14 Wonderful and Wacky facts about the Internet

14 Wonderful and Wacky facts about the Internet

Here are some weird and wacky facts about the Internet 

  1. The word GIF (the GIF image format) is supposed to be pronounced Jiff, like the peanut butter.  When Steve Wilke first came up with the GIF in 1987 that’s what he wanted – and what he still wants.
  2. AOL (you’ve got mail) issued over 50% of all CD-ROM discs in the 1990s. That’s 100% more than the last Fountains of Wayne album.
  3. Google was named after the largest number, called a googol.  Not the dance craze, the googaloo.
  4. Twitter was originally called Twttr back in 2006.  But then they discovered vowels.
  5. This is the first and oldest site on the World Wide Web. It was invented before your parents.
  6. The average search time for a google search is .2 seconds. Google is actively working to shrink this by reading your mind.
  7. The most expensive Google AdWord is insurance. The second is loans.  The most popular search phrase is call your mother already.
  8. The word WiFI doesn’t mean anything and was invented by a consulting firm. This time I am serious.
  9. China has treatment camps for Internet Addicts.  They are called prisons.
  10. The Internet and the World Wide Web are two different things.  The Internet is a computer network and the world wide web is according to Oxford Languages “an information system on the internet which allows documents to be connected to other documents by hypertext links, enabling the user to search for information by moving from one document to another.”
  11. LOL used to mean “lots of love” but now it means “laughing out loud”, although when jokes are as bad as these it means “lack of laughter”.
  12. Prisoners in Norway have Internet in their cells.  This makes it easier to look up the word insurance on Google.
  13. Salmon Bay Wireless is the only Internet Service Providers in the world named after Salmon Bay.  (Salmon Bay is an actual Bay – not the fictional town featured in the Playstation 4 game InFamous).
  14. You are now reading this on the Internet (or is it the world wide web?).  Do you have any weird, funny, or wacky facts about the Internet that you would like to share?  Leave them in the comments.
Things to try before calling for Wireless Internet Support

Things to try before calling for Wireless Internet Support

You may have a day where you experience problems with your Internet.  If your internet slows down or stops working all together it can be frustrating.  Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do to resolve these issues.  Here are some suggestions on how to fix things quickly, so you don’t have to spend your valuable time reaching out for assistance.

First, run a speed test.  Go to www.speedtest.net or www.fast.com.  Is your speed slower than it should be?  Once you have confirmed that there is an issue with your speed, it’s time to try other fixes.

Keep in mind that there is a good technique to test these fixes as you go along.  Type your favorite website’s address into your browser (for example, www.salmonbaywireless.com), and refresh your browser by pushing down the shift key while pushing down the enter key.  If your site displays, then the problem is resolved.

Here are some additional steps to follow if you are still experiencing problems.   90% of Internet issues are resolved with the first two steps.

  1. Restart your Router.  To do this, pull the power cord out, wait 10 seconds, and plug the power cord back in.  Wait 2-3 minutes and then run a speed test again.  This takes care of most internet issues.
  2. Is your account paid up? Go to the payment link you received from us in your email to look at the status of your account.  This link doesn’t change – it should always reference your account information.
  3. If you find that you still aren’t getting internet at all, some basic checks are helpful.  Is your router plugged in correctly?  Make sure that nothing has come loose or is disconnected.
  4. Next, try plugging your computer directly into your router with an ethernet cord.  Are you able to use the Internet?   This test will eliminate the chance that any local wireless issues are occurring.
  5. Check other equipment as well – take a look at your outside antenna.  Is it where it is supposed to be? (has it come loose?).  Is the antenna pointed in the right direction, the direction where it was pointed when it was installed?

An option for advanced users is to ping 8.8.8.8 by using a command prompt.  Did you get a response? Then your Internet is up and working but it could be a DNS issue.

 If these suggestions don’t work then email us or call 206-400-8000.