Turbo Dial-Up (California Network)
- Product Guide -

 

This section will familiarize you with the features of our Turbo Dial-Up software. The software program, called "SlipStream Web Accelerator" is provided to TFBnet by SlipStream Data.

1. Installation.

2. Using SlipStream Web Accelerator.

3. Advanced Options.

4. Uninstalling.

Need further assistance? Please review our Troubleshooting and FAQs sections or contact TFBnet technical support at 888-211-1674.

 

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Detailed Installation Instructions

The minimum system requirements are a Pentium 200MHz with 64MB RAM, and at least 5MB of hard-drive space. It works with Internet Explorer 4.0 (or later), Netscape Communicator 4.0 (or later) Opera, Mozilla and any other browser that allows you to specify a HTTP proxy.

1. Download.

  1. Download the installer to your Desktop. An example of this process is shown below:

    installer_download_save.gif (7928 bytes)

    2. Click on the "Save" button to save the installer on your computer (shown above).

    installer_download_desktop.gif (14901 bytes)

    3. Select "Desktop" from the "Save in:" field then click on the "Save" button (shown above).

    Please note that you must sign up for our Turbo Dial-Up service before it will be activated for your account. Using the service requires a different dial-up number as well as configuring your account in our system. Although the dial-up number must be changed in your dial-up software, it will remain a local call for you. Please contact our customer service or technical support department, for configuration information and activation before attempting to use Turbo Dial-Up, at 888-211-1674 or by email at customerservice@tfb.com or techsupport@tfb.com.

2. Install.

  1. After downloading the SlipStream Web Accelerator installer onto your Desktop, an icon as shown below will be on your Desktop. Double-clicking on the icon will launch the installer.

  2. The installer will guide you through the complete setup process.

3. Connect.

  1. Once the installation finishes you will be prompted for a username and password. TFBnet does not require a username or password to operate the software. Ensure that the "Username" and "Password" fields are blank and the "Save password (Recommended)" option is checked. Click the OK button to save your settings.

  2. Click OK. SlipStream Web Accelerator will connect to TFBnet.
  3. After installing SlipStream Web Accelerator, an icon as shown below is placed in your system tray. Opening any web browser launches SlipStream Web Accelerator.

4. Browse the Web.

  1. Browse the web as you normally would.
  2. When finished, simply close your web browser, as you normally would, and SlipStream Web Accelerator will remain idle in your system tray.
  3. If you want to stop the application after browsing select Stop SlipStream from the pop-up menu, or if you desire to exit the application completely, click Exit from the pop-up menu.

5. Further Assistance.

  1. To get the most out of your new software, please see the Product Guide.
  2. If you experience problems downloading, installing or running SlipStream Web Accelerator, consult the Troubleshooting or FAQs sections for further assistance.
  3. Still having trouble? Please contact TFBnet technical support at 888-211-1674.

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Launching SlipStream Web Accelerator

SlipStream Web Accelerator launches automatically each time you start Windows. It operates in the background to accelerate your Internet connection. No user intervention is required.

If SlipStream Web Accelerator is not running and you need to launch it manually, an icon titled "SlipStream Web Accelerator" is located in the Windows Start Menu under the SlipStream folder (as shown below).

The SlipStream taskbar icon appears in the Windows taskbar to you show you it is running.


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Accessing the User Interface

Once launched, SlipStream Web Accelerator will remain in the system tray (as shown below). For the most part, during web browsing there will be no need to access the user interface. You can use the user interface to change settings, view connection status or acceleration statistics.

To access the user interface features, click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator icon in the system tray (shown above). A pop-up menu will appear (shown below), providing access to all the features of the product. Selecting and single-clicking any of the menu items will access that particular feature.

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Setting Username and Password Information

TFBnet does not require entry of a username or password to operate the software:

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator taskbar icon and select "Settings..." from the menu.
  2. Click on the "Connection" tab.

  3. Ensure that the "Username" and "Password" fields are blank and the "Save password (Recommended)" option is checked.
  4. To save your settings, press OK.

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Changing the Image Quality Setting

The image quality setting changes the quality of images that appear in your SlipStream Web Accelerator. The higher the quality you select, the longer it will take the image to load. For slower Internet connections, it is recommended that you lower your image quality. This slider can be adjusted anytime while browsing.

You can easily obtain full image quality for a particular image (described below), so don't be overly conservative about lowering your image quality setting.

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon. See the user interface section if you are unsure how to do this.
  2. Select "Settings...".
  3. Select the "Image Quality" tab.
  4. Use the slider bar to adjust the image quality setting.
  5. Press OK to save the settings.


Getting Full Image Quality

Note: The following information applies only when browsing with Internet Explorer.

While browsing, if you would like to request the full quality image, simply right-click on the desired image from within Internet Explorer and select "Show Original Image" from the menu (shown below).

The full quality image will appear in place of the lower quality image (shown below).

If you want to see the full quality version of all images on the current page, simply right-click on any image from within Internet Explorer and select "Show All Original Images" from the menu (shown below).

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Changing the Pop-Up Blocker Settings

SlipStream Web Accelerator can prevent pop-up windows and floating flash advertisements from appearing while you browse the Internet. This behavior is enabled by default, and no user-intervention is required. However, you can disable these features at any time.

A limited number of web sites require pop-ups to function correctly. SlipStream Web Accelerator allows you to specify a "White List" of sites where pop-ups will not be blocked.

You can also see a list of all pop-ups that were blocked. This information is useful if you suspect a web site is not functioning properly because pop-ups are being blocked.

Enabling and Disabling the Pop-Up Blocker

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon. See the user interface section of the product guide if you are unsure how to do this.
  2. Select "Pop-Up Blocker...".
  3. Select the "Options" tab.

  4. To hear a beep whenever a pop-up is blocked, check "Notify blocked pop-up by PC speaker beep".
  5. To disable the blocking of floating Flash advertisements, uncheck "Block Floating Flash-Ads".
  6. To disable all pop-up blocking for all sites, uncheck "Enable PopUp Blocker".
  7. Press OK to save the settings.

Disabling the Pop-Up Blocker for Specific Sitesp

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon. See the user interface section of the product guide if you are unsure how to do this.
  2. Select "Pop-Up Blocker...".
  3. Select the "White List" tab.

  4. Use the "Add", "Remove" and "Remove All" buttons to manipulate the White List.
  5. Press OK to save the settings.

Viewing the Pop-Up Blocker Log

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon. See the user interface section of the product guide if you are unsure how to do this.
  2. Select "Pop-Up Blocker...".
  3. Select the "Logging" tab.

  4. To add a web site to the "White List" so that pop-ups are no longer blocked from that site, right-click on the site and click "Add to Whitelist".

Adding Sites to the White List

You can add sites to the White List within the Pop-Up Blocker dialogs, shown above, or from within Internet Explorer.

  1. Right-click on any text while browsing within Internet Explorer.
  2. Select "Add to Whitelist" from the menu to add the current site to the White List.

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Starting and Stopping

When SlipStream Web Accelerator is launched it automatically connects. Occasionally, you may need to stop or start manually.

To Stop:

If you are connected and you want to manually disconnect, right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon to access the pop-up menu. Select the menu item "Stop SlipStream".

The SlipStream system tray icon will now have a red "X" through it.

To Start:

If SlipStream is stopped and you want to manually start, right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon to access the pop-up menu. Select the menu item "Start SlipStream".

The red "X" through the SlipStream system tray icon will disappear.

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Closing SlipStream Web Accelerator

To close SlipStream Web Accelerator:

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon and select "Exit" from the pop-up menu (see below). SlipStream Web Accelerator will disconnect and close. Doing this will not close any open browser windows.

    Note: SlipStream Web Accelerator will automatically launch again the next time you reboot your computer.

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Changing Your Connection Settings

Normally, the connection settings that are set during installation do not need to be changed. If however, should TFBnet find it necessary to provide new connection settings, you can change the preset ones using the "Settings" dialog.

  1. Click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon to access the pop-up menu.
  2. Select "Settings...".
  3. Click on the "Connection" tab.

  4. Press "Advanced...".

  5. Change the "Remote Server Hostname" and "Server Port" to the ones TFBnet provided you. In most cases, it is unnecessary to change the "Local Listening Port".
  6. Press "OK" to close the "Connection" dialog box.
  7. Press "OK" to save your new connection settings. These settings will be used next time you connect with SlipStream Web Accelerator.

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Bypassing SlipStream Web Accelerator for Selected Sites

If you wish to bypass SlipStream Web Accelerator for certain web sites (web sites on your local corporate intranet, for instance), then simply select the "Proxy Exclusion" tab on the " Settings" dialog (see below). You have two options for bypassing sites:

  1. If you have already defined a proxy exclusion list in your web brower, select "Use browser's proxy exclusion settings" to configure SlipStream Web Accelerator to exclude these sites as well.
  2. You may also "Specify a proxy exclusion list" by selecting this option. In the given text field, list all the web sites, separated by semicolons, that you wish to bypass SlipStream Web Acceleration.

  3. Stop and then start SlipStream Web Accelerator.

Note:  In step 1, Netscape does not support the wildcard (*) operator.

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Accelerating Email

SlipStream Web Accelerator can reduce the amount of time it takes to send and receive email. SlipStream Web Accelerator accelerates email transparently without any user intervention, so you can use your mail program exactly as you normally would. It is compatible with any POP3/SMTP client, including Outlook Express, Eudora and Netscape Mail. Email acceleration is disabled by default.

To enable email acceleration:

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator system tray icon. See the user interface section of the product guide if you are unsure how to do this.
  2. Select "Settings...".
  3. Select the "Email" tab.

  4. Select "Enable for all applications".
  5. Press OK to save the settings. The changes will take effect the next time SlipStream Web Accelerator and your mail client are restarted.

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View Your Acceleration Statistics

You can view the acceleration statistics and how they change dynamically using the Statistics dialog.

  1. Click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator taskbar icon to access the pop-up menu.
  2. Select "Statistics...", to display the Statistics summary dialog.
  3. Click "Reset" to reset the statistics. You may do so at anytime while browsing without affecting SlipStream Web Accelerator's performance or operation.
  4. Click the "Details" button to view more detailed statistics information (see below).

    Consult the following table for a description of the values.

    Original Data Size of the original (uncompressed) data.
    Actual Data Amount of data sent by SlipStream Web Accelerator.
    Savings Ratio Factor of reduction in data. E.g. A savings ratio of 4.00 means your connection is 4 times faster than a normal connection on average.
    Text-based This row contains compression information regarding text-based content.
    Graphics Contains compression information regarding graphical content.
    Others Contains information regarding content that is neither text nor graphical.
    Upstream Lists the total original and compressed amounts of data uploaded.

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Accessing Product Version Information

You may view the product version in the About dialog.

  1. Right-click on the SlipStream Web Accelerator taskbar icon to access the pop-up menu.
  2. Select "About" to display the About dialog (see below).

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Updating Software

AutoUpdate will inform you of any major or minor software upgrades to the SlipStream Service. By default, you will be notified of all software upgrades.

If you want to manually update SlipStream Web Accelerator:

  1. Open the "Settings" dialog.
  2. Click on the "Update" tab.

  3. Select "Update Now" to upgrade to the latest version.
  4. Press OK to save the settings.

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Uninstalling SlipStream Web Accelerator

  1. Under the Windows Control Panel, select "Add or Remove Programs".
  2. Select SlipStream Web Accelerator and click Remove.
  3. The uninstaller will launch and guide you through the uninstallation procedure.

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