10 Tips for effective use for the Internet

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1. Store the hotspot page (http://hotspot.e-welfare.nl) under Favorites. This will simplify logging out.

If you wish to log out immediately at the end of an Internet session, it is handy to store the homepage under Favorites.

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2. Close programs that are not being used but that try to access the Internet.

Make sure that no programs such as Windows Update or chat programs like MSN are running in the background. Such programs prevent you from being automatically logged out after a few minutes of inactivity. Programs that start up in the background can be switched off by means of the 'MSCONFIG' command. Run this command by clicking the 'Start' button, clicking 'run'and then typing 'MSCONFIG'. Under the 'Start up' tab you can then check or uncheck the programs.

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3. After obtaining a connection, specify in Windows Vista that this is a public network. Vista will then restrict the network usage of the Windows components.

Windows Vista allows you to choose between a number of networks. For example, "home", "in the park" or a "public network". It is important that you select the option "public network". This will prevent files from being shared with other people in the compound. This is mostly no problem at home, but in the mission area it wastes valuable bandwidth.

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4. Firefox is recommended as browser, in combination with Adblock Plus to block advertisements.

At the homepage you can download the Mozilla Firefox browser. Experience has shown that the e-Welfare system works best with this browser. And to block annoying bandwidth-devouring ads, you can also download AdBlock Plus at the same time.

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5. Ensure the correct settings for the network card and the PC.

Energy management tends to weaken the signal, so ensure that the maximum performance option is selected on the PC. Switch off the energy saving option on the network card.

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6. Do not use more than one security program.

AVG Free is recommended as antivirus package. The antivirus updates for this program can be downloaded without first having to log in.

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7. Do not use a webcam. This uses a lot of bandwidth at the expense of your colleagues' connections.

Webcam traffic will be blocked or slowed down in order to allocate more bandwidth and speed to the other Internet applications, such as browsing, e-mailing and chatting.

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8. Before sending e-mails and messages via websites, first draft the text in a word processor. Only then log in to send the message.

You can save yourself money by first typing your e-mail in Word, for example. Then you only need to start up the Internet connection, copy and paste your text, and send the e-mail. Moreover, it sometimes happens that the Internet connection is suddenly lost. With this method you would not lose all your work, which would be highly frustrating if you had just spent half an hour composing a nice message for the family.

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9. If you want to send photos, compress them first. This will reduce uploading and transmission times.

We recommend you to use a resizer as for example paint.

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10. Reporting a malfunction throught the online ticket system.

You can report a malfunction via the online ticket system. The ticket system is available once you have logged in (free) to www.e-welfare.nl. Click on "Tickets/Payments" in order to create a new ticket and then follow the instructions.

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