Internet or WAN port on the back of the router. Normally, the Internet or WAN port is:

Labeled as such
Is physically separated from the other ports.
Or is a different color than the standard Ethernet. A cable is usually included with the router so that you can then connect a computer. Additional Ethernet cables to connect other computers or devices can be purchased at most office supply stores. If your router and computer have wireless capabilities, additional setup will be necessary in order to connect. Feel free to contact our office at (815)452-2804 if you require assistance.

With the Ethernet cables connected to the appropriate ports on the router, it is now time to power the unit up. Most routers for use do not have a power switch. Power is supplied by plugging the unit into a standard outlet. The operating system for the router will then boot and communicate with the access point to obtain an internet connection. Depending on the operating system in the computer or computers that you have connected, you may see some activity from the icons in the lower right hand corner of your computer screen desktop.

What is a MAC address and why is it important?

A MAC (media access control) address is a unique set of numbers and letters that is permanently assigned to every piece of network hardware, such as a router, the network card in your computer or your wireless radio unit outside. This number is assigned by the manufacturer during production.

The purpose of a MAC addresses is to provide a unique hardware address or physical address for every connecting point on a network. Here is an example of what a MAC address looks like- 00:0E:0C:5B:19:10. The first series of characters identify the make, model and type of equipment.

Without a MAC address, information transfer across the web would not be possible. Maxiis Internet utilizes the MAC address on a PC or router to identify individual customers. This helps us ensure speedy technical support and proper bandwidth.

What is DNS and why is it important?

If you spend any time on the Internet sending e-mail or browsing the Web, then you use domain name servers without even realizing it. Domain name servers, or DNS, are an incredibly important but completely hidden part of the Internet. The DNS system forms one of the largest and most active distributed databases on the planet. Without DNS, the Internet would shut down very quickly.

When you use the Web or send an e-mail message, you use a domain name to do it. For example, the URL "http://www.maxiis.com" contains the domain name maxiis.com. So does the e-mail address "maxiis@maxiis.com."

Human-readable names like "maxiis.com" are easy for people to remember, but they don't do machines any good. All of the machines use something called IP addresses to refer to one another. For example, the web site that humans refer to as "www.maxiis.com" has the IP address 12.2.232.70.

Every time you use a domain name, you use the Internet's domain name servers (DNS) to translate the human-readable domain name into the machine-readable IP address. During a day of browsing and e-mailing, you might access the domain name servers hundreds of times!

What is an IP address and why it is important

An IP address or Internet Protocol address is a code made up of numbers separated by three dots that identifies a computer on the Internet. Every pc, server and network device connected to the Internet is assigned a unique IP address and every bit of information traveling across a network contains a source IP address and a destination IP address.

All IP addresses consist of four sets of numbers from 0 to 255, separated by three dots.

For example:

www.maxiis.com is: 12.2.232.70
www.yahoo.com is: 87.248.113.14
www.google.com is: 209.85.135.104

If you wished, you could enter a web sites IP address in the address bar of your web browser and it would load the appropriate page. Try it with one of the sites listed above.

If you want to know what your IP address is click here

What is DHCP and why is it important?

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a tool that simplifies the running of a network of Internet connected computers. You don’t have to be an Internet engineer or IT network administrator to use and understand DHCP, but it helps. What running a DHCP network means is that instead of having to rely on a static IP address, a computer will be assigned one by the router from a “pool”. When a DHCP router assigns an IP address, it actually loans that number to your computer for a specific amount of time. That time may vary from router to router but it is generally not something that you, the user, should be concerned with. It is just a cleaning and management function that the router does internally.

Just remember, home networking may not be rocket science, but no one ever said it was going to be easy to understand. ;)

Computer FAQ

How do I setup my email account on Outlook Express for my Windows 98 and or Windows XP computer?
How do I setup my email account on Outlook for my Windows computer?
How do I setup Windows Live Mail in Windows7?
How do you use Maxiis Web Mail?

Security FAQ

Will my virus software quit working if I can no longer update it?: An out of date anti-virus software is only a little better than no virus software at all. Virus scanners work by comparing the information on your computer against a collection of virus “signatures”. Each signature helps identify a particular virus, and when the scanner finds data in a file, email, or software that matches the signature, it notifies the user that it has found a virus.

However, a virus scanner can only scan for viruses that it recognizes. It is vital that you keep your anti-virus software up to date. Virtually every maker of anti-virus software provides a way to get updated signature and program files from their website.

There are several good anti-virus software programs available on the internet that can be downloaded for free that will update the signature files automatically. The links below will take you to some of the more popular free programs available.

Avast | Microsoft Security Essentials | AVG

What about mac?

Mac is designed in a way that makes it nearly impossible to take over the computer. Thus there are only about 100 virus for Mac (rather than millions for PC). Never the less there are few anti-virus softwares out there.

iAntiVirus
What is spyware and what does it do?: Spyware is a malicious software program that is installed on personal computers to collect information about the user, their computer and/or browsing habits without their consent. This often occurs when a user visits an unknown website or downloads software online or in an email. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet browsing habits and sites that have been visited, and can also interfere with the computer in other ways. Loss of computer functionality such as slow connection speeds and changed settings is often a result of spyware. It is important to have a good anti-virus program that protects against spyware or a spyware removal software installed on your computer.

Here's a link to a very good free spyware removal program called Spybot - Search and Destroy
What is malware?: Malware is an abbreviated term used to describe a "malicious software" program. Malware includes things like spyware or adware programs, such as tracking cookies, which are used to monitor your surfing habits. It also includes more sinister items, such as keyloggers, Trojan horses, worms, and viruses.

A keylogger is just what it sounds like. It is a program that logs every keystroke you make and then sends that information, including things like passwords, bank account numbers, and credit card numbers, to whomever is spying on you. A "Trojan Horse" may damage your system, and it may also install a "backdoor" through which to send your personal information to another computer. These forms of malware are commonly used for perpetrating identity theft.

A virus or a worm replicates itself and may hijack your system. These types of malware may then be used to send out spam or to accomplish a variety of other unsavory activities, and you may not even know it. Viruses usually attach to other programs, while worms are self-contained. Both can cause severe damage by eating up essential system resources, which may lead to your computer freezing or crashing. Viruses and worms commonly use shared files and items like email address books to spread to other computers.

Any type of code or program that is used for monitoring and collecting your personal information or disrupting or damaging your computer, may be referred to as malware. In fact, malware can be any type of malicious code, even if it has not yet been identified as a worm, Trojan, etc. Good anti-virus programs can be configured to scan email for any type of malicious or suspicious code, and alert you to its presence, even if it is not currently recognized malware.

Anti-virus programs are good protection when kept up to date. However, they frequently miss certain types of malware, such as Trojans and spyware, so it is a good idea to run at least one anti-adware program in conjunction with anti-virus. Running two is even better. Utilizing a firewall is also helpful. While it won't keep malware out, it can keep such programs from accessing the internet and delivering your personal information to the intended target.
What is firewall and do I have one?: If you have been using the Internet for any length of time, and especially if you work at a larger company and browse the Web while you are at work, you have probably heard the term firewall used. For example, you often hear people in companies say things like, "I can't use that site because they won't let it through the firewall."

It turns out that a small home network has many of the same security issues that a large corporate network does. You can use a firewall to protect your home network and family from offensive Web sites and potential hackers.

A firewall is simply a program or hardware device that filters the information coming through the Internet connection into your private network or computer system. If an incoming packet of information is flagged by the filters, it is not allowed through.

All computers with an updated Windows XP, Vista or Windows7 operating system will have a rudimentary firewall installed. It is sufficient in most cases as long as the computer is kept malware and virus free. However, once infected, the firewall in these systems becomes quite porus.

An off the shelf home router will also give you some firewall protection most are configurable to increase or decrease the firewall setting as needed. The operating systems within the router are for the most part immune to malicious attack by virus, malware and spyware.

Want to test your firewall? Try Audit My PC! (It's free!)