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Frequently Asked Questions What is myOsseo? myOsseo is the name of the City of Osseo's high-speed wireless Internet service (Wi-Fi1). I Live in Osseo, But on a Boundary or in a Corner - Can I Get Wireless Service? Yes, the project calls for coverage for all land within the boundaries of Osseo. Who Built and Operats myOsseo? myOsseo is a private - public partnership between the City of Osseo (which will own the network), Unplugged Cities (which operates and maintains the network and provide subscriber services), and GO Networks (which built the network). How fast is myOsseo Internet service? myOsseo customers who subscribe to the basic service should experience average speeds of up to 1 Mbps2, which is at least 20 times faster than dial-up connections that generally run at about 50 kbps. However, speed is dependent on several factors, including the number of simultaneous users on the system and the user's location in relation to an access point3 (transceiver). Service offerings of up to 128 Kbps and up to 3 Mbps are also available. Will There be a Help Desk? Yes, myOsseo customers will have access to technical assistance 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by simply calling (763) 235-3026 Customer service representatives will respond to calls with greetings recognizing you as a myOsseo subscriber. Will There Be a Local myOsseo Store? Yes, people will be able to subscribe and pick up needed equipment (usually the gateway) at a City Hall myOsseo storefront. Tuesday and Thursday or call (763) 235-3026 and we will schedule a time to meet you. What Will Be My Payment Options? Subscribers will be able to pay monthly invoices using credit cards, automated bank card, or check. Do I Need to Sign a Long-Term Agreement? No. The service agreement allows you to cancel service at any time, requiring you to pay for only the services used by you to the point of cancellation and returning any leased equipment. Can I Connect Multiple Computers to One myOsseo Account in My Home or Business? Yes. An individual account's connection can be shared among multiple computers in that household. Of course, sharing your services with others outside of your household is not allowed. Your speed may be affected by multiple computers on the same gateway. Is the Wireless Network Secure? Yes, industry standard security and encryption procedures will be implemented and create protection for subscribers using the myOsseo provided gateway. Use of built-in laptop radios or other devices within your home can create security vulnerabilities. You will need to be sure to secure your network within your house. Is the myOsseo Gateway Required? No. In fact, most laptops with built-in Wi-Fi radios will be able to connect to the network, especially when outside. However, use of the myOsseo gateway is highly recommended for two reasons: increased security (see above) and stronger and more reliable signal strength to meet your desired speed with indoor use. The gateway's Wi-Fi radio is typically much stronger than Wi-Fi radios built into laptops. myOsseo will be unable to support high indoor performance expectations unless the myOsseo gateway is used. Can I Purchase the gateway? Yes. You may buy or lease a gateway for the best level of service. Lease option available for as little as $5 per month or own your own at a great low rate. Where Should the gateway Be Located? This will vary somewhat based upon the layout and materials that your residence is built out of. Generally the gateway will need to be above ground in a window aimed toward the nearest neighborhood wireless access point3. Recommendations on best locations will be provided to subscribers when you sign up. Subscribers can locate their computers on other floors (e.g., basement), but will often require a cable or wireless router to connect to the optimal myOsseo gateway location. myOsseo can optionally provide such cabling and equipment for a service charge. In a few cases, an external antenna will be required to receive desired service. Is There a Mandatory Professional Installation? No. Professional installation is optional for all service levels. Most subscribers are able to install the gateway and start using myOsseo by following installation instructions provided when they receive the gateway. How Does myOsseo Internet Service Compare to DSL and Cable Internet Service? Depending on service level selected, myOsseo speeds will be somewhere between DSL and Cable Modem speeds. However, myOsseo provides the fastest residential upload speeds (sending photos and other larger files) available, and myOsseo offers mobility so you may connect throughout Osseo on a Wi-Fi enabled laptop. What Are the myOsseo Service Offerings and Fees? A summary list of offerings and fees are below. More detailed descriptions are available to our Website www.myosseo.com. Please note these are subject to change over time. A range of services levels for available for you to choose from to maximize your myOsseo experience. Residential Service Levels:
Business Service Levels:
What are the minimum requirements necessary for computers to access myOsseo? The myOsseo system is compatible with most of today's operating systems. Minimum requirements are at least Windows XP for PC users and OS 9 or higher for Macintosh users. Linux operating systems and open source browsers are also supported. Users will also need to have a network interface card (NIC), sometimes simply referred to as a network card, which is a piece of hardware designed to allow communication over a network. Most computers purchased within the last three years come standard with a network interface built into the motherboard, thus eliminating the need to purchase additional hardware. Most desktop computers may be wired directly into the CPE (see below) using an Ethernet cable. I don't live in the coverage area, but I frequently do business in Osseo. Is there a limited-use plan or daily premium I can pay to use the myOsseo network? Yes. Osseo will offer a 1 day and 1 month plan. A monthly roaming plan will also be offered. Limited-use customers can register by calling (763) 235-3026 or register online when you are in the myOsseo service area. What additional equipment do I need at home to connect to myOsseo? Telephone modems, cable modems, and wireless gateways are commonly and collectively referred to as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). CPEs are the devices located at the customer's premises that gateway their computer connection to the Internet. Osseo customers do not need a telephone or landline to connect to the myOsseo system. Although myOsseo users may be able to connect to the system automatically or through the use of other devices, we strongly recommend myOsseo customers purchase their necessary CPEs through myOsseo The recommended CPE for desktop users is a high-powered (200mW) wireless gateway customers can lease ($5/month) through myOsseo. A purchase option is available. Osseo also offers a high-powered Wireless PC Card customers can lease or purchase that can be plugged into a PCMCIA Type II card5 slot. While many older laptop computers often require a Wireless PC Card to connect to the Internet, newer laptops usually come equipped with the innate ability to detect and connect to wireless networks, in which case a higher-powered Wireless PC Card may be used to enhance signal strength of existing laptop connections. Will I have "always-on" or 24/7 connectivity to the myOsseo system, or will I have to log on every time I use it? For security purposes, myOsseo users may prompt you to log in by entering their username and password periodically. Once authenticated, the user should experience an "always-on" connection. How do I set up and access my myOsseo e-mail? Accounts that have e-mail included with them are automatically configured, and are accessible by using your wireless user name and the password assigned during sign up. Additional e-mail accounts can be created by going to customer service To access your e-mail account over the web: http://www.myOsseo.com You may also access your email using a standards based mail program that supports IMAP or POP3. If you need assistance configuring your Outlook or other e-mail functions, please contact our 24/7 help desk at (763) 235-3026 What is the POP3 (incoming mail server) and SMTP (outgoing mail server) for myOsseo?
The outgoing SMTP server is: mail.myosseo.com How do I remove my "proxy settings" from my computer? Double click "Internet Explorer," then under "Tools" click "Internet Options." Click on the "Connections" tab, then click on the "LAN Settings" button. Under the proxy settings, ensure the second box labeled "use a proxy server for your LAN: is unchecked. I'm not using a myOsseo CPE and I need to locate my MAC address. How can I find it? Click on "Start," then "All Programs." Scroll over the "Accessories" option, then click on "Command Prompt." Once the black screen appears, type in "ipconfig/all" then click "enter" or your return key. After a few seconds, another screen will appear which includes your "Physical Address" or MAC address, which is always 12 characters long. This should look something like the following:
The MAC address is known as the "Physical Address", and in this example it is "00-0C-76-92-D0-AD" Does the myOsseo network employ any security measures to protect data, personal information, etc.? Osseo is committed to ensuring a pleasant Internet access experience for all myOsseo customers. To this end, myOsseo implements the network and systems components using standards-based technology. This includes using encryption and fire walls when appropriate. The core systems are protected by an external fire wall and, where appropriate, sensitive data is encrypted while transmitted from your location to our core systems. myOsseo customers can be assured our system will incorporate multiple layers of data encryption and security. Although we have taken a number of steps to protect our systems, your PC is not protected by these systems. To protect your system from unauthorized Internet access you will need to install a personal fire wall. We have made available Zonealarm free of charge for your use. It is also a good idea to consider using a Broadband Router/Fire wall in addition to the gateway supplied by myOsseo. All Internet users should protect themselves by installing fire walls, anti-virus, and malicious program protection software. How do I configure my PC connection to the myOsseo network? You'll have to make just two connections to connect your desktop computer to the myOsseo system. The myOsseo wireless gateway must be plugged into a regular electrical outlet and connected to an Ethernet port on your computer with the connect cable (supplied with myOsseo gateway) in order to connect to the myOsseo network. Since wireless signals dissipate or lose about half their power indoors, we suggest placing the gateway on a main or upper floor, preferably near a window, and if at all possible, not in a basement. Just like cell phone or radio reception, which can improve or weaken when devices are repositioned, myOsseo customers can ensure optimum signal strength by experimenting with the placement of their wireless gateway. A diagram showing a basic connection to a desktop personal computer is shown below.
I'm planning to subscribe to myOsseo as a residential customer, and I have three computers in my home. Can I connect to your system through one account, or would I have to purchase three separate accounts? By installing a Broadband Router/Firewall, you can share your one myOsseo account / connection with another computer in your home. This type of router also provides protection between your personal computer and the Internet. These devices generally sell at most electronics stores for about $40 and up. Finally, although many routers are virtually "plug-and-play" devices, it is important to protect your router by following the directions for configuration included with these devices. For assistance with configuring your myOsseo system to function in conjunction with a router, see the diagrams below. "Hard-wired-Configuration" with Router
Configuration with Wireless Router
I have a PC and a PDA (personal data assistant6), and am planning on becoming a myOsseo customer. Will I be able to use my PDA within the coverage area? Also, would I need to acquire two different accounts in order to use both? If your PDA6 is 802.11b or Wi-Fi enabled, you will be able to access your PDA in the Osseo pilot areas. You will only need one myOsseo account to support both devices. Broadband Internet service can also support applications like Bluetooth®7 devices and VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol phone services, a technology that sends and receives voice data via the computer. VoIP services like Vonage are emerging as an alternative to traditional phone services because they allow broadband Internet users the flexibility of being able to make a phone call from home, work, or any hotspot, like a hotel, airport, or in Osseo! Does myOsseo offer Internet services in surrounding areas like Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, and beyond? Not at this time. myOsseo Internet service is available to residents and businesses in the coverage area outside Osseo city limits. myOsseo is open to roaming agreements with any other community that builds a wireless Internet service. I'd like to subscribe to myOsseo Internet, but I don't want to give up my current e-mail address or my dial-up capabilities. Is there a way to keep both options without paying full price? If you have a Web-based free e-mail address such as MSN, Yahoo! or G-mail, you can continue using those addresses while navigating Osseo. Many dial-up providers, like America Online (AOL), offer less expensive Broadband Pricing Plans, which often allow users to keep their e-mail addresses while providing limited dial-up options. Check with your current provider to determine whether there is a less expensive plan available for you. It would be convenient to have my myOsseo Internet charges placed on my City of Osseo utility bill. Do you plan on combining the billing in the future? No. The city billing system does not currently allow for monthly billing of utilities. You are able to pay monthly invoices using credit cards, automated bank card, or check. Checks should be mailed to myOsseo, P.O. Box 581427, Minneapolis, MN 55458-1427. 1Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, is meant to be used generically when referring to any type of 802.11 network. 802.11 refers to a family of specifications developed by a working group of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The 802.11b specifications apply to wireless Local Area Networks (LAN's) and operate at frequencies in the 2.4-GHz region of the radio spectrum. 2Actual connections speeds will vary depending on network traffic, number of active access points3, and the user's system hardware. All myOsseo customers are subject to bandwidth restrictions. Please refer to the myOsseo Fair Access Policy (FAP) for more information on transfer speeds and bandwidth limitations. 3Access points refer to the number of wireless devices that can be simultaneously connected to one myOsseo account. Connecting more than one device will affect upload and download speeds. 4An IP address is a number assigned to an individual machine, account, or user by an ISP; there are both fixed or static and changing or dynamic IP addresses. With a static IP address, a computer's virtual location always remains the same, which offers some unique advantages such as the ability to support a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or run a local e-mail server. 5PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association, a group of some 500 companies that have developed standards for such devices. Originally designed to add memory to portable or laptop computers, the PCMCIA standards have been expanded, and today, the devices are commonly used to connect to the Internet or to enhance signal strength of existing laptop Internet connections. 6PDA's, also referred to as palmtop's, hand-held computers, or pocket computers, are handheld devices that combine computing, telephone, fax, Internet, and networking features. Today, one of the most popular brands of PDA's is the series of Palm Pilots from Palm, Inc. 7Bluetooth® wireless technology refers to standards, specifications, and devices that allow short range radio links between mobile PCs, mobile phones, and other portable devices. Bluetooth certified devices operate at 2.4 GHz and are capable of transmitting voice and data at the rate of 1 Mpbs. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is an industry group consisting of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and networking industries that are driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. Products with Bluetooth technology must be qualified and pass interoperability testing by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group prior to release. Bluetooth's founding members include Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba. |
