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General
Overview |
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Ordering
Residential DSL |
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After
I'm Connected |
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Email
and Web |
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Configuration |
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Advanced
Configuration |
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Advanced
Internet Abilities |
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General
Overview
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| What
is DSL? |
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| DSL
stands for "Digital Subscriber Line" and
is a technology that lets you use an ordinary copper
phone line for your high-speed Internet connection.
In your area, Residential DSL uses a type of DSL
called ADSL, which travels over its own phone line
to the Internet. Because your phone and Internet
service reside on totally separate lines, you can
surf the Web and talk on the phone at the same time.
The 'A' in ADSL stands for Asymmetric. This normally
means that uploading to the Internet (which you do
when you send email, for instance) is the same speed
as downloading, which is what you do when you surf.
With a ADSL connection, however, they optimize your
download speed because that's what you do most
often. |
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| Exactly
how fast is a DSL connection? |
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| In
your area, downloads can be as fast as 768 Kbps, or
up to 26 times faster than a 28K modem dial-up
connection. Most pages will appear in a flash, and a
large file that used to take minutes to download
over dial-up will arrive in seconds. Upload speed,
which is what you do when you send email, is as fast
as 408 Kbps. The exact speed depends on the distance
from your home to the DSL equipment in your phone
company's central office; shorter distances yield a
faster connection. The state of phone line wires
(their age, gauge, or the presence of devices that
boosts voice signals), and the quality of wiring in
your home can affect speed, too.Back to Top |
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| Is
DSL available to all homes? |
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| Chances
are, service is available to your home. If you
haven't already, you can check
for availability now. If service isn't
available, it's either because service hasn’t been
rolled out to your area, or your phone system
doesn't support DSL. In particular, DSL isn't
available from any provider if:
- Your phone company hasn't installed DSL
equipment in the local facility that serves your
home (also called the CO or central office).
- Your home is too far from the central office.
It must be within 15,000 to 18,000 feet or
roughly 3 miles, traveling not a straight line,
but along the length of the wire.
- Your phone company has installed equipment
such as load coils on your line that boost voice
signals but distort the DSL signal.
- You have fiber optic wiring to your phone,
rather than the copper wires required by DSL.
If your home doesn't qualify now, don't worry,
there's hope! Phone companies are quickly working to
install new equipment and increase the range limit,
and new zones are rolling out every week, so you
could get service sooner than you think. You can
also check out high-speed Internet via satellite at www.satellitetv.com.
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| Do
I need to install a new phone line? |
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| In
most cases your ISP will schedule an appointment for
your local telephone company to install a new
telephone line if necessary. In some cases, an
additional phone line is not necessary and you will
be able to use the same line to talk and surf the
internet. Either way, the cost is included in your
monthly access charge and you will not be
responsible for payment to your local telephone
provider. |
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| Why
is the gateway better than ordinary modems? |
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| Three
great reasons:
- Easy setup. You don't have to pay a technician
to open up your computer and install extra
parts. Just plug the gateway into your computer
and DSL line's phone jack, make a few settings,
and you'll be surfing the Web within minutes.
- Works with any computer. The gateway is
flexible enough to connect to practically any
computer: via Ethernet for PCs and Macintosh's
with an Ethernet card, USB for newer computers
running Windows 98/2000, or a parallel line for
most other PCs.
- Extra reliability. Your DSL provider designs
and manufactures the gateway, so they make extra
sure it works smoothly and reliably with their
network. Also, because it's not inside your
computer, it works independently of your
computer's operating system so it's always up
and running, even if your computer crashes or
loses power.
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Ordering
Residential DSL
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| How
do I order residential DSL service? |
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| First,
check for availability to make sure service is
available for your home. This happens when your
phone system supports DSL and DSL service is
available in your area. Once you're cleared for
service, click Order Now on any page of this site to
sign up! If you prefer you can call to order service
by calling 1-877-549-3439 and refer to code OMG479
to receive one month of free service. Customer
service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
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| Who
will I contact for questions and support? |
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| Your
DSL provider will set up a DSL connection to your
home. You'll need a new phone line inside your home
installed at your convenience for no extra charge.
The phone company will come around to make a few
adjustments to your outside connection, but you
don't have to be home for this. How long all this
takes depends largely on your phone company's
schedule, but you will be able to check your orders
status via a member login site established when you
order service. A typical installation can take from
4 to 6 weeks. |
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| How
long will it take to get installed? |
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| Your
DSL provider will become your ISP and you will contact them
for support. |
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| How
much does DSL cost? |
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| Residential
DSL service is available for as low as $49.99 per
month for unlimited service no matter how long you
surf. In the rare event you need new wiring inside
your home to support DSL, additional charges may
apply, which your provider will discuss with you
before installation. |
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| Will
I have to sign a contract? |
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| There
is no annual contract for your DSL service through
DIRECTVDSL (one of our providers), however you will
be asked to sign a monthly service agreement which
explains your relationship with DIRECTVDSL in more
detail. You will also be required to adhere to
DIRECTVDSL’s Acceptable Use Policy. |
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After
I'm Connected
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| Does
DSL affect the quality of my phone service? |
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| Not
at all. Your phone and DSL service reside on totally
separate lines, so you can make calls or send faxes
while surfing the Web, and your phone reception is
crisp and clear as ever. And of course the phone
still works when the gateway is unplugged or loses
power. |
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| Will
my phone bill be affected? |
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| No.
Even though your DSL service travels over a phone
line, the phone company will continue to bill you
only for voice and fax calls, just as usual. You'll
be billed for your Internet service separately. |
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| Can
I use my new DSL line to make phone calls? |
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| Yes
and No. Even though your DSL line is a regular
copper phone wire, it has special equipment on it
that transmits high-speed Internet data, only, so
you can't use it as a second phone line. There is
new technology being developed using DSL to make
phone calls. This technology is still in testing
phases so currently you'll keep making phone calls
over your original line, as usual. |
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| Do
I still need my dial-up ISP? |
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| No.
Your email, Web pages, and much more are all
provided by your DSL provider. But if you want to
keep your old service active, that's OK, too. |
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| Can
I access the Net remotely when I travel? |
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| Yes.
Most DSL providers provide use of a toll-free number
to access the Internet anytime and anywhere over a
dial-up connection. Use a laptop, for example, to
surf the Web and get email from any location that
has a phone jack. (Of course, you'll be using your
laptop's analog dial-up modem, so you won't get the
same fast DSL connection you enjoy at home.) |
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| What
happens to my service if I move? |
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| If
you move to an area where service is available, and
your new home doesn't need new wiring, they will try
to transfer service free of charge. If you move to
an area where DSL service is not available, contact
your DSL provider to determine your options. |
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Email
and Web
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| Do
I get email? |
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| Absolutely.
With service, you get up to 5 email accounts. This
means that five people in your household can receive
email at their own address, which will be YourName@YourDSLProvider.com
(where YourName, of course, identifies each person
and, YourDSLProvider, identifies with your
DSLProvider). If you currently have a different
email address with your dial-up service, you can
quit using that address and begin using your new
one. To notify friends, family, and colleagues of
your new address, just send a group message to
everyone in your address book. You can register your
personalized web address at www.domainregistration.com. |
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| Do
I get personal Web pages? |
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| Yes.
Each customer account comes with up to five Web
addresses (also called URL’s). If you would like
to register a personal domain for a custom Web
address, please see below. You can register your
personalized web address at www.domainregistration.com. |
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| Can
I use my own domain name? |
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| Yes.
You can use your own domain name for custom Web
pages. For example: www.(YourSiteHere).com
or http://www.(YourSiteHere).com
as the web address for your web page. You can even
host your site on your computer if you have the
expertise, although you will need to support this
yourself. First, register your domain name with www.domainregistration.com
The cost to register a name is $35 per year. You can
search the database to determine if the domain name
you are interested in is available. Once you become
a DSL customer, your DSL provider will provide you
the procedure that's needed to point your URL to the
proper servers. |
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| What's
the difference between a Web host and a domain name host? |
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| Your
DSL provider can host your personal Web pages, which
means their server holds your pages, picture files,
and other content. This makes them your Web host. To
register a dot-com, dot-net, dot-edu, or similar
domain, go to www.domainregistration.com,
who becomes your domain name host. You will pay an
annual fee to maintain the name, and you will tell
them how to associate the name with your DSL
account. Once you become a DSL customer, your DSL
provider will provide you the procedure that's
needed to point your URL to the proper servers. |
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| Can
my Web pages use Microsoft FrontPage extensions or CGI? |
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| Maybe.
Depending on your DSL provider, they may support
Microsoft FrontPage extensions currently or have
plans for it in the future. |
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Configuration
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| Is
there anything I should change about my computer? |
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| Probably
not. Here are the guidelines to follow for your
computer:
Windows 95/98
- Pentium processor or newer
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, USB (Windows 98 only), or parallel
port
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
version 4 browser, or later
Windows NT/2000
- Pentium processor or newer
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, or USB (Windows 2000 only)
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
version 4 browser, or later
Macintosh
- Mac OS 7.5.3 or later
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, or USB (Windows 2000 only)
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
version 4 browser, or later
Unix or Linux
- Any UNIX operating system, including Linux
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- TCP/IP connectivity
- Ethernet port and card
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| Can
I connect more than one computer to the Gateway? |
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| Yes,
you can share your DSL connection among computers in
a small home network using any of several DSL router
products. The product should be capable of IP
masking and NAT (Network Address Translation), and
include an Ethernet hub (10Base-T or 10/100Base-T).
Follow the router's installation instructions to
connect your home network to the router and the
router to the gateway. |
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| Can
I use my firewall with Service? |
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| Yes.
You can use any off-the-shelf firewall programs with
your DSL connection. Just pick one up and install it
as the manufacturer instructs. |
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| Can
I still use my fax software if I get service? |
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| Probably.
If your fax software uses an analog modem that's
already installed in your computer (and most fax
software does), just keep using it the way it is,
with the modem connected to your phone jack. Faxing
should continue to work as usual. Another option is
to sign up for any of several online services that
allow faxing via the Internet. |
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Advanced
Configuration
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| What
does a static IP address let me do? |
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DSL
providers often connect your computer to a different
physical location (IP address) each time you connect
to the Internet, using whatever address is currently
available. With DSL, you're instead assigned a
static address, which is always the same. This lets
you do several things that wouldn't be possible if
your computer's physical address were always
changing, such as:
- Host Web pages on your own computer, rather
than having us store them for you.
- Host your own FTP site or email server.
- Use third-party software to work with people
remotely over a virtual private network (VPN)
Just pick up the appropriate server software and
install it according to its specifications. A static
IP address also lets you use your own domain name to
have a www.YourSiteHere.com
address for your personal Web pages.
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| How
many static IP addresses can I get? |
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| Most
DSL providers only provide one static IP address
with your service, however, some providers will
provide extra IP addresses for an extra cost. |
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| Can
I host a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? |
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| Yes,
using your static IP address and any off-the-shelf
VPN software that you set up and manage yourself. |
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| Can
I run my own Web, FTP, DNS, SMTP, POP3, or other email
server? |
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| Yes,
using your static IP address and any appropriate
server software that you set up and manage yourself. |
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| Is
my connection a dial-up or LAN? |
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| It's
a LAN connection. The gateway is a router and
doesn't perform any type of modulation/demodulation. |
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| Does
DSL support X-Windows, TELNET, and FTP? |
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| Yes,
these protocols can all be used over a DSL line, as
can any Internet addressable traffic that can be
carried over TCP/IP. |
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| Does
the gateway act as a DHCP host or client? |
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| When
you first install the gateway, it acts as a DHCP
client to receive an IP address from your DSL
provider's server. It retains that address
permanently as your static IP address. Each time you
connect to the Internet thereafter, the gateway acts
as a DHCP host assigning an additional IP address to
your computer (or to each computer in your home
network, if you're using NAT). |
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Advanced
Internet Abilities
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| Can
I participate in online gaming with my connection? |
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| The
electronic games industry generated just over $6
billion in sales during 2000, and according to the
IDSA, analysts forecast that that figure could soon
surpass $10 billion. DSL connectivity provides you
the ability to download games and play interactive
games online via many different gaming portals such
as www.egaming.com. |
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| Can
I download music with my connection? |
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| Your
DSL connections will give you access to
full-service, music web sites providing the most
comprehensive array of genres, interactive services,
and music related information. What would have taken
minutes and possibly hours to download with a 56K
modem will now only take seconds. |
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| Will
I be able to view live broadcasts? |
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| Broadcasting
has become an excellent tool for businesses &
content providers to deliver rich audio and video
content and services through a digital distribution
network. With your DSL connection, you will have
access to a large and comprehensive selection of
streaming media programming, including: radio
stations, game broadcasts, corporate announcements,
live music, and much more. Examples of broadcast
events can be found at www.streaming.com. |
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| Will
I be able to download and view videos with my connection? |
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| Your
DSL connection will allow you to connect to many
different music video websites that emphasizing fun
through interactivity. These sites will highlight
the latest in music, trends, movies, campus gossip,
and much more. |
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| How
quickly will I be able to search using the Internet? |
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| With
your DSL connections you will find searching the
Internet a hassle-free experience. Pages will
download quickly and a vast amount of information
will be right at your fingertips. |
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