Connecting to the Internet

How do I connect to Lynchburg.net?

It's easy to connect to Lynchburg.net. Simply give us a call at 434.239.4272 and one of our Tech Support Representatives will create a personal account for you here. You can also stop by to sign up and pick up a configuration cd. Once you get home, install our Lynchburg.net Set-Up CD. An Internet dial-up connnection will automatically be installed. You will be asked what software you would like to install and what your home phone number is. (This is so that your dial-up connection will be configured with a local access number for you.) After making sure that your modem's cord is connected to a jack in the wall, all you need to do is double-click the Internet Explorer icon to connect ...(hint: It's the big blue 'e').

What do I do once I connect?

You can either launch your Web browser (Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer) or your email program (Outlook Express) or both. Then you can use your Personalized Start Page to see if you have email messages, read the latest news, get the sports scores, find out what your stocks are trading at, Surf the Web in categories like Arts & Humanities, Business & Economy, Computers & Internet, Education, and Entertainment , or search for something specific with your page's built-in search engine. And if you know the URL (Web address) of somewhere you'd like to visit, all you need to do is enter it into your browser's address bar, hit the Return or Enter key, and you're off.

Does it matter how long I am online?

As long as you are actively using your connection (browsing the World Wide Web, sending and receiving email, engaging in chat, transferring files via FTP, gaming), you can stay online for up to 6 hours at a time. And when you sign up for the Unmetered Dial-Up Service, you will not be charged extra, no matter how much you use the Net. Please use common courtesy, however, and log off every time you are not actively using your connection.

Connection Speed

What speed should I connect at?

The speed at which you connect to the Internet is determined by a number of factors:

• the speed of your modem
• the modem type and speed supported at the number you dialed
• the quality of the phone lines in your area
• the amount of traffic on the Net

Because of all these factors, you should not expect your connection speed to be exactly the same as the speed listed for your modem. Very often it is actually less.

If are experiencing severely slow connection speeds or other problems, you should first troubleshoot your computer in our tech support area. If your problems continue, you may speak to a Technical Support Representative at Lynchburg.net.

How can I connect to the Internet faster?

Lynchburg.net offers a range of services for high-speed Internet access options, including ISDN and Multi-Link Modem Connections.

What is ISDN?

Integrated Services Digital Network. A special kind of high-speed phone service that allows simultaneous voice and data transmission over the same phone line. ISDN lines provide transmission speeds of around 128Kbps, or double the fastest modems. Call us to find out how you or your business can access the web using an ISDN.

World Wide Web

What is the 'Web'?

The World Wide Web is a global series of interconnected internet pages containing text, graphics, and multimedia.

How can I find interesting sites on the Web?

The 'search' button and text field on your Personalized Start Page are ideal ways to find sites on the Web. At www.lynchburg.net or home.lynchburg.net you will see the search field along with a drop down menu of 20 different search engines to choose from.

I lost my Personalized Start Page. How do I change it back to Lynchburg.net?

Some websites may change your homepage setting on your Internet Browser when you click on their page at some place. Our users often unknowingly do this and do not know how to change it back.

One way to change it back is:

1. Go to the start button on your computer
2. Choose 'Settings' and then 'Control Panel'.
3. Once the Control Panel opens, Double-Click 'Internet' or 'Internet Options' (depending upon your Operating System).
4. You should be in the section under 'General' in the new window. You will see 'Homepage Address' and a text box with something like 'http://www.somedomain.com' in it. This is what has been changed. You should change it back to the following: http://home.lynchburg.net.

How do I get to Web sites I read about?

Simply type the site's address (known as the URL) into the address blank on your Web browser and hit the Return or Enter key on your keyboard. If you cannot see the address bar, you may need to choose the view option at the top of your web browser and make the neccesary modification.

What are plug-ins and which ones should I have?

A plug-in is a piece of software that you add to your Web browser to allow it to display content that the browser can't display on its own. Plug-ins allow your browser to show video and animation, play audio, and perform other functions.

Some of the more popular plug-ins include QuickTime, Shockwave, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and RealPlayer.

How do I build my own Web page?

Whether you're a beginner or experienced Web builder, you'll find plenty of information about creating your own Web pages at Lynchburg.net's Online Courses. If you've purchased the Unmetered Dial-Up Plan for Internet access, then you receive 2 megs FREE from Lynchburg.net to build your own website! You will have an address on the internet like the following: www.lynchburg.net/your username. Visit users.lynchburg.net for more information.

Using your Lynchburg.net Email

What is my Login and Password?

When you joined Lynchburg.net, you received an email Login, or username. Your email Login is a unique name you use to log on to Lynchburg.net and receive email. Your email address is 'login'@lynchburg.net. Make sure your friends, family, and business associates know your email ID and email address, but DO NOT tell others what your password is. You received a password at the time of your signup also. This is what you will enter when prompted while checking your email or connecting to the internet using Lynchburg.net.

How do I check for my email?

If you use your browser to read email, open your Inbox and click Send and Receive. Your browser checks the Lynchburg.net mail server for new messages and saves them in your Inbox.
You may also access your email directly from the Internet Anywhere in the World! Simply go to www.lynchburg.net/email and type your username and password in.

What do I do with email messages after I read them?

After you read an email message, it remains in your inbox until you delete it. When you delete the message, it is sent to your Trash folder. Depending on your email program, the message will either be deleted immediately or will remain in the trash until you empty it. You can also save a copy of the message as a text file on your hard drive or sort it into a special email folder. To save the message, choose Save or Save As from the File menu, name the file, then press the return or enter key. Feel free to explore the help menu provided by Outlook Express on your software.

Can I get more than one email account?

Additional mailboxes are an inexpensive way to let multiple people share one EarthLink Sprint dial-up account. You can add additional mailboxes to your account for a monthly charge of $4.95. Call us to setup your new Email account at 434.239.4272!