Getting online
Fixes for common dial-up problems
- Why can't I access some web pages I know exist?
- When I try logging in, my computer keeps asking for my username and password.
- I get a "No Dial Tone" or "Modem is not responding" error message when I try to connect to the Internet.
Modems and Connectivity
- What is a bit?
- How fast of a connection is it possible to receive from NTD Athenet?
- What are some factors that influence the quality of a phone line?
- What would cause my connection to NTD Athenet to get dropped?
- What does NTD Athenet do to assure line quality at their facilities?
- What is 56k technology and does NTD Athenet support it?
- What is the V.90 standard?
Downloading
- What is downloading?
- Why would I want to download anything?
- What is Shareware?
- What do I need to download files from the internet?
- How long does downloading take ?
- How do I download a file with my browser?
- How do I download a file using an FTP program?
- Now that I completely understand downloading, where may I download files from?
Compression
- What is compression and how does it apply to the internet?
- What are some other reasons compression would be used?
- Is there more than one type of compression?
- Once I have downloaded a compressed file how do I uncompress it?
- Are there other resources where I can find more information about file compression?
Fixes for common dial-up problems
Why can't I access some web pages I know exist?
- Make sure the address is typed in correctly. (No spaces, all lowercase).
- Make sure you are connected to the Internet and can get to other web sites. The site may be busy. The site might be down.
- Delete your temporary Internet files as a corrupted file may cause you to have problems accessing the site.
When I try logging in, my computer keeps asking for my username and password.
- Retype your username and password. Sometimes this information can get corrupted on your hard drive.
- Make sure you are not using capital letters, spaces, or punctuation
I get a "No Dial Tone" or "Modem is not responding" error message when I try to connect to the Internet.
- Check the phone line, to make sure you are getting a dial tone. Make sure you have the line connected properly to the modem
- If you use an Internal Modem, restart your computer. If you use an External Modem, turn it off and then turn it on again.
Modems and Connectivity
What is a bit?
A bit is the smallest amount of data you're likely to deal with. Each character that you see on the screen needs eight bits in order to be displayed. Modem speeds are typically measured in thousands of bits per second, for example, 53000 bits per second (bps). Most often you'll see bits grouped into thousands (kilobits or Kb) or millions (megabits or Mb).
How fast of a connection is it possible to receive from NTD Athenet?
All of the modems in our modem pool are capable of establishing a 56,000 bps connection but current FCC regulations prohibit the transfer of data at speeds over 53,000 bps.
What are some factors that influence the quality of a phone line?
Line Impairment:
Variations in line quality are typically the culprit for low connection rates. Everyone occasionally gets “a bad line” and has to hang up and call again to get a better connection. However, if you find that you never or rarely connect at rates above 19200 bps, you will want to investigate the line quality of your connections. Begin with the following:
+ Try plugging the modem into a different phone line or wall jack. If you know someone else in your area with a high speed modem, ask what type of connections they make. Try making the connection from their location.
+If you encounter the same low connection rates, the problem may be resulting from impairments along the lines running to the local telephone company or within your home or office. Your telephone company or a private consultant may be able to help.
Software Setup and Modem Configuration:
In addition to line impairments, modem configuration and software setup can affect connection rates and throughput.
What would cause my connection to NTD Athenet to get dropped?
Dropped connections can occur when there is a sharp decrease in line quality during a call. Modems will switch to rates as low as 4800 bps to compensate for these changes. Most modems will pause when there is noise on the line and wait to recover the connection, but occasionally this is not possible and the modems will disconnect from each other. Another perpetrator of dropped connections is call waiting. If you have call waiting on your phone line and have not inactivated it before connecting to the internet, the noise created by an incoming call may cause your modem to disconnect. In order to disable call waiting, simply insert *70 before NTD Athenet's phone number.
One last thing that can cause your connection to be dropped is inactivity. If the connection between your computer and our computer is idle (no data being transferred in either direction) for 45 minutes, you will be disconnected from the system. You will also have your connection disconnected if you are connected for a period in excess of 16 hours. This is done out of fairness to other users; simply dial back in if you need to continue to use the system.
What does NTD Athenet do to assure line quality at their facilities?
When you call NTD Athenet's modem pool, your call is transmitted over the copper wire installed between your home and the phone company. Once the call reaches the phone company though, it is carried on the rest of its' journey to NTD Athenet over highly reliable fiber optic cable that NTD Athenet has had installed between their facility and the phone company. The factors which affect line quality on copper lines are nonexistent with fiber optics.
What is 56k technology and does NTD Athenet support it?
Using a 56K modem or with a software upgrade for a existing modem, you can receive data at 56 Kbps due to special equipment used at the site which you are connecting to the internet through. The speed at which you can send data remains 33.6 Kbps. All NTD Athenet modem banks support the standard v.90 56K protocol.
What is the V.90 standard?
A standard was reached by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) to solve the problem of two old competing 56k technologies. The standard, named V.90, ensures that new 56k modems will be compatible with any 56k provider. Many modem companies have been promising free upgrades to the final ITU standard for their x2 and k56flex modems. In most cases you will be able to download a firmware upgrade from the manufacturer.
Further information about V.90 can be found at the following links:
For more information regarding modems check out this link:
If you are having connectivity problems please contact NTD Athenet technical support to correct the problem. If you have any other modem problems such as hardware conflicts or problems with modem software not distributed by us please refer to the software manufacturer, software's help files, or any of the above listed references.
Downloading
What is downloading?
Downloading is the process of moving files from one computer to another through the use of a modem or other communications device. In fact, you have already downloaded many files without even realizing it. Every time that you point your web browser to a location, your browser downloads the page data and all the associated components (graphics, Java applets, etc.) and then displays them. That is why it takes more time for more complex pages to load; there is more information for your computer to download.
Why would I want to download anything?
You can download games, utilities, graphics, sound files and many other types of software from the internet for FREE! This type of software is referred to as freeware because you are not expected to pay for it. Many times companies will offer full versions of their software before it is ready to sell (called beta versions) so that people on the internet can use it and report the bugs in the software back to the manufacturer.
What is Shareware?
Shareware, like freeware can be downloaded from the internet for free. The difference is that the authors of shareware expect you to pay them for the use of their software if you enjoy using it and would like to continue using it. Many times once you have paid for the shareware the author will send you an enhanced version of the product and send you updates as they are released. Paying for shareware is based on the honor system, but remember, this is the way that the author gets paid for the hard work and effort involved in creating the product you are using.
What do I need to download files from the internet?
You need a web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer, or a FTP (file transfer protocol) program.
How long does downloading take ?
It depends on the size of the file and the speed of your modem. Another factor that can affect downloading time is how busy the computer that you are downloading from is. Other factors that effect downloading time are the workload on the computers that the information must pass through to get from the remote computer (computer that you are downloading from) to your computer. Downloading very early in the morning would be the optimum time since there would be less people on the internet to slow down the flow of data. Remember, when you are browsing the web you are downloading information so if you are downloading a file and browsing at the same time, the processes will slow each other down.
How do I download a file with my browser?
You can learn how to do this by viewing either our Netscape Navigator , or Microsoft Internet Explorer tutorial.
How do I download a file using an FTP program?
You can learn how to do this by viewing our FTP tutorial.
Now that I completely understand downloading, where may I download files from?
Here are some good places to start:
Compression
What is compression and how does it apply to the internet?
Compression is the technique of bundling a file into a format which is smaller than its' original size. Using complex mathematical algorithms, files are compressed into smaller packages for the purpose of transfer. With compression, a file that would otherwise take a very long time to download can be downloaded in a fraction of that time.
What are some other reasons compression would be used?
Many times a file that is very large will be broken down into smaller chunks so that when downloaded it can easily be transferred to floppy disk. Compression can also make the transfer of data over the internet more reliable than transferring uncompressed files.
Is there more than one type of compression?
Yes, there are many different varieties of compression. One version that you may already be familiar with is the graphical compression named .gif. Many of the image files that you view on the internet are compressed as .gif's. Your browser then decodes the .gif's so that you can view them. Other types of compression are .arj, .hqx, .rar, and .zip. These are the most commonly used file compression types on the internet.
Once I have downloaded a compressed file how do I uncompress it?
In order to uncompress a file you must have a utility that is capable of decompressing the desired file type. There are decompression utilities available for download on the Internet.
Are there other resources where I can find more information about file compression?
The Usenet Compression FAQ is a very good resource.