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Outdoors Unlimited ISP
Frequently Asked Questions

I've got my Internet service loaded on my laptop. I'm in a hotel, but I can't get connected! What should I do?
Why do we change access numbers sometimes?
Can I use my account at home and at work?
How do I find someone's email address?
How do I get off an e-mail list?
Can I catch a virus over the Internet?
Can I use other email programs beside Outlook Express?
Can I use another browser besides Internet Explorer?
What kind of modem should I be using to get the fastest and most reliable connections?
What are cookies, and should I allow a Web site to place one on my hard drive?
Is it safe to use my credit card on the Internet?
Is it better to turn your computer off when you are done using it, or leave it on all the time?
I just got a new 56K modem, but the fastest connection I can get is 28.8.
Why can't I get my modem to go faster?
Where can I get more information on the 56K, v.90 and X2 technologies?
Why do I keep getting dropped while connected?

I've got my Internet service loaded on my laptop. I'm in a hotel, but I can't get connected! What should I do?

Make sure that the access number to get an outside line in the hotel is in your dial string.
To check this, click on Dial Properties when your DUN connection appears on the screen.
In the When Dialing From Here section, make sure that the access number to get an outside line
is in the For local calls, dial and For long distance calls, dial fields.

Why do we change access numbers sometimes?

There are various reasons why your local access number will change, but they all stem from an effort to provide you with the highest quality of service. Many times a carrier can be providing poor service and a change of carriers is required to ensure that you receive the best service possible.

Can I use my account at home and at work?

Yes! Make sure that the first time you sign up, you choose Setup a new user during the Online Signup process. Any other machines you wish to install your access on, simply go online and choose Reinstall Existing User.

How do I find someone's email address?

Although there is no comprehensive directory of e-mail or Internet addresses, there are several search and reference tools you can consult:
InterNIC Directory Services - the place where you register your domain name also offers "white pages" services.
Netfind - a simple Internet white pages directory facility NetPages - a directory of Internet addresses of individuals
and businesses either on the Net or reached through an Internet gateway.
Four11 Directory Services - a free and easy-to-use directory of online users and their e-mail addresses

How can I get off an e-mail list?

To get off the mailing list, you have to "unsubscribe" from it. This process is handled by sending a particular type of email message to the list administrator with your request. In the body of the message you "unsubscribe" followed by the name
of the list and your e-mail address. The process varies from one list to another, depending on what Mailing List Manager
the system uses. Many will have instructions guiding you through the process.

Can I catch a virus over the Internet?

You cannot catch a virus simply by browsing the Internet, or by opening an email message. Where you may catch a virus is by opening an attachment. Make sure that you save the file attachment and scan it, before opening the document or launching the program. However, graphics and text files are safe to look at without scanning for viruses. When in doubt, always scan!

In Outlook Express, click on the paper clip icon, choose 'save to disk' and then open your virus scan program. Make sure that
the file you saved is included in the scan. You may possibly choose the file by itself to scan, depending on the program.

Can I use other email programs beside Outlook Express?

The email program you use is always your choice. However, the email package that is supported by Technical Support is
Outlook Express.

Can I use another browser besides Internet Explorer?

The browser you use is your choice as well. Technical Support only supports Internet Explorer 4.01.

What kind of modem should I be using to get the fastest and most reliable connections?

For 56K capability, it is best to use a 56K compatible modem. You can visit your local Computer store to determine what
is the best modem for your system. The manufacturer you should use will mainly depend on whether you have an internal
or external modem.

What are cookies, and should I allow a Web site to place one on my hard drive?

Cookies are small text files put on your hard drive that contain information used by a Web site.
Most cookies are used for several purposes:
Web site operators use cookies to tell what areas of a site are visited and in what order. Advertisers use them to tell where
a user was on a site when he or she clicked on an ad. They are used to keep those who've registered to use a site - one that requires a logon and password - from having to log on over and over as they move from page to page on a site.
Cookies cannot grab personal information from elsewhere on your hard drive, so merely visiting a web site
is not going to expose personal information to the operators of the site.

Is it safe to use my credit card on the Internet?

While it is theoretically possible for someone to snag your credit card number as it wings its way across the Internet, it is not an easy process. A digital thief would have to know the exact moment you hit the Send button; where you are located; who the recipient is; and the route across the Net the information will take. Also, all the modern Web browsers can send data in a coded form known as encryption. Anyone intercepting the encrypted data would have to break the code, which is nearly impossible.

Is it better to turn your computer off when you are done using it, or leave it on all the time?

This depends on what times of day that you use your computer. If you use it once a day, it's probably best to turn the
computer off once you are finished. Some experts believe that constant heat from the PC being on all the time can do
damage to the internal components, not to mention having a high voltage device left unattended. If you use your PC
off and on during the day, it might be best to leave it on until you're completely finished. Some PC experts believe that,
when you turn on a PC, its components are initially stressed by the power-up process. Minimizing the number of times
you turn on the machine is a good idea.

I just got a new 56K modem, but the fastest connection I can get is 28.8. Why can't I get my modem to go faster?

There are many different factors that affect the speed of a modem connection. They range from the quality of the wiring in
your house; to the connection between your home and the phone company's switching station in your area; to the quality
of the switches in that station; to the quality of the switches and wiring on your provider's end. Factors such as noise/disturbance on the line, distance from the connecting modem, traffic on the lines, and other conflicts can slow
down the potential connection speed. Splitrock Services provides an "ATM-to-the-edge" platform.

Most people who have fast modems find they seldom connect at top speed, which is actually 53K - a limit set by the Federal Communications Commission. Most owners of 56K modems find they get connections of between 28.8K and about 48K. However, these modems generally do better than older, 28.8 and 33.6 models. If you have just a 26.4 connection with a 28.8 modem, you're likely to get a 28.8 or 33.6 connection with a 56K model. In addition, there are many published modem
initialization strings that can streamline a signal and possibly increase connection rates. These are specific to the modem's manufacturer and model and are available by searching the web. It is also a good idea to check the manufacturer's web site periodically for updated drivers for your particular modem models.

Where can I get more information on the 56K, v.90 and X2 technologies?

http://www.56K.com

Why do I keep getting dropped while connected?

Do you have call waiting? Have you been idle (not loading a page or sending an email (making a file transfer) through the server for more than just a few minutes? Is there a disturbance on the phone line? Did you have a program experience an illegal operation while connected?