Web accelerator questions

For help downloading, installing and configuring the Web Accelerator, see support section of DialupAtCost website.

1. What Web Accelerator (Highspeed Dialup) does DialupAtCost offer?

   DialupAtCost includes Web Acceleration (Highspeed Dialup) as part of normal service. Web Acceleration is implemented using SlipStream Data technology that can accelerate web surfing by as much as seven times faster than regular dial up service. SlipStream Data is based in Canada and a leading provider of Web Acceleration technology around the world.

   Sign up | Back to top

2. Will SlipStream Web Accelerator speed up everything I do on the Web?

   SlipStream Web Accelerator accelerates certain text and graphics on Web pages. Currently, SlipStream Web Accelerator will not accelerate file downloads, such as music files, or streaming video or audio media. Secure web page communcation bypasses the SlipStream Web Accelerator to keep communication secure.

   Sign up | Back to top

3. How fast is SlipStream Web Accelerator?

   The exact amount of acceleration can vary, but with SlipStream Web Accelerator you will notice a significantly faster experience when you visit Web sites. The SlipStream Acceleration & Optimization Engine can compress HTML documents (or other text-based files) as much as 40 times (7 times smaller than with commonly used compression algorithms such as Lempel-Ziv: LZ). In an independent analysis, the SlipStream Engine completed the first load of a web page 7.33 times faster than traditional dial access.

   Sign up | Back to top

4. What other features does SlipStream Web Accelerator include?

   In addition to speeding up your web surfing, SlipStream Web Accelerator also includes Pop-Up Blocker (block annoying pop-up advertisements while surfing), Banner-Ad Blocking (Stop the ads, and surf faster), FTP Acceleration (Accelerate FTP file transfer) and Integrated Diagnostic Support Tool.

   Sign up | Back to top

5. How does SlipStream Web Accelerator work?

   SlipStream accelerates your Internet access through proprietary text and image compression, content caching, and other network optimizations.

   Sign up | Back to top

6. What types of content does SlipStream Web Accelerator speed up?

   SlipStream Web Accelerator significantly speeds up Web page access. To achieve this speed up, proprietary lossless compression is applied to text, html, xml, javascript and style sheets. Proprietary image compression is applied to GIF images, JPEG images, PNG images (with SlipStream Web Accelerator version 5.0 and later) and Flash content.
   
   SlipStream also accelerates email traffic (POP3, IMAP and SMTP) and FTP using lossless compression.
   
   SlipStream does NOT speed up file downloads (except over FTP) and streaming audio/video or The HTTPS (secure Web sites).

   Sign up | Back to top

7. Can I use SlipStream Web Accelerator with browsers other than Internet Explorer?

   Yes. SlipStream Web Accelerator works with any Web browser that allows you to specify an HTTP proxy. The following are just some of the supported web broswers:

   • Internet Explorer 5.0 and later
   • Firefox 0.9 and later
   • Netscape 8.0 and later
   • Opera 8.0 and later
   Make sure that you install the Firefox extension when you install SlipStream Web Accelerator. Once SlipStream Web Accelerator is running, start the browser and browse as you normally would. No user intervention is required since SlipStream Web Accelerator operates in the background. If you encounter any problems, please make sure that the the HTTP proxy host is set to "localhost" or "127.0.0.1" and that the port number is set to the 5400.

   Sign up | Back to top

8. How do I use Internet Explorer with SlipStream Web Accelerator?

   Start Internet Explorer and browse as you normally would. SlipStream Web Accelerator is launched automatically every time Windows starts. It operates in the background to accelerate your Web connection. No user intervention is required.

   Sign up | Back to top

9. Does SlipStream Web Accelerator speed up email?

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

   Sign up | Back to top

10. Does SlipStream Web Accelerator speed up my secure (HTTPS) transactions such as my Web-banking?

    Secure Web sites will continue to work by bypassing the acceleration component.

    Sign up | Back to top

11. What operating systems or platforms can SlipStream Web Accelerator be installed on?

    Windows Operating Systems:

    • Windows 98
    • Windows 98SE
    • Windows Millennium Edition (Windows ME)
    • Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
    • Windows XP
    • Windows XP Service Pack 2

    Sign up | Back to top

12. What system requirements are necessary to use SlipStream Web Accelerator?

    Minimum system requirements for a PC:

    • Pentium 200MHz (or equivalent)
    • 64MB RAM
    • at least 11MB of hard-drive space.
    Minimum system requirements for a Macintosh:
    • PowerPC® G3 processor at 333MHz
    • 128MB of RAM
    • 6MB of hard drive space.
    • OS X 10.2 or later
    • Safari 1.0 or later

    Sign up | Back to top

13. Where do I go if I have problems with SlipStream Web Accelerator?

    • Windows Installation Guide
    • Windows User Guide
    • Macintosh Installation Guide
    • Macintosh User Guide
    • Troubleshooting

    Sign up | Back to top