NetSys Connectivity FAQs
Q:
What is the minimum computer that I need to get on the Internet
through NetSys?
A: PC - Windows 3.x or Windows95/NT with
at least 4 megs of RAM and a minimum of a 14,400bps modem.
Macintosh - System 7.1 or greater, MacTCP and a minimum of a 14,400bps
modem.
Q: Okay, I've
got the machine. What type of software will I need to get connected?
A: You need a TCP/IP stack or suite of
applications. This "suite" could be built in to your Operating
System (i.e., Windows95), a third party piece of software (such as Chameleon)
or a combination of the two (i.e., MacTCP + freeware). The main purpose
of this suite is:
- TCP/IP - gets you talking the "language" of the Internet.
- Provide a means to connect to Phoenix DataNet via a PPP connection and dial your modem
- Provide you with the necessary applications to run once you have established a connection to Phoenix DataNet.
Q: Does NetSys
provide updates to its software?
A: Unlike an online service such as AOL,
you are free to run whatever Internet software you wish through your PPP
connection to us. You can download and use the latest versions of this
Internet software directly from the Internet. We maintain a fairly large
group of software on our anonymous FTP site (ftp.netsys.hn) in the /pub/internet/software
directory.
Q: Why do I have
2 passwords to go with my one username?
A: This is for security reasons. By having
two passwords, we lessen the risk of someone getting a hold of one password
and causing problems with NetSys's system. The first password is used to
establish a PPP (phone) connection to us. The second password is used to
connect to any NetSys servers that require a password (this could be our
mail server - mail.phoenix.net or our user FTP server - alpha1.phoenix.net).
Q: How fast can
I expect to connect to you using my modem?
A: All of our modems are V.34 - 28,800
bits per second. They recognize all industry supported protocols (V.32,
V.34, etc.). If your modem uses a protocol that is not an industry standard
(V-fast or V.32ter) then you can expect to connect at the next slower protocol
that our modems recognize.
If your modem is using a protocol that is not an industry standard then you can contact your modem manufacturer for upgrade information.
Also keep in mind that just because your modem is capable of 28,800 and our modem is capable of 28,800 it doesn't mean that you will get a 28,800 connection. This is because we are relying on wire strung by SWB to make the connection. If you've ever had a noisy phone line you know what we're talking about. If you have a noisy line (static or electronic hum) then the speed that the two modems negotiate will be much slower. We even had very noisy lines where a connection could not be made at all.