Dialing ———- Now, test your setup by calling your favorite online service. We will show how to log on to my bulletin board. You can call manually by entering ATDT followed by the phone number. The most practical method, however, is to use the built-in phone directory. Press ALT-D to get to the phone directory. Press "R" to revise the list, and enter Saltrod Horror Show somewhere on the list. I have it as number 2. Answer the questions like this:
Name: Saltrod Horror Show
Number: 009-47-370-31378
Baud: 9600
Parity: N
Databits: 8
Stop Bits: 1
Echo On? N
Command file: (press ENTER, meaning that you don't want to
use a script file at this point)
Baud can be anything from 300 bps to 9600 bps. It's up to you, and depends on your modem's capabilities. When done, enter "2" and press ENTER. The modem will dial the number (that you have as item 2 on the list), and try to connect. If the number is busy, you will get a warning. You can now leave Procomm (ALT+X), or set it for redialing (ALT+R). When set for redialing, Procomm will call back until a connection has been made. When CONNECT is received from your modem, Procomm announces the fact with a beep in the computer's loudspeaker. Text will start scrolling over your screen. First, a short welcome text pops up. Your interactive dialog with the bulletin board can start. The first question is "What is your First Name?" Enter your first name. Then, "What is your Last Name?" Enter your last name. Your dialog with the remote computer will continue like this. The board will ask you questions, and you will enter your answers.
What may go wrong? ————————— A setting that works beautifully when calling one bulletin board, may be a disaster when calling another service. Here are some typical problems:
When dialing through a switchboard (PBX). ————————————————————- Remember to add 9 or 0 for a city line, when dialing out from a PBX. If you forget, you'll get nowhere. Use the following command (assuming that you must enter 0 to get a city line, and use tone signaling):
ATDT0W4737031378
If you must use 9 for a city line and pulse dialing, use the following command
ATDP9W4737031378
Register your standard dialing command in Procomm's MODEM SETUP.
Enter ALT+S and then select 1, Modem Setup. Choice 2, Dialing
command. The default entry is ATDT. Replace this with ATDT0W,
ATDP9W or whatever makes dialing work for you.
No answer from the remote computer ————————————————— Your computer has to "talk the same language" as the remote host. If the parameters of your communications program have been set incorrectly, it may be impossible to set up a connection with the service. Sometimes, you get CONNECT, but your screen only gives you strange, unintelligible 'noise' characters. The reason may be CONNECT at an incompatible speed, a service's use of special codes for displaying text (including special language characters), or that the service requires use of a special communications program or method (as when a service starts by interrogating for the use of an offline reader). Many online services require that you use certain settings. Most services, however, may be reached when using the following: