You send us an address. A while later you get an answer: yes, no, or not yet. This post covers what happens in between, so the answer makes sense when it arrives.
The short explanation is that fixed wireless depends on what sits between your property and one of our tower sites. A site survey is how we find out. Until it is done, we do not promise service to anyone.
It starts with your address, not a map
Our internet arrives as a wireless signal from a tower site to a small outdoor antenna at your property. That antenna stays fixed and aimed at the tower site, which is why a clear line of sight matters so much.
It also means a city name tells us very little. As our coverage page puts it, availability depends on the exact address and line of sight to one of our tower sites. Two homes on the same street can get different answers because of a hill, a stand of trees, or a roofline.
So step one is simple. You send us your address and tell us how you use the internet: working from home, streaming, running a business, or something else.
We begin with a desk review. Most addresses can be reviewed using mapping tools, terrain data, and network information. We look at the elevation of your property, which tower sites are nearby, the estimated line of sight, known obstructions, and the distance involved.
Sometimes the desk review settles it. Some properties need a closer look, and that is the site survey.
What we check at your property
A map can estimate a line of sight. It cannot see the oak that grew since the photo was taken, or the neighbor's new second story. The site survey confirms two things: a clear line of sight to one of our tower sites, and the signal quality at your property.
Depending on the property, a site survey may include:
- Photos you send us. A few shots of the roofline or the property can answer a lot of questions early.
- A site walkthrough. We look at the real environment, not a rendering of it.
- A look from a possible mounting point. What matters is the view from where the antenna would sit, not from the driveway.
- Signal testing at your property. This shows us the signal quality, not just whether the tower site is visible.
- A pole or rooftop check. We confirm the mounting point is safe and practical.
- Trees and cable routing. We note foliage that could weaken the signal and plan how the cable would get indoors.
Trees deserve a special mention in the North Bay. Dense trees and vegetation can weaken or block a wireless signal, and the effect depends on how many there are, how dense they are, moisture, distance, and mounting height.
We also check things you cannot see from the yard. The tower site serving you needs room for your connection, so available network capacity is part of the answer too.
Where the antenna can go
Mounting is often the difference between a no and a yes. The usual options are a roof, a wall, or a pole at the property.
Sometimes going higher helps. A higher roofline, pole, or other approved mounting point may clear a nearby obstruction. Height is not a cure for everything, though. The mounting point still needs to be safe, practical, structurally sound, and approved as part of the installation.
During the survey we also think through the rest of the install: a safe place for the antenna, the cable route, power, and access. Indoors, the equipment is modest. A small power injector feeds the antenna, and an Ethernet cable hands the connection to your router. There is no modem.
The yes, the no, and the not yet
After the survey, we follow up with a plain answer.
If it is a yes, we recommend a connection suited to how you use it and quote the agreement before we start. Installation is priced up front as a flat quote before any work begins. Then our own team schedules a professional installation: they mount and aim the antenna, run the cable, and test the connection before they leave. The how it works page walks through the rest.
If it is a no, we tell you that we cannot serve the address today. We would rather say so than install something that will not hold up.
If it is a not yet, there may be other routes worth discussing, such as a different mounting location or a pole or structure you provide. We can also keep your address on file for future review. To be straightforward about that last part: future service or expansion is not guaranteed.
One more caveat. An initial map review is not a final guarantee of service. Final confirmation may depend on what we find during the site survey or installation.
The short version
- Check availability. Send us your address and how you use the internet.
- Site survey. We confirm line of sight to one of our tower sites and the signal quality at your property.
- Professional installation. If it fits, we quote the agreement first, then install and test.
You decide whether to move forward after we have surveyed your property. A neighbor with our service is a good sign, but every address gets its own review.
One customer, Jenny Ramaswamy, wrote in a Google review: "If you have a difficult internet issue, especially in a rural area, don't hesitate to call them ASAP."
If you are wondering whether we can reach your home or business, the first step costs you a few minutes. Check availability, send us a message, or call or text (415) 892-7711. Office and sales hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific, and we have been doing this from Novato since 1997.
