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Below are FAQ subjects. Click on a subject to take you to a specific FAQ. Top Questions Connecting to MetroFi-Free Can see the network but can't connect Coverage area and map information Home and Office Connectivity MetroFi free wireless Internet Membership MetroFi service locations Connection speed (bandwidth) MetroFi security MetroFi access points Virtual Private Networking - VPN Types of Connections Professional installation SSID Email accounts Best Reception Wireless Laptop Free for a limited time How do I connect to the MetroFi–Free network First, you need a WiFi-enabled computer. Most desktops and laptops sold today already have a built-in WiFi capability. It is an easy and relatively inexpensive add-on for older computers - available from most any computer-related retail store. To connect to the MetroFi network, users will select the "MetroFi-Free" or “MetroFi-Premium” network ID when searching available wireless networks on their computer. Once connected, users will open their browser and see a MetroFi registration page where they are asked to register. Users will only need to register once, the first time they log on. On subsequent visits, users will be instantly connected to the Internet. When surfing the web with our free service, users will see an ad banner at the top of their browser page with local and regional advertising sponsors who help support the network and allow MetroFi to offer its WiFi service for free to the residents and visitors. MetroFi’s premium service is available for $19.95 per month and eliminates MetroFi’s ad banner. *Premium service is not available in Riverside. « back to top I am able to see your access point or network SSID but am unable to connect. There are a few reasons why this may be occurring. a. Distance: If you are too far from the neighborhood access point, you will see the SSID, but will not be able to connect, or have a poor quality connection. In this case, we recommend that you install a wireless modem to improve the MetroFi signal to your computer. However, if you have greater than 3 bars of signal strength there may be another problem affecting your service. Please contact us from our online support form for further investigation. b. Network not yet Ready for Service (RFS) : If a MetroFi access point is located on a light pole, but there is no MetroFi-Free SSID in your Wireless Network Connections, then this indicates that we have not yet released that access point into production as RFS. c. Excellent Signal Strength : If you have excellent signal strength (5 Bars) and are unable to access the Internet then verify that you have opened your browser and clicked on the start button to authenticate your session. You should be able to connect and access the internet. « back to top I am looking at your coverage map, but do not see any coverage in my area? When are you coming to my neighborhood? MetroFi is deploying neighborhood-by-neighborhood in several cities at this time and may be coming to your area soon. Click here to enter your e-mail address so that we can notify you as soon as service is available in your area. « back to top Can I get MetroFi inside my home or office? If you are within our coverage area, you may be able to connect to MetroFi’s WiFi network by simply finding and selecting the MetroFi free or Metro Premium network IDs indoors. However, in many cases, distance from our access points and interference from walls and other devises can affect your ability to connect inside. We therefore strongly recommend that you use an indoor “WiFi booster” if you plan to use MetroFi inside your home or office. There are a variety of products available to boost a WiFi signal. We have tested and can recommend Ruckus MetroFlex. For our FAQs on WiFi boosters, click here, or buy a Ruckus MetroFlex now. « back to top What is Free Wireless Internet? MetroFi is providing free access to the Internet, using standards based wireless technology (such as 802.11b/g) which is commonly deployed in laptops and desktop computers. What we do is make arrangements with cities and towns to deploy the necessary network equipment that allows residents, businesses, and visitors the ability to access the Internet for free. In exchange for receiving the service for free, you will see an advertising banner across the top of your browser when accessing the Internet. « back to top Do I have to sign up? Getting MetroFi's Free wireless internet service is easy. Go to www.metrofi.com and enter the address where you want to access the service. We'll check your address and let you know whether or not MetroFi's service is available at that location. If the service is available, all you need to do is open your computer at that location, find the MetroFi SSID and register. You'll be surfing the web in no time! « back to top Where can I access the MetroFi wireless service? MetroFi is currently serving the California Bay Area in Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Foster City, Concord and Southern California in Riverside. We will be expanding service to Portland, Oregon and Aurora, Illinois. If you live in these cities, reference our coverage maps to see if you have already access in your area. Go to our availability page and enter your address – we’ll let you know whether or not service is available in your area. Note that even if you are within the service area you may only get a good signal outdoors and suggest you consider purchasing a high power wireless modem in order to get the best signal strength high access speeds. Click here for more information. « back to top How fast is my wireless Internet connection? MetroFi's Free Internet service provides access speeds up to 1 Mbps downstream and 256 Kbps upstream. * Upstream in the Riverside, CA network is up to 512Kbps. « back to top Is MetroFi secure? Is my connection secure? The MetroFi-Free network operates in 'OPEN' wireless mode. To protect your computer and data, MetroFi advises you to turn on your personal firewall, turnoff file-sharing and ensure your Internet web sites are https enabled for any transactions. When accessing a secure web site the 'lock' should appear on your browser to confirm you are on an encrypted SSL server. « back to top What is an access point, and why don't they all look the same? An access point is a device that connects wireless communication devices together to form a wireless network. MetroFi deploys access points throughout a City, usually on light poles. Below are two examples of MetroFi access points. Regardless of what they look like, each MetroFi access point in our network provides the same function and performance for a smooth, hi performing Internet connection. Click to enter your information to see if you are in our service area!   « back to top Can I access my corporate account using this service? With the introduction of MSN SideGuide, VPN access is no longer possible on the free service. The premium paid service for $19.95 a month does allow for for VPN connections. Your company can help you set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to your corporate network from home or a local park using your MetroFi premium service. * This feature is not available using MetroFi FREE in Riverside, CA. « back to top What type of connections can I make through the MetroFi service? MetroFi customers can telnet, SSH, FTP, VPN or access any other type of connections using a broadband Internet connection. We block all inbound access and we allow all outbound access, except outbound port 25 for free users. Free users will have to use webmail to send and receive email when using the free service. If you wish to use port 25, you will need to sign up for MetroFi’s fee based service at $19.95 per month. If you wish to pursue MetroFi fee based service please contact us. * VPN features are not available using MetroFi FREE in the Riverside, CA network. « back to top What is a professional installation service? MetroFi recommends ExpressNets which offers our subscribers purchase and professional installation services for the Ruckus MetroFlex product. Click here to visit ExpressNets and to learn more. « back to top What is an SSID? Also known as "Service Set Identifier or Network Name" an SSID is the name of a Wireless Local Area Network. The SSID for MetroFi is "MetroFi-Free". The SSID on wireless clients can be set either manually, by entering the SSID into the client network settings, or automatically, by leaving the SSID unspecified or blank and searching for an SSID with your wireless software. You may see other MetroFi SSIDs such as "MetroFi-Premium". Premium service is encrypted and available for a monthly fee in some locations. Click to learn more. « back to top Does MetroFi provide email accounts? MetroFi provides wireless high speed Internet access only. If you require an email account, many companies offer free email, pop-up blocker and other services. We list a few of the most popular services here for your convenience: MSN Hotmail - Free Yahoo! Mail - Free G-Mail (Google) - Free « back to top What is signal strength and how does it relate to my network speed? Signal strength determines whether or not you can connect to the Internet as well as your connection speed. You can view your signal strength using a number of different applications. Windows and Mac OS X provide utilities for managing your wireless connection and displaying signal strength. In addition, there are third party utilities for managing your wireless connection and displaying signal strength. « back to top Can I get the service to work with my existing wireless devices? If you are within 300 feet of an access point, then your computer should be able to directly receive the signal. To use MetroFi’s wireless network, configure your wireless network connection to access the "MetroFi-Free" network (SSID). If you are having difficulty, or are not familiar with this process, click here for PC for step by step instructions or here for Macintosh instructions for connecting to MetroFi’s high speed wireless internet service. If you have low signal strength, slow speeds or are unable to connect then you may need a high power wireless modem. More information can be found about wireless modems by clicking here. « back to top Is the service free for a limited period? As long as MetroFi has agreements with your municipality, the service will be Free. « back to top |
