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Telephone FAQs
Can I sign up for RTU phone and keep my 345 number?
RTU and Iowa Telecom have an agreement that allows you to keep you current 345 number. It takes about 5 days to switch if you keep your old 345 number.
How do I keep my current long distance provider?
When you sign up for RTU phone service, you are paying for local service. RTU offers several long distance programs that should fit your particular need, but if you have a long distance provider that you prefer, you only have to tell as at the time of hook-up what provider you want.
What is “slamming” and how do I prevent it?
“Slamming” is when a long distance carrier informs your local provider that you are switching to their service without your approval. You can request that your local provider put a “pic freeze” on your account which will require your authorization to change a long distance carrier.
What can I do if I am “slammed”?
Call the number on your bill that is next to the long distance charges and inform them that you do not want their services. Call your local provider and inform them of the action you have taken. Then call the Iowa Utility Board at 877-565-4450 and inform them of your problem. They are there to protect you and can take legal action if they get several complaints.
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Cable TV FAQs
How do I get more channel guides?
City hall carries an ample supply that are available for the asking.
How do I get the new channels you have added?
TV’s today have an automatic channel search that was activated when the TV was set up. You need to read your TV manual and reset the channel search so the TV can select the new stations.
What do I do if I lose my cable TV signal?
Call the office at 788-6404. If it is after hours, listen to the prompts to get connected to a service man.
What do I do if I would like to see a new channel added?
Adding additional charges is adding cost. However, as a local utility, we compile requested stations and examine our current lineup regularly to see if there is a need for additional stations. Leave your request at City Hall or with an RTU board member.
Can I Filter Stations That Are Not Appropriate For Children?
Many newer TV’s have parental controls built in and you need to check your owners manual. While RTU does not endorse any websites, you can start with “controlyourtv.org for information regarding parental controls.
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Internet FAQs
How Do I Set Up An E-mail Account?
At this time, you must contact RTU at 788-6404 to set up an e-mail account.
How Many E-mail Accounts Can I Have?
For those who have our free internet, we offer one e-mail account. All other internet plans have a maximum of five accounts. Additional accounts are available for a charge.
How Can I Prevent Spam?
When Internet users receive Spam, they often wonder why their e-mail address has been targeted. Be assured, RTU does not sell this information or provide it to outside parties. But there are other ways that your e-mail address can end up in the hands of spammers.
Here are some examples with tips to avoid being a victim of Spam:
- You have posted in a newsgroup or public Bulletin Board on the Internet using your e-mail address. This is freely available to anyone who frequents these boards or newsgroups including spammers. To avoid this you can alter your e-mail address in the "From:" field. This can be done by putting a word such as "nospam" between your username and the @ symbol.
Example: jondoenospam@example.net. Or you can spell your username out in such a fashion that it no longer becomes a valid e-mail address. Example: j-o-n-d-o-e@ex-ample.net. This will protect your true e-mail address from being captured and added to a spammer's database. If you want to correspond with others in the newsgroup via e-mail, you can always provide instructions in the body of the message stating how to reply to your correct e-mail address.
- Your e-mail address appears on a Web page you own or administer. Unfortunately, there is really no way to protect your e-mail address if it is available to everyone who visits your Web site.
- You register at a Web site and it asks you for your e-mail address in order to complete the registration. Note: Most major Web sites have Privacy Policies regarding the use of your personal information. Make sure you read and understand the terms before you subscribe.
- You have signed up for a mailing list using your e-mail address. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the mailing list regarding the privacy of your personal information before signing up.
You might still receive Spam even if none of the above examples have occurred. Occasionally, spammers will try to guess your e-mail address by using common e-mail names along with a certain domain, such as "yahoo®.com." There is really no way for them to know whether or not it is a valid e-mail address - so don't respond to any Spam you receive or click on an "unsubscribe" link. To do so only lets the spammer know that they can continue to send mail to your e-mail address because it's an active and valid account.
How Do I Create E-Mail Rules And Filters On The Server?
Click Here to access webmail
- Type in your e-mail address and password.
- On the listing on the left, click on “Options”.
- Click on “Webmail”.
- Click on one of the six options that are available to you. These rules will apply to e-mails prior to them arriving at your computer.
Why Do I Get The Message “Email System Quota Warning”?
If you requested that spam mail be sent to the server and held for two weeks before being deleted, a large influx of spam mail may fill the mailbox before it can be deleted. You then must go to your webmail account and delete everything in your spam mailbox. Then, if you feel it is unnecessary to check your spam, you may change your webmail properties to delete all spam without sending it to your spam mailbox. This will eliminate this problem. If you want to continue to have your spam sent to the spam mailbox, remember to clean it out once you get the message.
My Computer Will Not Connect. What do I do?
Check your modem:
- First, ensure that your Cable Modem is connected to a power source and that the modem lights indicate normal service. Read the documentation supplied with your modem to view the normal state of the LEDs.
- If the modem lights are flashing or are not in a normal state, turn off your computer, then powercycle the modem by disconnecting the power cord from the modem. After 45 seconds have elapsed, reconnect the cord; the LEDs will cycle and should return to their normal state within one or two minutes. If your modem does not return to a normal state, you will need to contact customer care.
None Of My Computers Connect.
- Check your modem to verify that all cables are plugged in and there are no loose connections.
- Does your hub, switch or wireless access point have an uplink port and is the CAT5 Ethernet cable connected from it to the cable modem? Try a different piece of CAT5 cable. A hub, switch or wireless access point without an uplink port requires a special cross-over cable.
- Do your computers have a RTU Cable Internet Services IP address? Try a release and renew.
- Powerdown your computer, then the router, and finally the modem. Wait 45 seconds and reverse the process.
- If you still have connection issues, check to see if your computers can connect directly to the cable modem without your central home networking device (hub, switch or wireless access point).
Not All Of My Computers Will Connect:
- Check the computer that will not connect for loose connections.
- Try a different port on your central home networking device (hub, switch or wireless access point) and release and renew.
- Try a different cable and release and renew.
- Verify that the hub, switch or wireless access point is properly connected.
Computers connect without the central home networking device (hub, switch or wireless access point), but do not work when plugged in:
- Verify that the hub, switch or wireless access point is properly connected.
- Does your home networking device have an uplink port and is the CAT5 cable connected from it to the cable modem? Try a different piece of CAT5 cable. A hub, switch or wireless access point without an uplink port requires a special cross-over cable.
- Try other known working pieces of CAT5 cable to connect your computers to the hub, switch or wireless access point.
- Do your computers have a RTU IP address? Try a release and renew.
- Try other ports (if available) on your home networking device.
- If the above steps fail and if you are using the same cables that provide a proper connection when connected directly to the cable modem, replace the hub, switch or wireless access point for your home networking equipment.
Check Ethernet Cables at Connection Points:
- Before proceeding to detailed problem solving, it is a good idea to verify that all Ethernet cables are firmly connected to each computer, the central home networking device (hub, switch or wireless access point) and the cable modem.
- Check all power cords for all computers, as well as the networking equipment and the modem.
- Release and Renew the Ethernet Adapter
- Follow the instructions for your operating system to release and renew the adapter.
Checking Individual Computer Connections
After verifying the modem is in a normal state and that there are no loose or missing connections, and after performing a release and renew on each computer that cannot connect to the Internet, you should proceed to check each computer one at a time. To do this, you'll need a CAT5 Ethernet cable (that is known to be in good working condition) that can be run from the computer with the connection issue to the cable modem.
- Disconnect all CAT5 Ethernet cables from the computers.
- Disconnect the CAT5 Ethernet cable from your cable modem and the hub, switch or wireless access point.
- Connect the first computer with a connectivity issue directly to the cable modem using a CAT5 Ethernet cable that is known to be in good working order.
- Perform a release and renew for your operating system.
- If unsuccessful, try restarting your system.
- If still unsuccessful, try a different length of CAT5 Ethernet cable. If at this point you are unable to connect to the Internet, you'll need to contact customer care. Before you contact us you should verify whether or not you can successfully connect to the Internet from the other computers by following the above steps.
Troubleshooting a Hub, Switch or Wireless Access Point
If you have been able to connect each individual computer successfully to the cable modem and establish a working connection to the Internet, you should proceed to verify that your hub, switch or wireless access point is working properly. To do this:
- Using two CAT5 Ethernet cables that are known to be in good working order, connect one CAT5 cable to the uplink port and the cable modem, then connect the second CAT5 cable to one of the available ports.
- If you do not have a working connection to the Internet, perform a release and renew.
- If release and renew is not successful, power off and restart your computer.
- If unsuccessful, try other ports on your hub, switch or wireless access point and repeat steps 1-3.
- If you are still unable to connect, you should replace your hub, switch or wireless access point.
Basic Router Troubleshooting
- Access the configuration screen of the router
- Verify that the correct computer name is entered in the DNS name
- Make sure the correct Domain name is entered into the router.
- If you are still unable to connect to the internet removed the computer off the router.
- Put the correct computer name and work group into the computer itself.
- Retry the internet again.
- If you are able to connect to the internet then the problem is with the router. Please refer to the manufacture of the router for more details.
- If you are still unable to connect to the Internet then proceed with our normal troubleshooting procedures located on the Help website.
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