General
Overview:
There are several tasks you need to do in order to fully utilize your InterComm
dial-up Internet connection:
- Configure your Mac to dial-in to InterComm
- Install a web browser if needed
These instructions cover step 1, configuring your Mac's dial-up and networking
software. If you need to perform step 2, click on each task for
detailed instructions. If you're printing out these instructions to take home,
be sure to print out any needed sets of instructions to take with you.
Detailed
Instructions:
You need to do the following tasks, in the order given. Even if your Macintosh
already has one or all of these software packages installed and configured,
please follow through the instructions and confirm that the software is set
up properly. Click on each task listed below for instructions on completing
the task.
- Install networking and dial-up software.
- Configure networking software (Open Transport).
- Configure dial-up software (Remote Access).
- Test your setup by connecting to InterComm.
-
Install
networking and dial-up software :
- Check and see if you have Apple's Open Transport and Remote Access
software installed on your Macintosh. MacOS 9 comes with Open Transport
networking and Remote Access software installed. In the unlikely chance
the software was not installed when the operating system was installed,
you can install this software from the MacOS 9 CDROM that came with
your system.
- Click on the
(apple
icon, upper-left corner of your screen) and continue to hold down
on the mouse button.
- Pull the mouse pointer down to Control Panels, pull over to the
list of control panels, and pull your mouse pointer down to the
bottom of the screen (note that you're still holding down the mouse
button). The list is alphabetical; you might have to pull the mouse
down to the bottom of the screen to see the end of the control panel
list. If you see no TCP/IP control panel, you need to install
Open Tranport.
- Now check if you have Remote Access installed. As in the step
above, click on the Apple icon, pull the mouse pointer down to Control
Panels, pull over to the list of control panels, and pull your mouse
pointer down to the bottom of the screen (note that you're still
holding down the mouse button). The list is alphabetical; you might
have to pull the mouse down to the bottom of the screen to see the
end of the control panel list. If you see no Remote Access
control panel, you'll need to install this software.
- If you had both the Remote Access and TCP/IP control panels, you
don't need to install any dial-up software; you can skip ahead to
the Configuring Open Transport instructions.
-
Installing Open Transport and Remote Access software:
- MacOS 8.6
- Insert your MacOS 8.6 CDROM, and reboot your mac while holding
down the letter "c" key on your keyboard. Your mac
will boot from CDROM.
- Double-click on the Full Install Pieces folder
- Double-click on the Software Installers folder
- Double-click on the Internet Access folder
- Double-click on the Installer, click Install
when prompted. When done, reboot your Mac.
- MacOS 9
- Insert your MacOS 9 CDROM, and reboot your mac while holding
down the letter "c" key on your keyboard. Your mac
will boot from CDROM.
- Double-click on the Software Installers folder
- Double-click on the Apple Internet Access folder
- Double-click on the Install Internet Access installer.
Click the Install button in the window that pops up.
When done, reboot your Mac.
- Configuring
Network Software (Open Transport):
- Click on the
(apple
icon, upper-left corner of your screen) and continue to hold down on
the mouse button.
- Pull the mouse pointer down to Control Panels, pull over to the list
of control panels, and pull your mouse pointer down to the bottom of
the screen (note that you're still holding down the mouse button). Highlight
the TCP/IP control panel, then release the mouse button. The
TCP/IP window pops up.
- Click on the Connect Via drop down menu, Select PPP. In the
Configure drop down menu, select Using PPP server: In
the Name server addr.: box, enter 216.105.196.6 The
Search domains: text box may be left blank.
Your TCP/IP control panel should look like this:
-
Click on the square in the upper-left corner
of
the control panel to close the window; Save your changes when prompted.
-
Configuring
Dial-up software (Remote Access):
- Click on the
(apple
icon, upper-left corner of your screen) and continue to hold down on
the mouse button.
- Pull the mouse pointer down to Control Panels, pull over to the list
of control panels, and pull your mouse pointer down to the bottom of
the screen (note that you're still holding down the mouse button). Highlight
the Remote Access control panel, then release the mouse button.
The Remote Access window pops up. You need to make sure to:
- Click on the Registered User button
- Enter your username in the Name: field. This is the first
part of your email address. You do not enter your entire email address,
just the part before the @ sign. Example: your email address is
waldo@domain.name; you put waldo in the Name: field.
- Optional: enter your email password in the Password: field and
check the Save password box. Clicking the Save password
box has the dial-up software remember your password, so you do not
have to enter it each time you dial in. It will also allow anyone
with access to your computer the ability to dial-in on your account
without knowing your password. Leaving the box unchecked means you
need to enter your password each time you dial-in.
- In the Number: field, enter the number you'll use to call InterComm. Our local access numbers are:
|
Calling area
|
Access number
|
|
Reno/Carson/Incline/Fernley
|
332-3888
|
|
Dayton/Minden/Gardnerville
|
883-3399
|
Your Remote Access control panel should look something like
the following, though with your username in the Name: field,
and the dial-up phone number appropriate for your location:
If you have Call-Waiting service on the phone line hooked up
to your modem: put *70, (that's asterix seven zero
comma) before the phone number. That is, if you dial in to
our modem pool in Reno, the phone number you'd enter is: *70,332-3888
as in:
- Click on the square in the upper-left corner
to quit; save your changes when prompted.
- Click on the
(apple
icon, upper-left corner of your screen) and continue to hold down on
the mouse button. Pull the mouse pointer down to Control Panels, pull
over to the list of control panels, and pull your mouse pointer down
to the bottom of the screen (note that you're still holding down the
mouse button). Highlight the MODEM control panel, then release
the mouse button. The MODEM window pops up.
Make sure the Connect via: shows the correct port. Modem
Port is normally where your external modem connects. Select internal
modem if your modem is built into your mac.
Make sure you select the correct model modem from the Modem:
pick list. If your exact modem model does not appear in the list,
select a similar model by the same manufacturer. Click on the square
in the upper-left corner
to quit; save your changes when prompted.
-
Connecting
to InterComm:
- Click on the
(apple
icon, upper-left corner of your screen) and continue to hold down on
the mouse button.
- Pull the mouse pointer down to Remote Access Status (about
halfway down the menu), release. You'll see:

Click Connect. If you successfully dial in, you should see a
window like this:
To disconnect, click on the Disconnect button. You can always bring
this button to the forefront by clicking the Apple
,
then pull down and release on Remote Access Status.
If you don't connect, see the Troubleshooting section, below.
Troubleshooting:
- Modem not responding:

Solution: If you have an external modem: Check that the modem is
turned on and/or plugged in (as applicable). Check that the cable between
your modem and computer is plugged in securely to both the computer and
modem, and that it's in the proper port on the back of your computer (normally
the modem port). Check that the Modems control panel lists your modem make
and model, and shows the port your modem's plugged into (normally the modem
port).
If you have an internal modem, make sure the Modems control panel lists
your modem make and model, and lists it as an internal modem (that is, not
connected to the printer or modem port).
If you continue to have problems, and you've checked all the above, you
might try selecting a different modem make/model than what you have chosen
in the Modems control panel. The Hayes modem models are pretty generic and
might work with your modem (select Hayes Accura 28.8 and select the proper
port). This sometimes works.
- No dial tone:

Solution: Check that the phone line to your modem is plugged into
the proper jack; sometimes a modem has TWO, one for the phone line and one
for you to plug in a telephone, if you so desire. Make sure the cord plugs
into the LINE jack on your modem.
Check that your phone line has dialtone: unplug the phone cord from your
modem and plug in a phone, see if you have dialtone. If not, you have either
a bad phone cord or a bad phone line in your house.
- Authentication failed:
or:

Solution: Check that you have the proper USERNAME and PASSWORD. If
either the username or password is incorrect, you'll fail to authenticate
when you dial in. Hint: if you successfully check your InterComm email from
work , you use the same password to dial in. Note
that the password is case sensitive: somepass is different than SOMEPASS,
which differs from SomePass; check the caps lock key isn't on!
Your username should be the first part of your email address, entered in
small letters (if your email address is Waldo@775.net, your username
is Waldo), assuming you do email with InterComm. If you simply dial in to
InterComm, but do your email elsewhere, confirm your username with your district
technology coordinator, assuming you're online, normally from work ;-)
Check that your username and password are correctly set in the Remote Access
control panel.
- Random disconnects:
Solution:
- Do you have call-waiting on the phone line you're using to dial in
to InterComm? If so, did you dial *70, along with the access number?
See the Configuring PPP software instructions above.
- Did someone just pick up the phone in your house? Too late... .
If you continue to have dial-in problems, see your district technology coordinator
for assistance.