Starview Communications and it's partner Xplornet provide wireless high-speed internet services to areas that do not have access to the traditional hard wired broadband services such as DSL or cable. Our service is currently available in Thorsby, Evansburg/Entwisle, Barrhead, Rich Valley, Acheson, Calmar, Onoway, Beach Corner, Clymont, Wabamun and Morinville areas. Our newest towers that will extend our coverage of the Stony Plain/Spruce Grove areas are now also live. Click here for maps of our coverage areas. Please call us to see if service is available or will be coming to your area.

Click here to see How Fixed Wireless works.

Some service packages are only available in specific areas. Our installer will indicate if any additional equipment is needed before starting install. Equipment needed will depend on distance from tower, elevation, trees and other factors.

Onetime Site-check and Set-up Fee - $50.00*-  Installation costs may vary depending on length of term, location of install, type of building, mounting equipment and radio needed to receive service. Any commercial installations are extra and will be quoted separately.

Customer Requirements

You will need these things to qualify for Wireless service

1) A Qualifying Location
2) An Ethernet Friendly Environment
3) A Compatible Computer Operating System

Qualifying location
You need to be located in a community where we offer service and be close enough to our tower to receive a clear signal. The first thing that the installer will do when they arrive at your home is verify that you have appropriate signal strength. If you are unsure if you will qualify, give us a call.

Ethernet environment
We terminate our service on an Ethernet jack inside your home. You will need either a computer that has an Ethernet interface/port or a router/hub that is Ethernet friendly. If you aren’t sure if your computer has an Ethernet port, these instructions will help you.

Computer Operating System Compatability
You will need a computer with an operating system that supports Ethernet and has the TCP/IP software component installed. Our service is compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 and XP as well as Macintosh and any Linux and Unix operating systems that support TCP/IP.

If you have any questions, please contact us. 

This section is to help inform you the steps of your basic installation and what is included.

What we provide:

• A subscriber unit (that will be mounted on your roof)
• Mounting bracket and all necessary hardware.
• Up to 75ft cat 5/Ethernet cable to go from the antenna to inside your business/home
• Wall jack and accompanying power supply Installation
• Labor to mount subcriber unit and run cat5 cable

Steps to your installation

1. 2. 3. 4.

After we receive your order, our installation group will call you to schedule a time that is convenient for you. Installation time is about three hours. The installer will confirm if you qualify for service and will discuss with you where the antenna will be placed. The installer will then mount the antenna on the roof of your home. Next, a cat 5 cable is run from the antenna and is terminated to a wall jack inside your home. (The basic installation does not include any in-building cabling or wall fishes. Generally, those services are available for an additional charge and the installer will be able to give you a price for that work at the time of installation.) The connection is tested at the wall jack with technician's computer to make sure that the Internet connection is functioning properly.

If you need a pop-up pole or reflector dish to improve signal -  these are an additional charge and not included as a part of a standard installation.

If you need to purchase a network card for your computer, you will be charged extra. 

   No Risk 30-day Guarantee!  For complete details of Xplornet’s 30-day money-back guarantee please click here.

For Business Packages

 Xplornet is partnered with some of today's leading satellite technology companies, including Telesat Canada, Hughes Network Systems and Tachyon, in order to deliver fast, reliable and affordable two-way satellite high-speed Internet service to homes and businesses everywhere in Canada. Xplornet is unique compared to other Canadian Internet Service Provider's (ISP's) in that it uses both the Ka-band and Ku-band frequencies to deliver its satellite high-speed Internet service. This benefits the customer by allowing them to choose the service package and delivery technology that best meet their needs.

As long as you have a clear, unobstructed view of the southern sky you are eligible to receive one of Xplornet's satellite high-speed Internet services.

Click here for more information about Highspeed Internet via satellite.

Xplornet High Speed Internet FAQ

Question:  Can I have 2 or more computers connected to the internet at the same time?

Answer:  Yes!  What you need is a router to “split” the signal.  Routers come in two different types: Wireless and Wired. 

Wired routers generally have 4 ports and are fairly inexpensive, however, cable has to be run from the router to each machine, which in some cases may be difficult or perhaps impossible.

Wireless routers also have the 4 wired ports, but they also have the ability for computers to operate on the internet without wires attached to them.  This setup is generally more expensive, but it offers greater mobility and ease of use as well. 

Question:  Does a wire have to come from the module to the computer?

Answer:  Yes, this cable provides power to the module and carries data back and forth between the module and the computer.  This cable is an outdoor cat 5e.

Question:  Can the module use Coaxial (Otherwise known as “satellite”) cable?

Answer:  No, it must use the outdoor cat 5e cable which is distinctly different from Coaxial.

Question:  Does the module have to face South, like the satellite?

Answer:  No, it must face in the direction of the nearest tower in order to obtain signal.

Question:  How far can the signal go?

Answer:  Distances vary greatly from tower to tower.  Trees, hills and buildings as well as radio reflective objects can also influence distance as well as signal quality.  The only way to say for sure if you have signal or not is to have a site check done and this will determine if signal is suitable for an install at your house.

Question:  Can I use a telephone over the internet?

Answer: Yes!  Xplornet now offers their own brand of VOIP which is available by request.

Question:  Just how fast is your service?

Answer:  Speeds depend largely on the package you choose.  The higher the package, the faster the speeds.

Question:  How much connection time do I get per month?

Answer:  Our services offer unlimited connection time per month.  This way, you never pay overages!

Question:  My neighbor has Xplornet high speed internet.  Does that mean I can get it too?

Answer:  There is an excellent chance that we can get signal to your place if your neighbor has our services, however, a site check will still be required in order to determine signal strength.

Question:  I am planning on moving in a few months or a few years, what do I do with the module on my roof?

Answer:  Please contact your nearest Xplornet dealer and they will determine if the location you are moving to is serviced by our towers, and if so, we will arrange to move your module with you.  If you will be moving out of service area,  you may wish to transfer the equipment to the new owners of your house.

Question:  Can I “share” an internet connection with a close neighbor?

Answer:  It may be possible, although there are many concerns that need to be addressed.  Please contact us if you are interested in doing so.

Question:  Is my wireless connection secure?

Answer:  Absolutely!  Our equipment uses proprietary data transmission methods to ensure data being sent between your module and the tower is “unreadable” to others.  Motorola Canopy is cleared for law enforcement and emergency services use in many countries, due to it’s high security methods.