Intranet access information - 8626 5001

Melb PC Intranet Facilities

The Intranet dial-up is, due to it's limited nature, primarily for use by associate Internet members, however full Internet members may also use it with the same limitations.  The limited Internet access described below is commonly referred to as the Melb PC Intranet.

The Melb PC extended Intranet does not provide access to the full world-wide Internet. However, after connecting to 8626 5001 you can:

• download, read and send email as normal
• download, read and post news to Newsgroups
• read Melb PC web pages (all sites on the Useful Links panel on the MOTD page)
• select and download files from PC Update Online
• download files from TUCOWS within Victorian Internet eXchange Resource
• read web pages already cached by our proxy server

• read or surf web pages not already in our cache
• connect directly to services on the Internet including telnet, ftp, ICQ, Real Audio etc.
• fetch mail from other ISPs which are not members of VIX

It is preferred you use automatically detected proxy settings (as opposed to proxy script or manual settings).

If you are using manual proxy settings (not terribly likely), all VIX ISPs need to be excluded from the proxy or use direct connection (no proxy at all - which is probably easier). Don't forget to revert to manual proxy if you have a need for this.

No Daily Time Limit

There is no daily time limit on access by Melb PC subscribers dialling through the Intranet rotary on 8626 5001 which provides 56K access. The time used on the Intranet line is not counted against the 180 unit daily limit available on the normal Internet lines which do provide full external access.

Your time on the Intranet rotary is measured, but only to guarantee free lines for those members who wish to log in to read their mail and the latest news. 

Even during peak periods when almost all lines may be in use, you are guaranteed 30 minutes on your first connect to the intranet rotary and 10 minutes if you have connected previously to the Intranet rotary number on that day. 

When almost all lines are in use, your "kick-off" ranking from the timer (if you are connected to the Intranet rotary on 8626 5001) tells you the probability of being kicked off. Otherwise, the time is that for your 180 units of normal Internet time.