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04/11/2003 Archived Entry: "Internet Service Providers"
INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS
Once you find an internet service provider who provides good service, it’s not likely you want to recommend them as you never know with any degree of certainty how long the service will continue to excel. Certainly, because of past experiences, I'm skeptical, but I am also very pleased with Carroll’s Web and find it is far superior to the service offered by Informatics. I don’t feel I am betraying my friends at Informatics as the land service is all owned by the same company. It matters not a bit to Informatics or Carroll's Web which service you use.
That has to be a little confusing. As you know, Informatics has been purchased by Carroll’s Web, but the only thing they have changed about the service through Informatics is their billing procedures. So, if you’re having trouble with your Informatics service, it is very likely it will continue, as they are way behind in technical capabilities anyway.
My experience was pretty bad in that I was getting deluged with spam and virus laden messages from Informatics every time I’d open my mail server. The messages I would send to other Informatics addresses came back. They’d get that fixed then the Grapevine addresses where I’d send mail would all come back. Finally, things were so bad I was connecting at 31.2 and couldn’t download mail, send mail or access a browser. I was about convinced my computer had shot craps.
So, in a moment of desperation I called KIT and asked them to switch me to their service. I had already adjusted most of my settings to what I assumed theirs would be (right on!) so all I needed was the dial up number and those secret numbers to key in. It took less than five minutes and VOILA! my computer ran better than it had in months and all services were perfect. It has been that way for several weeks now so I will share that information with you.
I have not received any more credit card, mortgage payment, diet, body parts "enhancement" spam. It has completely ended. I occasionally get a virus laden message, always to the same address, probably caused by a spambot that picked it up off my website (you noticed we changed my address on my blog so that can't happen again) or one of any places where I may have left my address on the net. I'm pretty careful about that so I suspect a spambot on my website is the culprit. I think the only way to stop it is to cancel that address for awhile.
The downside is that you have to inform all those people you know that you have changed your address. In my case, it was helpful to have a domain name address that will remain constant. And for that, I would highly recommend MetaPros out of Wichita. Their service is the best of any I’ve located. Just call Brad and he’ll take care of everything you need. But you still need an ISP in order to make that work. Most individuals, unless they have a website or business, don't need a domain name.
So I have two kans.com addresses (Carroll’s Web) and two kansasprairie addresses (hosted by MetaPros). There will always be uncertainty about the kans.com addresses as we never know when the company might be sold, merged or whatever. But as long as I pay my registration fee, which I need anyway for my website, my kansasprairie.net addresses are mine.
If you're having trouble with your Informatics service, then I'd suggest you change over to KIT, Carroll's Web. Their number is 1.800.290.4599. Their support duo can fix you up quickly and easily by walking you through your settings. It won't cost a thing.