 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Internet Service Newsletter George Skarbek gskarbek@melbpc.org.au |
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These newsletters will inform our users of the progress and planned events pertaining to our Internet service. Although these newsletters will usually be published fortnightly (on melbpc.general) or monthly, this issue has been published s ooner, to assist some users who have been having recent modem and phone line problems.
Overview of the Existing System
There are four phone numbers for the Melb PC Internet service, and we understand this is causing confusion at times for some members. Allow me to explain the reasoning behind the four different numbers.
First, there is the Intranet number - 9690 5644. This allows users to obtain mail and read news but not to surf, which means time on this number does not count towards the two hours/day. So, you can collect mail and visit newsgroups after you have used up all your allocated time. There are 26 lines and the maximum speed possible is 33.6 kbps. The remaining three phone numbers are all for Internet access. Each number connects to a different group of modems.
The number 9686 4506 connects to the (now) old analogue Dataplex modem lines. There are 64 lines and the maximum speed possible is again 33.6 kbps.
The number 9934 9400 connects to the digital Livingston modems. There are 120 lines going into these K56Flex and V.90 lines (dual mode modems). The nominal maximum speed is 56 kbps, although anyone with a 28.8 or 33.3 kbps modem can use these lines.
The fourth number, 8626 5000, connects to slightly different V90 Livingston modems. There are 60 lines available. As you probably know, V.90 modems run at 56 kbps, but again, anyone with a 28.8 or 33.3 kbps modem can use these lines. Note that V.FC modems can only connect at 14.4 kbps on these modems, as this is not a ratified standard.
Soon there will be another phone number announced for the new 60 phone lines just installed on a different digital modem bank, called an Ascend Max 6000. After much research and discussion, the decision to purchase these modems was made because they have received very good reviews and hopefully will not encounter some of the problems experienced by some other brands. The new number for the Ascend modems will be made available as soon as these new lines are installed and tested.
Current Problems and Progress
In the last few weeks several events have occurred. A power outage appears to have damaged over 20 of the Dataplex modems. Telstra has altered the way we receive phone connections from their exchange; however, this will not affect you. New modems and new phone lines have been installed and are currently being tested before being made available soon. Some software changes have been made and the new computers have been brought into service. I know, one should make one change at a time. But this would take a lot of time and as busy lines are a real annoyance for many, it was decided to proceed as quickly as possible.
Dataplex, despite being one of Australia’s largest modem manufacturers, will not provide any support for the modems that we bought from them for about $90,000 in July 1996. This is unfortunately regarded as a sign of progress. Jason Lee, Stan Johnstone, the office staff and I have attempted several fixes. Many lines still ring out but users are not being charged for this. This problem affects the rotary groups on numbers 9686 4506 and 9690 5644.
After many hours being spent on this problem on Thursday 14 October, there has been a substantial improvement. During this work about ten users had to be disconnected during the afternoon but as a result many more users will benefit. However, with more effort and assistance from Telstra this problem should be completely solved within another couple of weeks.
New Lines
Installing the digital modems takes a lot more effort than when installing a normal modem at home. Before starting, the firmware must be upgraded to the latest version. Then they have to be configured to be told what phone number to answer, then given a range of IP numbers to assign to answering calls. The ISDN interface must be configured to connect correctly with the incoming Onramp service from Telstra. Also, one must configure the call setup to initiate PPP protocol & PAP login. It must also be ensured that these modems talk correctly to the Radius authentication servers and static routes must be set up so that box can see the other boxes in our room. Most of this hard work has been done by Sean Clarkebut for some, as yet, unidentified reason this box answers the incoming modems but fails to establish the correct handshaking, therefore making communications impossible. We are hopeful that this problem will be overcome shortly.
Future Directions
As soon as the new modems are installed we will be monitoring the load on the line to the outside world. If the response starts to drop in peak periods all that will be required is for me to call Connect.com.au and ask them to increase our bandwidth. (Obviously we will pay them more money too.) As all protocols have been already established, about 15 minutes after that phone call we will have more data flowing. Unfortunately, more data from Connect.com.au means more money and the capacity versus cost is a bit of a balancing effort for us. Many other ISPs have a volume charge or a time charge above a certain rate, so more usage means more money for them. We only collect $140 and guarantee a service with unlimited downloads for one year - therefore, there is the need for balance. The data charges are our single biggest cost by far.
Also, after these 60 lines are put into service we will monitor the busy lines very carefully. With the increased use of Internet and new members joining we may have to install an additional 30 modems, 30 lines and pay the commercial rates to Telstra for these lines. We may also have to purchase more bandwidth to cope with these additional lines.
Note This newsletter will mainly interest the approximately 6000 members who are subscribers to our Internet service. Although many users look at the MOTD (Message Of The Day at hww.melbpc.org.au/motd/) at regular periods, some have their home page set to other sites and forget that this page contains relevant information. As well as the normal developments that are published there, I will be issuing regular newsletters to inform subscribers of planned changes, progress reports and general background education.
The MOTD page refers primarily to the Melb PC ISP service, so it cannot be reached if you are connected to another ISP.
STOP PRESS
60 new modems installed
Now for some very good news for users of the Melb PC Internet service. After much testing of the 60 new digital ] modems (Ascend Max 6000) are finally operational.
The new phone number is: 9697 4000.
We hope that these lines will go a long way to reducing the busy signals experienced during the peak period. A new phone number is necessary in order to monitor the performance of these modems which are a different brand to the existing modems. This may help some members who have been experiencing occasional problems with the existing Livingston brand modems.
All users can dial into this number irrespective if you have a 9,600 bps modem or have the latest 56 kbps V90 modem. If you wish to experiment with these modems and initially do not wish to create yet another icon, you can bring up your existing dialler short cut and change your phone number to 9697 4000 just by overtyping. Next time you bring up that icon, the original number will appear. Note that if you modify the number in the icon (not shortcut) that is found under My Computer, Dial-up Networking, then the old number will be replaced.
I suggest that users dialing into the Dataplex modems should consider the new number if they have any problems at present.
Reprinted from the December 1999 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
