What are the plans for upgrading and improving HeightsNET?
The Web and Mail server has been upgraded to a faster computer. This will allow more simultaneous connections to the server. (this is not the same as dial-up modem connections) We can also support local newsgroups and mail lists.
When I give someone my email address they just laugh at how long it is, can I change it to something shorter?
It has already been shortened from the original address: tiger.cleveland-heights.cleveland-heights.k12.oh.us. We could have been in the Guiness Book of World Records for the longest email address!
Fortunately the school district has arranged to add a shorter address. You can now give out Your_Name@staff.chuh.org instead of the original long address. Both addresses will work.
I get a busy signal every evening, when will we get more phone lines?
This spring we plan to move dial-up access from the high school to Taylor. At that time we will add a few additional phone lines and modems.
What is the fastest speed that I can connect to HeightsNET?
We currently support a maximum of 28,800 baud. There are no current plans to replace our modems and increase the speed.
Why do you have a 1 hour limit on access to the Internet?
Because we only have 8 phone lines, it is only fair that we limit everyone's use. If you are a heavy user, you may wish to subscribe to a commercial Internet provider. The costs are less than $20 a month for unlimited access. You can find a list of providers at www.celestin.com/pocia/index.html
You can access the district Web site and your email account no matter how you get connected to the Internet. If you have another email account, we can forward your school mail to that account. Then you will have to check only one place for your new mail.
I have heard that an administrator, the FBI, my ex, fill in the blank _______ is reading my personal email?
Email is sent and stored as standard text that can be read with any word processor. While I know of no one intentionally reading someone else's HeightsNET mail, it is always possible. The email server is regularly backed up and this includes all unread mail. The school district policy is currently being written but it will probably state that while privacy will generally be respected, there are times when people could have access to your mail.
It is more likely that you will accidently send a message to an unintended person. As manager of the HeightsNET email server, I receive misaddressed mail almost everyday. Misaddressing mail is even more of an issue when you participate in email interest groups. It is not unusual to accidently send a message intended for one person to an entire group. To compound the problem, many groups are archived and publicly available for years. Think about what you are writing and make sure of who you are addressing it to before hitting the send button. Remember that you are using a school account and addresses can be identified as such.
When I go to a Web site, what information about me is collected? What information should I give out.
The address of your Internet connection is usually collected and logged by the Web site you are visiting. Thus anyone at that Web site will know that you are from chuh.org. It is also easy to tell the previous page you visited, your computer's operating system and browser version. A site cannot find out your email address unless you give it to them.
The school district also monitors the sites that each computer connects to and blocks pornographic sites. This will include dial-up connections when they are upgraded this spring.
Web sites sometimes use a "cookie" file on your hard disk to store information about you between visits to their site. This can be useful if it allows them to save your personalized setting between visits. One example is www.my.yahoo.com. Sites sometimes keep track of topics you select and then display related advertising.
Many sites ask for personal information before you can register for special services. You should know who will be using this information, for what purpose and whether they will share it with anyone else. You probably don't want to be on unsolicited mailing lists. Don't give out more information than you would be comfortable doing in any other context. You should never be asked for your HeightsNET or email password on a web site or email message.
You may be surprised by the amount of information about you that is already available on the Internet. Phone and email directories are easily accessible but not always correct. Check out your entries on www.switchboard.com or www.four11.com. Look for your name on any web search engine. Find an archive of many of your mailing list and usenet postings at www.dejanews.com
Netscape 1.0 or 2.0 came with my original HeightsNET account. How do I get a newer version?
Netscape Navigator/Communicator is now at version 4.0.4. It is over ten megabytes. It will not easily fit on floppies and takes a long time to download. We are creating a CD-ROM version that you will be able to borrow and an in-house location for downloads.
Most Windows 95 computers come pre-installed with Microsoft Internet Explorer and either Internet Mail and News or Outlook. These are similar to Netscape Navigator and can be used instead.
I originally provided Eudora for email. The latest versions of Navigator and Explorer include an email client. I now only recommend Eudora only if you are a power user and need some of its advanced features.
I would like to create a web site for my consulting business on HeightsNET, is that OK?
It is illegal to use school resources for private gain. This includes email as well as the web. You can get your own commercial web site and email account starting at around $20 a month. For $50 a year you can even register your own domain name. My site is http://www.titchenal.com and my commercial email address is Stephen@Titchenal.com. Having your own site protects you from conflict of interest charges and demonstrates that you are serious about your business.