|
Frequently Asked Questions:
In the coming months, we will be adding
to this list of frequently asked questions in hopes of providing you
with a place to find quick answers. The list will grow as we
get them. We recommend
that MLeaf subscribers print this list of questions. If you ever lose your
internet connection, you may not be able to access it to assist you
in troubleshooting.
What hardware do I need to connect to the MLeaf network?
What is
the coverage area of the MLeaf network?
How do I configure my radio device/card to connect to the MLeaf
network?
Is a wireless network secure? Can others intercept the data
I'm sending, or eavesdrop on what I do online?
How do I configure my
e-mail client?
Every time my phone rings I lose my MLeaf connection! I
thought an MLeaf wireless connection didn;t use the phone line?
What is wrong?
What hardware do I need to connect to the MLeaf network?
All that is required to connect to the
MLeaf network is an 802.11b/g compatible radio connected to / installed in your
device, and a user account configured. In some devices such as
notebook computers, these radios may be onboard at time of purchase.
What is
the coverage area of the MLeaf network?
Our current coverage area is roughly 3-4
miles in any direction of one of our access points. The closer
you are to our access point the easier it will be for you to
connect to the network. The main concern when trying to
connect is what's known as "Line Of Sight" (LOS for future
reference). LOS refers to the fact that our signal does not
travel through trees and walls. Technically, if you are close
enough to the other radio you are trying to connect to, the signal
may penetrate trees and walls, although you cannot depend on this
for reliable service. The best way to think about LOS is to
make sure wherever you mount your radio or antenna, that location
has Line Of Sight to the access point you are trying to connect to.
Obviously, the higher you can mount your radio or antenna, the
better the chance it will "see" our antenna on top of Harmony water
tower. As a rule of thumb, if you can see the top
any nodes shown on the coverage map, you can connect to our network.
Sometimes you can connect even with some obstructions present, but
we try to maintain clear line of sight.
Click on image to open map of our
coverage area.
It should be noted that although you may be in a location on the
map that falls within our coverage area, your elevation (such as
down in a valley) and obstructions such as woods will generally make
it difficult to connect. If you would like to subscribe, but
think there may be an obstruction, contact us for a free site
survey. There are always solutions to get you connected, and
our goal is to provide internet ANYWHERE.
An illustration of "Line Of Sight"
There are several
options to establish or improve the Line Of Sight:
-
Raise the antenna
mounting point on the existing structure.
-
Build a new
structure, i.e. radio tower, which is tall enough to mount the
antenna.
-
Increase the height
of an existing tower.
-
Locate a different
mounting point, i.e. building or tower, for the antenna.
-
Cut down problem
trees. (While Maple Leaf
Networks doesn't recommend trading the beauty of a nice tree for
Internet service, sometimes strategic trimming can aid in
getting a good signal.)
How do I configure my radio device/card to connect to the MLeaf
network?
There are so many MLeaf compatible
devices available at retail outlets, we cannot say how your specific
device is configured, although here are some common configuration
settings you may need:
Mode: Infrastructure
SSID: MLEAFx(1,2,3,4 or 5)
WEP: OFF
IP address: DHCP (dynamically
assigned)
We've found if you are running
Windows XP, it's better to use the software utility that came with
your device than to let Windows configure your connection
automatically. Your results may vary.
If you have configured your device with
these settings it should connect. It may be required to use
some type of site survey utility in the device to have it scan for
our access point. Once it finds our access point, you can
usually select it from a list, and hit a "connect" button.
Make sure your computer or device is configured to accept a DHCP
(dynamically assigned) IP address. If you open a web browser,
it should present you with a login screen. Enter your MLeaf
user name and password to connect. Once you've connected the
first time, your browser may remember the login, until the next time
you clear the cache memory, or reboot, and you will most likely not
have to enter this user name and password every time you open a
browser.
If you currently own a device compatible with the 802.11b/g
standard, you can test a connection by configuring it as explained
above, then opening a web browser. If you are presented with a
login screen, you are most likely connected to the MLeaf network,
and can simply call us to set up an account to begin using the
network.
Is a wireless network secure? Can others intercept the data
I'm sending, or eavesdrop on what I do online?
While the MLeaf network does not use the
standard 128-bit WEP encryption featured in most 802.11b devices,
our network utilizes a 2048-bit encryption between our devices, with
several other layers of security we would rather not discuss here.
While our security is stronger than most wired networks, we still
recommend that clients be conscious of what they do online as far as
who they're sending information to. When making credit card
transactions, or entering information about yourself online, try to
use secure servers. You can usually tell if you're using a
secure server to send information online when there is a padlock
symbol in the bottom bar of your browser. No network is 100%
secure, wired or wireless, although you can trust that we make every
effort to keep the MLeaf network as secure as possible. We
have tested and continue to research the most effective ways to
secure our network.
How do I configure my
e-mail client?
To retrieve your e-mail on the MLeaf
network, you will need to set both incoming and outgoing mail
servers to: mail.mleaf.net
MLeaf customers also enjoy use of our
webmail system to retrieve their e-mail from any computer with a web
browser.
Every time my phone rings I lose my Internet connection. I
thought MLeaf Wireless didn't use the phone line. What is
wrong?
Because some household devices share the
2.4ghz frequency range with MLeaf internet service, one must take
care not to use one of these devices in close proximity to your
MLeaf connected radio antenna. The most common signal
interference originates from 2.4ghz cordless phones. Older or
very powerful microwave ovens can also cause interference. We
recommend not locating the base station of your cordless phone, or a
microwave oven, within 10 feet of the antenna that connects you to
the MLeaf Internet service. Although these interference problems are
rare, one must be aware of them in case you lose your connection
intermittently. One solution for interference from cordless
phones is to use a phone that operates in the 900mhz or 5.8ghz band. |
