At
this time Wi-Fi is available exclusively at Port Fourchon.
Wi-Fi,
or Wireless Fidelity, is a term that is used generically
to refer to any product or service using any type of 802.11
technologies. Wi-Fi enabled devices can send and receive
data wirelessly from any location equipped with Wi-Fi access.
How? Access points transmit a radio signal to Wi-Fi enabled
devices (laptops, etc.) that are within range of the access
point.
Access points are positioned throughout
each service location, which transmit a radio signal wirelessly
to a user's wireless network card. Once your laptop connects
to one of our access points, just launch your web browser
(you will be automatically redirected to the Vision Wi-Fi
signup page) and follow the instructions there.
Each access point on Vision's Wi-Fi
network has up to a 6 MB download connection. Your actual
download/upload speeds may fluctuate depending on network
traffic, and the amount of people connected to the same
access point as you are.
Not necessarily. While most new laptops
are Wi-Fi enabled, yours may not be. If this is the case
you may need to purchase and install a wireless card in
your laptop, which can be purchased in most electronics
and computer stores for around $40 - $60. If you have a
Wi-Fi enabled device, browser and credit card you should
be able to access the network. If you are unsure as to whether
or not you have a wireless card, you will want to consult
the documentation that came with your computer.
Some cell phone/PDAs are now equipped
with the ability to connect to 802.11 wireless networks.
However, for most phones out there, the answer is no. If
you are unsure whether your phone has this functionality,
contact your wireless phone service provider.
With any wireless transmission, the
actual signal is not secure and it can, with effort be picked
up by other parties. It is up to the end user; therefore,
to take the security options that they feel are appropriate,
e.g. using a Virtual Private Network, or VPN tunnel.
Our Wi-Fi network is not Operating
System-specific, and will work with any operating systems
as long as there is a compatible, Internet-ready browser
such as Internet Explorer, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox.
Software drivers differ depending
on the specific wireless network card you purchase. Refer
to the documentation that came with your wireless network
card for specific instructions. If you have any more questions,
or the documentation is unclear, you may want to contact
the network card manufacturer.
Our network is a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
network; therefore, any Wi-Fi certified wireless network
card will work. Look for the Wi-Fi certification on the
wireless network card before purchasing it.
You can access any web-based email
account such as Yahoo.com or Hotmail.com, and also any MobileTel
Internet/Vision Communications e-mail accounts. You can
even access corporate email accounts if your employer provides
you with a virtual private network (VPN) client and a firewall.
As with any wireless communication, our Wi-Fi service is
not inherently secure and you should ensure you have adequate
security safeguards in place.
Yes, the network supports Macintosh
users. Macs with AirPort cards installed usually require
little or no configuration. See the AirPort card documentation
for specific instructions.
No. While both are wireless technology
terms, Bluetooth technology is slightly different. What
this means for consumers is that appliances using Wi-Fi
technology and those using Bluetooth technology are not
interoperable. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are different in several
ways, and are not necessarily in competition. Wi-Fi technology
boasts faster data transfer speeds and range, while Bluetooth
requires less power and is therefore more prominent in small
appliances, such as PDAs and cell phones.
Vision Communications, Latelco, and
MobileTel Internet customers can add Wi-Fi service to their
existing accounts for only $9.99/month. Daily, weekly, and
monthly usage is also available with a credit card for $4.99,
$19.99, and $69.99, respectively unless there is a special
promotion.
Daily, weekly, and monthly usage is measured from the time the credit card is accepted to 24, 168, and roughly 744 hours
later, respectively. Usage time is not banked or separated. If you have added Wi-Fi service to your existing account with us,
you have unlimited monthly access as long your account is not delinquent.
Yes. Vision provides free technical
support to their Wi-Fi customers. You may contact our technical
support department anytime at 866-774-2446.
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