FreePPP Dialer Help

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FreePPP Dialer Help

Contents

Getting Started

- Your Internet Connection
- FreePPP and Account Setup
- FreePPP and Multiple User Profiles
- System Requirements
- Files Installed with FreePPP

Using FreePPP

- Opening FreePPP
- Connecting to Your Internet Account
- Disconnecting from Your Internet Account

Customizing FreePPP

- Opening and Expanding the FreePPP Dialer Window
- Setting Connection Preferences
- Changing the Number that FreePPP Dials
- Changing Your Account Login Name and Password
- Setting Up Access to Multiple Dial-Up Accounts
- Accessing an Account from a Multiple Locations
- Changing or Upgrading a Modem
- Using a Connection Script
- Entering TCP/IP information

FreePPP Menus and Windows

- FreePPP Dialer Window
- FreePPP Dialer Window (Expanded)
- General Tab
- Accounts Tab
- FreePPP Account Configuration Dialog
- Edit Connection Script Dialog
- Locations Tab
- FreePPP Location Configuration Dialog
- Modems Tab
- FreePPP Modem Configuration Dialog
- FreePPP Information Window

Troubleshooting

- I'm having trouble connecting to the Internet
- No Dial Tone Present on Telephone Line
- Repeated DNS Errors in Communicator

Getting Started

To get started using FreePPP connection software and Netscape Communicator for the first time, follow these steps:

1. Install the Internet Setup software suite from the Netscape Communicator CD, if you haven't done so already. If you did an Easy Install of Netscape Communicator, the suite is already installed.
2. Make sure that you have a modem and that it is connected properly to your computer and to a phone line. Make sure the modem is turned on.
3. Run the Account Setup program, if you haven't done so already. Account Setup helps you quickly configure FreePPP to access your Internet account. To run Account Setup, double-click its icon in the Netscape Communicator folder. If you were already using another version of FreePPP before you installed Communicator, your new version of FreePPP imports all of your preferences and dialing settings.
4. When you have successfully completed Account Setup, launch Communicator. FreePPP is set to automatically connect to your account. When connecting, you can hear FreePPP dialing your modem with the number of your provider. FreePPP also displays the Connection Status window to inform you of the progress of the connection.

If Netscape Communicator doesn't automatically launch FreePPP, or if you are having trouble connecting, turn to the Troubleshooting section.

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Your Internet Connection

With Netscape Communicator, you will be connecting to the Internet using a phone line and modem--a very convenient, practical, and economical way to get what the Internet has to offer.

The essential parts of your connection to the Internet are:

- Your personal computer. Your personal computer is where the Netscape Communicator and your connection software--FreePPP--are running. FreePPP stores information about what number you dial to connect to the Internet, as well as information about your modem. When you connect to the Internet, your computer uses FreePPP and your modem to dial the phone number of your Internet service provider's computer. FreePPP handles the connection and lets you end the connection when you are ready.
- Your modem. Your modem is a critical part of your Internet connection. Without it, you could not connect. A modem translates computer data into a stream of sounds that travel along the phone line to your Internet service provider. Your Internet service provider has another modem at its end of the phone line that translates the stream of sounds back into computer data.
- A telephone line. To use the Internet, your personal computer needs a way to exchange data with your Internet service provider's computer. In a dial-up connection, this is accomplished using a phone line. Any ordinary phone line will do: you can use your home phone line, a hotel phone line, or even, in some places, a pay phone line.
- Your Internet service provider. Your Internet service provider is your gateway to the Internet. Your provider's computer answers the phone call from your personal computer. When it answers the call, the two computers can "talk" to one another over the phone line. Your Internet service provider's computer takes care of passing information back and forth between your computer and the Internet.
- The Internet. The Internet is a global network of computers that cooperate to exchange information. Many of the computers on the Internet, such as your Internet service provider's computer, are permanently connected together with fiber-optic lines that can carry data at very high rates of speed. Using the Internet, you can exchange information with any other user or computer linked to the network.

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FreePPP and Account Setup

FreePPP features an easy-to-use, graphical interface that lets you configure it to meet your needs. However, your version of Netscape Communicator includes Account Setup, a program that handles configuring FreePPP for you, based on information you provide to it. Although you can configure FreePPP manually, you do not need to do so.

If you want to configure FreePPP manually, instructions are provided in this Help document. If you want to use Account Setup to configure FreePPP, simply launch Account Setup by double-clicking its icon in the Netscape Communicator.

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FreePPP and Multiple User Profiles

Netscape Communicator includes a feature called multiple user profiles that lets several users share a single copy of Communicator. Each user can create his or her own "profile", which is a complete set of Communicator preferences, an email identity, a set of bookmarks, a set of mail and news server addresses, and a set of email mailboxes and messages. A profile also includes a user's subscribed newsgroups and address book. By creating multiple profiles, each user can keep his or her preferences, bookmarks, and email separate from those of other users.

Netscape Communicator lets you associate dialing information in FreePPP with specific profiles, and in FreePPP you can store information about any number of Internet accounts and modems. This gives you many ways to use profiles to make accessing the Internet more convenient.

For example, you could create more than one profile for yourself, setting up one profile for accessing your Internet account from work and another for accessing it from home. Or, if you have more than one Internet account, you could create a profile for each of your accounts, so that you would never need to reset your email identity or mail and news server addresses or switch your dialer configuration when connecting.

To configure FreePPP with information about your Internet account--what number you dial to connect, your login and password--you use Account Setup or configure FreePPP manually. To create and manage profiles and associate them with account configurations in FreePPP, you use the User Profile Manager, located in the Netscape Communicator folder. The User Profile Manager lets you select which Internet account you want to connect to when using a specific profile, and from what location you will connect

If you share your copy of Communicator with other users, or if you have more than one Internet account, read the document entitled "Working with Multiple User Profiles" in the Communicator's Reference Library, accessible from the Netscape Communicator folder. That document provides full instructions on how to create multiple user profiles and associate them with specific Internet accounts.

What's next? | Using FreePPP
See also: | Account Setup Help Setting Up Multiple User Profiles

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System Requirements

The following hardware and software are necessary for FreePPP to function properly:

- 14.4 kbps or faster modem
- Open Transport version 1.1.1 or later (1.1.2 recommended), or MacTCP 2.0.6 or later.

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Files Installed with FreePPP

FreePPP is part of a suite of connection software, consisting of the files listed below. Of these files, you will use FreePPP Dialer most often.

The Connection Software suite installed with Netscape Communicator includes:

- FreePPP Dialer (installed in your system's Control Panels folder).
- FreePPP (installed in your system's Extensions folder).
- FreePPP Config Plugin (installed in your system's Extensions folder).
- MacTCP 2.0.6 (if you are not using Apple's Open Transport networking software, MacTCP is installed in your system's Control Panels folder.)

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Using FreePPP

When you want to use Netscape Communicator to explore the Internet or send and receive email, you first need to establish a connection with your Internet account over your phone line and modem. There are two ways to establish this connection:

- Launch Netscape Communicator and link to a page on the web, check your email, or read a newsgroup. When needed, Communicator automatically initiates a connection to your account.
- Open FreePPP and initiate the connection manually

Whether the connection is initiated by Communicator or by you, the role of your connection software, FreePPP, is the same. Once it's told to connect, it dials your modem, establishes data communication with your Internet service provider's computer, and even passes along your account login and password, if you wish.

To control the way that FreePPP connects and the number it dials, you use a program called FreePPP Dialer, installed on your Macintosh as a part of the Netscape Communicator package. FreePPP Dialer also lets you store dialing information about multiple accounts that you want to connect to and multiple locations that you connect from. This gives you quick, automated access to the Internet from anywhere.

What's next? | Opening FreePPP
See also: | Connecting to Your Account Disconnecting from your Account

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Opening FreePPP

When you want to manually initiate a connection to your Internet account or work with the account, location, and modem information stored in FreePPP, you must open the FreePPP Dialer program.

To open FreePPP Dialer, launch the FreePPP Dialer application from your system's Control Panels folder. The FreePPP Dialer window opens on your screen.

Opening FreePPP is not the same as connecting to your Internet account. For information on how to connect, see the next Help topic.

What's next? | Connecting to Your Account

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Connecting to Your Account

With Netscape Communicator, you don't need to manually launch the FreePPP Dialer program and connect to the Internet. Instead, Communicator automatically initiates a connection to your Internet account whenever you request a page from the web, check your email, or read news. Communicator checks to see if you are connected to your account. If you aren't, Communicator tells FreePPP to initiate the connection. This convenient feature is called dial-on-demand. Most likely, you will use dial-on-demand whenever you connect to the Internet.

However, if you wish to manually initiate a connection to your Internet account using FreePPP Dialer, you can easily do so.

To manually initiate a connection to your Internet account, follow these steps:

1. Launch the FreePPP Dialer program from your system's Control Panels folder.
2. From the pop-up menus in the FreePPP Dialer window, select the Account you want to connect to, the Location you are connecting from, and the Modem you are using.
3. Click the Connect button.

When FreePPP begins connecting to your account, it opens the FreePPP Connection Status dialog, shown here, to inform you of its progress.

FreePPP Connection Status dialog lets you observe as FreePPP Setup initializes your modem, dials your account's access number, establishes communication, and provides your account login name and password to your provider's computer.

When your connection is in place, FreePPP closes the FreePPP Connection Status dialog box, leaving only the FreePPP Dialer window open, shown below.

FreePPP leaves the FreePPP Dialer window open while you are connected for three reasons:

- To let you know if your connection fails for some reason while you are using it. If this happens, reconnect by clicking the Connect button.
- To remind you that you are still connected. All the while you are connected, the globe icon in the FreePPP Dialer window spins and the text to the right of the Connect button informs you that your connection is still in place.
- To let you easily disconnect when you are ready to do so. To disconnect, you must click the Disconnect button.

What's next? | Disconnecting from Your Account

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Disconnecting from Your Account

When you are finished using the Internet, you need to terminate the telephone connection over which you connected to your Internet service provider.

To disconnect from your Internet account and end the phone call, follow these steps:

1. Open FreePPP Dialer by double-clicking its icon in the Netscape Communicator folder.
2. Click the Disconnect button.

Important: Simply quitting Netscape Communicator does not end your connection to your Internet account. To end your connection, you must use the Disconnect button in the FreePPP Dialer window.

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Customizing FreePPP

If you have more than one account or modem, or want to access your account from more than one location, you can customize FreePPP Dialer. You can store information about additional accounts, locations, and modems in FreePPP Dialer, so that you can always connect quickly.

There are two ways to add this information to FreePPP:

- Automatically, by using the Account Setup program (for account, location, and modem information). If you simply want to change or upgrade the modem you are using, you can use the Modem Setup program included with Netscape Communicator.
- Manually, using the FreePPP Dialer program (account, location, and modem information).

To use Account Setup to add information about accounts, locations, and modems, all you have to do is launch Account Setup from the Netscape Communicator folder. The Account Setup screens guide you through the process of adding the information. You can associate your new information with any Communicator user profile.

Complete instructions for manually entering information in FreePPP Dialer are provided in the Help topics that follow. The topics cover many of the most common customization tasks that you might want to undertake. For more information about FreePPP Dialer windows and settings, refer to the FreePPP Menus and Windows Help section.

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Expanding the FreePPP Dialer Window

Whenever you want to manually add, edit, or delete information about accounts, dialing locations, or modems, you must open the FreePPP Dialer program and expand its window. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open the Netscape Communicator folder (the folder in which the Netscape Communicator program resides).
2. Double-click the FreePPP Dialer icon. When FreePPP launches, the FreePPP Dialer window opens on your screen.
3. Expand the FreePPP Dialer window by clicking the triangle icon in the lower left corner of the FreePPP Dialer window.

In lower half of the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, show below, you see four "tabs" that divide the information stored in FreePPP.

To view the contents of one of the tabs, click the tab label. For more information about how to add, edit, or remove information in the tabs, refer to the Help topics below.

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Setting Connection Preferences

When connecting, FreePPP uses the selections in the Connect To, From, and Using pop-up menus, shown below. If you have information about more than one account, dialing location, or modem stored in FreePPP, be sure the proper configurations are selected before connecting.

If you are using multiple Communicator user preferences, FreePPP changes to the appropriate account, dialing location, and modem before connecting, as defined in each user profile.

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Changing the Number that FreePPP Dials

When you tell FreePPP to connect to your account, it calculates the number that it is supposed to dial by referring to information you have entered in the Accounts and Locations tabs of the FreePPP Dialer expanded window.

First, FreePPP determines whether to dial the area code as part of the dial-up access number. It does this by comparing the "Area Code" setting in the Account Configuration Dialog of the Accounts tab--which represents where you are calling to-- with the "Area Code" setting in the Locations tab--which represents where you are calling from. If the two area codes match, FreePPP assumes that it is not necessary to dial the area code when connecting. If the area codes do not match, FreePPP follows the instructions you provide in the Location Configuration Dialog.

After determining whether to dial the area code, FreePPP adds any special dialing instructions to the number it will dial. These might include a dialing prefix, for accessing an outside line or turning off Call Waiting, a telephone card or credit card number, and a dialing suffix. These dialing instructions are found in the Location Configuration Dialog of each dialing location.

You can change the number that FreePPP dials by editing the dialing information in an account's Account Configuration Dialog or a dialing location's Location Configuration Dialog.

Editing Your Account's Dialing Information

When you want to change information about your Internet account's dial-up access number, edit an the account's Account Configuration Dialog. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts tab.
2. In the Accounts tab, select the account you want to edit from the list on the left. Then click Edit.
3. In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Dialup subtab.
4. In the Dialup subtab, add, edit, or remove dialing information as necessary.

Editing Information about Your Dialing Location

When you want to change information about the location you are calling from or want to provide special dialing instructions, edit a location's Location Configuration Dialog. To do so, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Locations tab.
2. In the Locations tab, select the dialing location you want to edit from the list on the left. Then click Edit.
3. In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, add, edit, or remove dialing information as necessary.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Account Configuration Dialog Location Configuration Dialog Troubleshooting

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Changing Your Account Login Name and Password

To change account login and password information stored in FreePPP Dialer, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts tab.
2. In the Accounts tab, select the account you want to edit from the list on the left. Then click Edit.
3. In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Account subtab.
4. In the Account subtab, edit your account login name in the User Name text box. Edit your account password in the Password text box. For your security, FreePPP displays your password as a set of dots, rather than as alpha-numeric characters. To edit your password, you must reenter it.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Account Configuration Dialog Troubleshooting

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Setting Up Access to Multiple Dial-Up Accounts

If you have more than one dial-up account, you can set up FreePPP with information about each account so that you can quickly switch between accounts. To do so, you use the Accounts tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window to create new account configurations.

To create a new account configuration, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts tab.
2. In the Accounts tab, click New if you want to create an entirely new configuration. If you want to create a new configuration based on an existing configuration, select the configuration from the list on the left and click Duplicate.
3. In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in the Account, Dialup, and Options subtabs.

If you create more than one account configuration in FreePPP, be sure that you use the Connect To pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window to specify the account that you want to connect to.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Account Configuration Dialog

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Accessing an Account from Multiple Locations

If you want to access your account from more than one dialing location--from home, work, and while travelling--you can set up FreePPP with information about each dialing location so that you can quickly connect to your account. You can also include special dialing instructions that let you bill your call to a telephone card or credit card, dial a prefix for an outside line, and turn off call waiting, for example. To set up multiple dialing locations in FreePPP, you use the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window to create new dialing location configurations.

To create a new dialing location configuration, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Locations tab.
2. In the Locations tab, click New if you want to create an entirely new configuration. If you want to create a new configuration based on an existing configuration, select the configuration from the list on the left and click Duplicate.
3. In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in or edit the text boxes as necessary.

If you create more than one dialing location configuration in FreePPP, be sure that you use the From pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window to specify where you are calling from.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Location Configuration Dialog

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Changing or Upgrading a Modem

FreePPP lets you store information about multiple modems, so that you can easily control what modem FreePPP will use when dialing to your account. When you add a new modem or upgrade your modem, you use the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window to create new dialing modem configurations. If you upgrade your modem to a faster model, you must create a new modem configuration for it, otherwise FreePPP won't be able to use the higher speeds your new modem offers.

To create a new modem configuration in FreePPP, you use the Modem Setup program included with Netscape Communicator. To use Modem Setup to createa new modem configuration, follow these steps:

1. Install the new modem according to the manufacturer's instructions. Be sure that the modem is properly connected to your computer and that it is turned on.
2. In the Netscape Communicator folder, double-click the Modem Setup icon.
3. When the Modem Setup window opens, the program automatically attempts to identify the modem installed on your computer.
4. If Modem Setup identifies your modem correctly, click the Use This Modem button.
5. If Modem Setup incorrectly identifies your modem, click the Choose From List button to specify your modem manually. Modem Setup presents you with a list of modem manufacturers and a list of modem models and speeds. Select your modem manufacturer and model from the lists and click Use This Modem. If your modem manufacturer or model isn't displayed in the lists, select the manufacturer "Generic" and the model that best approximates the speed of your new modem. Click Use This Modem.

After you finish using Modem Setup, delete any modem configurations that you no longer need from FreePPP. To delete a modem configuration, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Modems tab.
2. In the Modems tab, select the configuration you want to delete from the list on the left and click Delete.

If you want to make changes to a modem configuration already in FreePPP, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Modems tab.
2. In the Modems tab, select the configuration you want to edit from the list on the left and click Edit.
3. In the Location Configuration Dialog that opens, fill in or edit the text boxes as necessary.

If you have more than one dialing location configuration stored FreePPP, be sure that you use the Using pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window to specify the modem that is actually connected to your computer.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Modem Configuration Dialog

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Using a Connection Script

If your Internet service provider requires you to use a connection script when connecting to your account, you can specify the script in the Account Configuration Dialog. Your provider must provide you with the script to use. The instructions below cover only how you enter the script into FreePPP.

To enter a connection script for an account, follow these steps:

1. In the FreePPP Dialer expanded window, click the Accounts tab.
2. In the Accounts tab, select the appropriate account configuration from the list on the left and click Edit.
3. In the Account Configuration Dialog that opens, click the Account subtab.
4. From the Connect pop-up menu, select Using Connection Script. Then click the Edit Connection Script button below the pop-up menu.
5. In the dialog that opens, follow your provider's instructions for entering the connection script.

See also: | Expanding the FreePPP Dialer window Edit Connection Script Dialog

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Entering TCP/IP Information

In FreePPP, there are two ways that you can enter TCP/IP information.

- You can select Open TCP/IP from the Stuff Menu in the FreePPP Dialer window. When you do so, FreePPP launches either MacTCP or the TCP/IP Control Panel used with Open Transport.
- You can define a domain name and DNS server addresses for a specific account in the FreePPP Account Configuration Dialog, in the Options subtab. If you use this method, your system uses this domain and DNS information whenever you connect to the associated account.

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FreePPP Menus and Windows

The Help topics in this section provide illustrations of the various menus and windows found in FreePPP, and define the settings, text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons found in each window.

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FreePPP Dialer Window

The FreePPP Dialer window lets you control all aspects of your connection. When you first open FreePPP Dialer, the window shown below appears on your screen.

Connect/Disconnect button.

Use this button to manually initiate a connection to your account and disconnect from your account.

Status icon and status text

Refer to the status icon and status text to determine whether you are currently connected to your account. When you are connected, the status icon, a globe, starts to spin. The status text tells you that you are connected and how long the connection has been in place.

Connection preference menus

Use these three pop-up menus to select what account you want to connect to, what location you are connecting from, and what modem you want to use when connecting. The items in each of the pop-up menus correspond to the account, dialing location, and modem configurations stored in FreePPP.

Triangle icon

Click the triangle icon to expand the FreePPP Dialer window.

Information icon

Click the information icon to see details about your connection, such as your current IP address, the IP address of the server you are connected to, and your connection's throughput.

Help icon

Clicking the Help icon launches Communicator and opens this help file in a browser window.

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FreePPP Dialer Window (Expanded)

When you click the triangle icon in the FreePPP Dialer window, the window expands to reveal the "tabs" where you can add, edit, or delete information about account, dialing location, and modem configurations.

General Tab

The General tab lets you specify global connection settings for FreePPP.

Accounts Tab

The Accounts tab lets you edit information about specific account configurations.

Locations Tab

The Locations tab lets you edit information about specific dialing location configurations.

Modems Tab

The Modems tab lets you edit information about specific modem configurations.

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General Tab

The General tab lets you specify global connection settings for FreePPP. Each is described below.

Allow applications to open connection

Check this setting's checkbox if you want to automatically connect to your Internet account when you launch Netscape Navigator or another application. ("Checked" recommended)

Disconnect if idle for...

Use this pop-up menu to select the amount of time that FreePPP allows your connection to remain open if you are not using it. FreePPP monitors whether data is being sent back and forth between your computer and the Internet and begins timing the "idle" time whenever no data is being sent or received. If the idle time reaches the interval you specify in the pop-up menu, FreePPP automatically disconnects. This feature can help you save money by minimizing the amount of time your phone line is being used.

Check line state when connected

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to check the status of your connection every two minutes. When this checkbox is checked, if FreePPP finds that your connection unexpectedly closed, it will try to reconnect automatically.("Checked" recommended)

Show alerts during connect and disconnect

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to display alerts that inform you of the status of your connection and confirm your actions in FreePPP.

On connect, open FreePPP Dialer application

Check this setting's checkbox if you want the FreePPP Dialer window to open whenever a connection is established. ("Checked" recommended)

On connect, open "Netscape Communicator"

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP Dialer to open Communicator whenever it establishes a connection to your Internet account.

Open TCP/IP...

Click this button if you want tos open the Open Transport TCP/IP Control Panel to work with your TCP/IP configuratons.

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Accounts Tab

The Accounts tab lets you edit information about specific account configurations. To add, edit, or delete information about a specific account, select the account from the list on the left of the tab and click the appropriate button on the right. The tab is shown below.

Accounts List

Select a configuration from the list. All of the account configurations currently stored in FreePPP are displayed in this list.

Edit

Click Edit to open the selected configuration's Account Configuration Dialog.

New

Click New to open a blank Account Configuration Dialog.

Duplicate

Click Duplicate to open a copy of the selected configuration's Account Configuration Dialog.

Delete

Click Delete to delete the selected configuration.

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FreePPP Account Configuration Dialog

The Account Configuration Dialog displays all information stored in FreePPP about a specific account configuration. The dialog is composed of three subtabs: Account, Dialup, and Options.

Account Subtab

Account Name

In the text box, enter a name for the account you are creating. If you are editing an existing account, you can use this box to change the account's name, if you wish. The name you choose appears as a list item in the Connect To pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window.

Connect: Directly

Choose this menu item if you want FreePPP to automatically log you in to your account when it connects, using your account login name and password.

Connect: Using Connection Script

Choose this menu item if you want to connect to your account using a connection script.

To create or edit your connection script, click the "Edit connection script" button. If you aren't sure how to create or edit your connection script for an account, contact your Internet service provider.

Connect: Using Terminal Window

Choose this menu item if you want to connect to your account using a terminal-emulation window. This allows you to manually log in to your account when connecting.

Connect: Manually

Choose this menu item if you want to connect to your account by dialing and logging in manually.

Edit connection script

Click this button to open a dialog box where you can create or edit a connection script. Not enabled unless you select Connection Script from the Connect pop-up menu, above.

User name and Password

In these text boxes, enter your user name (login name) and password for your account. Be sure to type carefully, using uppercase and lowercase letters as necessary, and make sure Caps Lock is off.

If you leave this text box empty, FreePPP asks you to supply this information when connecting to your account.

Reconnect automatically if connection drops

Check this checkbox if you want FreePPP Dialer to attempt to automatically reconnect to your account if the connection you are using is suddenly lost, or "dropped". Such sudden disconnections can happen because of noise on phone lines, problems on your provider's server, interruptions by services such as Call Waiting (if you have Call Waiting), or other causes.

Dialup Subtab

The dialup subtab lets you enter up to three dialing configurations for an account. FreePPP Dialer always dials the Main Number configuration first. If that number is busy, it dials the Alernate Number 1 configuration, followed by the Alternate Number 2 configuration.

The fields in each configuration are described below.

Area code

In the text box, enter the area code of the dial-up access number for the account you selected. Do not include prefixes, dialing codes, or any special characters. This field is for the area code only.

Phone number

In the text box, enter the phone number that you dial to connect with the account (its dial-up access number).Do not include the area code, prefixes, or dialing codes in this field. It is for the phone number only.

Dial area code

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to dial the area code no matter what, even if is the same area code as the Location from which you are dialing.

Dial as long distance

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to dial a long distance prefix, such as "1", before dialing the area code and number of your account.

To define the prefix, go to the Locations tab and select the Location you want to use, then click the edit button. Enter the prefix in the text box labeled "Long distance prefix.

Options Subtab

Domain name

In the text box, enter the domain name of your provider's domain name server (for example, dns.providername.com). If you aren't sure about the domain name, call your provider. You must have this information to use the Internet.

Primary and Secondary DNS

In the text boxes, enter the addresses of your provider's primary and secondary (optional) DNS servers. If you aren't sure about the DNS server addresses, call your provider. You must have this information to use the Internet.

Configure OT TCP/IP for this Account

Check this checkbox if your system is using Apple's Open Transport networking software and you want FreePPP Dialer to automatically set up a TCP/IP configuration in Open Transport for this account.

If you have more than one Internet account, this feature enables you to automatically switch the active OT TCP/IP configuration when you switch accounts, so you don't need to open the TCP/IP Control Panel to do so.

IP address

Many providers assign IP addresses dynamically as users connect. If your provider assigns IP addresses in this way, select the "Assigned by PPP server" radio button.

If your provider already assigned you a permanent, unique IP address, (for example 123.45.123.45), select the lower radio button and enter your IP address into the text box.

If you aren't sure about which radio button to select, choose "Assigned by PPP server" or contact your provider.

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Edit Connection Script Dialog

Use the connection script dialog to enter a connection script that you want FreePPP to use when connecting to the related account.

Do

Use the Do pop-up menu items to select the action associated with the Text textboxes on the right of the Do menu. Choices are Send and Wait For.

Text

Use the Text textboxes to specify the alpha-numeric characters subject to the action defined in the Do menu to the left of each textbox.

Return

Check a Return checkbox to add a return character at the end of the line of text specified in Text.

Wait Timeout

Set the Wait Timeout to the desired number of seconds.

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Locations Tab

The Locations tab lets you edit information about specific dialing location configurations.

To add, edit, or delete information about a specific dialing location, select the location from the list on the left of the tab and click the appropriate button on the right. The tab is shown below.

Locations List

Select a configuration from the list. All of the dialing location configurations currently stored in FreePPP are displayed in this list.

Edit

Click Edit to open the selected configuration's Location Configuration Dialog.

New

Click New to open a blank Location Configuration Dialog.

Duplicate

Click Duplicate to open a copy of the selected configuration's Location Configuration Dialog.

Delete

Click Delete to delete the selected configuration.

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FreePPP Location Configuration Dialog

The Location Configuration Dialog displays all information stored in FreePPP about a specific dialing location configuration.

Location name

In the text box, enter a name for the location you are creating. If you are editing an existing location, use this box to change the name of the location, if you wish. The name you choose appears as a list item in the From pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window.

Area code

In the text box, enter the area code of the location that you are dialing from or creating. Do not include prefixes, dialing codes, or any special characters. This field is for the area code only.

Long distance prefix

In the text box, enter the prefix that you want FreePPP to dial, such as "1", if the account you are connecting to is long distance. Do not include other prefixes or numbers in this text box. It is for the long distance prefix only.

When you tell FreePPP to connect to your account, it first determines whether to dial the area code as part of the dial-up access number. It does this by comparing the "Area code" setting in the Accounts tab--which represents where you are calling-- with the "Area code" setting in the Locations tab--which represents where you are calling from. If the two area codes match, FreePPP assumes that it is not necessary to dial the area code when connecting.

This pop-up menu lets you control what action FreePPP takes if the two area codes do not match.

Normally, the "Dial long distance prefix before account area code" menu item would be selected. However, depending on your location, you might want to select one of the other menu items.

Dial prefix

In this text box, enter any numbers that FreePPP is to dial before dialing the account phone number, when connecting from this Location. Examples of such a prefixes are a number for accessing an outside line and turning off Call Waiting.

Long distance access code

In this text box, enter any number that you want FreePPP to dial between the dial prefix and the account phone number. This box can be used to enter the access number of your long distance carrier, for example. If you wish the modem to pause, enter a comma in the number string where you want the modem to pause.

Dial suffix

In this text box, enter any numbers that you want FreePPP to dial after dialing your account dial-up access number. If you use a numerical code or authentication PIN for your long distance calls, this is where you could enter that information.

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Modems Tab

The Modems tab lets you edit information about specific dialing location configurations. To add, edit, or delete information about a specific modem, select the modem from the list on the left of the tab and click the appropriate button on the right. The tab is shown below.

Modem Configurations List

Select a configuration from the list. All of the dialing location configurations currently stored in FreePPP are displayed in this list.

Edit

Click Edit to open the selected configuration's Modem Configuration Dialog.

New

Click New to open a blank Modem Configuration Dialog.

Duplicate

Click Duplicate to open a copy of the selected configuration's Modem Configuration Dialog.

Delete

Click Delete to delete the selected configuration.

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FreePPP Modem Configuration Dialog

The Location Configuration Dialog displays all information stored in FreePPP about a specific dialing location configuration.

Modem config name

In the text box, enter the name of the modem configuration that you are creating. If you are editing an existing modem configuration, you can use this box to change the name of the modem configuration, if you wish. The name you choose appears as a list item in the Using pop-up menu in the FreePPP Dialer window.

Connected to

In the pop-up menu, select the port to which your modem is connected. If you aren't sure, look in the back of your Macintosh. The modem port is marked with a telephone receiver icon. The printer port is marked with a printer icon.

Port speed

In the pop-up menu, select the port speed that you want to use when connected. The port speed should be set as high as possible, but not higher than your Macintosh and modem are capable of supporting.

The fastest port speed supported for most 14.4 Kbps modems is 57,600 bps. For 28.8K/33.6 Kbps modems, the fastest is 115,200 bps (some support 230,400 bps, but most do not). Unless you have a Mac with the GeoPort Serial Architecture (Quadra 660AV/840AV or Power Macintosh 6100/7100/7200/7500/7600/8500/9500) or a serial board capable of supporting faster speeds, do not select a port speed higher than 115,200 bps.

Flow control

In the pop-up menu, select the method you want to use for handling flow control (hardware handshaking) between your Macintosh and your modem.

CTS & RTS (DTR) is the most common setting. CTS Only is the second most common setting.

Dial type

In the pop-up menu, select whether to use tone or pulse dialing when connecting. Tone dialing, used by push-button telephones, is suitable for most phone lines. However, some phone lines still require pulse dialing, an older dialing method used by rotary telephones.

Speaker enabled

Check this setting's checkbox if you want your modem's speaker to be turned on while connecting. ("Checked" recommended)

Hang up on disconnect

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to hang up the phone when a PPP session ends. ("Checked" recommended)

Performa internal modem

Check this setting's checkbox if you want to use the sound input channel on a Performa 5xxx or 6xxx models while online (with an internal Global Village modem). Note that this option turns off the sound on your modem while the modem is connecting.

Long re-dial delay

Check this setting's checkbox if you want FreePPP to wait one minute between redial attempts (if the line that you are trying to connect to is busy). When the checkbox is not checked, FreePPP attempts to redial after a few seconds.

Fast modem initialization

Check this setting's checkbox if you don't want FreePPP to pause for one second after initializing the modem, before starting to dial.

If you are using an internal PowerBook modem or another modem that requires a delay after initialization, do not check this box.

Modem init string settings

Select whether you want FreePPP to autodetect your modem's initialization string. If you want to have FreePPP decide the initialization string, select the "AutoDetect init string" radio button.

If you want to specify the initialization string manually, select the "Use" radio button and enter the string your want to use in the text box.

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FreePPP Information Window

The FreePPP Information window displays technical information about your connection.

IP Address

Refer to this field to determine the current IP address of your computer.

Server Address

Refer to this field to determine the IP address of the server you are currently connected to.

Tx Activity and Rx Activity

Refer to these fields to see a graphical representation of how fast data is being transmitted and received by your system.

Best Throughput

Refer to these fields to determine the best data-transfer rate for transmit and receive in the current connection.

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Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble using the FreePPP Dialer, refer to the topics below for help isolating and resolving the problem.

- I'm having trouble connecting to the Internet
- No Dial Tone Present on Telephone Line
- Repeated DNS Errors in Communicator

I'm having trouble connecting to the Internet

These tips can help you resolve minor problems:

- Make sure your modem is installed, connected properly, and turned on. If you are not sure whether your modem is set up correctly, set up your modem using the Netscape Modem Setup tool in the Netscape Communicator folder.

Make sure that your modem is connected properly. Look in your modem's documentation for details. In general, for external modems, one cable goes from the modem to the telephone wall jack, another cable goes from the modem to the telephone itself, and a third cable goes from the modem to the back of your computer, usually into the modem port (the modem port is sometimes marked by a telephone icon). On some modems, a power cord reaches from the modem to the wall power socket. Make sure all cables and the power cord are plugged in firmly.

Verify that your modem was installed properly. Most internal modems include special software that needs to be installed on your computer. If you are not sure about whether your modem includes special software, look in the owner's manual of your modem. If you aren't sure whether the software is present on your computer, reinstall the software according to the manufacturer's instructions.

- Check to make sure FreePPP Dialer is correctly dialing the phone number of your Internet service provider. You can see the number that FreePPP is dialing in the FreePPP Dialer window.

If FreePPP Dialer is not dialing correctly, first check to make sure the correct account, location, and modem are selected in the "Connect to:", "From:", and "Using" pop-up menus in the FreePPP Dialer window.

Next, open the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window. Select the location you are connecting from and click Edit. Check the phone number and area code and the pop-up menu that tells FreePPP Dialer what to do if the area code of your location doesn't match the area code of your account. Normally, you would select "Dial long distance prefix before account area code" item.

Finally, open the Accounts tab. Select the account you are connecting to and click Edit. Make sure you entered the phone number and area code correctly.

- If you need to use special dialing prefixes or codes at your location--to turn off Call Waiting or to access an outside line before dialing, for example--be sure that the information is correctly entered for your current location.

Open the Locations tab in the FreePPP Dialer expanded window. Select the location you are connecting from and click Edit. Check the "Dial prefix" text box. The number you dial to access an outside line should be listed first, followed by a comma. Listed next should be the code you use to turn off Call Waiting, followed by a comma (a comma tells FreePPP Dialer to pause momentarily).

- Make sure that your phone line has a normal dial tone.
- Make sure that no other programs are using your connection software.

If your modem is dialing correctly but you can't connect, your provider's server might be busy.

[TROUBLESHOOTING]
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No Dial Tone Present on Telephone Line

If your connection software tells you that your phone line doesn't have a dial tone, here are some tips:

- If you use a voice messaging system provided by a phone company and your modem uses your regular phone line, you might need to get your messages before you can connect to your Internet account.

Some voice messaging systems alert you to the fact that you have new messages by changing the ordinary dial tone of your phone to a "flashing" dial tone (an on-off-on-off dial tone). When this happens, your modem, not being able to detect an ordinary dial tone, cannot dial out. The solution is to get your new messages.

When you have heard and acted on all of your new messages, your normal, continuous dial tone will be restored and you can connect to the Internet.

- Pick up the receiver of your phone and see if you can hear the dial tone. If you can't, then another telephone on the same line might be off the hook, or there might be something wrong with your telephone line.
- Make sure that your phone line is plugged securely into your modem.

[TROUBLESHOOTING]
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Repeated DNS Errors in Communicator

If you have more than one Internet account and are having trouble accessing Web sites or using email because of DNS errors, check to make sure the correct TCP/IP configuration is active in the TCP/IP Control Panel (for systems using Apple's Open Transport networking software only).

To check the active TCP/IP configuration, follow these steps:

1. Open your system's TCP/IP Control Panel.
2. Choose Configurations from the File menu.
3. Select the configuration you want to use--that of your Internet account--and click Make Active.
4. Close the TCP/IP Control Panel.

[TROUBLESHOOTING]
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