Controlling your dial-up connection

Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition uses dialer software to control the dial-up connection to your service provider. (If you're not sure how your dial-up connection works, see Introduction.)

Depending on whether you use Windows 95 or Windows 3.1, Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition has either installed or configured a dialer for you.

This chapter describes how the dialer works and how to change its settings.

What does the dialer do?

By storing all your connection settings (such as your user name and service provider's phone number), your dialer controls your modem and connects you to your service provider. When you want to connect, the dialer first tells your modem to dial your service provider's phone number. When the service provider's computer answers, the dialer provides some information (such as your user name and password) about who's trying to connect (in this case, you). In this way, the dialer establishes a connection between you and your service provider.

Account Setup Wizard placed all your connection information (such as your user name and modem information) in the dialer. For information on how to change these settings, see one of the following sections:

If you haven't run Account Setup Wizard yet, first see Installation and Setup Guide.

For Windows 95 users

When you installed Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition, the process configured a dial-up connection to your service provider using Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking. A dialer icon for this connection was placed on your Windows 95 desktop, and also in your Netscape submenu (on the Start|Programs menu).

To access the dialer, double-click its icon. The dialer contains the settings specific to your account, such as your user name, password, and your service provider's phone number. You can use the dialer to do the following:

For more on using the dialer, highlight different fields in the Connect to dialog box, and press F1. You can also enter dial-up on the Find page in Windows 95 Help topics.

If you can't find the dialer icon

If you don't see a shortcut dialer icon on your desktop, or a dialer icon in your Netscape submenu, you can find it by double-clicking the My Computer icon on your desktop, and then double-clicking the Dial-Up Networking folder.

Changing dial-up connection settings

You can change dial-up connection settings (such as the selected modem or your service provider's phone number) as well as the DNS address entered for your service provider. Follow these steps:

  1. Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
  2. Double-click the Dial-Up Networking folder.
  3. Right-click the dialer icon for your service provider, and select Properties in the menu that appears.
  4. In the Properties dialog box, make desired changes.

    Note: For help, highlight different fields in the dialog box, then press F1.

To change your service provider's DNS address, follow these steps:

  1. Follow previous steps 1-3.
  2. Click Server Type, and then click TCP/IP Settings.
  3. Change or add a DNS address, and then click OK.
  4. Close all dialog boxes by clicking OK.

Automating your login

If you have the Microsoft Scripting Tool, you can create a script to automate the login process. Download the scripting tool from the page with this URL:

http://www.windows95.com/connect/dscript.html

Then create a simple script using a text editor. For more information on how to create a script, see the Web page with the following URL:

http://www.windows95.com/connect/scriptxt.html

For Windows 3.1 users

Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition for Windows 3.1 uses the Netscape Dialer to connect you to your service provider. A Dialer icon exists in the Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition program group; the icon's appearance varies depending on the service provider you use.

The Dialer contains the settings specific to your account, such as your user name, password, and service provider's phone number. You can use the Dialer to do the following:

The Dialer dialog box

When you double-click the Dialer icon, you see the following dialog box:


Creating a location

Locations are settings that help you call your service provider from various places. For example, you might use your computer from both home and work. If you live in the 408 area code and work in the 415 area code, it's less expensive for you if you use two different phone numbers for your service provider. You can use a 408 phone number for your service provider when you're at home, and a 415 phone number when you're at work. To make this fast and easy, you can create one location that dials the 408 phone number from home, and another location that dials the 415 number from work.

To create a location, follow these steps:

  1. Double-click the Dialer icon.
  2. Click Properties. A dialog box appears with the Locations page selected.
  3. Click New.
  4. In the dialog box, type the name of the new location (for example, Home), and then click OK.
  5. Change settings you need for the new location. (For example, enter the service provider's phone number you want to dial from home.) Click Help for more information on Location page settings.
  6. You can create another setting by clicking New again, and repeating the previous steps. When you're done, click OK to save all the settings.

Note: While you have the Properties dialog box open, you can change property settings on other pages (for example, on the Modem page) but if you click Cancel on another page, you'll lose the locations you just created.

Changing locations

The last location you create becomes the default Current Location--the one the Dialer will use next time it dials. To use a different location, select one from the list in the Dialer dialog box (see this page) before you try to connect.

Automating your login

Some Internet service providers require a login window (sometimes called a TTY window)--that is, they require you to manually enter your user name and password each time you connect. With Netscape Navigator Dial-Up Edition, you can create a script to automate your login. The easiest way to create a script is to record the login process. Follow these steps:

  1. Before you connect, double-click the Dialer icon.
  2. In the dialog box, click Properties.
  3. On the General page, click the checkbox next to Automatically log in with a script.
  4. Click the Record script button.
  5. The Dialer dials your service provider and begins the connection process. A window appears that shows you the status of your connection to the service provider. The Scripter window appears.
  6. In the Scripter window, enter appropriate information after the prompts. (For example, you might be prompted for your user name and password.)
  7. When you're done logging in, click the End record button on the Scripter window.
  8. The next time you connect to your service provider, you'll log in automatically and won't have to type your user name and password.

If your login doesn't work, see "Troubleshooting your login script". For more information on scripts, see the Web page with the following URL:

http://help.netscape.com/kb/client/960514-19.html

Changing modem settings

The Dialer gathered your modem settings when you ran Account Setup Wizard. You only need to change the modem settings in the Dialer if you've changed your modem (altered the IRQ, port address, or other settings) or installed a new modem.

To change modem settings in the Dialer, first double-click the Dialer icon to display the Dialer dialog box. Click Properties, and then click the Modem page tab. Click Help for more information on modem settings, and change the settings as needed. Click OK to save the changes.

What's next

Chapter 3, "Tips and techniques," contains tips, techniques, and troubleshooting information. The chapter contains two sections: one for Windows 95 users and one for Windows 3.1 users.

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