FAQ — Alta Vista:
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Wireless Internet, Telephone
Limited use of INTERNET is FREE of charge to renters, but we do not guarantee this service or its suitability for your needs or expectations. (Speeds are approximately 20 GBps down, 2 GBps up).
The router is located next to the TV in the living room. The router is protected with a password given to you in the Arrival Communications Package.
Please understand that there is neither a cable TV connection nor a phone line suitable for DSL at the location of Alta Vista Chalet; and satellite Internet, which we tried in prior years, is vastly inferior to the radio antenna service we now have — but which is still marginal when compared to what you likely have at your home (nominal 20 MBps down and 2 up). Please be considerate and bring DVDs, rent DVDs, or download the movies you want to watch onto your computer prior to coming up to Alta Vista. Bring your own HDMI cable and connector to your laptop to enjoy those on 47” flat-screen TV in the Alta Vista living room or in on of the master bedrooms.
Your data allotment is limited to 25 GB/day (averaged over the duration of your stay). Downloading movies (Netflix and alike) takes up about 2 GB per feature length movie. Please be considerate. We charge $3/GB (min $20) for overage.
Poor reception may be due to ice and/or snow on the receiver (very unlikely). To remove snow, from the receiver/antenna, find the small white rectangular receiver dish outside on the upper deck under the eve, about 6 feet from the location of the inside fireplace — be careful not to change the orientation of the receiver. During heavy snow accumulation on the deck, the snow pile in the far right (SE) corner of the deck may obstruct the direct line of sight between the receiver and the emitting station near the Truckee airport. You might then shovel away a bit from the top of that pile to get better reception.
To remedy faults stemming from a power outage, re-boot the system (by unplugging the big black plug to the power strip behind the TV table, waiting 60 seconds, and plugging it back in. If the problem persists, call the customer service of Oasis/ExWire (at 530-8230-1030 X 2) for help. But please understand that, while we try to deliver the best performance available at our location, the speed is relatively slow due to microwave technology and the considerable distance from the emitter tower.
Telephone:
The Internet speed at Alta Vista is perfectly adequate for Internet-based telephone and similar communication service (such as Zoom, Skype). We have, therefore, abandoned landline telephone service years ago. When using Zoom, we recommend NOT to choose a virtual background — the Internet is too slow for that.
However, we do have a telephone at Alta Vista, and you may use it as you wish — we just do not warrant its proper functioning all the time. It is Internet based and works from a VONAGE device located next to the router. For emergency during a rare Internet outage, you must rely on your own cell phone. Note that one (blue) Ethernet cable connects the Vonage device to the router. DO NOT CONNECT THE SECOND, YELLOW ETHERNET CABLE TO THE VONAGE DEVICE (it is intended for guests who wish to connect their computer directly to the Internet, bypassing the router).
There is excellent cell phone coverage at Alta Vista by every major provider, including Verizon and ATT.
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