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Welcome to The STARGATE UPDATE. This is the inaugural email newsletter from Stargate Industries. Our goal is to provide you with periodic information covering such things as system upgrades, unique offerings and discounts to Stargate customers, helpful hints to make your Internet experience more enjoyable, useful and fun web sites, and any other information that we feel will help you maximize your 'Net' results. We're happy to take your comments and suggestions at <update@stargate.net> and you may also opt out at anytime if you prefer not to receive The UPDATE from us (see bottom of email).
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The STARGATE UPDATE
A "Periodic" Newsletter from Stargate Industries
http://www.stargate.net
Inaugural Issue February 1999
What's new at Stargate?
1. Ongoing POP upgrade efforts
2. Variety Club holiday contribution
3. ADSL Launch
4. Tribune Review discount for Stargate customers
5. Training discount for Stargate customers
6. Butler expansion
7. Tech Tip
8. STAR Sites
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1. Stargate continues to icrease capacity in POPs!
On the heels of the email that was sent out a couple of weeks ago, we are making great progress in upgrading our POPs to meet the increased demand that we have seen recently. We are adding capacity as fast as the phone company can fill our orders, so that we can minimize or eliminate your chances of getting a busy signal. Please visit our web site to see our upgrade/expansion schedule at http://www.stargate.net/html/news.html We appreciate your patience during this period and all other POPs are being watched carefully and capacity expansion will be delivered as needed.
2. Stargate raises $14750 for Variety Club of Pittsburgh!-
As many of you already know, in the spirit of the season, Stargate pledged to donate $5.00 for every new customer who signed up between November 23, 1998, and January 15, 1999. We're pleased to announce that, due to the success of our holiday campaign, we raised $14,750 for the Variety Club of Pittsburgh! Variety Club is a non-profit organization, founded in Pittsburgh in 1928, that improves the quality of life for children in need by providing them with mobility equipment such as wheelchairs and standers.
Thanks to all those who signed up for Internet access over the holidays!
For information on Variety Club, visit their web site at www.varietytent1.org or call them at 412-829-KIDS.
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3. The Need for Speed--Stargate's ADSL Launch...
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) will be Stargate's next high speed data offering. ADSL expands the power of your existing phone line, providing the fastest, dedicated residential link to the Internet available. With ADSL, a single phone line allows you to use your telephone or fax machine while using your Internet connection! Stargate ADSL service is up to 245x faster than your 28.8 modem and is coming soon to many areas in and around Pittsburgh. To be notified when ADSL service and pricing is available, e-mail us at sales@stargate.net and we'll add you to our list. Currently, Stargate is the ONLY local Internet Provider who is partnering with Bell to provide ADSL technology. ADSL service will be available in limited areas initially beginning in March 1999 with additional coverage added throughout 1999.
With the additionally "secure" environment, scalability, speed, and additional options, we believe that given a choice between cable modems and ADSL...DSL technology is the obvious choice!
For additional information on Stargate's ADSL offering, call our Sales Support Team at 412-316-7827.
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4. Special Tribune Review savings for Stargate customers!
As the result of a partnership that Stargate recently formed with the Tribune Review and PittsburghLIVE.com, the hottest web site for Pittsburgh area news and information, our customers can now receive the Tribune Review and all of its affiliated publications for a discounted rate! So, call the Trib, or the affiliated publication that you're interested in, and let them know that you're a Stargate customer. You'll enjoy 50% off your *new* subscription! This offer is only available to new Trib subscribers. To find out what publications are included in this offer, check out www.triblive.com
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5. Internet ABC's
Stargate is pleased to announce that we have partnered with area Internet/Computer educators to offer greatly discounted training to Stargate customers. For as little as $29.99 you can attend a 3 hour hands-on "Introduction to the Internet" seminar. Call our Technical Support Team for additional details at 412-316-7827.
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6. Butler Expansion--announcing a new POP in the Butler area
Stargate continues to expand our large network of local non-toll dial-up numbers in Western Pennsylvania with the addition of our 56K Butler area point of presence. Customers in areas such as Butler, Slippery Rock and many other neighboring communities can now enjoy high speed access and reliability from Stargate. The new Butler modem number is (724 477-4952). You can view the full list of exchanges serviced by that number at http://www.stargate.net/accessnumbers
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7. Tech Tips--Stuck...? Here are some helpful hints from our Tech Support Team
Tech Support Tips for Disconnects
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The number one cause of modem disconnection is line noise. Modems communicate using sound. It's nearly impossible to get phone lines 100% noise free due to the many variables involved. When there is sound or noise added to the modem's connection, the modem can lose it's line of communication. Normally a modem will try to re-establish it's communication, but if the noise interferes it will cause the modem to disconnect. To avoid line noise, make sure that there are no other devices connected to the modem such as fax machines or a splitter. If the modem is connected to the wall outlet through a surge protector, try plugging it directly into the wall. You can also call your local telephone company to have them check the line if you still suspect that you have noise on your line.
Disconnection will also occur if the incoming information is transmitted to your modem faster than it can interpret. This causes errors which in turn cause re-transmissions of data which can cause disconnects. New computers normally default modem port speeds at 115,000 which is too high for most types of modems. Lowering the port speed (57,600 for 56K modems or 38,000 for 28.8 modems) can correct this problem.
If you're experiencing frequent disconnections and the above suggestions did not seem to help, contact Stargate technical support 24 hours a day at 412-316-7827 for additional assistance.
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8. STAR Sites around the Web
Each newsletter we will attempt to bring you sites that our staff have found to be educational, informative, provocative, useful, or bewildering due to their sheer uselessness. This newsletter's list of STAR sites includes the following:
FINANCIAL STUFF...
www.bottomdollar.com
-when you're looking for the absolute BEST deal on your next purchase on the web.
www.fool.com
cbs.marketwatch.com
-a fool and his money are soon partying...or something like that.
FUNNY STUFF...
www.laugh-a-lot.com
-your daily dose of humor
TIMESAVER STUFF...
www.locate.com
www.dogpile.com
-when you can't figure out which search engine to use...search them ALL, at once!
SEASONAL STUFF...
www.valentine.com
-a good starting point, but don't think electronic roses are gonna cut it!
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We hope that you found this inaugural STARGATE UPDATE informative. If you would like to make suggestions about what topical items we could include in our next UPDATE, email us at <update@stargate.net> |
