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 For routine questions, to apply for electric service or for general information, please call our customer service center, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at 1-866-225-5683.

Wireless Broadband Internet Services from Magic Valley Electric Co-op.


» Click here to Sign Up | » Click here for more detailed info(FAQ)

Wireless Broadband brings high-speed Internet into your home or business using radio waves instead of a phone line or cable TV line. NO PHONE LINES OR CABLE TV LINES NEEDED!

Depending on your choice of package you could experience download speeds of up to 3 Mbps!! Also, our service can be used to deliver bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming audio/video, online games, application programs, telephone calling, video conferencing and other high-bandwidth services.

Also, our service can be used to deliver bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming audio/video, online games, application programs, telephone calling, video conferencing and other high-bandwidth services.

Advantages
  • Always Online
  • Phone/Internet Simultaneously
  • Faster than DSL or Dial Up
  • Several package options
  • Faster Downloads
  • Faster Games
  • Able to connect multiple computers with a wireless modem.
  • Local tech support available 24/7

Sign Up Procedures.

  • Choose the speed package that will better satisfy your needs. Pricing Table
  • Download our application and terms and conditions for service. Fill out the application and:
    1. Fax it to 1-956-216-8101, or
    2. Return it to one of our offices located in Mercedes, Edinburg, Pharr or Brownsville, or
    3. Mail it to MVECnet, 401 E. Jackson Ave., Harlingen, TX 78550.
  • After we qualify* your home or business for high-speed access, you will receive a call from an MVECnet customer service representative to schedule an on site survey.
  • MVECnet will send a qualified technician to install your wireless service. The technician will also set up and test your connection before leaving your home or business.
  • MVECnet Internet service will be billed to your MVEC electric service account each month. Your first billing statement will reflect the Internet service fee for the current month, and any prorated charges from the previous month’s service period. Your Internet Service will always be prepaid.
  • Installation charges and wireless router charges will be collected at the time of installation.
*MVEC members are eligible for MVECnet services if electric service has not been disconnected for non payment more than one (1) time in the previous twelve (12) months.

If you own a business and it’s being served by MVEC let us showcase the benefits of wireless internet and the competitive advantages you gain by using our service. For more detailed information or to have a representative visit with you just call us at 956-992-7925.




Wireless Internet Services FAQ.

What is Wireless Broadband technology?
Wireless Broadband brings high-speed Internet into your home or business using radio waves instead of a phone line or cable TV line.

How fast is it?
Our service has a maximum download speed up to 3 Mbps but subject to distance from our antenna, your location within our coverage area, latency on the Internet, etc. Our backbone speeds are always being increased as our subscriber base increases and we are always working on optimizing our network.

What is your current coverage area?
Although a safe bet is a 20 mile radius, we may have some customers at over 25 miles from the tower sites.

What equipment is needed?
All you need is an Ethernet card in your computer. For businesses, we can connect the same way or via your existing Local Area Network (LAN) using a firewall, router or hub.

How secure is Wireless Broadband Technology?
Wireless is as secure as the Internet itself. Because important data like credit card numbers are usually encrypted when you order something on the Internet, that same data will travel our network encrypted. And just as it is possible to view data traveling through the Internet, it is possible to view data traveling through the air over our radio links. However, wireless Internet is no more likely to be hacked than any other type of Internet connection.

Do I have to change my Internet Service Provider (ISP) and e-mail address?
No.

Do I need a phone line?
NO PHONE LINES ARE NEEDED. You will be able to send and receive data through our wireless link.

If I have Wireless Internet, can I still use my dial-up 28.8 kbps or 56 kbps modem?
Yes, however, once you've experienced the speed of our Wireless Internet access, you'll never again want to wait for traditional dial-up services. If you want to be cautious you can keep your modem for backup purposes.

Is Internet access unlimited?
Wireless Internet is a full-time connection; your computer is connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Can I run a server on your system?
No, but we do however offer co-location.

I have more than one computer. Do I need more than one Wireless Internet installation?
We connect one computer to the Internet, but if your computers are connected via a network (router), you can share the single connection with your other computers.

How long will it take to install?
Once we have completed a site survey to pre-approve your site for wireless, the installation can be done immediately or at a later scheduled date. The actual on-site installation time can vary from 1 to 3 hours.

What is the downside to wireless Internet?
Wireless Internet requires near or direct line of sight from your site to one of the antennas. If you don't have line of sight (which is rare) you may not be able to use our service. Another downside is that while radio signals will travel through a wall, they most times will not travel through live plants.

Can weather affect the Wireless Internet signal?
The short answer is No. However, your speed may decrease by up to 50% during torrential downpours of 6" per hour or more. Luckily, this type of rain is very rare in our coverage areas. Wireless links are not affected by fog, smog, snow or non-torrential rain.

Is Wireless the same as "satellite" Internet?
NO! Wireless uses ground-based antennas to transmit data to your location. And while satellite systems usually require you to use a regular phone line and modem to send data, wireless systems are 2-way transmissions. Also, satellite systems have higher "latency" (the time it takes data to travel between 2 points) since the data has to travel from your location up to the satellite 22,300 miles over the equator and back down to the Internet. This can make surfing seem sluggish and videoconferencing and gaming unbearable.

How does this Wireless compare to Cable and/or DSL?
Cable is frequently oversubscribed, meaning that the cable company doesn't use enough high-speed connections to the Internet backbone for the number of users on their system which causes Internet access to slow down. DSL is limited by distance. DSL speeds decrease the farther away from the telephone company's central office (CO) you are, and it doesn't work at all if you are more than 18,000 feet away. Additionally, there are times when you might need to add a phone line just to get DSL if you have certain bundled services.

Why should I choose Wireless Internet access over other high-speed (broadband) options such as Cable or DSL
There are several reasons: First, Wireless Internet access is one of the fastest options available today. Typically, users experience speeds of 1,000 - 1,500 kbps or more. DSL speeds vary depending on how much you pay, but top out at about 4,500 kbps. Additionally, some DSL service is Asymmetrical meaning your maximum uploads are much smaller than your downloads which makes 2 way communication slower. Cable modems typically run at speeds of 400 kbps but depending on your cable company, they can go as high as 4,500 kbps or more. Also, Wireless Internet access is more affordable than most broadband options especially when you consider that no additional phone lines are necessary. Finally, Wireless can go where Cable and DSL can't.

What does the end-user equipment look like?
The equipment varies depending on the frequency of the signal, but generally there is a transceiver/antenna on the roof connected to the inside of the house via cable to a cable modem.