SimpleBox Help Page

Updated: May 2001

Contents
Introducing SimpleBox
SimpleBox Components
Connecting SimpleBox
Keyboard Functions
SimpleBox Main Menu
Frequently Asked Questions about SimpleBox

Introducing SimpleBox

The SimpleBox device is a easy way to access the Internet on Televisions using a regular telephone line. SimpleBox is a perfect solution for people who do not have a computer and would like to discover the Internet and eMail in a simple and uncomplicated way.

Internet or World Wide Web

The Internet is a global network of computers that are linked to each other. This worldwide network or web was originally designed to give universities, governments, and businesses a means of exchanging important information. With the advent of the personal computer, and devices like SimpleBox, the Internet is now used by millions of private citizens for their own enjoyment, communication and education.

SimpleBox Internet Access

SimpleBox will give you access to the same information formerly available only to governments, universities, and businesses using complicated computers. It will also allow you to communicate with other Internet users via electronic mail (eMail). Examples of what can be done with SimpleBox Internet access follow:

You can learn a foreign language, obtain up-to-date information on the value of stocks and bonds, or to buy property in a different city, state, or country.
Art lovers can view the complete works of artists like Michealangelo and Andy Warhol, or they can find out when Hamlet is being performed by a local theater group.
Ordinary citizens can track the progress of space probes, or look up earthquake fault lines.
Bargain hunters can buy an automobile from an automobile dealer and obtain free road maps for the trips they take with it. . . .

E-Mail (Electronic Mail)

You can also use SimpleBox to send an electronic mail (eMail) message to another Internet user if you know their address. For example, you can send an eMail message from your home to a coworker at the office, or receive messages from a cousin in Canada or Europe, etc. Your SimpleBox is configured to use a type of eMail called WebMail, which lets your check your eMail anywhere in the world from any device. It is all server based email so you do not have to worry about any downloads or dangerous virus problems on your SimpleBox.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

An Internet Service Provider (ISP) will furnish you with the local phone number for dial up access, and the other services required to communicate over the Internet.

Each SimpleBox will arrive already preconfigured with all ISP settings to insure simple and worry-free operation. If you have troubles, call the Support phone number on the front of your User Guide. You should always call your ISP first for your technical support.

SimpleBox Components

The following items were supplied with your SimpleBox Internet Box. Make sure you have all of them.

SimpleBox Internet Box
Wireless Keyboard and Batteries
AC Power Adapter
Telephone Cord
Audio/Video Cable (Yellow/Red/White)

In addition to the above items, your package may contain a QuickStart Card and User Guide.

Note: The SimpleBox Internet Box is usually placed on top or side of the TV so that signals from the wireless keyboard can be easily received in a clear path.

Connecting SimpleBox

Power Adapter Connection

• Check which Model of SimpleBox you have:on Model wb6440, there is a separate Power Switch on the back panel; On Model wb6489, there is no separate Power Switch.

With the power switch on wb6440 set to OFF, connect one end of the supplied AC Power Adapter to the Power Input jack on the back panel. Plug the other end of the AC Adapter into a power strip (surge protector) connected to a regular AC wall socket.

Phone Line Connection

• Use the supplied phone cord to connect the telephone company to the phone line jack on the back of your SimpleBox Internet Box.

• If there is a phone already plugged into the nearest telephone wall jack, then connect it to the wall jack with a splitter, or plug the receiver into the telephone jack on the back panel.

S-Video Connections - TV’s or VCR’s

• S-Video is another way of making a connection that may improve diaplay quality. If your TV or VCR is equipped with a video jack marked S-Video (or S-VHS), use S-Video and Audio/Video Cables to make the following connections:

Composite Video Connections - TV’s or VCR’s

• If your TV or VCR is equipped with a jack marked Video In, use the supplied Audio/Video cable to make the following connections:

TV’s Without an S-Video or Composite Video Jack

If your TV is an older model, it probably does not have a Video or S-Video jack or audio connections. In this case, we recommend connecting SimpleBox to your TV through a VCR. If you do not have a VCR, you will have to purchase a "special adapter" before you can connect the TV to the SimpleBox.

300 Ohm Flat Wire Antenna: If you have UHF/VHF terminal post connectors at the back of your TV, purchase a game or other appropriate adapter and connect it. (An audio signal will not be received with this setup.)

If you do not have a VCR, try connecting SimpleBox through a game adapter. (Because of variations in signal strength, not all game adapters will work with all TVs.)

75 Ohm Cable TV Antenna: If your TV only has a 75-Ohm coaxial connector, purchase an adapter from an electronics store and make the video connection. An audio signal will not be received with this setup.

Keyboard Functions

The SimpleBox Wireless Keyboard provides you with a convenient way of selecting SimpleBox functions and navigating the Internet. Don't worry - even if you are not a typing fan, your Wireless Keyboard is easy to use. We have dedicated the top row and the right column of keys to specific functions. Using these function keys with the built-in mouse combine to make using the Wireless Keyboard simple and efficient - just try it!

Keyboard Basics

www	is the prefix for World Wide Web.
.com	is a suffix required for commercial use of the Internet.
.edu	is used by educational web sites.
.gov	is used for government web sites.
.net	is used by some Internet network web sites.
.org	is used for nonprofit organizations web sites.
html or htm	are used by some web page documents.

SimpleBox Keyboard - Quick Function Keys
Reading top row of the keyboard from Left to Right:

Esc	Escape / Stop Loading Current Page
F1	Menu / Browser Toolbar/Text Input
F2	Back
F3	Forward
F4	Reload
F5	Frame - for pages that have frames
F6	Home -Preset Home Page
F7	Stop
F8	Mail - links to Preset Webmail Page
F9	Favorites
F10	Jump / Go To
F11	Setup - requires ISP Password
F12	Font Zoom - 6 levels
Power	Power on/off
Side Keys	Home / page up & page down / arrows

SimpleBox Main Menu

Powering Up the System

• Turn on your TV equipment, and switch your TV to its video operating mode, e.g., press the TV/Video on the TV’s remote to Video Input.

• Turn SimpleBox’s Power Switch (on the wb6440 back panel only) to the ON position and wait for the front panel lights to come on. Then press the POWER key on the wireless keyboard. The SimpleBox will Autodial and connect you to the preset Home Page.

Use the MENU key on the Keyboard to make toolbar appear and disappear. Use the ARROW keys on the lower right of the keyboard to highlight and select.

Home	Returns to the Home Page
Back	Returns to previous page
Go To	Jumps to specific page that you type
Favs	Stores your favorite pages
E-Mail	Jumps to the E-Mail/webMail page
Setup	Password Protected Setup
Quit	Ends the telephone connection

Important: Sometimes due to Internet congestion or other problems, the system may seem to hang because an on-screen image cannot be viewed. You should reset the system and try again.

SimpleBox FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions	Answers
How is SimpleBox different from WebTV?	SimpleBox is based on an open architecture design and it does not require any proprietary software on the server or any proprietary protocol. To connect to the Internet, SimpleBox needs a regualr PPP connection over a regular telephone line and a dial-up account. The PAP and CHAP protocols are then used for authentication. Most ISPs provide this kind of standard connection as well as routers with dial-up capabilities used in corporate environment. Your SimpleBox will most often come preconfigured with ISP service.
How can I Compose Mail using WebMail?	When Composing Mail for users with SimpleBox Models #wb6440 or #wb6489: After you have input your text into the "Type your Mail here" section, hit the F1 / Menu / Input key on the wireless keyboard to input the text and complete your mail.
Can SimpleBox connect to America On Line?	No. AOL uses a proprietary and not public point-to-point protocol instead of the standard PPP. However, on SimpleBox Model wb6489, you can check your AOL email by going to http://aolmail.aol.com Sorry, this is not available on Model wb6440.
How do I know whether SimpleBox is connected to the Internet?	In the lower left corner of the Browser Toolbar, you willnoticed a flashing red indicator and a small timeclock. If the SimpleBox is connecting to a web page, the red indicators will blink. Once connected, the timeclock will track how long you have been online.
How about proxy support?	SimpleBox does not require any proxy support but it can take advantage of a proxy HTTP server if available.
Does SimpleBox support SSL for secure transactions and payments?	SimpleBox supports SSL for secure shopping and banking transactions.
Is Javascript supported	SimpleBox MOdel wb6489 supports Javascript v1.1; however, Model wb6440 does not support Javascript.
Is support for JAVA planned?	JAVA and Javascript are very similar names but very different things. SimpleBox wb6400 series do not support JAVA, which requires a more powerful PC style processor.
Can SimpleBox access the entire Internet?	Some web page sites may display a message indicating that a certain brand name browser must be used for best results. Other web page sites are so large in size that they can only be viewed on a computer that has large amounts of memory. These issues are common to most brands of Internet set top boxes. Note SimpleBox wb6400 series do not currently support Flash or Shockwave plugins.
Is it possible to update the software over the net?	Software upgrades are not currently available.
Is parental control supported?	Not in the browser itself but only through the use of a proxy server and filters installed on the server. Ask your ISP for availability of content filtering.
Does SimpleBox handle frames?	Yes. All SimpleBox browsers fully support frames, CGI, HTML v3.2 and Cookies.
What graphic resolution is rendered on TV?	SimpleBox is generating pages at the TV line resolution, and scaling 640 pixels of horizontal resolution into the TV resolution. If a page is more that 640 pixels, then horizontal scrolling is enabled. Generating pages and text at the TV line resolution, means that artifacts on the text caused from scaling are eliminated. Some sites display better on televisions than others. Try http://yahoo.com and test the FONT ZOOM key on the wireless keyboard.
What about unsupported HTML tags?	SimpleBox will ignore non-standard or unsupported tags.
More Questions?	Ask your ISP or send eMail to support@meternet.com