www.riscos.com Technical Support: Acorn Internet User Guide   2 Setting up

Modem

Which modem to get

You will need a modem, to convert the digital signals output by the computer to the analogue signals required for transmission across telephone lines. Modems should operate V.32 bis or V.34 protocols, at a minimum rate of 28,800 baud. A 33,600 baud modem is even better.

Slower, older, modems will prove expensive to run, as the time taken to transfer data will be longer, and your telephone bill correspondingly higher.

There is a list of modems displayed by the configuration software (see Modem configuration) which have been tested with Acorn Internet software. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, nor is inclusion in it intended to imply approval by Acorn.

Connecting up the modem

Connect the modem to the serial port of the Acorn computer you will be using as the mail server. The Risc PC uses a standard PC modem cable, while your supplier will tell you which cable to use for earlier Acorn computers. The telephone connection for the modem plugs into the normal telephone wall socket.

You should be able to use the factory settings on the modem. Check the Release Note for any particular items to note when operating modems.

Configuration instructions

NB: Configuration requires some care, as different Internet Service Providers (ISPs) require different settings. As a guide, we have provided example configurations in the form of completed dialogue boxes for the three main types of connection. You can use these examples to help you complete the configuration dialogue boxes in the next few chapters.

1. Double-click on !Boot and choose the Network icon.
2. From the Network configuration window, click on the Internet icon to display the Internet configuration dialogue box.
3. Enable the TCP/IP Protocol suite.
4. Click on the Host names icon. The Host names dialogue will be displayed:
   
5. Enter your node name (e.g. bashstreet., provided by your service provider) as the Host name.
6. Set the option Use name servers also.
7. Enter your service provider's domain name (e.g. demon.co.uk) as the Local domain.
8. If required by your service provider, enter at least one IP address for your service provider's name servers in the subsequent boxes, in the format 158.152.1.58 (the first name server for Demon, for example). An alternative name server can speed up connection times if the first server is not available for any reason.
9. Click on Set, Close the dialogue box and Save the network configuration. Ignore any warning box that complains about interfaces not having IP addresses configured, then reset your machine.
10. Your machine is now configured to use the Internet network stack.