Twice a year or so my wife will breathlessly tell me: “The Internet is down.”
My first reaction is that I am sitting on one heck of a news story. Civilization as we know it would slow to a crawl if the Internet itself stopped working. But I know what she really means: Our DSL connection isn’t working.
Compared to the old dial-up days, most of us have it easy. I’m not just talking about speed. The connection is much more reliable nowadays. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the connection is much more crucial to the way we live. It connects us to work, to school, to our online banking and bill paying.
Luckily, there are some simple ways to remain well-connected. Today we’ll talk about what you can do at home to — in many cases — avoid that dreaded conversation with your Internet provider’s technical support staff. If you’ve ever suffered through that experience, you’ll know how welcome these do-it-yourself tips can be.
Let’s start with the most basic trick I know. It’s embarrassingly simple but enormously effective: Turn the modem off, let it sit for a moment, and then turn it on.
Here’s why that often works wonders when it comes to your Internet connection. Modems ccasionally lose synchronization. When that happens, the Web unravels, e-mail stops working. The on-screen messages after that failure tell you what you already know and offers brainy suggestions such making sure all the cables are plugged in (which actually is a pretty good thing to do). But I’ve never seen an on-screen message that offers the most obvious fix: Turn off the modem and any router connected to it, let it sit, then turn it back on.
Let me make up a statistic here, this on/off trick will get your connection going again about 60 percent of the time. It forces the modem in your home to renew its acquaintance with the equipment at your Internet provider.
If that doesn’t work, then do spend a moment to check cable and power connections. Not long ago I was able to show my own incompetence when we lost our home connection. I tried most of the tricks that I knew — as well as a few that I didn’t — with no success. I was on the verge of calling my provider when I noticed that the panel lights on a hub (a device simpler but similar to a router) were out. Turns out my wife had moved a paper shredder to a new location and jogged the wiring behind the desk enough to pull the power connection loose on the hub. Had I followed my own advice about checking connection, the fix would have taken 10 seconds rather than 10 minutes.
We’ve talked about connections that don’t work. But many times, the connection will work do it slowly.
Keep in mind that, just as is true on the interstates, sometimes traffic to a Web site gets so heavy that things slow to a crawl. Besides that, the Internet itself slows down at times. If you want to check the condition of the Net itself here is a site that will let you do that for any area of the world: http://www.internettrafficreport.com/
Avoid tinkering at the first sign of slowness. But if the slow connection persists across all sites for several days, then the problem may be in your house.
Possible causes include interference from other gadgets — even a malfunctioning outdoor light, dimmer switch or electrical problems can spark a slowdown. Kinks in the ethernet cable can also create a roadblock. The cable reacts poorly to a very sharp bend.
Experiment by turning off suspect devices and checking the cable for kinks.
It would be wrong to write about technology without throwing in a few mysterious initials. So here you have it: MTU: maximum transmission unit.
Read this but, please, don’t try to change any settings unless you spend much more time learning about it than reading a few sentences in a newspaper column.
To understand MTU, you need to know that data travels on the Internet in packets. If you send an e-mail to your Aunt Sally, the note is broken down into bite-size chunks, and these are sent out in a stream. You can set your computer to adjust the size of each packet. Windows Vista tries to do all adjusting that for you, earlier versions of Windows sometimes need manual tweaking (that’s true for Vista too, it’s just a different process).
A faulty MTU setting can slow down the transmission of data. I’ll offer a couple of Web pages that explain why that is and how to change things — even with Vista. But, as I said, consider this a bit of education rather than a how-to lesson.
Here’s a site that discusses MTU and Windows Vista: http://tinyurl.com/6zkr34 and here’s a Web site from the United Kingdom that does a fine job explaining how MTU works: http://www.orangeproblems.co.uk/kitz/
That’s it for today. Maybe the next you hear those famous words, “The Internet is down,” you’ll be able to do what even Al Gore sometimes can’t ... make it work again.
Friday, August 29, 2008
I remember when the first “dummies” computer books came out years ago. I was both sorry I hadn’t thought of it first as well as put off by the dummies title.
Most of us aren’t dummies — maybe I’m too southern, but calling someone a dummy doesn’t seem like a good way to nuture a relationship with readers. Besides, most people aren’t dummies when it comes to computing. Instead they may be ignorant. That’s entirely different than being stupid. Stupid people have trouble learning. Ignorant people are without knowledge when it comes to a specific topic. For instance, I’m ignorant when it comes to carpentry and brain surgery.
With all that in mind, consider today’s column the “A Basic Computer Guide for the Ignorant.” We’ll talk about the very basics of keeping your computing relatively hassle free.
No. 1: The smartest people recognize the areas where they have gaps in their knowledge. When it comes to computing that means you should avoid the very most common cause of computing disaster — fixing something that you don’t understand, or installing a program that you know nothing about you’ve found on the Internet.
Take my word for it, your biggest enemy is the person who brushes your teeth every morning. If you avoid crazy over-your-head fixing and installing, you’ll be miles ahead of the competition.
No. 2: Overcome your ignorance when it comes to routine maintenance. Spend some time reading — in this column, or on the Web, or even with one of those yellow Dummies books — about anti-virus protection and programs that stop adware and spyware. Then get a program for each: Either the commercial suite of programs from Norton that includes both anti-virus and anti-spamware, or freeware from http://free.grisoft.com for viruses or a program such as this one — http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php — for adware/spyware protection.
No. 3: Emulate a good newspaper reporter and be skeptical, even cynical, when it comes to believing what you read. Some e-mails will tell you that you need to log onto your bank account, others will invite you to give eBay all your personal information. These e-mails all differ a bit but they have one thing in common — they are an effort by crooks to either steal your personal information and then your money, or to plant a virus in your computer.
If you feel you just can’t ignore the e-mail (and you really should ignore it) then pick up the telephone and call the bank or other institution and ask if they sent the e-mail.
No. 4: Use a password that is hard to figure out. That means it should not form a word you can find in the dictionary and it should contain at least eight characters composed of letters and numbers. For instance, here’s a horrible password: Lucy. That’s the name of my beagle. Here’s a decent password: 73rtrnrd2. If your Internet provider or the Web site allows, using a combination of lower case and capital letters is even better, like 73rTrnRd2.
It’s perfectly OK to write down passwords if you have trouble remembering them, as long as you keep them hidden away in your desk or a drawer at home. After all, if the computer crooks can start pawing through your belongings at home, this virtual reality stuff has gone way too far.
(For those living with roommates or other disreputable folks, then you’ll either need to memorize the passwords, or hide them away securely).
No. 5: Now that you’ve protected your machine from viruses, spyware and hackers as best you can, you need to protect it from nature. That means buying a UPS — an uninterruptable power supply — and using it.
These things are big batteries that have a gizmo that converts the DC battery current into AC power that your computer can use. Besides keeping the machine going long enough to shut it down in an orderly fashion after a power outage, they filter the current that your machine uses in regular operation. That filtered current avoids feeding your machine voltage surges that can kill it.
No. 6: Make back-up copies of the data you’ve created. The easiest way is to buy an external hard disk that connects to the USB port. So there’s no assembly required and, most often, the disk will include software to do the backups. My guess is that the data on your computer is worth more than the computer itself. So making regular back-ups is a flat necessity.
Even if you are completely ignorant when it comes to computers, these tips will get you headed toward the light. Think of them as five small steps away from ignorance.
Most of us aren’t dummies — maybe I’m too southern, but calling someone a dummy doesn’t seem like a good way to nuture a relationship with readers. Besides, most people aren’t dummies when it comes to computing. Instead they may be ignorant. That’s entirely different than being stupid. Stupid people have trouble learning. Ignorant people are without knowledge when it comes to a specific topic. For instance, I’m ignorant when it comes to carpentry and brain surgery.
With all that in mind, consider today’s column the “A Basic Computer Guide for the Ignorant.” We’ll talk about the very basics of keeping your computing relatively hassle free.
No. 1: The smartest people recognize the areas where they have gaps in their knowledge. When it comes to computing that means you should avoid the very most common cause of computing disaster — fixing something that you don’t understand, or installing a program that you know nothing about you’ve found on the Internet.
Take my word for it, your biggest enemy is the person who brushes your teeth every morning. If you avoid crazy over-your-head fixing and installing, you’ll be miles ahead of the competition.
No. 2: Overcome your ignorance when it comes to routine maintenance. Spend some time reading — in this column, or on the Web, or even with one of those yellow Dummies books — about anti-virus protection and programs that stop adware and spyware. Then get a program for each: Either the commercial suite of programs from Norton that includes both anti-virus and anti-spamware, or freeware from http://free.grisoft.com for viruses or a program such as this one — http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php — for adware/spyware protection.
No. 3: Emulate a good newspaper reporter and be skeptical, even cynical, when it comes to believing what you read. Some e-mails will tell you that you need to log onto your bank account, others will invite you to give eBay all your personal information. These e-mails all differ a bit but they have one thing in common — they are an effort by crooks to either steal your personal information and then your money, or to plant a virus in your computer.
If you feel you just can’t ignore the e-mail (and you really should ignore it) then pick up the telephone and call the bank or other institution and ask if they sent the e-mail.
No. 4: Use a password that is hard to figure out. That means it should not form a word you can find in the dictionary and it should contain at least eight characters composed of letters and numbers. For instance, here’s a horrible password: Lucy. That’s the name of my beagle. Here’s a decent password: 73rtrnrd2. If your Internet provider or the Web site allows, using a combination of lower case and capital letters is even better, like 73rTrnRd2.
It’s perfectly OK to write down passwords if you have trouble remembering them, as long as you keep them hidden away in your desk or a drawer at home. After all, if the computer crooks can start pawing through your belongings at home, this virtual reality stuff has gone way too far.
(For those living with roommates or other disreputable folks, then you’ll either need to memorize the passwords, or hide them away securely).
No. 5: Now that you’ve protected your machine from viruses, spyware and hackers as best you can, you need to protect it from nature. That means buying a UPS — an uninterruptable power supply — and using it.
These things are big batteries that have a gizmo that converts the DC battery current into AC power that your computer can use. Besides keeping the machine going long enough to shut it down in an orderly fashion after a power outage, they filter the current that your machine uses in regular operation. That filtered current avoids feeding your machine voltage surges that can kill it.
No. 6: Make back-up copies of the data you’ve created. The easiest way is to buy an external hard disk that connects to the USB port. So there’s no assembly required and, most often, the disk will include software to do the backups. My guess is that the data on your computer is worth more than the computer itself. So making regular back-ups is a flat necessity.
Even if you are completely ignorant when it comes to computers, these tips will get you headed toward the light. Think of them as five small steps away from ignorance.
My trip to chilly Nova Scotia has me thinking about winter.
But even if you’re not heading north like me, it’s not crazy to start thinking about preparing your high-tech equipment for the cold months. Power outages are close to certain — at my house, here in warm Atlanta, I can depend on at least two each winter caused by icing on power lines.
You can take advance steps to make those dark days and powerless nights easier to handle. If you wait until the first outage, you’ll find that stores are out of lights, batteries and other needed supplies. So let’s get your shopping started.
Light: Candles are dangerous and flashlights, while important to have, aren’t the only or even the best way to go. Buy a couple of battery-powered fluorescent camping lanterns (please don’t get the dangerous type that uses fuel). A couple will pro-ject broad swatches of light to ease cooking and reading.
Batteries: Get regular batteries — not the rechargeable kind. A regular will hold its charge for at least two years when stored unused. Some people advise putting them in the refrigerator, but they’ll do fine in a box at the top of a closet. Buy plenty.
Radio: I’ve found radio news to be the best source of information during a storm. It’s great for learning about road and school closings, as well as the all-important forecast. If you really want to do things right, also get a battery-powered weather radio or an AC model that has a battery back-up.
UPS: My UPS — uninterruptable power supply — helps out in unexpected ways during an outage. I use it as a supply of AC that lets me charge my laptop computer and cellphone. It also can keep a DSL or cable modem running for two or three days if there’s no other load on it. I have four separate UPS’s and I wish I had more. Since a UPS is essentially a big battery that uses a converter to supply AC, it can come in handy for devices such as cordless telephones, whose base units need a power source.
More on telephones: Every home needs a regular wired telephone. Even when the electricty goes out, phone circuits usually remain operational. Since you can’t depend on a cordless phone, wired phones can literally be a life-saver. In most homes, there should be one in the bedroom and one in a central location of the house.
Get the answer: Many of us now use an answering service provided by the telephone company, or rely on cellphone voice mail. But an answering machine can be valuable during an outage. Here’s why:
When you leave home for work in a home without power, you’ll spend the day wondering if the power has been restored. The answering machine can tell you when the power goes on. Just plug it into the AC outlet. If you call and the answering machine picks up, you’ll know the power is on.
Safety: There are several things not to do in a power outage — and they’re a lot more important than keeping warm.
One, never use a charcoal or gas grill inside the house. The grills can create carbon monoxide fumes that can kill you.
Two, if you have a portable electric generator, consult a licensed electrician before using it. Ask the electrician to create a master switch that will let you use the generator without sending electricity out over the lines outside your house. Power company lineman have been killed thinking they were working on a dead line and grabbing a live one instead.
Follow these tips and, while you may be a bit chilly when the lights go out, at least you’ll have enough light to watch your family shiver.
But even if you’re not heading north like me, it’s not crazy to start thinking about preparing your high-tech equipment for the cold months. Power outages are close to certain — at my house, here in warm Atlanta, I can depend on at least two each winter caused by icing on power lines.
You can take advance steps to make those dark days and powerless nights easier to handle. If you wait until the first outage, you’ll find that stores are out of lights, batteries and other needed supplies. So let’s get your shopping started.
Light: Candles are dangerous and flashlights, while important to have, aren’t the only or even the best way to go. Buy a couple of battery-powered fluorescent camping lanterns (please don’t get the dangerous type that uses fuel). A couple will pro-ject broad swatches of light to ease cooking and reading.
Batteries: Get regular batteries — not the rechargeable kind. A regular will hold its charge for at least two years when stored unused. Some people advise putting them in the refrigerator, but they’ll do fine in a box at the top of a closet. Buy plenty.
Radio: I’ve found radio news to be the best source of information during a storm. It’s great for learning about road and school closings, as well as the all-important forecast. If you really want to do things right, also get a battery-powered weather radio or an AC model that has a battery back-up.
UPS: My UPS — uninterruptable power supply — helps out in unexpected ways during an outage. I use it as a supply of AC that lets me charge my laptop computer and cellphone. It also can keep a DSL or cable modem running for two or three days if there’s no other load on it. I have four separate UPS’s and I wish I had more. Since a UPS is essentially a big battery that uses a converter to supply AC, it can come in handy for devices such as cordless telephones, whose base units need a power source.
More on telephones: Every home needs a regular wired telephone. Even when the electricty goes out, phone circuits usually remain operational. Since you can’t depend on a cordless phone, wired phones can literally be a life-saver. In most homes, there should be one in the bedroom and one in a central location of the house.
Get the answer: Many of us now use an answering service provided by the telephone company, or rely on cellphone voice mail. But an answering machine can be valuable during an outage. Here’s why:
When you leave home for work in a home without power, you’ll spend the day wondering if the power has been restored. The answering machine can tell you when the power goes on. Just plug it into the AC outlet. If you call and the answering machine picks up, you’ll know the power is on.
Safety: There are several things not to do in a power outage — and they’re a lot more important than keeping warm.
One, never use a charcoal or gas grill inside the house. The grills can create carbon monoxide fumes that can kill you.
Two, if you have a portable electric generator, consult a licensed electrician before using it. Ask the electrician to create a master switch that will let you use the generator without sending electricity out over the lines outside your house. Power company lineman have been killed thinking they were working on a dead line and grabbing a live one instead.
Follow these tips and, while you may be a bit chilly when the lights go out, at least you’ll have enough light to watch your family shiver.
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