After looking at various technologies and wireless systems, Meadowcreek decided to use the Motorola Canopy wireless system.  This system is a very robust, secure, and well-developed system.  It is used in many parts of the country where stability and security are needed in a wide area network environment.  The canopy system that was decided on operates at 900 MHz and 5.7 GHz, which does not conflict with the existing 2.4 GHz wi-fi system.  The Canopy system also uses a proprietary synching algorithm (taken from GPS readings from a GPS receiver on the tower) in order to prevent communication problems which plague wi-fi technology.

     In addition to adding four more access points on Black mountain (two 900 MHz access points and two 5.7 GHz access points), Meadowcreek made a deal with US Customs to locate 6 access points on Dawson Ridge (two 900 MHz access points, two 5.7 GHz access points, and two 2.4 GHz wi-fi access points).  A radio backhaul connects Black mountain with the Dawson tower and effectively doubles the capacity of one tower alone.

     The new access points on Black Mountain and Dawson will allow 800 to 1600 more clients to be added to the current wireless network serving the county.  The 900 MHz access points can reach up to 30 miles, while the 5.7 GHz access points can reach 10 miles with a greater amount of bandwidth as compared to the 900 MHz access points.  The wireless network extends from south of Naples to Porthill and from the west side of the valley to the Montana border.  If a person can see the Black Mountain tower or Dawson Ridge tower, that person is able to receive the wireless signal from Meadowcreek.  Although the system is limited somewhat by needing a line of sight (or near line of site with the 900 MHz Canopy gear) to the tower, the subscriber modules can be placed up to 300 feet away from the customer's home.  This aids in obtaining a signal in the case of a small hill or other obstruction blocking the line of sight from a home to the tower.

     In the past, a T1 line was used to support the bandwidth needs of the wireless system.  As the wireless network began to grow, the 1.5Mbps bandwidth of the T1 line became too limited to service the needs of all the customers on the network.  The Canopy network has a main backhaul beamed wirelessly from Spokane.  This backhaul has a capability of 10Mbps (approximately 8 times more than a single T1), and it is upgradeable to 45Mbps.

    The greater bandwidth capability serves many purposes. It allows businesses to connect from Bonners Ferry to branch offices in Sandpoint, Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, and other surrounding areas through the wireless network through virtual private connections (VPNs).  This can be done at a significant cost savings over a dedicated Verizon line for the same amount of bandwidth.  The new system has a low latency, which allows the use of voice over IP (VoIP) technologies.  Companies such as Vonage, Packet 8, and other VoIP providers can sell their services to customers on the wireless network.