5MileWIFI Frequently Asked Questions

1) Is there a monthly connect fee with 5MileWIFI?

No.  5MileWIFI is a hardware only solution.  It will enable you to connect to distant wifi hotspots.  Some hotspots will offer pay as you go connections and some will offer free access.

2) Will 5MileWIFI guarantee me a WIFI connection? 

No.  Every location is different.  So long as there are hotspots in the area, you will be able to see them. Connecting to them is determined by the owner of the hotspot.

3) Where should I mount my antenna for best results?

Generally speaking, the higher the better since wifi is line of sight.  The omni antenna should be mounted as free as possible from obstacles and in a vertical position.

4) How do I disable my laptop’s internal wifi card?

Often the computer itself will have a hardware switch to disable the internal laptop card.  It is easiest to just disable the card in the network connections page.  Follow these directions for Windows - Start-> Settings -> Control Panel -> Network Connections.  Then locate the wireless connection and right-click.  Select the first option Disable.  To re-enable the card just do the same thing and select Enable.

5) What application will run the 5MileWIFI booster?

There is no application included with the 5MileWIFI booster - it needs a simple (included) driver.  It is designed to be used with the windows wireless network application.

6) I see lots of hotspots but which one should I connect to?

Generally you will see a mixture of secured and unsecured hotspots.  Most pay sites are unsecured so that you can log onto them and purchase time on a credit card.  Often you will fiind free sites associated with bars or restaurants.  Choose the best hotspot available to you with the strongest signal.

7) When I try to connect to a hotspot I get an error message.

Some hotspots appear unsecured but are actually secured by a hardware MAC address.  You cannot connect to these hotspots without having your MAC address entered by the system administrator of the hotspot.  You will receive an error message when you try to connect to these hotspots.

8) What is the maximum range that I can expect with my 5MileWIFI booster?

There is no way to accurately answer that question since each and every location and hotspot is different.  Our customers have reliably connected at ranges up to 10 miles.  Remember - WIFI is line of sight of the clearer that your path is to the hotspot, the farther away you can connect.

9) If I only have 1 available USB port, what can I do?

The 5MileWIFI booster needs two USB ports - one for power and one for signal.  The power USB connection is the wire attached to the unit and the signal USB port is attached directly to the unit.  The signal USB connection MUST be attached to the computer's USB port.  The power USB can be attached to an optional 12V adapter or an optional 110/220 adapter.

10) Is the 5MileWIFI booster unit waterproof?

No.  It is designed to sit next to your computer or laptop.  It should not be exposed to the elements.

11) What is the power consumption of the 5MileWIFI booster?

Power is supplied by the computer's USB port or by an optional 12V or AC adapter.  Power consumption will vary depending on the ratio of transmitting to receiving.  Total consumption can vary from 40mW for receiving to 1000mW for transmitting.

12) My unit feels warm to the touch – is this normal?

Yes.  The chipset on the 5MileWIFI is designed to be cooled by the aluminum housing. The housing will be warm to the touch but not hot.

13) Can I share the connection amongst multiple computers?

Yes.  The 5MileWIFI booster supports windows Internet Connection Sharing feature.  Computers on a local network can share the signal through the 5MileWIFI booster.

14) Can I operate the 5MileWIFI booster with a different antenna or a rubber ducky antenna.

Yes.  But never operate the 5mile without an antenna attached. This could potentially cause damage to the unit.  Always unplug the unit from power and computer before removing the antenna cable.

15) Does 5MileWIFI work on a macintosh?

Unfortunately our Macintosh driver is not supported by Apple in version 10.5 and higher of MAC OS. Only problems have come from trying to work around the issues created by Apple with the new OS. As a result, we have decided not to support any versions of the MAC OS at this time.