New Access Number for the North Shore

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we have installed another rack of 33.6 modems in Salem. Now, for the North Shore, we are only using 14.4 and 33.6 modems.

56K modems are coming soon! See the following article for details.

In order to make use of some spare lines, any subscriber using greater than 14.4k modem speeds should now dial 741-5310.

If you are unsure how to make this change in your dialer, please don’t hesitate to contact the office at (978) 741-5300.

56kbps Modems

The ITU agreed upon the new 56K modem standard only days after last month’s newsletter hit the street. The new standard is referred to as V.90.

Our sources were accurate; neither the X2 or KFlex technologies were chosen. Most manufacturers promise those who have already purchased 56K modems that they will provide upgrades to the new standard’s technology. For the sake of our subscribers who h ave already purchased 56K modems, we hope they keep their promises.

It is estimated that the new, V.90 modems will be rolling off the production lines sometime in April. We will be carefully watching the quality and value of these products as the enter the market and will warn our subscribers of any sub-standard modems found.

We will be offering V.90 access as soon as we can identify one of the better modem lines, probably in early May.

That Insidious Caps Lock!

Last month, several subscribers mentioned that they were unable to access us or unable to access their mail. The common thread was that all of these subscribers type in their password.

The culprit?

The Caps Lock!

It is very easy to hit the Caps lock on your keyboard by mistake and when you type in your password, it is naturally "masked" to prevent onlookers seeing it - this also prevents you from seeing that you are entering your password in all caps!

As Internet systems are case sensitive, a password given in caps will be rejected.

To avoid this simple error, check the Caps light on your keyboard if your password is rejected. This light is usually the middle light found on the top right-hand corner of your keyboard.

Service Updates

The CoveCam

We are still waiting for the special video cable to arrive, which will allow us to bring back the CoveCam. When we last checked with Salem Access TV, they said it would be another week or so. Once delivered, we will install the cable and camera and res ume that service immediately.

Many New Servers

We are developing many new servers which will be brought on to service once they have proved their "net-worthyness." The advantage to operating more servers is faster operations on dedicated servers and the ability to keep more services "up" if a single server fails.

Delivery time for our new mail server is still estimated to be this month.

A new RADIUS server (which validates usernames and passwords and keeps accounting information) will soon come on-line. With this new server, we plan on offering I-PASS, a service which will allow subscribers to use their Cove account from most anywhere in the US.

We are also re-implementing marina, which will support subscribers’ homepages. The current interface is too difficult for many and yet too simple for others - we are designing private webpage service for three different user-levels. Hopefully, this ran ge of services will satisfy the grand majority.

Other servers are coming, but were out of space here! Check out next month’s newsletter for further details.

Newsletter On-Line

Beginning with our last issue, we are putting this newsletter on-line! You can find this newsletter and last month’s, at www.cove.com/newsltr.html - linked under the Community Section in the new Subscribers Page. The Subscribers Page also links to a Ho mePage Page, which will provide a link to all subscribers’ homepages. These are under construction, so stay tuned!

Internet Training

Cape Ann subscribers should call Gloucester Continuing Education at 281-9873 for a schedule of classes.

Classes will be held at the Cove in Salem on the 10th and 24th, from 6pm to 9pm.

What's New at the Cove is a monthly publication of Cove Communications.

Publisher, Bill Ostaski
Editor, John Trefry

27 Congress Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-5300
office@cove.com