Radio Magic

I am sure you know that the way you get LCWA internet is by a central radio (an Access Point or AP) beaming the internet signal to a radio on your roof. For that to work, your radio needs to be aimed at that source AP.

Well, we’ve had a number of support calls lately where slow or interrupted internet was caused by a loose radio mount on the member’s roof. The windy season is back and a radio moving around even just a couple inches off its aim can break your connection intermittently. Or in a very high wind the radio can blow permanently off its aim, and you’ll have consistently poor internet.

If you are having symptoms like that, here is what to do:

• Get up on your roof and check the stability of your radio. Can it move around? If so see if you can tighten the mounting.
• In the newer installs, we sometimes put a sharpie marker on the mast and the radio, when it is optimally aligned. Are the two marks there and are they matched? If not, then before tightening rotate the radio into position.
• If no such mark, and you tighten it and your connection is now consistently bad, the radio has probably been secured off its correct aim and it probably needs re-aiming. Give the Tech Support number a call (800-536-6149) to check on that—we can check it remotely. Then if confirmed we can can refer you to one of our paid contractors who know the LCWA systems for an onsite re-aiming effort.
• While on the roof next to your radio, if you know where your access point is off in the distance, visually examine the line of site between your radio and the access point location. Sometimes obstructions can move into that line of sight: tree growth, objects placed on your roof, even new construction in the neighborhood can block the line of sight.

And in general, if you are having a consistently poor internet connection, don’t hesitate to contact LCWA support. We can check much of your system remotely and give tips for you to fix it. If an onsite visit is needed, we can refer you to one of our paid contractors who know the LCWA systems well.

(By the way, if your connection is excellent, why not draw that sharpie mark on your antenna and mast right now? Then you’ll be ready for the next windstorm. It only takes a moment.)