OnALot.com Wireless System Speeds

Below is a chart showing the data line speeds each of our systems start with. These speeds are what we purchase from our providers, and we add to them as our customer base grows.  While these speeds are important to note, there are several things that limit the actual speed, or the throughput, that you will see. 

1. Sending data over radio waves requires us to make it secure so that non-OnALot persons cannot get into our system or your computer.  These security measures plus other necessary internet protocols "eat" about 20% or more of the bandwidth. 
   
   
2. All of our systems are shared systems, meaning, you and other customers all "talk" to the same central radio, called an Access Point.  These Access Points are located on the nearest Tower to your home or office.  Being shared, all customers get some percentage of the total bandwidth available.  When no one else is online, you get it all, when others are online, you get as much as the system will parcel out.  Some cities with a lot of customers have multiple Access Points to divide up the the traffic more evenly.  OnALot cannot control how much you or anyone gets at any given time, therefore your throughput will vary.
   
   
3. OnALot does not offer more speed for more money. We cannot selectively bump up your speed. Everyone on your system gets the same amount subject to the factors given on this page.
   
   
4. Your speed will also be affected by the following factors: temperature, really severe weather, trees, buildings, large metal objects between you and the Access Point, and the quality of your connection to our system.
   
   
5. Some systems are built as hops or links from other systems.  Grayson links to Henryetta, for example.  These hops will increase the latency, or lag time, when downloading.  This means the page will start downloading a bit later than you might expect, but once it starts, it goes at the maximum speed that is available at that moment.
   
   
6. A special note to Gamers:  OnALot cannot guarantee low "lag" or "ping" times for Gamers.  You can connect your Xbox or other game console to our system, but you will have to accept whatever lag and ping times you get.  We cannot and will not bump you up at the expense of our other customers.  These devices often use excessive amounts of bandwidth, and we cannot guarantee your results.
   
   
7. Music / Video downloaders: This activity is expressly forbidden if done through a peer-to-peer, or P-2-P, network.  Many sites offer pay-per-download music and video, which is OK with us since it is download only.  You pay OnALot to download files, and you can do so as much and as often as you like. 
   
   However, a P-2-P network turns your computer into a server, which sends your files to other non-OnALot users as well as prematurely wearing out your Computer's Hard Drive.  This uploading uses up almost all of our bandwidth, effectively preventing other OnALot users from getting online.  And quite often you, the user, are totally unaware of this upload activity since these sites don't advertise it well nor make it easily understood.  We actively block P-2-P websites and will contact you if we notice excessive upload activity (which may also be a sign of a virus infected computer).  If you are using a P-2-P network, and will not stop your activities, we will cut you off and may terminate your relationship with OnALot.com permanently if you do not agree to comply.  There will be no refund on installation or equipment should this occur, so don't ask.
   
   
8. OnALot reserves the right to reduce, limit or completely stop the throughput to any customer who refuses to comply with the above rules. Most of our systems have equipment built in that will allow rate control, and we will use it as necessary so that a "problem customer" does not adversly affect the operation of the system or interfere with the activities of our other customers.
   
   

We set the speed of all our Access Points - our radios up on the towers - to 5.5 or 11.0 mbps, which allows multiple customers to all get a fair share of the available bandwidth. Because all our systems are shared, your speed at any given time will vary due to the activities of others, plus the factors shown above.

As our customer base grows, we purchase more bandwidth to meet the need.  Sometimes this takes the addition of equipment, more access points or both.  Regardless, we are committed to bringing you the best speeds at affordable prices, and in rural areas where nothing else is available. 

The chart below shows the Download, Upload and Capacities for each City. Many cities have more capacity, which allows multiple users to get more bandwidth, or, it's divided up between multiple systems in the same City.

Here is a City / Speed table which shows the data line capacity for each system.

Note: you will not get these speeds due to the above factors, they are only shown for reference.

mbps = Million Bits Per Second, kbps = Thousand Bits Per Second