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In an effort to help you get the most out of your account with EsisNet, we've compiled a list of information that is essential for you to know. Being aware of these guidelines can help to minimize your need for support as well as making your Internet experience all the more enjoyable. Select any of the items below for more information.

1. Your username
2. Your password
3. Turn off anonymous calling before connecting.
4. What type of computer you are using
5. EsisNet's Acceptable Use Policy
6. EsisNet and your phone bill

1. Your username
Everyone who has an account with EsisNet is given a dialup username (or login name) by us. Usernames on EsisNet accounts are always all lower case(ie. username). Your login username looks like the first part of your email address. Be sure to use the full login username when connecting (ie, type username, NOT username@esisnet.com). If you try to connect to EsisNet with any upper-case characters in your username, it will not work. When you call in to inquire about the status of an account or for technical support, we will almost always need to know your username in order to help you effectively..

2. Your password
This may seem obvious, as this should be the one thing about your account that you, and only you, should know. Nonetheless, most software gives you the option to enter your password once and then save it, whereupon you forget it because you never have to enter it again. Don't let this happen. If you install new Internet software (a new email program, for example), if your current dialer or Internet software crashes or becomes corrupt, or if you want to change your password, you will need to know what your current password is. Should worse come to worst, you can call our tech support staff. They can look up existing passwords. And they can change your password to a new one that you define, but an identification check must be performed before any staff will change a password. Password change requests sent via email will not be accepted. Some additional, general guidelines for passwords are:
Never make your password the same as your username. We cannot stress this enough. To do this is asking for trouble.

Make it unique. A password should be something difficult for others to guess, but easy for you to remember. NEVER use single, lower-case, English words, e.g., "secret." It is best to combine letters, numbers, in a format that, to you, makes some sense, e.g. 23skid00, jerry43v3r, etc.

Change your password regularly. It is a good idea to change your password every three months.

3. Turn off Anonymous Calling before connecting.
Before connecting to EsisNet, we recommend turning off Anonymous Calling to avoid authentication problems with our server. If you have Anonymous Calling you need to have your modem dial *82 before it dials out. For Windows 95/98, do the following: Click Start, Settings, then Control Panel. Open Modems, then click the Dialing Properties button. Next to 'For local calls, dial', type "*82," - without the quotes (don't forget the comma). That's it. Anonymous Calling will now be turned off when you dial out. If your area does not support the *82 feature or you do not have Anonymous Calling on your line, you may get a busy signal when trying to dial out. In this case, do not use *82.

4. What type of computer you are using
If you are reading this, you are probably already aware of some of the basic workings of your computer. Nonetheless, when dealing with tech support, you should be able to provide the following information:

What operating system you are using, inclusive of the version, e.g., MacOS 7.5.3, MacOS 8.0, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, etc.
What model/brand of modem you are using and it's speed, e.g., USR Sportster 56k X2, Zoom Fax/Modem 56k K56flex, Global Village Teleport Platinum, etc.

What software you are using. This may depend on the problem or question. If, for example, you have a question about email, you should be able to tell us what program you use, e.g., Eudora, Netscape Mail, and so on.

Having this sort of information at your disposal will make it that much easier for our staff to help.

5. EsisNet's Acceptable Use Policy
As a EsisNet customer, you are bound by our terms of service, which are summed up in our Acceptable Use Policy. Any violation of this policy (e.g., spamming) can result in the termination of your account.

6. EsisNet is not responsible for your phone bill
EsisNet provides a number that is local to the Havelock, NC exchange. It is the customer's responsibility to determine if the number they are calling is toll free. The best way to do this is to call your operator or phone company and tell them the number you will be dialing into if you are unsure.