The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Letters to the Editor |
To the Editor
As I read the President's Report in PC Update November 2002 I bemoaned the understandable relocation of the Monthly Meeting yet further away from where I live in regional Victoria. Then enviously I read of the glories of local telephone connection to the group's Internet, Email and Bulletin Board Services and Phone Help, its metropolitan locations of its SIGs and GIGs, Swap Meets, Training and Library. Thank goodness for PC Update which reaches all members equally (there really is life beyond the Ring Road you know).
Yet it is ironic that our group - reputed to be the largest in the world and based on a phenomena that has revolutionised communications around the globe, remains bound by ancient solutions. Surely our members who constantly dabble at the cutting edge of ICT can redesign the chariot to get us all to the Forum.
For example, it would seem to be simple to video at least the presentations at the Monthly Meetings and circulate CDs (many do not yet have DVD) that could be viewed by any member via regional GIGs, municipal libraries and local computer training centres.
And - come on geeks - would it be even possible to set up real-time online forums for absent members to submit questions while watching streaming video?
Graham Dean.
Dear Editor
I'm sorry to raise this old potboiler again, but the problem of failed connections is getting beyond
the pale. Like many other members, it would appear, at least 50% of my attempts to connect fail. I'm
not talking about the line being engaged during busy periods, this is understandable. The problem is
one of dialling, followed by an attempt at connection - and then a "fail" message. I have been through
the help line, checked the settings ad nauseam. The fact that it has now been found necessary to make
it the subject of FAQ on the Web page implies to me that it is a very general problem experienced by a
significant number of members.
Is it at all possible that a problem exists at your end?
The irritation factor in failed connections is one problem, but of course one has to also consider
that it is doubling the telephone call costs for connection. (Dare I say it - with my previous ISPs,
both here in Oz and in the UK I didn't suffer this particular problem. Other problems - yes. But no
problems with connection and drop outs!)
In every other respect I am enormously satisfied with the Melbourne PC User Group; the member services
provided and the interest value and quality of PC Update. I am pleased to be a member!
Keep up the good work.
Derek Henry
Response From The iHelp Team
Derek Henry who lives in an outer eastern part of Melbourne uses Windows 98 on a Pentium II PC and
has a Rockwell 56 kbit/s V.90 modem purchased in the UK. He uses Microsoft NetMeeting to enable video
and audio conferencing with family members overseas and, naturally, hates being disconnected. He agreed
that the problem seemed to be fixed by an Internet Helper in June, (incorrect DNS number found) but on
return from holiday in September, an error message recurred "The computer you are dialling does not
respond to a network request" (Error 650).
Although the iHelp team doesn't do home visits, team coordinator Maurice Canterbury lives in the area
and paid Derek a visit. The fault was reproduced with error message no. 678 appearing this time, when attempting the Melb PC dial-up. It was thought that changes might have been made to modem settings at one time to cause the problem. There is information and advice on this dial-up networking error message at
http://www.modemhelp.net/errorsindex.shtml.
Appropriate corrections were made to the modem init string (initialisation) via Control Panel|Modem
Properties; a faster connection resulted and remained stable. However, Derek was advised to keep an
eye on the problem, which he describes as "intermittent".
Derek received further information and advice on getting antivirus software installed (his Norton AV was out-of-date): display settings were modified from the basic 640 x 480 he had set: the home page which was not visible was inserted using Control Panel|Internet Options and he is now a very satisfied Melb PC Member. If he needs further help Derek can e-mail us or log the problem through the Helpdesk at
http://www.melbpc.org.au/faq/helpdesk.htm
quoting his "job number" 3238.
Melb PC has a special FAQ for "dropouts"
http://www.melbpc.org.au/faq/dropouts.htm. It is something that plagues all ISPs. We are conscious
of this and always endeavour to solve the problem.
Reprinted from the December 2002 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
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