Broadband means, very simply, a high-speed connection to the Internet that is 'always on'. It is significantly faster than the dial-up (56K) modems enabling you to view web content and download files more quickly. It's called broadband because it has a much larger capacity to receive (and send) data.

Yes – it really is as simple as that. Satellite Broadband is available ANYWHERE in Europe via different spots. See the coverage area page to find out the different spots.

This will depend on what you will be using broadband for. Most satellite broadband packages are based around how much you use it. If you are using it for general surfing and emailing from home or a small office, our Tooway service could be the right, cost effective solution for you.

Am I charged for the time my broadband modem or computer is online?

No. With our broadband packages you pay a fixed amount each month, no matter how often you use it.

 

Does Satellite Broadband have any limitations I should be aware of?

There are a few specialized uses that it is important to choose the correct system for but other than that, there is not much difference between satellite and other broadband services. Unlike some of our competitors, our packages accept direct connection to Apple, Linux, Unix or Windows NT operating systems.

Our Tooway Satellite Broadband packages are not really suitable for:

-     Some remote control software and video

-     Heavy uplink traffic, such as Web or FTP hosting

-     Certain VPN applications

-     Online gaming and peer-to-peer networking

 

What equipment do I need?

You supply the computer, a trained installation engineer will install the satellite dish (outside) and connect it to a modem (inside).

 

How fast is Tooway?

All four Tooway packages operate at a maximum download speed of 3.6Mbps and a maximum upload speed of 384 Kbps. Satellite Broadband works in a different way to a normal (ADSL) connection in that you don’t “share” your connection with your neighbours. You may have read in the press that many people that use ADSL pay for a system that consistently fails to deliver the speed that they are paying for. For example, a recent Ofcom study proved that the average speed achieved by ADSL customers buying an 8Mbps service was in fact 3.6Mbps. Therefore an 8Mbps ADSL connection is directly comparable with our Tooway packages.

 

Can I install it myself?

We advise you to carry out the installation by a qualified installer. If you want to carry out the installation yourself, please use the correct measurement equipment which can be found on this website.

 

Are email and other services included?

Tooway supports the usual webmail applications like Hotmail, Gmail, MSN and Yahoo but if you use an email client (E.g. Microsoft Outlook) you will require the use of an SMTP server to send your mail, as many ISP’s allow you to receive email but block you from sending. If that sounds like technical mumbo jumbo, yes you will get an email address and yes, we’re happy to show you exactly how it works.

 

Do I need a phone line?

No you do not.

 

Are there any minimum requirements for computers?

No, most computers these days come with a network card or wireless option which will allow you to connect to the internet.

 

Can I integrate Tooway into a network?

Yes, it’s possible to connect the modem directly to a router, or other network LAN device, to share the connection with other users. We can supply you with a suitable router with wireless capability.

 

Can I use a wireless router with Tooway?

Yes. With a wireless router, anyone at your location can access the Broadband connection without needing to physically connect to the modem (hence “wireless”). Our technicians are happy to help you set this up properly when installing your system to make sure it is both secure and working properly. The wireless router box may say “plug and play” but in our experience, it’s nice to let someone who knows what they’re doing do the “plugging” and leave you to enjoy the “playing”.

 

Can I connect more than one user to the service?

Yes, it is possible to connect the equipment directly to a router, or other network LAN devices, to share the connection with other users. See the answer above about using a wireless router that will enable you to share your connection with multiple users.

 

Can I play online games with Tooway?

We do not recommend Tooway for online gaming due to something called latency (ie. The time it takes the signal to get up and down from a satellite 22,000 miles high.

 

Can I use this equipment with my Apple Mac or Linux computer?

Yes. With all our services connection via non Microsoft Windows platforms is straightforward.

 

Are there limits to how much data I can transfer?

Yes, each service is subject to a Fair Access (FAP). The FAP has been designed to be as open and flexible as possible, while ensuring fair use for all users. Unlike other services, where hard transfer limits apply over which you are charged per additional MB, Tooway employ a Fair Access Policy. In summary this means that during peak usage times, heavier users of the service will experience some reduction in their connection speed, ensuring an equitable access for all users throughout the day. There are no hidden changes.

 

What is a Fair Access Policy?

The Fair Access Policy has been defined by our Satellite Provider (Skylogic) to enable each user to receiver a high quality internet access service via Satellite. The FAP is implemented to prevent unfair use and an unacceptable use of the network.

 

Does the Fair Access Policy apply to both upload and download?

Yes, traffic volume is measured on both the inbound and outbound connection.

 

What happens if I exceed my traffic usage, will I be cut off?

No, you will not be cut off but your bandwidth will be reduced until you come out of restriction. This is to help maintain a quality of service for all users.

 

Is the Fair Access Policy applied 24 hours a day?

Yes, there is however a night time policy where only 50% of the total transferred data volume is counted in the calculation. This is from the hours of 12 midnight till 6am GMT.

 

Can I check how much traffic I am using?

Yes, you can request a copy of your FAP graph from our support team. We are also working on an online facility and hope to have this service available in the near future..

 

Can I get more advice on the Fair Access Policy?

Yes, a member of our support team will be happy to discuss any questions you may have.

 

Can I get more bandwidth after I acceed my traffic usage?

yes, you can buy Volume Boosters of 500 Mb or 1 Gb to get you out of the Fair Acces Policy.

 

Will I need to buy any extra software?

As your broadband connection is 'always on', it is a good idea to install firewall software to protect you from any attempts by hackers to access the files on your computer. Tooway4you strongly recommends that you install a suitable Firewall and Antivirus software to protect your computer from unauthorized access from the internet.

 

Do I require planning permission or other permits?

Though conditions may vary slightly from county to county, normally planning permission is not required for your satellite dish provided you do not have other dishes on your building. If your building is a protected historical building official permits will be required. Also, if your location is within a short distance of an airfield, or similar, special conditions may apply. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with the rules and regulations regarding the placement of equipment on the building you occupy. However, since it is what we do for a living, we’re always pleased to offer you advice based upon our knowledge and experience but any final decisions & responsibility do remain with you.

 

Do I need my landlord's permission?

If you do not own the building where the equipment is to be installed, you must get written authorization from the landlord approving the installation.

 

What equipment do I need for broadband?

A satellite dish (outdoors) and a small modem (indoors). Generally we provide a 96cm dish, however in some locations a larger dish may be required to ensure strong signal strength. You will be advised in advance if a larger dish is necessary and if any additional costs apply.

 

I've heard of latency issues with satellite - what does this mean?

Due to the distance travelled by the signal to/from your computer and the Internet Hub, via the satellite, older satellite technologies exhibited a noticeable lag between communications. Our latest Satellite Broadband services employs software techniques to minimize this lag, including an Internet Protocol Accelerator (“ IPA”). In use, when a web page is requested for example, the IPA strips out surplus protocol data and requests, and retrieves the page in fewer larger 'pieces', than a typical dialup connection for example which assembles the page piece by piece. Similarly this technique is ideal for handling large file or email downloads.

 

Why does ping not work/give very slow response?

Due to latency, when a network tool like ping typically sends small data packets, this accentuates this issue.

 

How can I check what download/upload performance I am getting?

www.speedtest.net.

This will give a good idea of your systems performance.

 

Do I need additional software?

No, as Tooway service is designed to be plug n’ play. We do however advise you to use a hardware or software firewall and an anti-virus program. If you are using a router then this will mask your ports and act as a basic firewall. In addition to a firewall you must run some form of anti-virus software on any system that is connected to the internet all, or most, of the time. AVG anti-virus is a free program that is worth a look, and there are many others from Norton, Sophos etc.

PLEASE NOTE: The above download links are offered for information only. Tooway4you is not responsible for any software you choose to download and install and can therefore not offer any support for the above products.

 

Does the satellite service get affected by weather?

The standard dish installation is designed to withstand 60mph winds. Clouds and showers have little impact on satellite communications. However, torrential rain may cause degraded service in extreme conditions as signals are reflected a little by rain. Our systems automatically increase power levels to compensate for losses.

 

Can I get a connection faster than 3.6Mbps?

Not currently, but in the future yes. In 2011, we expect satellite Broadband speeds to exceed 10Mbps. When we do reach this point, we will be giving our current customers the first option to upgrade to the new services.