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Happy New Year! Local
Basketball Games Webcast Expanding Horizons Classes Winter
Weather Awareness Email
Limitations How
to Reset Your DSL Modem Bundles
Will Save You Money The
Digital TV Transition Ask The Help Desk Local
Website Of The Month Sites Of The Month |
Hello Hartel.net Subscribers!
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Happy New Year! - Time To Change Your Passwords
The start of a new year is a good time to change your passwords, making sure you create strong ones that will be less vulnerable to hackers. Why bother? Because a stolen password leads to identity theft, the fastest growing crime in the U.S. and the top complaint filed with the FTC for the past seven years. A hacker could open new accounts and max out your credit limit, change your mailing address and have items (and bills) sent to them, or take out a loan in your name.
Given the importance of passwords, it makes sense to spend a little extra time on their development:
Once you've created a new password, find out just how strong it is by visiting Microsoft Corp.'s Password Checker:
www.microsoft.com/protect/yourself/password/checker.mspx
Customer Appreciation Belgian Waffle
Feed - Next Sunday, January
6th
Please plan to attend our Customer Appreciation Belgian Waffle Feed on Sunday January 6th at the Hartington City Auditiorium Basement from 9am - 12:30pm. We will be serving Dad's Belgian Waffles with sausage and all the toppings. Please join us as we show our appreciation of your patronage!
Sponsored by Hartington Telecommunications, CedarVision Cable TV, Northeast Nebraska Computer Services, Hartington Telemarketing Inc, and KPH Heating & Cooling.
Local Basketball Games Webcast
- Go to Hartel.net &
Listen to Local Hartington Boys & Girls Varsity Home Games This Season
Hartel.net and Hartington Telecommunications is partnering with local businesses and both Hartington high schools to offer webstreaming of the audio portion of home varsity games for both boys and girls varsity teams.
Anyone with an Internet connection across the world can listen to the games. This is perfect for those siblings, grandparents, friends, or alumni who would like to follow their hometown Hartington team, whether they're stationed in the military overseas, live out of state, or just down the road.
To listen to the
games, simply go to www.hartel.net
and click on the LISTEN LIVE button on
the bottom left-hand side of the homepage. You will be directed to our audio
webpage where you can "GO LIVE" and listen to a game,
view upcoming broadcasts on our monthly calendar, and also listen to broadcasts
from past games in the archives section. Please note that the link
on our audio webpage will not be available until the audio webstream is started
for a game that is being played at that moment.
Please note that if there is a boy/girl doubleheader, the audio will also stop
for approximately 10 minutes between the games. If you're listening via the
Internet, you will need to click the new link for the second game that is being
broadcast.
Requirements are that you have a PC with Windows XP or Vista, a good Internet connection, speakers on your PC, and Windows Media Player installed to listen to the audio. If you run into problems by using a Win95 or Win98 PC, you may need a "codec" download which can be obtained by clicking on Tech Support and scrolling halfway down to the Listener Help section.
No account or password is required, and the webstreaming is completely free for listeners.
And now, CedarVision Cable TV is planning on carrying the audio of the games on Channel 13 as well !!
We hope that everyone enjoys listening to the games.
Expanding Horizons Classes - Family Search &
Web Design
Family
Search Class
Tues. Jan 29th
7:00pm
Hartington Public Library
Instructor: Carol Tramp
Cost: $10.00
Let's examine some internet and local sources of information to work on your
family tree.
Introduction
to Web Design
Mon. Feb. 25th and Wed. Feb.27th
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Hartington Public Library
Instructor: Sarah Elton
Cost: $25.00
This class will
focus on the basics of starting your own webpage and will include the following
topics: things to consider before you begin, setting up your site, using tables
to achieve your design objectives, linking files and webpages, design elements,
and publishing your files. The program Macromedia Dreamweaver will be featured,
but basic design elements will be covered for use with any web design program.
Please call the Hartington
Public Library at 254-6245 to pre-register.
Winter Weather Awareness - Make Sure You Have
a Phone That Will Work When the Power is Out
Hartington Telecommunications would like to remind everyone that cordless phones will not work in the event of a power outage caused by severe winter weather. Cell phone service may also be interrupted in the event of a power outage near the cell tower.
But a corded phone connected to a Hartington Telecommunications phone line will work nearly 100% of the time. Our phone system has power right in the phone line, so even if the electricity in your home goes out, you will still have power to your corded phone. If power is unavailable in our digital switching office, we have a large backup generator which automatically takes over. Should that fail, we also have batteries that will run our phone system for over 24 hours.
If you currently have only cordless phones, we strongly urge you to get a corded phone and at the very least, include it in your home emergency kit. It is very important to be able to 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency! Severe weather can strike at anytime -- Please be prepared!
EMail Limitations - Sending Limitations
Started Due to Viruses
Hartel.net has been forced to put limitations on how many addresses any one particular email can be sent to. This occured because our customer accounts were threatened with being "blacklisted" -- a classification whereby all emails sent from Hartel.net customers would be blocked. The "guardians" of the World Wide Web caught the spam and threatened to block all traffic from Hartel customers.
This threatening action was a result of a Hartel customer having a virus on their PC which allegedly sent out many spam emails. Since that time the customer has taken actions to clean their PC, but the limitation on the number of addresses you can send an email to had already been put in place as a precautionary measure to intercept and limit any further outbound spam and virus threats, and also for the protection of our customers.
Should you have an email blocked that was intended for dozens of people, please review your intended list and narrow it down to avoid exceeding the threshold. We sincerely hope our customers understand the reasons we must enforce this limit, and we expect this to only effect a handful of customers.
How To Reset Your DSL Modem - Follow These Tips If
You Can't Surf or Email
After some service outages or electrical outages caused by storms, you may need to reboot your DSL modem to regain connectivity to the Internet and Email. The following are instructions on what you should do:
• If you lose connectivity, check to make sure the power light on the DSL modem is solid green.
• If so, please disconnect the electrical power from DSL modem at the power source (for example, the wall outlet or surge suppressor). Please do not disconnect the power at the back of the DSL modem and do not disconnect any other cables on the modem.
• Turn your computer off.
• If you have a router, turn it off or disconnect the power from the router at the wall outlet or surge suppressor. Please do not disconnect the power at the back of the router or any other cables on the modem.
• Please leave the power off for one (1) minute.
• After one (1) minute, reconnect the power at the power source for the DSL modem.
• Wait one (1) minute for the lights to become solid again.
• If you have a router, turn it on or connect the power from the router at the wall outlet or surge suppressor.
• Turn on your computer.
• You are ready to begin browsing again.
• If you cannot connect, please follow these steps again.
• If the modem does not connect after a second try, please call our tech support number at 254-3902.
Please print and keep these instructions near your computer.
Bundles Will Save You Money - Three Bundles To Choose
From
It's never too late to signup for bundles with Hartington Telecommunications. That means it's never too late to start saving money while upgrading your services!
Signup for any of our bundles and receive 100 free long distance minutes each month, and additional long distance minutes are only 8 cents per minute! All of our bundle plans also include three calling features of your choice such as Caller ID, Voice Mail, and others. You simply choose the features you want!
And with the Broadband DSL or VIP bundle, high speed Internet has never been so easy -- get free high speed Broadband DSL installation and a free DSL modem when you signup. That's a savings of $130.00!
Standard DSL speeds of up to 1.5Mg per second (1500k per second) with our Bundled Internet packages make that old dialup connection of less than 56k seem like "Mr. Turtle". So whether you're on a dialup package or you're on our introductory 128k DSL package, it's well be worth your time to upgrade now. The speed increase is absolutely amazing!
So call us at 254-3901
or stop by today!
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Is Your DSL Fast Enough? - 3Mg and 6Mg Download
Speeds Are Available
Many years ago, Hartel.net introduced DSL speeds of 128k and 256k which sounded really fast. Hartel.net now has DSL speeds that will blow the socks off those speeds all the way back to their dialup ancestors!
Hartington Telecommunications now offers Internet speeds that rival the "big city" companies. We now have speeds available of up to 6Mg. That's the same as 6,000K speed as compared to 128K. It's approximately 48 times faster! And compared to dialup's top speed of 56k, well, maybe the word "speed" shouldn't be used to describe dialup at all.
With any of our bundles that include Broadband DSL, 1.5Mg speeds (1500k) are included as standard. If that's not fast enough for you, add up to 3Mg speed for only an additional $10.00 over the bundled price.
Want the premier 6Mg speed? Add that option to any Broadband DSL bundle for only $25.00 over the bundle price. It's so affordable!
Up to 3Mg and 6Mg download speed DSL packages are also available without a bundling package.
Call 254-3901 for more information on how you can cruise the Internet at lightning fast speeds!
Conference Bridge Service - Call Family Members
This Winter By Using Our FREE Trial
Conference Bridging service from Hartington Telecommunications allows up to 16 callers to be joined together on one phone call.
No need to travel long miles to meetings when you can meet by phone! Cut fuel expenses. Get immediate feedback from participants. Great for businesses, construction companies with remote sites, extended families, or organizations such as baseball leagues, school athletic conferences, or anytime you need to talk to several people at once.
Calls can be scheduled for anytime day or night via the Internet. Controls are at your fingertips via the Internet where you can even invite attendees via email. You can see all call attendees on the Internet, mute callers, or set individualized volume levels as the call is in progress!
Plus there's no monthly fees -- pay only when you use it. It costs only $5 for setup and $2 per caller with no time restrictions!
This is so easy and perfect for calling family members this winter -- chat with your whole family across the U.S. at the same time!
And for a limited time, Hartington Telecommunications is offering a FREE TRIAL! Call us today at 254-3901 for more details.
The Digital TV Transition - How It Will Affect
You in Hartington
Analog TV service ends in February of 2009. Digital broadcasting will then be required from all network stations. So what does this mean for you? Here's a little background.
Since TV programming began, analog broadcasting was the norm. Now the FCC has declared that the analog radio spectrum should be vacated to make more space for public safety agencies and wireless communications. Today's digital broadcasting is mostly running concurrent with the analog broadcasts. However as stated above, the analog transmissions will end in February 2009.
What to do?
If you're a CedarVision Cable TV customer, there's nothing that you need to worry about. CedarVision Cable TV will continue to carry all broadcast signalling after the February 2009 deadline. Our cable TV system is an analog system, and we will convert all digital signals automatically to analog after the February 2009 deadline. All CedarVision Cable TV signalling will remain the same.
If you use "rabbit ears" or a set-top antenna to receive TV broadcasts and have only analog TVs in your household, then after February 2009, you will need to get a digital-to-analog converter box so your TV can display the broadcasts. The FCC has stated that they will subsidize consumers for purchasing digital-to-analog converter boxes. Households can apply for up to two $40 coupons starting after January 1, 2008. The converter boxes will not give you a "high-definition" signal. A very brief comparison of digital TV versus HDTV is explained below.
Other points to remember:
CedarVision Cable TV hopes to transition our analog cable system to digital, but it will be several years before that occurs as there are "bugs" still to be worked out in the new technology we plan to use. At that point, we hope to have many channels of HDTV programming and Video on Demand services as well. But for now, we will continue with our analog system and will convert any digital TV signals to analog signals. We will keep you updated on our progress.
If you are shopping for a new TV during this upcoming holiday season, we suggest to:
How can I be sure that I’m buying a Digital TV?
By law, beginning March 1, 2007, all television reception devices (including
TVs, VCRs, DVRs, etc) imported into the U.S. or shipped in interstate commerce
must contain a digital tuner. Retailers may continue to sell analog-only devices
from existing inventory, but must prominently display on or near the analog-only
device a Consumer Alert label with this advisory:
Consumer Alert
This television receiver has only an analog broadcast tuner and will require
a converter box after February 17, 2009 to receive over-the-air broadcasts with
an antenna because of the nation’s transition to digital broadcasting.
Analog-only TVs should continue to work as before with cable and satellite TV
services, gaming consoles, VCRs, DVD players, and similar products. For more
information, call the Federal Communications Commission at 1-888-225-5322 (TTY:
1-888-835-5322) or visit the Commission’s digital television website at:
www.dtv.gov.
Please remember these points when shopping for new TVs during the upcoming Christmas holiday shopping season. It may save you many headaches and frustration.
For more information about the digital TV transition, the FCC has an excellent website: http://www.dtv.gov/consumercorner.html
Ask The Help Desk - How Do I Delete Many E-mail Messages At The Same Time?
Question: Some time ago I found out how to use keys to select a number of e-mails to remove them all at once instead of one at a time. Now I don't remember how this is done. Can you remind me? I have Outlook Express 6 and use Windows XP Home Edition for my operating system.
Answer: If you want to delete groups of e-mail messages that are listed all together, click on the first message in the group of e-mail messages you want to delete to highlight it. Now hold down the "Shift" key and select the last message in the group that is to be deleted. All messages between and including the first and last messages selected will be highlighted. Then simply hit the "Delete" button on the Outlook Express toolbar. All of the highlighted messages will be deleted.
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Local Website Of The Month - Our
Featured LOCAL Website Of The Month is.....
This is a series of monthly articles featuring local websites. Please
contact us by clicking here if you
want your website to be featured in an upcoming
issue. You supply the information and we'll put it in our eNewsletter. What
a great way to get your website known throughout the Hartington area!
Hartington's Quasquicentennial Celebration
www.HartingtonQ125.com
is the place to be to find out the activities and fun events are planned for
Hartington's Q125 celebration scheduled for next Memorial Weekend 2008. Stop
back often as the website will continually be updated with new features and
activities as new information becomes available.
Great Sites To Check Out This Month
Idol Thoughts
http://americanidol.com -
Season seven of American Idol begins this month and television viewers are singing a happy tune. With dramas and comedies in reruns due to the writers' strike, fresh episodes of the popular competition will be music to many ears. Visit this site to see audition preview videos, get a behind-the-scenes look at the show, and sign up to receive the American Idol newsletter. You can also look back at some favorite "Idol" moments from past seasons including unforgettable comments from the judges.
Update for Travelers
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html -
All U.S. travelers returning from Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean by air have had to carry passports since January 23, 2007. Beginning January 31, 2008, adult travelers re-entering the U.S. by land or via ferry or small boat must carry a passport or a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver's license) plus proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). Children 18 and younger need only proof of citizenship. The requirements are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative launched after 9/11. More details are available on this site so go here before you make travel plans to go out of the country.
Deal or No Deal
http://www.nbc.com/Deal_or_No_Deal -
Here's the deal — if you're looking for entertainment alone, watch the game show Deal or No Deal with Howie Mandel on TV. If you'd like a chance at winning up to $100,000, play the Lucky Case Game online during Deal or No Deal broadcasts. The online promotion runs through March 31, 2008, so you still have time to try your luck at the loot.
Record-breaking Resource
http://guinnessworldrecords.com -
Could this be your year to set a record? Find out what it takes from the experts at Guinness World Records. Click on the Break a World Record link to get information on making a claim. Or just browse through the Video Vault for a look at the fastest, strongest, largest, and most incredible things on the planet. From the largest disco ball to the heaviest car balanced on the head, there's enough here to keep you amazed for hours. Search by category: human body, amazing feats, natural world, science & tech, arts & media, modern society, travel & transport, and sports & games.
New Year's Resolutions
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml -
This time of year, everybody is talking about New Year's resolutions — even the U.S. government is ready to give you advice. This site contains tips for most of the top resolutions including: lose weight, pay off debt, save money, get a better job, eat right, and get fit. For help with the last one, for example, you'll be directed to the website of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. But you'll still have to do the exercises yourself.
Short Tutorial - Finding What Version Of Browser You're Using
People often refer to the version number of the Web browser they are using. For example, some talk about Internet Explorer 7 while others mention Firefox 2. To discover what version of Web browser you are using to surf the Internet, follow the steps below. Note that different steps are required to discover whether you are using Internet Explorer 6 (or older versions) or Internet
Explorer 7.
Discover Your Browser's Version Number When Using Internet Explorer 6 Or Older With Windows XP Home Edition
Discover Your Browser's Version Number When Using Internet Explorer 7 With Windows XP Home Edition Or Windows Vista
Discover Your Browser's Version Number When Using Firefox With Windows XP Home Edition Or Windows Vista
Discover Your Browser's Version Number When Using Safari With Macintosh OS X
Discover Your Browser's Version Number When Using Firefox With Macintosh OS X
We
hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of
keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however,
you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis,
click HERE.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
The Hartel.net Team
Hartington Telecommunications
104 W Centre
PO Box 157
Hartington, NE 68739
Ph 402-254-3901
©2008 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are
trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.