Dennis
01-07-2008, 01:37 PM
These FAQs will help you understand more about SurfStream. They discuss how SurfStream works, what it requires to operate and how it compares to other applications you may be currently using or considering to purchase.
System Requirements
What operating systems does SurfStream run on?
SurfStream works on Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows 98SE.
What else do I need on my computer to run SurfStream?
You will need to have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher installed on your computer. You can download the latest version of Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
You must have at least 50MB hard disk space to install SurfStream. The SurfStream proxy server may use more disk space to cache web page content as you browse the web. The disk space used is user configurable.
It is recommended that you have set your screen graphics resolution to 16 bit, 24 bit or 32 bit color.
SurfStream will work with all internet connections such as ADSL, cable, ISDN, dialup modem, and microwave.
How SurfStream Can Help You
Why will SurfStream help me use the internet?
SurfStream contains a powerful collection of integrated tools that can make your internet experience faster, more productive and more enjoyable.
SurfStream's proxy server can significantly increase the speed of web browsing by caching often visited web content. Pre-fetching web content can help display web pages instantly. Other computers can share the benefits.
SurfStream contains an advanced banner ad blocker and popup window blocker that will eliminate annoying advertisements contained in web pages.
SurfStream analyzes your computer's TCP/IP settings and can adjust them so that they are tuned for your internet connection type - such as ADSL, cable, ISDN and dialup modem.
A built-in speed checker can tell you exactly how fast your internet connection is. It tests your download speed and your upload speed, and displays the results is an easy-to-understand graph that compares your speed with popular internet connection types.
SurfStream lets you manage all your favorite web pages. It allows you to create, edit and manage all your Internet Explorer favorites. It will check all your favorites and notify you which favorites are broken and which favorite web pages have been updated since you last visited them.
You can keep you computer's clock as accurate as possible using internet time servers. SurfStream can connect to internet time servers and automatically adjust your clock to keep it accurate.
How does SurfStream optimize my internet connection?
Your TCP/IP settings are stored on your computer in your computer's registry. They are very technical in nature and require expertise to modify them.
SurfStream reads your computer's registry and determines your current settings. By using advanced techniques and by testing your internet connection speed, SurfStream can determine your optimal settings for you. You do not have to edit the registry - SurfStream does it all for you!
Before making any changes, SurfStream makes a backup of your original settings so you can restore your computer back to its original state. Optimizing your computer's TCP/IP settings has never been easier!
What advertisements does SurfStream block?
SurfStream contains two techniques for blocking unwanted content while you browse the internet.
Many web pages contain banner ads. These are typically images or flash that make it annoying when you are viewing web pages. SurfStream can remove these banner ads from a web page. It supports removal of all types of banner ads - GIF, JPG, SWF, HTML and more. An extensive ad web site database containing offending ad web sites is included in SurfStream so that you should not see ads after SurfStream is installed. You can also add more entries to the ad database using SurfStream - as new ad web sites appear on the internet.
Many web pages now have annoying popup windows when you visit them. SurfStream contains a popup window blocker that will stop popup windows from appearing while you browse web pages in Internet Explorer.
SurfStream vs. Competitor Products
Why is SurfStream better than other proxy servers, popup blockers, speed checkers, TCP setting editors and bookmark organizers?
There are no products available today that combine all of the features and tools that SurfStream has. You would need to buy a proxy server, a banner ad blocker, a popup blocker, a bookmark manager, a TCP/IP settings registry editor, a speed checker and an internet time changer to get all the power and features of SurfStream. In the end, this will be much more expensive than SurfStream and the tools will not be integrated into such an easy-to-use interface as SurfStream.
I already have a popup blocker. Why do I need SurfStream's banner ad blocking?
Popup blockers just stop popup ad windows from appearing while you are browsing the internet. They do not stop banner ads. So you will still see many annoying banner ads on web pages. These will be usually be animated GIF files but now Flash ads are being used to take over your web browser. They can be very annoying. SurfStream helps eliminate all of these banner ads.
I already have a bookmark organizer. Why is SurfStream's favorites organizer better?
SurfStream reads all your Internet Explorer favorites and allows you to create, edit and manage them.
A powerful feature is the ability to check all your Internet Explorer favorites for broken links (i.e. web pages that are no longer available on the internet). This helps you clean up your favorites.
Another powerful feature is the ability to check for any recent updates to web pages contained in your favorites. This helps you know about web pages that have been updated so you can visit them and view the updated content.
I already have a TCP/IP settings registry editor. Why should I use SurfStream's Tune Up feature?
SurfStream's Tune Up comes with optimized TCP/IP settings profiles for popular connection types such as ADSL, cable, ISDN and dialup modem. You can choose one of these profiles or you can change your computer's settings manually using SurfStream.
SurfStream can also automatically read your current settings and determine your optimal settings. A backup of your current settings is made so that you can restore your original settings at anytime.
SurfStream's Speed Checker is fully integrated into the Tune Up feature so that results for each speed test are listed next to the Tune Up profiles that you have chosen so far. This provides a great way to accurately measure which setting are the optimal settings for your computer.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
I have started SurfStream but I cannot see the SurfStream window.
By default the SurfStream main window is not displayed. You can display the SurfStream main window by double clicking the SurfStream icon in your computer's system tray.
My internet connection type is not listed in the Options dialog.
Select "Other" and enter the maximum speed that your connection is able to achieve.
I can no longer connect to the internet after making changes in Tune Up. How do I to restore my internet connection settings back to the original values?
Select the "Backup of your Original Connection Settings" in Tune Up and click the Apply Profile button. This will restore your original settings before installing SurfStream.
Why are advertisements not being blocked in my web browser?
Make sure that the SurfStream proxy server is switched on. Make sure that you have banner ad and popup blocking turned on. Make sure that the web site address that is delivering the banner ads is included in the ad web site list.
The popup blocker is stopping me from seeing a window in Internet Explorer. What can I do?
Before clicking on a link on a web page, you can hold down the Ctrl key and then click on the link. This will stop SurfStream's popup blocker so that normal web page processing will occur.
Why aren't popup windows being blocked in my web browser?
SurfStream only supports popup blocking for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 and higher.
Why does Speed Check give me a different result every time?
To test the speed of your internet connection, SurfStream connects to the internet and exchanges data with the SurfStream Speed Check web server. If the internet is busy or congested, then the speed may be slower. You should run Speed Check several times - even at different times during the day - to get an overall speed of your connection.
Why is time synchronizing not working?
Make sure that you have an active connection to the internet and that you have selected an internet time server. Try testing the internet time server (using Test button in Choose Internet Time Server dialog box) to see if its still active. Sometimes a web site may stop providing its internet time service and you may need to choose another time server.
Why doesn't the Analyze Internet Connection dialog box does not complete its analysis of my TCP/IP settings?
You must have an active internet connection in order to use the Analyze Internet Connection dialog box. Also, SurfStream requires that your computer can send ICMP packets (or ping) to web servers. SurfStream uses ICMP packet transmission to determine your optimal TCP Receive Window setting. Some firewalls and proxy servers can be configured to stop ICMP packets being sent. If this is done, SurfStream will not be able to determine your optimal settings. You need to enable ICMP packets for SurfStream's Analyze Internet Connection dialog box to work correctly.
How do I get the latest updates to SurfStream?
Click the Help/Check for Updates menu item.
My Trial Version has expired. How do I register my copy of SurfStream?
You need to purchase SurfStream and a serial number and license key will be sent to you. To purchase SurfStream, click the Help/Buy Online menu item to go to Conceiva's secure online purchasing system.
System Requirements
What operating systems does SurfStream run on?
SurfStream works on Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows 98SE.
What else do I need on my computer to run SurfStream?
You will need to have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher installed on your computer. You can download the latest version of Internet Explorer from http://www.microsoft.com.
You must have at least 50MB hard disk space to install SurfStream. The SurfStream proxy server may use more disk space to cache web page content as you browse the web. The disk space used is user configurable.
It is recommended that you have set your screen graphics resolution to 16 bit, 24 bit or 32 bit color.
SurfStream will work with all internet connections such as ADSL, cable, ISDN, dialup modem, and microwave.
How SurfStream Can Help You
Why will SurfStream help me use the internet?
SurfStream contains a powerful collection of integrated tools that can make your internet experience faster, more productive and more enjoyable.
SurfStream's proxy server can significantly increase the speed of web browsing by caching often visited web content. Pre-fetching web content can help display web pages instantly. Other computers can share the benefits.
SurfStream contains an advanced banner ad blocker and popup window blocker that will eliminate annoying advertisements contained in web pages.
SurfStream analyzes your computer's TCP/IP settings and can adjust them so that they are tuned for your internet connection type - such as ADSL, cable, ISDN and dialup modem.
A built-in speed checker can tell you exactly how fast your internet connection is. It tests your download speed and your upload speed, and displays the results is an easy-to-understand graph that compares your speed with popular internet connection types.
SurfStream lets you manage all your favorite web pages. It allows you to create, edit and manage all your Internet Explorer favorites. It will check all your favorites and notify you which favorites are broken and which favorite web pages have been updated since you last visited them.
You can keep you computer's clock as accurate as possible using internet time servers. SurfStream can connect to internet time servers and automatically adjust your clock to keep it accurate.
How does SurfStream optimize my internet connection?
Your TCP/IP settings are stored on your computer in your computer's registry. They are very technical in nature and require expertise to modify them.
SurfStream reads your computer's registry and determines your current settings. By using advanced techniques and by testing your internet connection speed, SurfStream can determine your optimal settings for you. You do not have to edit the registry - SurfStream does it all for you!
Before making any changes, SurfStream makes a backup of your original settings so you can restore your computer back to its original state. Optimizing your computer's TCP/IP settings has never been easier!
What advertisements does SurfStream block?
SurfStream contains two techniques for blocking unwanted content while you browse the internet.
Many web pages contain banner ads. These are typically images or flash that make it annoying when you are viewing web pages. SurfStream can remove these banner ads from a web page. It supports removal of all types of banner ads - GIF, JPG, SWF, HTML and more. An extensive ad web site database containing offending ad web sites is included in SurfStream so that you should not see ads after SurfStream is installed. You can also add more entries to the ad database using SurfStream - as new ad web sites appear on the internet.
Many web pages now have annoying popup windows when you visit them. SurfStream contains a popup window blocker that will stop popup windows from appearing while you browse web pages in Internet Explorer.
SurfStream vs. Competitor Products
Why is SurfStream better than other proxy servers, popup blockers, speed checkers, TCP setting editors and bookmark organizers?
There are no products available today that combine all of the features and tools that SurfStream has. You would need to buy a proxy server, a banner ad blocker, a popup blocker, a bookmark manager, a TCP/IP settings registry editor, a speed checker and an internet time changer to get all the power and features of SurfStream. In the end, this will be much more expensive than SurfStream and the tools will not be integrated into such an easy-to-use interface as SurfStream.
I already have a popup blocker. Why do I need SurfStream's banner ad blocking?
Popup blockers just stop popup ad windows from appearing while you are browsing the internet. They do not stop banner ads. So you will still see many annoying banner ads on web pages. These will be usually be animated GIF files but now Flash ads are being used to take over your web browser. They can be very annoying. SurfStream helps eliminate all of these banner ads.
I already have a bookmark organizer. Why is SurfStream's favorites organizer better?
SurfStream reads all your Internet Explorer favorites and allows you to create, edit and manage them.
A powerful feature is the ability to check all your Internet Explorer favorites for broken links (i.e. web pages that are no longer available on the internet). This helps you clean up your favorites.
Another powerful feature is the ability to check for any recent updates to web pages contained in your favorites. This helps you know about web pages that have been updated so you can visit them and view the updated content.
I already have a TCP/IP settings registry editor. Why should I use SurfStream's Tune Up feature?
SurfStream's Tune Up comes with optimized TCP/IP settings profiles for popular connection types such as ADSL, cable, ISDN and dialup modem. You can choose one of these profiles or you can change your computer's settings manually using SurfStream.
SurfStream can also automatically read your current settings and determine your optimal settings. A backup of your current settings is made so that you can restore your original settings at anytime.
SurfStream's Speed Checker is fully integrated into the Tune Up feature so that results for each speed test are listed next to the Tune Up profiles that you have chosen so far. This provides a great way to accurately measure which setting are the optimal settings for your computer.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
I have started SurfStream but I cannot see the SurfStream window.
By default the SurfStream main window is not displayed. You can display the SurfStream main window by double clicking the SurfStream icon in your computer's system tray.
My internet connection type is not listed in the Options dialog.
Select "Other" and enter the maximum speed that your connection is able to achieve.
I can no longer connect to the internet after making changes in Tune Up. How do I to restore my internet connection settings back to the original values?
Select the "Backup of your Original Connection Settings" in Tune Up and click the Apply Profile button. This will restore your original settings before installing SurfStream.
Why are advertisements not being blocked in my web browser?
Make sure that the SurfStream proxy server is switched on. Make sure that you have banner ad and popup blocking turned on. Make sure that the web site address that is delivering the banner ads is included in the ad web site list.
The popup blocker is stopping me from seeing a window in Internet Explorer. What can I do?
Before clicking on a link on a web page, you can hold down the Ctrl key and then click on the link. This will stop SurfStream's popup blocker so that normal web page processing will occur.
Why aren't popup windows being blocked in my web browser?
SurfStream only supports popup blocking for Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 and higher.
Why does Speed Check give me a different result every time?
To test the speed of your internet connection, SurfStream connects to the internet and exchanges data with the SurfStream Speed Check web server. If the internet is busy or congested, then the speed may be slower. You should run Speed Check several times - even at different times during the day - to get an overall speed of your connection.
Why is time synchronizing not working?
Make sure that you have an active connection to the internet and that you have selected an internet time server. Try testing the internet time server (using Test button in Choose Internet Time Server dialog box) to see if its still active. Sometimes a web site may stop providing its internet time service and you may need to choose another time server.
Why doesn't the Analyze Internet Connection dialog box does not complete its analysis of my TCP/IP settings?
You must have an active internet connection in order to use the Analyze Internet Connection dialog box. Also, SurfStream requires that your computer can send ICMP packets (or ping) to web servers. SurfStream uses ICMP packet transmission to determine your optimal TCP Receive Window setting. Some firewalls and proxy servers can be configured to stop ICMP packets being sent. If this is done, SurfStream will not be able to determine your optimal settings. You need to enable ICMP packets for SurfStream's Analyze Internet Connection dialog box to work correctly.
How do I get the latest updates to SurfStream?
Click the Help/Check for Updates menu item.
My Trial Version has expired. How do I register my copy of SurfStream?
You need to purchase SurfStream and a serial number and license key will be sent to you. To purchase SurfStream, click the Help/Buy Online menu item to go to Conceiva's secure online purchasing system.