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Q. What is Metro Net?
A. Metro Net is an Internet service provided by 8 local libraries in the Metro Net Library Consortium. A Metro Net account will give you a local phone
number for connecting to the Internet for no charge. You do *not* need a Metro Net account to access the library's online catalog and subscription databases. Go to http://catalog.btpl.org from any Internet provider to access the catalog. Visit the databases from home page to learn how to access the library's databases from another Internet service.
Metro Net does not directly offer e-mail, chat rooms, newsgroups, and personal Web pages. However, you can access these services many places on the Internet (i.e. see our free e-mail provider page).
Q. Who is eligible for a free Metro Net account from the Bloomfield Township Public Library?
A. Residents of Bloomfield Township and people who are employed in or own businesses in Bloomfield Township are eligible.
If you do not live in Bloomfield Township, check the Metro Net chart of communities to see if you are eligible for an account at one of the other Metro Net libraries.
Q. How do I get a Metro Net account?
A. Apply in person and bring your library card and current photo identification that shows you are eligible for the account. Applicants under 18 years of age will need to obtain the signature of a parent or guardian.
Q. How do I change my password?
Connect to Metro Net password change form.
Q. Is the Metro Net Internet service library filtered?
A. The library's dial-up Internet service is not filtered, but account holders can install commercial filter programs on their home computers to serve this function. We suggest that you visit the GetNetWise site for information on Internet safety, including information on filtering software and an Internet Safety Guide. See the Internet Access Policy and the Internet Access Filtering FAQ below for more information about Internet access at BTPL.
Q. How do I get e-mail with my Metro Net account?
A. There are many free sources of e-mail that you can reach with any web browser on the Internet. Go to the E-mail resources page for a list of popular e-mail sites.
Q. Why can't I get connections at 56k speed?
A.
Actual 56k connections are not possible at this time, due to an FC limit on power output on phone lines, and many other factors such as line noise from caller ID, answering machines and cordless phones. (See the article at http://web.chapel1.com/56k/no56.htm for more information). Although the library cannot guarantee any specific connection speed, the fastest download speeds that you might see will be in the mid-40s, and 33.6k for upload speeds. We've also learned that some Ameritech phone customers in Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township have out-dated phone service through an old "analog central office" out of Birmingham. The highest connection speed these residents will experience will be 26,400 bps (26k). If you have this problem, you can call the number on your Ameritech bill and ask to be switched to the "digital central office" to get faster Internet speeds. Unfortunately, this will require an all new phone number, and there would be installation costs for the new number.
Q. When does my Metro Net account expire?
A. Your Metro Net account will not expire while you are actively using it and as long as the library offers the Metro Net program.
However, if you do not sign on to your account for more that 6 months, your password will expire and your account will be deleted. Simply fill out a new application to get your account reinstated.
Q. How do I connect to my Metro Net account while on vacation, or while I'm in Florida for the winter?
A.
Your Metro Net account is a local service only, for accessing the Internet with local phone numbers only in the Bloomfield area. You can continue to call the BTPL dial-in numbers, but you would pay high long distance charges. For extended visits, we recommend that you look into an Internet service provider in the part of the country in which you are visiting. You can access the same Internet services, such as e-mail and investment services from any other Internet service. You might also visit the nearest library for a quick check of your e-mail while on vacation -- most offer in-house access to the Internet like BTPL.
Q. Can I use my cable modem to call Metro Net?
A. No. The Metro Net service only works with regular phone-line type modems. Cable modem users must get their Internet subscription through a cable service.
Q. Can I connect to Metro Net via DSL?
A.
No. Digital Subscriber Line service uses a different technology than the modems used by the library. To get DSL service, you must subscribe to a DSL service provider. Please note that current DSL technology limits service to about a one mile radius of the provider.
Q. Can I use my information appliance (i.e. i-opener) to dial into Metro Net?
A.
No. Information appliances, also known as information kiosks, web kiosks, or net appliances are not full-fledged computers. They are special devices that are configured to perform limited Internet functions. Therefore, users of these tools must contract with special companies that provide Internet access to these devices.
Q. Can I use WebTV to dial into Metro Net?
A.
No. WebTV is a device that connects to the Internet with a TV instead of a computer. WebTV users must access the Internet through the WebTV subscription service or other WebTV Internet service providers. Metro Net is not a WebTV Internet service provider.
Q. Can I use "Dialpad.com" with my Metro Net account?
A.
No. Dialpad.com is one of several services using the Internet to offer "PC to PC voiceconferencing", in other words, bypassing phone companies and making long distance calls for the cost of Internet access. (Other similar services include Microsoft NetMeeting, Net2Phone, PhoneFree.com and Netspeak Webphone, and some of these offer other functions like PC-to-phone calls, Internet faxing, videoconferencing and whiteboards). Most of these services require a "dedicated IP address" or an Internet address exclusively assigned to the user's computer. The Metro Net system uses a system that shares IP addresses, so it cannot offer dedicated IP addresses for patrons. Therefore, services like Dialpad.com and NetMeeting do not work over Metro Net.
Q. Can I use the "AOL Instant Messenger" with my Metro Net account?
A. Yes. Instant Messenger software can be downloaded at www.aim.com.
Q. My web-based e-mail account is asking for the SMTP/POP settings for Internet Service Provider. Where do I find this information for Metro Net?
A.
Due to abuse of the Metro Net system's servers, Metro Net does not provide access to an SMTP or POP server for Metro Net dial-up accounts. These settings are not required for web-based e-mail, so we suggest that you choose another e-mail service that does not use these settings.
Q. If I can't connect to Metro Net with a cable modem, DSL, WebTV or my AOL account, how do I get to the library website or the library catalog?
A.
Anyone with access to the Internet through any Internet service can reach the library website and catalog with a regular web browser such as Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer. You do NOT need Metro Net to get to the library website or catalog. The BTPL website address is www.btpl.org, and the BTPL catalog address is catalog.btpl.org. |
