Top 10 ITSpeed FAQ:

1. How many email addresses can I have?

With each paid ITSpeed account you can activate up to 5 e-mail addresses, to add more e-mail accounts to your service please contact our Customer Service Department at 597-2111.

 2. Can I change my username and/or password?

Yes, you may change your username and/or password at any time. In order to do so, you must call us at 597-2111 and a customer service representative will be able to assist you.

3. Is ITSpeedV.92 compatible?

ITSpeed is a V.92 compatible ISP

V.92 presents key enhancements to the V.90 56K technology, including V.44 compression, Quick Connect, Modem on Hold and PCM Upstream, not all access numbers will support these features. Please check the Access Numbers list for detailed information on each access number.

STANDARD v.92 FEATURES:

• v.44 compression (v.92v.44) allows you to get greater effective transmission rates than without v.44 even though the electrical connection remains the same. In tests comparing v.42bis - the current compression protocol - and v.44 in normal web-browsing conditions, v.44 outperformed v.42 by up to 60%. This extra compression allows you to achieve greater data throughput even though your connection speed remains the same.
• Quick Connect (v.92QC) shortens the length of time it takes your modem to negotiate its connection to your ISP by about half.
• Modem on Hold (v.92MOH) allows you to put your internet connection on hold while you take or make a telephone call. Modem on Hold enables "broadband-like" voice and data services over the same telephone lines, at a much more reasonable dial-up price.
• PCM Upstream boosts the upstream data rates between the user and ISP to reduce upload times for large files and email attachments. A maximum of 48 Kbps upstream rates is supported. PCM Upstream will work particularly well with new equipment such as Internet-connected digital cameras, which primarily upload rather than download information.

Requirement for using this new technology:

• You must have v.92/v.44 modem
• Use the ITSpeed Internet's access numbers that have v.92 mark next to it.

Is your modem v.92/v.44 capable?
Possibly. v.92-capable modems have been on the market since the winter of 2000, so if you have a new modem it may already have support for v.92. Even if your modem doesn't currently support v.92, several of the most popular modem manufacturers already have v.92/v.44 equipped drivers available for their modems. If you have an upgradeable modem manufactured by one of these companies, all you need to do is download and install the driver update and you're ready to go.

MODEM ON HOLD:

What do you need for Modem-on-Hold?
Call waiting on your line, as provided by your local telephone company, a v.92-capable modem, and a software modem-on-hold client installed on your computer. You can probably expect this software to come packaged with your modem's drivers.

How does Modem-on-Hold work?
Modem-on-Hold works much like the current call-waiting used in voice conversations. If you receive a call while you're online, the modem-on-hold client will prompt you to take or ignore the call. If you choose to take the call, just pick up the telephone. If you want to make a call, the modem-on-hold client will allow you to suspend your modem connection in the same way. Your modem connection will hold for 6 minutes while you're on the phone. If this time is exceeded your internet connection will be lost. When you're finished with your conversation, just hang up the telephone and your modem connection will resume.

4. When I use the ITSpeed web e-mail checker, I don't see all my messages, but when I check using my e-mail program, I see all my messages. Why?

Once messages are retrieved from the e-mail server by an e-mail program, they are no longer stored on the server. You can setup your e-mail program to leave the messages on the e-mail server. Please check your e-mail program instructions for more information.

5.  Is there a limit to how long I can stay connected? (DIAL-UP ONLY)

If there is activity on the connection, you will be disconnected after 4 hours.

If an account remains idle (no activity) for 15 minutes, the connection will be closed.

6.  Do you sell or give out any of my personal or email information?

No, we do not sell or give out any of your personal or email information.

7.  Why am I getting Pop-Up Ads?

There are several reasons that Pop-Up ads can occur on your system. ITSpeed does not feed these ads to your computer. We understand how annoying pop-up ads can be, and this is why our policies and practices are in place, to help protect you from the constant barrage of online marketing. Listed below is an explanation of various types of pop-up ads and what can be done to stop them.

7.1 Web Page Generated Pop-Ups

These pop-up ads are generated by the specific web page that you are visiting when the pop-up occurs. They can be generated when the web page is opened, closed, or after being on the web page for several seconds. The only way to stop these ads is to use a separate software application that blocks the ads as they pop-up.

You can also download Free pop-up blockers, such as the Google Toolbar.
Visit http://toolbar.google.com/ for more information.

Important: Some web pages, such as the ITSpeed web-mail, use the same methods of a pop-up ad, as a functional part of the website. In rare cases such as this, you must instruct your pop-up blocker software to allow pop-ups from the site that needs it. This is usually very simple to do.

7.2 Spyware, Adware, or Virus induced Pop-Up Ads

These pop-up ads are generated by software that was either intentionally or un-intentionally installed on your computer. They can generate pop-up ads as soon as your web-browser is opened, or as soon as you connect to the internet. Most pop-up blocker software cannot protect against these types of pop-ups. The Spyware, Adware, or Virus that is generating the pop-ups must be removed. Listed below are some re-courses for Spyware, Adware removal.

NOTE: Spyware, Adware removal tools can be harmful to your computer if not used correctly. If you are not sure what you are doing, please contact a professional before attempting Spyware/Adware removal on your own. ITSpeed does not support Spyware/Adware removal and does not support your computer repair needs.

http://www.cexx.org/adware.htm
http://www.spywareonline.org/spyware_removal.html
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1458

If your computer is infected with a virus, you will need to use a virus scanner to eliminate the infectious files. Listed below are some resources for virus scanning and removal.

NOTE: ITSpeed does not support Virus removal and does not support your computer repair needs.

http://www.antivirus.com/ - Free online Scan and Cleaning.
http://www.mcafee.com/
http://www.symantec.com/



7. 3 Messenger Service Pop-Up Ads

These pop-up ads aren’t actually pop-up ads by the standard definition. They appear as Windows text boxes with an OK button located at the bottom. There is no image displayed and they are not generated by the web browser, and can appear at anytime while connected to the Internet. These ads are fed to your IP address using a built-in function of Windows, the Windows Messenger Service(WMS). WMS was created to allow SysAdmins to communicate information to all of the computers on a network via the IP address, but is now being exploited to advertise to un-expecting internet users. Ironically, most of the WMS ads are generally targeted towards software for stopping the WMS pop-up ads themselves.

Most pop-up blocking software does not stop block against WMS as this is a basic function of Windows.

In some Windows Operating Systems (i.e. Windows 2000, XP, NT) you can disable the Windows Messenger Service. Software is available to block these specific types of ads. ITSpeed does not recommend installing additional software to block these ads. These ads do not take up much bandwidth, and while they are annoying, installing software to stop ads that software companies are generating themselves seems ridiculous and only feeds the problem.

8. What is DNS and what does it do?

DNS ( Domain Name System) resolves a name to an IP address allowing the user to browse to that site into a simpler manner. For example you know itspeed.net as www.itspeed.net; your computer knows itspeed.net as an IP address (for example 123.123.123.232). In order to make surfing the internet easier and more user friendly DNS associates a name to an IP address. When people say DNS is resolving it means that DNS is "translating" the name typed in into an IP address so that your computer is able to browse to it.

9. How can I avoid RPC shutdowns?

RPC shutdowns are caused by buffer overflows in the windows RPC client. These can occur for many reasons, viruses can cause this, however it can also be a natural buffer overflow as well. Out of the box windows XP is very susceptible to RPC and LASS buffer overruns. More recent updates to windows, especially windows XP service pack 2, have made windows much more resilient to buffer overflows. If you happen to get a LASS/RPC/NT Authority shutdown you can take the following steps to avoid it. Please note these steps must be taken quickly since NT authority shutdowns operate on a 30 second timer.

Quickly go to start>run and type cmd into the run prompt and press enter. A black DOS console will appear. In the console type "shutdown -a". This will abort any pending system shutdowns. Since the RPC buffer is over run at this point all services which report to RPC will most likely not respond, so this is not a permanent solution. The permanent solution is to go to Windows Update and download all updates and patches.

10. What is the difference between a Static and Dynamic IP address?

A static IP address is generally used in a business scenario. The IP address is the number that identifies your computer on the Internet. Each computer on the Internet has a unique IP address.

With Static IP addressing, you will be assigned an IP or IP's that don't change.

With Dynamic IP addressing, your IP's change every time your restart your computer. This method is generally safer. If someone was trying to break into your computer, they would have to know your IP address.