- Technical FAQs
Q: What is "bandwidth?"
A: Most Internet Service Providers (known as ISPs) and
Internet Access Providers (known as IAPs) have what is called
T-1 lines. These are approximately the same as 24 56 kbps simultaneous
modem connections or 1.5 Megabytes per second (MBPS). Some of
the big regional and national Internet Access Providers have
T-3 lines which is the same as 24 T-1 lines.
MIDTeN.net has a 1.5 MBPS connection, and does not restrict its
bandwidth to any of its clients at this time. We do not limit
the amount of transfers made to your web site presently.
Q: What is a "default HTML" file?
A: A default HTML file is the page of your web
site that will first be viewed by Internet visitors when they
enter your URL (universal resource locator) or web site address
(such as http://www.mydomain.com/). All default HTML files must
be identified as "welcome.html" at MIDTeN.net.
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Q: What browsers do you recommend to your subscribers?
A: Any of the available browsers work well with the MIDTeN.net
servers, but our particular preference is for Microsoft's Internet
Explorer. You may also want to check out the Netscape and Opera
browsers.
Q: Why does it take so long for my web site to load on my
browser?
A: Generally, when you connect to the Internet through a 56kbps
dial-up V-90 or V-92 modem, the load time for your MIDTeN.net
web site is somewhat slow. Upgrade to either a DSL (digital subscriber
line) or a cable modem Internet connection, and see how quickly
your web site will load in your browser!
One tip: Be sure that you have provided a sufficient disk
cache size in megabytes so that your browser can store "photographs"
of your most visited web sites. This will help these web sites
to load more quickly when you are viewing them online. Generally,
you should set your disk cache to at least 50MB, but the size
of your hard drive and the software installed on it make the
difference of just how much free disk memory you have to devote
to your browser's disk cache.
Q: Is there any particular part of a web site that causes
problems loading in my browser?
A: Many web sites today are filled with numerous images and
use a special design language, called JAVA, to accomplish more
than the typical web pages. Both very large pictures or images
(known as .jpg or .gif, respectively) can create slower load
times for web pages in your browser. Even more frustrating than
the slow load times, may be the problems and error messages you
experience while some web sites are loading; most frequently
these errors are caused by faulty JAVA scripts in the web page
your are trying to visit. There is really very little you can
do to correct these problems. Possible solutions include:
- Clicking on the reload
button in your web browser and hoping for better luck the next
time.
- Emptying your disk cache
(pronounced "cash," and then clicking on the reload
button in your browser.
- Sending an email message
to the webmaster of the web site you are trying to view. The
webmaster's email address is usually "webmaster@thedomainname.com."
Q: I have heard of "open relays" in email which
allow unauthorized individuals to send email messages of these
servers. Are the MIDTeN.net email servers "closed relays?"
A: You are correct that there are more than 85,000 "open
relay" email servers identified in the U. S. today. MIDTeN.net
operates closed relay email servers, restricting the ability
to send and receive email messages to our subscribers by authorizing
such actions through only their Internet service providers. While
"closed relay" email servers minimize the abuse for
sending SPAM, it does not really stop you from receiving SPAM
(unwanted and unsolicited email messages).
Q: What about SPAM? Does MIDTeN.net do anything to help prevent
SPAM from being sent to my email account?
A: Yes we do. MIDTeN.net email servers operate with a variety
of filters in place which are designed to help eliminate SPAM.
Further, additional filters in our email servers also help to
protect your from the many viruses found on the Internet which
can infect your PC.
With that said, it is important for all Internet users to
realize that there is absolutely no certain way of eliminating
all SPAM. SPAM will get through to your email box at times; it
just cannot be helped. Electronic commerce and marketing have
become a way of life for Americans, and without any federal laws
in existence at this time, it is impossible to use email and
be SPAM free. Further complicating the situation, is that much
of the SPAM is sent from foreign countries; therefore, U. S.
regulations would have no major effect on controlling that SPAM
anyway.
One of the biggest concerns about SPAM is "adult content."
MIDTeN.net does not host any web sites with, what we consider
to be "adult material." MIDTeN.net also forbids the
use of any subscriber email account to send messages containing,
what we consider to be "adult material." Again this
does not mean that you will not receive adult material email
messages. As long as SPAM exists on the Internet, you are almost
certain to receive unwanted and unsolicited electronic communications,
including some adult material.
Q: I'm not able to send email messages from my MIDTeN.net
account. What is the most likely problem?
A: You are probably a new MIDTeN.net client or a continuing
MIDTeN.net subscriber who has recently changed Internet service
providers (ISP) and not yet notified us of your current ISP.
Please provide us with the name and domain name of your current
Internet service provider. Most likely your MIDTeN.net email
account does not work because your are trying to send messages
from an Internet service provider not entered into our
mail relay database. As we told you in the previous question,
we operate closed email relays so that only our subscribers can
send email messages from our servers. This, however, requires
that we know the name and domain name for all our clients' ISPs.
Please email us the name and domain name of your current Internet
access provider.
Another possibility is that your ISP blocks your ability to
send email messages from accounts other than email accounts from
your ISP email server. This is called SMTP blocking and, unfortunately,
is quite a common practice. While some ISPs will tell you that
it's required by law, that simply is NOT the case.
Call your ISP Technical Support and see if this is so . If so,
ask if they will unblock your account. If not, contact us, and
we'll help you change the port number for your sending email
server so that you can continue to use your MIDTeN.net email
account properly without frustration. We can also assist you
by setting your SMTP email server to a different unblocked port
(# 587) so that you can send email without any problems.
- Q: Only part of my web
site loads into my browser when I enter the MIDTeN.net hosted
domain name. Why is this?
A: The most likely cause is that your browsers disk cache
is full, and your browser cannot display any more images until
you increase the size of the disk cache or delete files from
the disk cache. You'll find your disk cache under "Advanced"
options in your browser's preferences or Internet options.
Q: When setting up my MIDTeN.net email account, I find SMTP
and POP3 server names requested in my email client software.
What are these things?
A: SMTP means "Simple Mail Transfer Protocol" which
is your sending mail server, and POP3 stands for "Post Office
Protocol" as your receiving mail server. In the case of
MIDTeN.net, both of your mail servers are the same.
- If your domain name is
hosted virtually (without a static IP address), then both your
SMTP and POP3 email server names are MIDTeN.net.
- If your domain name has
a static IP address, then both your SMTP and POP3 email server
names are yourdomainname.com.
Q: I've read a lot about viruses, and was wondering what you
do to keep viruses out of my MIDTeN.net account?
A: The typical way viruses are transferred is by attachment
to email messages so the most likely place for virus problems
is through the MIDTeN.net email servers. We have filters for
the most common, known viruses, and operate TechTool Pro Virus
Scan and Norton AntiVirus software on our servers. While this
does not insure that no virus will be passed on to your computer
through our email servers, it certainly diminishes the likelihood
of that happening. Obviously, there will be new viruses, and
as problems emerge, MIDTeN.net will filter for those viruses
too.
MIDTeN.net uses Apple Power Macintosh servers, and most viruses
affect Windows PC's, and that also diminishes the likelihood
that our email servers will become infected and transmit that
virus on to your computer. Your computer is really quite safe
from viruses based on your email account and your web accounts
with MIDTeN.net.
Q: What is the difference between an ISP (Internet service
provider) and an IAP (Internet access provider)?
A: MIDTeN.net is an Internet service provider, but not an
Internet access provider. In the jargon of the Internet all businesses
that provide any type of Inherent services to clients are called
Internet service providers. However, those businesses that provide
Internet connectivity, such as dial up, DSL, cable, or other
connections, are called Internet access providers. Obviously,
this is because they provide clients with access to the Internet.
MIDTeN.net provides multiple Internet services, including
domain name and web hosting, to our clients, and thus, we are
an an Internet service provider sometimes also called a web hosting
service. However, MIDTeN.net does not provide any access to the
Internet; therefore, we are not an Internet access provider.
Q: How can I tell if online troubles I experience are with
MIDTeN.net or my Internet access provider?
A: Again, MIDTeN.net is an Internet service provider but not
an Internet access provider so when you experience online troubles
receiving or sending any email or browsing to any Internet web
sites, it is likely that the problem is with your Internet access
provider and not with MIDTeN.net. Under these circumstances,
please call your ISP that provides your Internet connection.
MIDTeN.net cannot help you with this type of problem!
This is why we say that all Internet problems you experience
with your online connection may have nothing to do with MIDTeN.net,
and our technicians are only authorized to assist you with
Internet problems directly related to your MIDTeN.net account.
Q: What type of online connection do your recommend for small
businesses or personal residential access to the Internet?
A: This is tough to answer, because individual and business
needs vary so much, but here's the best response we can offer
to you. Keep in mind that a broadband Internet connection (DSL
or cable modem) are always you best options. Beyond that here
are some other factors to consider when selecting a type of Internet
access.
- When your online needs
require only that you check email occasionally and will not be
receiving large attachments or need to upload files to a web
site, our recommendation is that all you need is a 56k, v.90
or v.92, dial up, modem connection.
- If you will maintain your
own web site, regularly use an FTP program to transfer files
to your web site, and will be downloading large files as email
attachments or software from web sites, then you will require
a faster connection than a dial up, modem; this usually called
broadband access. MIDTeN.net suggests that you investigate both
DSL (digital subscriber line) and a cable modem. In some areas,
cable Internet connections are not available just as DSL in unavailable
to customers in some geographic areas.
- 1. Availability itself
may determine which of these two options is an option for you.
2. If both are available in your area, then we suggest that
you let the cost (equipment, set up, and monthly access charges)
help you determine which option to select.
3. Typically you must rent or purchase a DSL/cable modem,
and if you are planning to connect two or more computers to the
one service, you must also rent or purchase a DSL/cable router.
In the long run, it may well be more cost effective that you
purchase this equipment than rent it from your Internet access
provider. However, to start, if you are at all uncertain of how
satisfied you will be with the service, why not rent them?
4. Service reputation is another factor in determining whether
to select DSL or cable Internet access. Talk to some friends
who use different services, and ask them how many outages they
have experienced, and just how responsive technical support has
been to their questions and problems.
5. Finally, and this is offered as a generalization which
may be more true for one specific Internet access provider than
it is for either type of Internet access, DSL has been found
to be more troublesome and problematic than cable Internet service.
Therefore, all else being equal, we suggest that you use a cable
modem for fast Internet access rather than DSL.
Q: Why do some parts of my web site load more quickly than
others?
A: Once your web site is "photographed" and stored
in the disk cache of your browser, your web site should load
quite quickly. If it does not, then there may well be a problem
with the speed of your Internet connection. The HTML text in
a web site loads very quickly, but the larger the images (photographs
or clip art) within the site, the longer it can take to be displayed
in your browser. This should not be a problem more than the first
time your web site loads, or the first time your web site loads
following your emptying of your browser's disk cache. If the
problem persists, please notify us, but also consider changing
Internet services since the likelihood is high that your online
connection is of insufficient speed to permit fast loads of your
web site on your computer.
If you still have this problem and you are using a DSL or
cable modem Internet connection, then you definitely want to
contact MIDTeN.net to help you resolve the problem.
Q: I know it is not your problem, but what's the most likely
cause of my dial up connection cutting out on me so many times?
A: Actually there are many possible culprits.
First, it could be noise on the telephone lines. Remember,
telephone lines were intended only for low quality voice telephone
calls and not for data transfer over the Internet. These lines
are shielded to keep out interference from electrical appliances,
etc. Thus noise from electrical sources and poor line quality
are potential sources for poor speed and consistent drop outs,
making it difficult to stay connected online.
Second, most Internet access providers, have a time out sequence
used when there is no activity on a dial up connection for some
specified period of time (frequently 10 to 20 minutes without
any activity). If you remain connected to the Internet and do
nothing for a prolonged period of time, your ISP will cut you
off thinking that you've just left the line connected without
any use.
Third, and least likely, there could be a problem with your
computer's modem. If your modem does "talk or handshake"
with your ISPs modem (This is that funny noise you hear just
before you are connected to the Internet), then the likelihood
that this is your problem diminishes greatly. However, the more
trouble you have making an initial connection to the Internet
through your modem, the greater the chance that your modem divers
are corrupted or some type of hardware issue with the modem has
developed in your computer. To correct this, first try reinstalling
the drivers for your modem.
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