How is the PMLDnet.com Internet Access Service is being deployed in Princeton?

The overall Internet Access system consists of:

• Equipment located at the PMLD office building,
• A few antennas on the fire tower at the summit of Wachusett Mountain,
• About two dozen cell-extender antennas (on special tall utility poles) distributed around town, and
• Subscriber equipment consisting of an antenna and a radio modem.

This network serves as a radio frequency 'pipeline' to connect subscribers to the Internet. The modem, mounted inside the home or business, serves to interface between the radio signals and the electrical signals used by a computer.

• The office equipment is operational, the antennas on the Mountain have been installed and many of the cell-extenders have become placed.
• Groups of the cell-extenders in a neighborhood will be energized and local subscriber service will then be available.
• Subscribers in that neighborhood will then be contacted to collect a Customer Installation Kit of equipment and have it installed.
• At that point, the PMLDnet.com office has several administrative and computer addressing tasks in order to make the connection between the subscriber's computer and the Internet.
• After the initial subscribers in a neighborhood have been activated, another neighborhood group of cell-extenders will be energized.
• And so on. 

This deployment is a gradual 'roll out' rather than a single 'turn-it-on' step. With this orderly procedure, we will ensure that each subscriber installation achieves its objective of providing quality, broadband service.

An open letter from Jon Fitch, PMLD Manager
(December 22, 2006)

Thank you so much for your patience as we finally deploy this exciting new service! The Princeton Municipal Light Department (PMLD) is currently operating a portion of its community-owned high-speed wireless Internet network. Our wireless network uses pole-top antennas installed throughout town. Seven out of twenty pole-top antennas are currently operational (See below for locations). Customers located in the vicinity of these first seven locations are encouraged to sign up on-line at www.pmldnet.com or call us at 978-464-2815.

The next set of 6 antennas will be installed December 26, 2006 through January 5, 2007. PMLD expects to provide 100% coverage by the end of February 2007. So far there are approximately 60 customers on-line. They have helped us troubleshoot and commission the new wireless Internet network. We appreciate all your patience as we bring the system on-line, commission the network and activate your neighborhoods.

Basic residential high-speed Internet access will cost $39.95 per month for Internet access speeds up to 1.0 Mbps. This basic level of service is certainly faster than dial-up and DSL connections. Faster access speeds, static IP addresses, and other levels of service are also available.

The installation of the Internet access equipment is similar to a DirecTV installation. A subscriber antenna is installed outside, preferably high on the roof, pointing towards one of the pole-top antennas. The subscriber antenna is connected via coax cable to a radio modem that can be either directly connected to your computer via Ethernet cable or connected to a router (standard or wireless) for use within your home or business.

If you need installation assistance, PMLD can refer you to a qualified, local telecommunications contractor.