Fixed wireless internet has become a necessity for those living in rural areas. It allows access to the internet even if you’re far removed from a populated location. The reason why it is so popular is that it doesn’t require any cabling or phone lines to set up. It uses radio waves to transmit the signals over long distances. This makes it the perfect setup for high-speed rural internet when you’re traveling to or living in remote areas.
But, what exactly is fixed wireless internet? And how is it better than other forms of internet connection? Let’s explore further in the article below.
What is fixed wireless internet?
The aim of fixed wireless internet is to solve the problem of high costs and long distances. Internet connections like Fiber optic incur a very high cost when setting up the infrastructure. They also cannot reach over large distances as this will require miles worth of cables leading directly to your location. Due to this, ISPs almost never spend time or money on building these infrastructures.
Fixed wireless internet overcomes this by setting up a wireless connection. The ISP will set up radio towers in multiple locations around the country. A tower close to you will beam the internet signals directly to an antenna at your location. You don’t need any cables here. The transmission takes place only through the air. This whole setup is similar to satellite internet. But, it is more reliable, stable, and faster than satellite internet.
How does fixed wireless internet work?
Because this method uses radio signals, they are similar to 4G/5G wireless internet. The USP will transmit the signals from their transmitters to create an internet connection. You don’t just find these signal transmitters attached to radio towers. You can even find them placed strategically on different poles, buildings, and other high locations. The aim here is to create a sort of wireless network for signals to travel freely.
First, the antenna receives the signal. Then, it sends it to your in-home modem/router. After this, the web signals convert into the web connection you see – allowing you to browse with high-speed internet.
The only thing to keep in mind is that there needs to be a clear line-of-sight between the antennae and the transmitter. If there is any interference in between, it will affect the speed and latency of the internet connection.
Is an antennae enough or do you need a dish?
Due to how similar this is to satellite internet, most of us assume we need a receiving dish for it to work. However, an antenna is more than enough. Unlike satellite internet, you are not receiving the signals beamed from space. You just need to make sure that there are no trees, hills, or buildings in between that can cause problems with the connection.
An antenna is also much cheaper than installing a satellite dish or installing cables.
Does weather affect the internet signals?
One of the main problems of satellite internet is that the speed and latency take a massive hit in bad weather conditions. This is because the signals are passing through a lot of these atmospheric pressures to reach the satellite dish. Now, fixed wireless internet towers are land-based. So, you won’t face the same issue. There will still be some interference in times of heavy rain and fog. But for the most part, you don’t need to worry.
Will you face latency issues with fixed wireless internet?
Typically, the cell towers that transmit the internet signals are not far away from the receiving antenna. They are at a much shorter range than other forms of wireless internet. Due to this, you will notice a lot less lag and latency issues when browsing the internet.
With fixed wireless internet, you are assured high-speed and stable internet even in very remote locations.
You can now see why this type of internet connection is becoming increasingly popular with people living in remote areas. It offers many advantages over other internet connections and you can even work comfortably away from other people.
However, this doesn’t mean that every fixed wireless internet solution will do this for you. You need to select a service provider that can reliably ensure you are always getting high-speed internet. If you are ready to set up your fixed wireless internet connection, check out Wireless Solutions LLC. They offer high-speed internet covering a large area of the country for an affordable price!
