Internet Education

How can I choose the right Internet speed?

Click 'Learn About Bandwidth' to find the Internet plan you need to keep all your devices connected. Whether you're simply sending emails, working from home, streaming videos or online gaming, you can choose the best data speed for your digital lifestyle. Try us risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.

What Internet speeds are available?

Hargray offers 1 Gig Internet with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

What Internet speeds are available in Pell City?

Hargray continues to expand network capabilities on in Pell City and offers Internet with speeds up to 300 Mbps in many communities, with plans for continued expansion in the coming months.

Does Hargray have a sales and service center in Pell City?

Absolutely! We are proud to be a part of the local community and welcome you to our sales and service center located at 1621 Cogswell Ave, Pell City, AL 35125.

Does just turning off my router then back on again actually work?

Yes! Simply turning off and on your router can automatically reboot and restore your system.

Why has my WiFi connection suddenly slowed down?

There may be several causes.

First Step:

-Close any open windows in your Internet browser if you’re not using them. Websites continually refresh and that taps into your Internet speed.

Second Step:

-Connect directly to your router and perform a wired Internet speed test to check the current download and upload speed of your Internet connection.

*If you perform your speed test using a WIFI connection, you can expect your speed to be roughly 50% less then your subscribed speed.

You can find a test link at speedtest.hargray.net

I did a speed test and I’m currently receiving the Internet speed I signed up for, but my WiFi is still slow?

There are many things that can affect your WiFi speed. Below are some common causes of slow WiFi and ways in which you can get the most out of your WiFi speed.

This information is also available in a series of short videos which you can find at hargray.com/lP/Wifi

Location of your router — WiFi signals travel through the air and can be blocked or slowed down by walls, floors, furniture and windows. To get the clearest signal, place your WiFi router in a central location with a clean line of sight to the areas where you like to use WiFi devices. Don’t place the router in the basement or attic, in a drawer or behind furniture. Also, avoid placing the router near household appliances.

Age/capabilities of your router — Make sure your router has the ability to make the most of your fast Internet speed. If you’re using a router that was supplied by Hargray, you can rest assured that it is the right router for your Internet speed. If you’re using your own router, check your owner’s manual or look up the model number online. You can also contact your Hargray Customer Support team. They’ll help you pick the right router for your Internet speed.

Sharing Wi-Fi signal with neighbors — Be sure that your Wi-Fi is password protected. If not, you may be sharing your WiFi signal with your neighbors, and whatever they do online will slow your connection.

If issues continue: contact Hargray Customer Support at 1.877.HARGRAY

Does just turning off my router then back on again actually work?

Yes! Simply turning off and on your router can automatically reboot and restore your system.

Why has my WiFi connection suddenly slowed down?

There may be several causes.

First Step:

-Close any open windows in your Internet browser if you’re not using them. Websites continually refresh and that taps into your Internet speed.

Second Step:

-Connect directly to your router and perform a wired Internet speed test to check the current download and upload speed of your Internet connection.

*If you perform your speed test using a WIFI connection, you can expect your speed to be roughly 50% less then your subscribed speed.

You can find a test link at speedtest.hargray.net

I did a speed test and I’m currently receiving the Internet speed I signed up for, but my WiFi is still slow?

There are many things that can affect your WiFi speed. Below are some common causes of slow WiFi and ways in which you can get the most out of your WiFi speed.

This information is also available in a series of short videos which you can find at hargray.com/lP/Wifi

Location of your router — WiFi signals travel through the air and can be blocked or slowed down by walls, floors, furniture and windows. To get the clearest signal, place your WiFi router in a central location with a clean line of sight to the areas where you like to use WiFi devices. Don’t place the router in the basement or attic, in a drawer or behind furniture. Also, avoid placing the router near household appliances.

Age/capabilities of your router — Make sure your router has the ability to make the most of your fast Internet speed. If you’re using a router that was supplied by Hargray, you can rest assured that it is the right router for your Internet speed. If you’re using your own router, check your owner’s manual or look up the model number online. You can also contact your Hargray Customer Support team. They’ll help you pick the right router for your Internet speed.

Sharing Wi-Fi signal with neighbors — Be sure that your Wi-Fi is password protected. If not, you may be sharing your WiFi signal with your neighbors, and whatever they do online will slow your connection.

If issues continue: contact Hargray Customer Support at 1.877.HARGRAY

How can I choose the right Internet speed?

Click 'Learn About Bandwidth' to find the Internet plan you need to keep all your devices connected. Whether you're simply sending emails, working from home, streaming videos or online gaming, you can choose the best data speed for your digital lifestyle. Try us risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.

I can’t read some Web pages. Can I make the text bigger?

In Internet Explorer:

  • Click View from the menu at the top of the screen.
  • Run your mouse pointer down to Text Size.
  • A new menu will appear. Select the size you want.
What is a bit?

Bit is often used as an abbreviation for “Binary Digit.” A bit is the smallest unit of information in the digital data communications system.

What is Java?

Java is a high-level programming language developed by Sun and designed from the ground up to run on multiple platforms. It is object-oriented, meaning that the programmer defines the type of data structure, as well as the functions that can be applied to that structure. The result is a programming object where the function and data are encapsulated, which makes the software easier to modify. Java is a portable language, meaning the application code does not have to be rewritten to run on different platforms. Java is distributed, providing high-level support for networking. Java applications can be written once and run on any platform running Java Virtual Machine (JVM,) a client-side application that creates a computer within software (hence the virtual). This runs Java and gives it its portability. Any platform, be it Apple/Mac, Windows, UNIX or Linux, is Java capable as long as it is running JVM. Most computer users have at least one JVM on their system. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is a Java-enabled browser.

What is a MAC address?

A Media Access Control address is the 48-bit defined number built into any Ethernet device connected to a LAN. This could be on a router, firewall or server. This number is unique to each interface. It is “burnt” into the hardware. This address uniquely identifies each node of a network. This is also known as the “hardware address” or “physical address.” An example of a MAC address would be: 00-02-A5-32-1E-05.

What are cookies and how are they used?

A “cookie” is a file placed on your hard drive by a website you visit. Cookies contain information about your preferences, so the website can tailor its appearance according to your needs. This saves time when you visit the site the next time. Cookies can also be used to track where a user has been within a website.

How many megabytes are in an email, Web page, song or video?

The size of anything on the Web will vary enormously. There are ways to check the sizes of the files you download. The following examples are for Microsoft Outlook and Internet Explorer.

To check the size of an email:
Open the email.
In the menu bar, click on File.
Scan the list and click on Properties.
A dialog box showing the file size will appear.

To check the size of a Web page:
In the menu at the top of Internet Explorer, click on File.
Click on Properties.
A dialog box showing the file size will appear.

To check the size of an MP3 or song file:
Move your mouse over the top of the songs icon.
Right-click on the icon.
Click on Properties.
A dialog box showing the file size will appear.

What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger domain name. For example, in the domain name web.hargray.com, “web” is a subdomain of the larger second-level domain “hargray.com.”

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a unique, meaningful and easy-to-remember identifier that locates an organization or other entity on the Internet. The Internet uses numerical Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to locate and communicate with other computers. Domain names were developed to permit the use of easily remembered words and phrases to identify Internet addresses without having to remember the exact numeric address. For example, the domain name hargray.com.

Can I access my domain address without the “www”?

Yes, you can access the domain address with or without the “www” in front of the domain name. Example: www.hargray.com and hargray.com are acceptable, whichever you prefer.

What are some commonly used acronyms and their meanings?

As you use the Internet, you’ll come across numerous acronyms. Here are some common ones:


Email (short for electronic mail) and News:

  • POP: Post Office Protocol. This is the common standard used to transfer your email from your ISP’s mail server to your computer.
  • SMTPSimple Mail Transfer Protocol. This is the common standard used to send mail from your computer.
  • NNTP: Network News Transport Protocol. This is the newsgroup propagation and delivery system.
  • IMAP: Internet Mail Access Protocol. This is a more advanced email protocol, which allows greater functionality on a remote server.

 

The rest of the Internet:

  • HTML: Hypertext Markup Language. The language of the Web. A text document with tags in it to tell your browser to display the text in a particular way.
  • HTTP: Hypertext Transfer Protocol. This is the protocol by which Web pages are delivered to your computer.
  • HTTPS: Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure sockets. This is a secure version of HTTP.
  • URL: Uniform Resource Locator. This is the address that humans use to remember things.  http://web.hargray.com/ is a URL.
  • FTP: File Transfer Protocol. Agreed protocol for transferring a file between two computers.
  • DNS: Domain Name System. Essentially, this is a big database that gives names to things and points you to where they are. Also used to refer to a Domain Name Server, though this is technically incorrect.
  • IP: Internet Protocol. The system of numbers that makes the Internet work.
What is an IP address?

An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique 32-bit number that identifies the location of your computer on a network. It works like your street address, as a way to find out exactly where you are and deliver information to you.

+