Support - User contributions [en]

Account & Membership

2013-08-30T05:14:53Z

Aw958: /* I forgot my password */

== How do I change my password?==

To change your password, go to the [http://start.ncf.ca StartPage], then click on 'Change Your Password' under 'Your NCF Account'. Or directly at [https://secure.ncf.ca/ncf/home/tools/password.jsp Change your password].

== I forgot my password==

Your password is stored in NCF in an encrypted format, so even NCF's staff don't know your password. However, we can set your password to something new if you phone us at (613) 721-1773.

When you phone the NCF office, you will be asked security questions to confirm it is your account.

== Why do I need to renew my account? ==

NCF is a large group of members getting together, sharing costs and doing something good for themselves and their communities. We are a not-for-profit organization, and keep costs down with the help of volunteers and donations from sponsors from time to time. However, the most important thing for NCF's continuing operation is donations from members.

We use the account renewal program to remind members that NCF needs your donations to continue operating. Each year, on the anniversary date of your NCF join date, we ask you to consider donating. The renewal process also helps us identify accounts that are no longer in use and should be closed. Of course people making monthly donations or DSL payments are indicating their continued interest every month and therefore do not need to renew their account.

== How do I know when to renew my account? ==

We will email you renewal reminders when it is time to renew, the first one will be sent 30 days before your account renewal date, then 15 days later and at your renewal date if you have not renewed. If we do not hear from you 60 days past the renewal date, we will assume you do not want your account and your account files will be deleted to free up space.

Be certain to provide NCF with the email address to which you want renewal emails sent. You can set this using [https://secure.ncf.ca/ncf/home/tools/preferences.jsp Change preferences] from the StartPage.

== How do I renew my account? ==

NCF will email you reminders when it is time to renew. To renew, go to the [http://start.ncf.ca StartPage], sign in and then click on [http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/donate/renew.jsp Renew Your Account] under 'Your NCF account'.

== What happens if I don't renew my account? ==

NCF email renewal reminders periodically, starting at 30 days before your renewal date. The last reminder is sent at your renewal date. If we don't hear from you 60 days past the renewal date, we assume you no longer want your account. We will then delete your account files to free up space.

[[Category:Account & Membership]]

What to expect with DSL

2013-08-30T05:05:10Z

Aw958: /* How to contact the NCF office */

This article tells you what to expect when you sign up for DSL service at NCF.

==Activation==
===Upon signing up===
Within three business days of signing up for DSL, you should receive an email listing the expected '''activation date''' of your DSL service (the date Bell says they will be able to start DSL service on your line).

Typically it takes five business days for DSL service to be activated on your line by Bell.

If you made a request in your comments while placing your DSL order and have not received a response from the NCF office after three business days, perhaps it got lost. If so then please accept our apologies. You may need to re-send your comment. See [[What to expect (DSL)#How to contact the NCF office|How to contact the NCF office]] below.

If you ordered a modem from NCF to be picked up by you at the NCF office, we will phone you when it is ready for pick-up. Do not drop by the office early, as it may not be ready to go yet.

===Before the Activation Date===
If you signed up for Dry DSL, Bell recommends that someone be home between 8am-5pm on the activation date. If that is not possible, contact NCF by email or by phone as soon as you get your activation date to arrange a better date. Dry DSL activations happen only on weekdays, always between 8am-5pm.

It helps the installation technician test the line if you install filters on all your phones before the DSL signal is applied to the phone line. If you need line filters, drop by the NCF office to purchase them.

===On the Activation Date===
For regular (not dry) DSL, activation is done from the Bell central office, with no need for anyone to visit your location. Activation typically occurs from 8am to 12am.

For Dry DSL, Bell recommends that someone be home between 8am-5pm on the activation date. If that is not possible, contact NCF by email or by phone as soon as you get your activation date to arrange a better date. Dry DSL activations happen only on weekdays, always between 8am-5pm.

If all goes well, on the day after your Activation Date, your modem should see a DSL signal.

===After the Activation Date===
If after the activation date your DSL modem cannot see the DSL signal (see [[About DSL modem lights]]), please check the following:
* Check that the phone line is fully plugged in (clicks when plugged into the modem and into the wall).
* Turn your modem off and then turn it back on (to be sure it is looking for the DSL signal).
* If you still do not have a signal, try taking your modem to different working jacks at your location. Finally, if you can, try to plug in the modem at the demarcation point (where the telephone wires come into the house). Note: Some demarcation points do not have an actual phone jack where you can test your modem. Also, perhaps you are not sure where the demarcation point is. On most homes the demarcation point is located in teh basement or near the main electrical circuit breaker panel.
*Having checked different jacks in the house, please contact NCF and we will ask Bell to check your line.

== How to contact the NCF office ==
The best way to contact the NCF office is to log into the NCF StartPage (using your NCF account ID, which is two letter followed by three numbers, eg., ab123) at:

*[http://start.ncf.ca start.ncf.ca]

and click on ''Your NCF account'' at the bottom-left of the page. Or just go directly to:

*[http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/officeMsgMgr.jsp Your office messages page]

Using this Office Message system ensures that your message will reach the office (you can track it, from Office Messages on your StartPage). Otherwise, you can try reaching the office by phone, at (613) 721-1773.

[[Category:DSL]]

Alternatives to DSL

2013-08-30T05:02:11Z

Aw958: /* Updates to this information */

While National Capital FreeNet serves the 613 and 819 area codes we are unable to provide DSL service to every address in the region. This is not a lack of interest on our part, but limitations of Bell's wired infrastructure as presently deployed. NCF's DSL service is delivered over Bell's wiring, so we are limited by Bell's installed infrastructure. This leaves some, mostly rural, areas with no DSL service.

This page will attempt to cover the alternatives available to you if you happen to live in one of those areas where DSL is not available.

==Cable==
There are several cable internet providers operating in the region, including [http://www.rogers.com/ Rogers] and [http://teksavvy.com/ Teksavvy]. These all use Roger's cable infrastructure, so if cable TV is available in your area, then cable internet should be too. You will have to check with those providers to see if your address is served.

;Advantages
*fast connection speeds.
*reasonable cost.

;Disadvantages
*slows down when your neighbours use their cable.
*often has low caps and high overage fees (Rogers).
*often sold as a bundle with other services you may not want, like TV and telephone.

==Satellite==
At least one company [http://www.xplornet.com/ Xplornet] provides 4G satellite internet service in our region. Some NCF members using this service have reported speeds of about 5 MB/s download and 0.5 MB/s upload, making it comparable to DSL for speed.

;Advantages
*works throughout the region, regardless of location.
*doesn't tie up your phone line (unlike dial-up)

;Disadvantages
*more expensive than DSL (about twice the price at $64.99 per month).
*high latency due to the distance to the geostationary satellite and back to earth (800 ms has been reported), which may make on-line gaming, VOIP (such as Skype) or other time sensitive applications difficult.
*low bandwidth caps (typically 30 GB per month), but no caps late at night (2am - 7am).
*requires purchasing a satellite dish (a two foot dish sold for $299 has been one report).
*severe weather has been reported as causing occasional service disruptions.

==Wide-Area Wireless==
There are ISPs in the area that provide wide-area wireless high speed internet.

One of these is [http://gozoom.ca/ goZoom]. They offer radio-based internet via line-of-sight on frequencies of 900 Mhz, 2.4 GHz or 5.4 and non-line-of-sight services on 900 Mhz from fixed, ground-based antennas that cover "Carp, Marathon, Kinburn, Fitzroy, Arnprior, Flat Rapids, Locwinnoch, Glasgow, Horton, Bromley, Sand Bay, Norway Bay, and the Ottawa River Corridor from Arnprior to Castleford." They also have a [http://gozoom.ca/wireless_service_area.php map] that shows their service area.

The goZoom website indicates that their service costs $39 to $69 per month with a $299 to $499 hardware installation fee. They indicate that they offer 2-6 MB/s download speeds for residences with no data caps. Installation may be more expensive if a tower antennae is required.

;Advantages
*fast connection speeds
*reasonable monthly cost
*no bandwidth cap

;Disadvantages
*Limited coverage area due to antenna geometry
* Installation is expensive and may be much more expensive if a tower is required to achieve line-of-sight

==Cellphone-based services==
Locations that have cellphone service may have internet service available from the phone companies in your area.

;Advantages
*fairly good coverage throughout the region.
*Company usually provides a USB connection tool (Turbostick, Rocketstick, etc).

;Disadvantages
*slow connection speed.
*high cost.
*low band width caps and high overage fees.

Most people will find that the cost of cellphone-based internet and its slow speed are deterrents, but it may be economical for just checking e-mail and similar applications, if your usage requirements are light.

==Local services==
Some smaller rural communities have their own local DSL systems set up, such as [http://www.1000island.net/join.html Landsdowne Tel] which serves the Village of Landsdowne. These should work as well as NCF DSL.

==Dial-up==
The internet started with dial-up and it is still available from NCF for $60 per year. If you can reach Ottawa by telephone then you can get dial-up service, although long distance charges may apply if Ottawa is outside your local calling area.

;Advantages
*works throughout the region, as long as you have telephone service.
*inexpensive.

;Disadvantages
*slow connection speed (typically 35-45 Kb/s, but certainly no faster than 56 Kb/s) Note that 56 Kb/s is 0.056 Mb/s, about 1/100 the speed of typical DSL service.
*ties up a telephone line when in use.
*only one computer can use a line at a time.
*requires a dial-up modem, which many modern computers do not come with (external USB modems can be purchased locally for about $30).
*Many modern websites are getting more bandwidth heavy with video and other rich media, making the websites less compatible with dial-up. The good news is that many websites have text only or lightweight website versions designed for cellphone users that are very useful for dial-up users too. A good example of this is [http://www.cbc.ca/m/text/ CBC's text site]. You Tube is still going to be difficult, though.

Many people disdain dial-up, but if you only need to check your e-mail and perhaps the news, on-line banking and similar simple uses then dial-up may be just the right match for you. It isn't really suitable for watching videos, on-line gaming or VOIP, though.

All NCF membership accounts include dial-up service. [[Getting Started (Dial-up)]] explains how to use it.

==Wait==
While the federal government in the past has made promises about rural broadband, not much has happened on the federal scene and given current priories it is unlikely to do so in the near future. The [http://www.eorn.ca/ Eastern Ontario Regional Network] was created by the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus. Their mission is to "provide higher speeds and bandwidth to at least 95 per cent of homes and businesses in Eastern Ontario. The network is being built with the support of federal, provincial, municipal, and private sector partners".

If you don't currently have high-speed internet, this and other initiatives may end up providing service to you in the future.

==Move or Don't Move==
NCF would never advocate that members move residences to get better internet service, but some of our members have reported that their teenagers have voted in favour of moving to get on DSL.

We have talked to a number of people who have looked at rural estate living, but have decided against it when they discovered that DSL was not available in the proposed new housing development.

This is all just some food for thought if you are considering moving to the countryside - ask about internet service first to avoid being disappointed or have family members disappointed.

==Updates to this information==
If you are aware of services we have missed naming here, please do let us know and we will update the page. You can put in an [http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/officeMsg.jsp? office message] or call the NCF office at (613) 721-1773. The [http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/dg/index.jsp?dg=82 NCF DSL help desk discussion group] is also a good place to discuss alternative services and get members' input on how well they work, costs and other information.

==See also==
*[[Computer Help]] - for general information about getting your computer fixed.
*[[Dry copper]] - DSL when you don't have a home wired telephone
*[http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/registration/dsl/index.jsp Find out if DSL is available at your phone number]
*[http://www.ncf.ca/ncf/home/tools/dsl.jsp Sign-up for NCF DSL service]

[[Category:DSL]]
[[Category:Dial-up]]