Dial-Up for MacOS 7+

FreePPP

FreePPP allows a Macintosh to connect to Wesleyan's network via modem. Although PPP is nowhere near as fast as ethernet, it can nevertheless allow you full access to e-mail, the world wide web, and many of the file servers on campus. This tipsheet will guide you through the basics of installation as well as a troubleshooting section to get you on your way. If you are unfamiliar with computing services on campus, be sure to pick up a copy of the ITS Introduction to Network Services manual at the Helpdesk, Room SC143.

Note: If you do not have FreePPP 2.6.2, some icons or control panels may appear slightly different, but the concepts described are the same.

Installation Requirements

* You can determine whether you have Open Transport by opening the Control Panels folder in your System Folder. If TCP/IP is present, you are all set. If Open Transport is not installed, it can be acquired at the Helpdesk.

** If your modem is slower than 14.4kbps, then you would be much better off using a program called Zterm, also available from the Helpdesk or any shareware site, which will allow you to directly dial in and check your mail via pine but does not support other functions (which would need a faster modem anyway). Wesleyan's modem bank supports connections up to 33.6kbps, meaning that your new 56k modem will connect, but at 33.6kbps.

The Installation

Double click on the Installer Monkey icon and follow the instructions. The installer will place the following files on your hard drive:

At the end of installation, the Installer Monkey will prompt you to restart. Once your computer is restarted, you can begin configuring FreePPP.

The Configuration

To configure FreePPP, pull down the FreePPP Menu and select FreePPP Setup or double click on the FreePPP Setup icon in the Internet Applications folder. Be sure that the arrow under the Connect button is pointed down to reveal the setup tabs.

General

Most of this view contains personal preference options. However, if the Check line every... is not disabled, FreePPP will attempt to establish a connection at that interval, whether you want it to or not. Once you have set your personal preferences, click Open TCP/IP button (next to the Modem setup... button) which will bring up the TCP/IP control panel (shown left). Select Connect via: FreePPP, Configure using: PPP Server, and add the Name Server Addresses 129.133.1.51 and 129.133.1.50 and the Search Domain wesleyan.edu at the bottom. This will ensure that all of your communications applications will be able to use your PPP connection smoothly. When you are done, quit TCP/IP, save the changes, and return to FreePPP Setup. Click on the Accounts tab.

Accounts

Clicking on the accounts tab will provide a list of dial-up configurations. One should be created or edited to read Wesleyan-local or Wesleyan-long distance, something to that effect. The edit window's Account tab should look like this with your e-mail username and password filled in the appropriate fields.

Connection Script

Creating a script for sending your username and password is the most efficient method to connect and the easiest way to avoid mistakes. To create a script, press the Edit connection script... button (making sure the Connect: field reads Using Connection Script). Then configure it as follows:

Spacing is important throughout the script since FreePPP must recognize the server's output as exactly what is in the script. Similarly, if the Using a terminal window option is selected in the account configuration, the same format should be followed. When you are done, click OK, and then proceed to the Dialup tab.

Dial-up

If you are a student calling outside of WesTel, the phone number is 860-685-7488. If you have call waiting, it is important to disable it by appending *70 to the front of the number. Faculty should use 860-685-7388 instead. Fill in the main number section, but leave everything else blank.

Modem

Click OK to return to the main setup window. Click on the Modem tab, select "Generic Modem" and click Edit.... Fill out the form according the screenshot below.

The port speed should be set to roughly three times the modem's speed. This refers to the rate of data transfer between the computer and the modem, not between the modem and the phone line. Therefore, try a higher speed and work down until FreePPP will recognize your modem during connection. Also, set the flow control to CTS & RTS (DTR).

Options and Location

You do not need to change anything in Options or Location.

Troubleshooting Tips

FreePPP cannot find the modem:

  1. Check the obvious: make sure that the modem is on and plugged into the modem port.
  2. Lower the port speed. A speed too high for the modem (or the computer) will prevent the software from locating an appropriate modem.

During connection, FreePPP says that it waited for "some text" and timed out:

  1. Most likely, there is a problem with the connection script. Review it and make corrections, or try connecting via a terminal window to check for errors.
  2. If that is not the case, than most likely there is a problem with TCP/IP. Open it and make sure it is filled out correctly.

A connection was successfully established, but Eudora says it cannot find the mail server, and Netscape says that the URL does not have a DNS entry.

  1. First, make sure that the connection did not drop unexpectedly. Sometimes, the connection will drop (the Off Hook [OH] and Error Control [ARQ] lights go out on the modem) without FreePPP recognizing it.
  2. If that is not the case, than most likely there is a problem with TCP/IP. Open it and make sure it is filled out correctly.

FreePPP is constantly trying to make a connection even when I do not want it to:

  1. Make sure that the Check line every... option is disabled.

Seconds after I establish a connection, it disconnects:

  1. Try again. Weird things happen.
  2. If you are using an old serial cable, it may not be hardware handshake compatible. This means that it cannot support the port speed necessary to maintain a PPP connection. Use the cable specifically provided with the modem, or buy a new serial cable.

A Final Note On Troubleshooting

There are many problems associated with point-to-point protocol. Inadequate telephone lines and Wesleyan's overloaded modem bank both contribute to the headaches associated with connection problems. Often, the best remedy for most connection difficulties is to try again. Some of Wesleyan's modems are better than others and some pathways through the telephone system are also better. Just be sure not to jump to complicated explanations when many problems are simply random coincidences.

Related info

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Dial-up on Mac OS X