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- From: zik@aurora.cc.monash.edu.au (Zik Saleeba)
- Newsgroups: aus.net.access,alt.internet.access.wanted,aus.net.mail,aus.net.aarnet,aus.comms,soc.culture.australian,aus.computers,alt.answers,soc.answers,news.answers
- Subject: Network Access in Australia FAQ
- Supersedes: <2m1b4m$iul@harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au>
- Followup-To: poster
- Date: 15 Apr 1994 03:41:17 GMT
- Organization: Monash University
- Lines: 1409
- Approved: news-answers-request@mit.edu
- Expires: 18 May 1994 08:00:00 GMT
- Message-ID: <2ol2ct$68f@harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au>
- Reply-To: zik@cs.monash.edu.au
- NNTP-Posting-Host: aurora.cc.monash.edu.au
- Summary: This post contains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- about obtaining internet and usenet access in Australia.
- Keywords: internet, usenet, network, access, australia
- Xref: bloom-beacon.mit.edu alt.internet.access.wanted:8313 aus.net.mail:39 aus.net.aarnet:631 aus.comms:1171 soc.culture.australian:10624 aus.computers:567 alt.answers:2433 soc.answers:1066 news.answers:18065
-
- Archive-name: australia/oz-net-faq
- Last-modified: 1994/04/15
- Version: 2.3
-
- Network Access in Australia FAQ
- -------------------------------
-
-
- Contents:
-
- Section 1: About this FAQ
- Section 2: How do I get an internet account?
- Section 3: What public access machines are in my area?
- Section 4: What can I do once I'm on the internet?
- Section 5: How can I find out more about the internet?
- Section 6: How do I connect my own machine to the net?
- Section 7: What network organisations are there in Australia?
- Section 8: Why do these public networking people do it?
- Section 9: How do I send mail between the various networks?
- Section 10: Changes this month
- Section 11: Disclaimer
-
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 1
- Subject: Section 1: About this FAQ
-
- This is my compilation of information on public networking in
- Australia. It contains information on the various organisations
- providing network access, how to get an account with network access,
- and how to attach your own machine to the network.
-
- If you want to skip quickly to a particular section, say "Section 7:
- What networks are there in Australia?" as easy way to get there is by
- using your text viewer to search for the words "Section 7".
-
- New versions of the FAQ are posted monthly, incorporating any updates
- which have been received in the meantime. It'll probably never be
- quite complete but I'm trying to keep it as accurate and up-to-date
- as possible. If you have any information which is not included here,
- or if you have corrections or constructive comments to make, please
- mail me.
-
- The most recent version of the FAQ is always available on the many
- FTP sites which archive FAQs. An example location is:
-
- archie.au:/usenet/FAQs/alt.internet.access.wanted/Network_Access_in_Australia_FAQ
-
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 2
- Subject: Section 2: How do I get an internet account?
-
- There are basically three ways to get a network-connected account:
-
- a) Enrol in a university course which involves having an account
- (this costs lots of money so consider c) instead)
- b) Get a job somewhere with a net connection (this may be considered a
- repugnant option by some as it involves work)
- c) Get an account on a public access machine
-
- Universities offer the fastest network connections and the best
- facilities in general, but often restrict network access to those who
- actually need it. Public access machines are becoming more and more
- common, and offer many of the same features that the universities
- do. They're also much less restrictive about what programs you are
- allowed to run.
-
- Generally you'll need to access public access sites from home using a
- modem and a terminal program on your own computer. The next section
- details the public access machines in each area.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 3
- Subject: Section 3: What public access machines are in my area?
-
- This section lists public access sites. It's organised into areas by
- state:
-
- - ACT
- - New South Wales
- - Queensland
- - South Australia
- - Tasmania
- - Victoria
- - Western Australia
-
- There are four possible link types:
-
- - UUCP Machine calls another on a regular basis to
- transfer news and email. This is the slowest
- option. It also doesn't offer access to most
- internet services, and is more correctly
- referred to as a "Usenet" network host.
- - IP Machine is permanently connected to the
- internet. Very quick responses are possible
- and all network services are available.
- - firewalled IP Machine is separated from the internet by a
- "firewall machine". This means that it can't
- be accessed from outside and services such as
- "talk" and "archie" are usually unavailable.
- - MHSnet Machine calls another on demand and/or
- regularly. This is usually better than UUCP,
- but doesn't offer full IP connectivity.
-
- Modem standards are complicated things. In general a site with modems
- that support high speeds will also support all the lower speeds. The
- main modem standards are:
-
- - V.FastClass 28,800 bps raw speed, not standardised yet
- - V.32bis 14,400 bps raw speed
- - PEP 14,000 bps raw speed, not very common
- - V.32 9,600 bps raw speed
- - V.22bis 2,400 bps raw speed
- - V.22 1,200 bps raw speed
- - V.23 1,200 bps receive / 75 baud send
-
- Also some modems support compression and packetising on top of the raw
- communications they provide. Packetising reduces the amount of line
- noise you'll have problems with, and compression increases the
- throughput available:
-
- - V.42bis ~4 times compression (usually includes V.42)
- - V.42 packetisation
- - MNP5 ~2 times compression (usually includes MNP4)
- - MNP4 packetisation
-
- After you've selected a shortlist of possible sites you may also want
- to check out "Section 7: What networks are there in Australia?" to get
- a brief idea of what facilities each network offers.
-
- ================================== ACT =================================
-
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Canberra.
- Dialins -------> 4 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> <info@interconnect.com.au>
-
- ============================ New South Wales ===========================
-
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Sydney
- Dialins -------> 8 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> <info@interconnect.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> jolt.mpx.com.au
- Organisation --> Microplex
- Location ------> Sydney
- Dialins -------> 18 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $25 setup fee + $23.50/month or $234/year
- Machine -------> Sun SPARC 10, UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> E-mail, FTP file transfer, Usenet news, Talk, Internet Relay
- Chat, Gopher and World Wide Web
- How -----------> By email, snail or phone
- Contact -------> <info@jolt.mpx.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> kralizec.zeta.org.au / godzilla.zeta.org.au
- Organisation --> Zeta Microcomputer Software
- Location ------> Sydney
- Dialins -------> 5 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $10/month for 10 hours, $1/hr thereafter
- Machine -------> Sun 3 (SunOS 4.0) / 386DX/40 (Linux)
- Link ----------> ? - time to internet: 3 hours
- Features ------> > 1 Gb disk, 6 CD-ROMs, huge amount of Linux S/W & News
- How -----------> dial (02) 837-1868, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Nick Andrew <nick@kralizec.zeta.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> kumear.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Lake Macquarie
- Dialins -------> 1 * V32/V.42bis, 1 * 1 * V.22bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $15 pa
- Machine -------> Amiga 3000T, AmigaDOS 2.05
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 18 hours
- Features ------> DLGPro BBS software, Lots of Amiga software, FidoNET,
- AdultLink.
- How -----------> dial (049) 48-5408
- Contact -------> Phillip Eastham <phillip_eastham@kumear.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> lsupoz.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Sydney
- Dialins -------> 5 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $10 joining fee, $5 an month or 15c/hour whichever is higher
- Machine -------> 486DX running Linux
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> offering UUCP/News/E-Mail + files, APANA Sydney Main UUCP hub
- How -----------> dial (02) 418-8750, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Anthony Rumble <root@lsupoz.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> scorch.hna.com.au
- Organisation --> Hunter Networking Association
- Location ------> Newcastle
- Dialins -------> 1 * 2400bps, 2 * V32/V.42bis (3rd soon)
- Charges -------> $40 pa (interactive), $60 (private systems), $100 (public sys)
- Machine -------> 386DX40, 8Meg core, total 2G HD, Linux 0.99pl14+
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 4 hours
- Features ------> BBS-ish interface or UNIX shell. Local news spool. POPmail.
- Visitors may browse the system for a ~month without charge.
- How -----------> dial (049) 61-1695, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Michael Brown <mbrown@hna.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> sydney.dialix.oz.au
- Organisation --> DIALix Services
- Location ------> Sydney
- Dialins -------> 6 * V.32bis/V.42bis, 1 * V.FAST
- Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet traffic.
- Minimum annual usage payable in advance of:
- $10 student / $80 individual / $250 corporate
- Machine -------> 2 PCs, Unix; e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet, talk, finger, irc
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Interactive login or UUCP
- How -----------> dial (02) 948-6918, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Justin Sullivan <justin@sydney.DIALix.oz.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> ilb.com.au
- Organisation --> ILB Computing Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Wollongong
- Dialins -------> 2
- Charges -------> ?
- Machine -------> ?
- Link ----------> MHSnet
- Features ------> 1.2G of news online
- How -----------> ?
- Contact -------> Kevin Withnall
-
- ============================== Queensland ==============================
-
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Brisbane.
- Dialins -------> 4 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> <info@interconnect.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> ozspace.brisnet.org.au
- Organisation --> BrisNet
- Location ------> Brisbane
- Dialins -------> ?
- Charges -------> from $60 pa (hey guys, can you be more explicit here?)
- Machine -------> 386 PC compatible; Linux
- Link ----------> IP - time to AARNet: 10 minutes
- Features ------> providing UUCP and IP feeds
- How -----------> ?
- Contact -------> BrisNet committee
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> peg.apc.org
- Organisation --> Pegasus Networks Communications Pty Ltd
- Location ------> Brisbane
- Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis, AUSTPAC
- Charges -------> $95 mailbox purchase, $20 per month, time charges extra,
- enquire for full details
- Machine -------> ? running UNIX
- Link ----------> demand IP?
- Features ------> E-mail and conferencing, gateways to APC, FIDOnet and
- Internet. telnet access, gopher, WAIS. Support hotline.
- How -----------> By email, mail or phone
- Contact -------> <support@peg.pegasus.oz.au>
-
- =========================== South Australia ============================
-
- Site Name -----> apanix.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Adelaide
- Dialins -------> 2 * V32.bis/V42.bis, 1 * V32/MNP5, 2 * V22.bis
- Charges -------> $65/year or $40/6 months or $10/month.
- Machine -------> Sparcstation ELC, 3gb disk
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Internet news, mail, ftp, telnet, IRC. Unix shell, SL/IP.
- How -----------> dial (08) 373-5485, login as "guest" or
- email adrian@apanix.apana.org.au
- Contact -------> Adrian Corston <adrian@apanix.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> byron.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Adelaide
- Dialins -------> 1 * 2400 baud, 1 * V.32bis
- Charges -------> $10 join + $10/m
- Machine -------> 386DX33 5mb ram, 0.8gb disk, CDROM
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Programmer's hangout, news, mail, UNIX shell and menu
- How -----------> dial (08) 364-2017
- Contact -------> John Lindsay <root@byron.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> cleese.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Adelaide
- Dialins -------> 2 * V.32bis/V.42bis, 1 * 2400
- Charges -------> $65 per annum, or $10 per month
- Machine -------> i486DX/33, 16Mb RAM, 1.1Gb disk, FreeBSD UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> SA APANA hub site, interactive shells, UNIX tech support
- How -----------> dial (08) 373-6006, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Mark Newton <newton@cleese.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> cswamp.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Adelaide
- Dialins -------> 1 * V.32bis
- Charges -------> none
- Machine -------> 80386/16, 2MB RAM, 321MB disk; MS-DOS 4.01
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 24 hours
- Features ------> Maximus 2.01wb bbs software, Bluewave offline reader
- How -----------> dial (08) 370-2133
- Contact -------> Arthur Marsh <arthur@cswamp.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Adelaide.
- Dialins -------> 4 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> <info@interconnect.com.au>
-
- =============================== Tasmania ===============================
-
- Site Name -----> calvados.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Hobart
- Dialins -------> 1 * V.42bis
- Charges -------> $25pa
- Machine -------> 386sx, MS-DOS, Waffle
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 18 hours
- Features ------> Clarion mailing list (clarion-l@calvados.apana.org.au)
- How -----------> dial (002) 34-8530, login as "new"
- Contact -------> John Lamp <system@calvados.apana.org.au>
-
- =============================== Victoria ===============================
-
- Site Name -----> cloud.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 1 * V.32bis
- Charges -------> none
- Machine -------> IBM 386 Clone, MS-DOS
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 12 hours
- Features ------> Waffle/RemoteAccess software
- How -----------> dial (03) 803-6954
- Contact -------> Hamish Moffatt <hamish@cloud.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> csource.oz.au
- Organisation --> Unique Computing Pty Ltd
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> ?
- Charges -------> ?
- Machine -------> PC based, Waffle v1.65
- Link ----------> ?
- Features ------> Fidonet gateway for a lot of Usenet messages
- How -----------> ?
- Contact -------> David Nugent
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> guru.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 2
- Charges -------> $15 (once only)
- Machine -------> Amiga 2000, AmigaDOS 2.04, 350Mb HD, CDROM
- Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 12 hours
- Features ------> Amiga Only BBS. 550Mb files online - Fish disks, AmiNet
- Online games & multi-user chat
- How -----------> dial (03) 326-0440
- Contact -------> ?
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> insane.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 3 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $35 pa
- Machine -------> i486/33, 8MB RAM, 1GB disk; NetBSD UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Macintosh supported, easy-to-use Menus, member of FIDOnet
- How -----------> dial (03) 886-1230, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Stuart Marburg or Richard Preen <admin@insane.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Melbourne.
- Dialins -------> 8 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> <info@interconnect.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> suburbia.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 5 * 2400 baud
- Charges -------> $55 pa
- Machine -------> PC running Linux
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Full news feed, part of the APANA IP network
- How -----------> dial (03) 596-8366
- Contact -------> Mark Dorset <zerohour@suburbia.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> werple.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 9 * V.32bis, 4 * V.22bis
- Charges -------> $78 pa
- Machine -------> i486/33; NetBSD UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> standard unix shells, nn/tin/rn, elm/pine/mail
- How -----------> dial (03) 888-1726, login as "register"
- Contact -------> Andrew Herbert <andrew@werple.apana.org.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> zikzak.apana.org.au
- Organisation --> APANA
- Location ------> Melbourne
- Dialins -------> 8 * V.32bis/V.42bis, 2 * V.FastClass, 1 * PEP, 1*V.22bis/MNP5
- Charges -------> $30 per half year
- Machine -------> Amiga 3000, 18Mb RAM, 2.4Gb disk; NetBSD UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> unix shells, easy-to-use menu, all popular UNIX software
- How -----------> dial (03) 562-8814, login as "register"
- Contact -------> Zik Saleeba <zik@zikzak.apana.org.au>
-
- =========================== Western Australia ==========================
-
- Site Name -----> classic.iinet.com.au
- Organisation --> iiNet Technologies
- Location ------> Perth
- Dialins -------> 6 * V.32bis/V.42bis, 2 * 2400 bps
- Charges -------> $25/month or $1/hour
- Machine -------> PC running Linux
- Link ----------> IP - Time to internet 300ms
- Features ------> Local ftp site, ClariNet News, round the clock support
- How -----------> Voice call or email to have account created
- Contact -------> Michael Malone <iinet@iinet.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> interconnect.com.au
- Organisation --> InterConnect Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Location ------> Perth.
- Dialins -------> 4 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> $95.00 (1 off) + $20/month + 15c/minute online.
- Also FTP @ $1 per 1 MByte, contact for full details.
- Machine -------> i486 EISA, SCSI disk, BSDI UNIX.
- Link ----------> IP - 20 milliseconds to AARNet
- Features ------> Interactive login, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, Talk...
- How -----------> Ring sales on 008 818 262 or 03 528 2239.
- Contact -------> info@interconnect.com.au
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> it.com.au
- Organisation --> Informed Technology
- Location ------> Perth
- Dialins -------> 8 * V.32/V.42/PEP
- Charges -------> R/O news access at $45 a year, net write access $120 a year
- Machine -------> PCs running ESIX SVR4, Linux and FreeBSD
- Link ----------> MHSnet
- Features ------> We do not charge for time and impose no daily limits
- How -----------> dial (09) 245-2511, login as "visitor", password "visitor"
- Contact -------> info@it.com.au
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> multiline.com.au
- Organisation --> Independent
- Location ------> Perth
- Dialins -------> ?
- Charges -------> $50 pa
- Machine -------> 486 / Linux
- Link ----------> ?
- Features ------> ?
- How -----------> ?
- Contact -------> <root@multiline.com.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> perth.dialix.oz.au
- Organisation --> DIALix Services
- Location ------> Perth
- Dialins -------> 11 * V.32bis/V.42bis
- Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet traffic.
- Minimum annual usage payable in advance of:
- $10 student / $80 individual / $250 corporate
- Machine -------> ?
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Interactive login or UUCP. Live internet link.
- How -----------> dial (09) 244-3233, login as "guest"
- Contact -------> Jeff Johnson <jeff@dialix.oz.au>
- * * * * *
- Site Name -----> yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au
- Organisation --> Winthrop Technology
- Location ------> Perth
- Dialins -------> 8 * V.32
- Charges -------> $50 per month flat fee or $2.50 per connect hour
- Machine -------> DECsystem 5200, Ultrix V4.3 UNIX
- Link ----------> IP
- Features ------> Various contract services, FTP, TELNET, GOPHER, ARNS, WWW
- How -----------> Email or phone
- Contact -------> <wthelp@yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au>
-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 4
- Subject: Section 4: What can I do once I'm on the internet?
-
- The internet is the result of connecting together a large number of
- university, research, and commercial networks. It's history's first
- major global computer network.
-
- Originally it evolved out of a desire for researchers to communicate
- with each other and exchange data more conveniently. Electronic mail
- remains one of the major uses of the internet today - anyone on the
- network can send electronic mail to anyone else quickly and
- conveniently.
-
- A logical extension of this idea is "Usenet news", which allows people
- to publically discuss topics of interest with people all over the
- world who have similar interests. There are over three thousand such
- discussion groups now, with something to interest everyone.
-
- Both these services are "offline" services - in other words you send a
- message and other people read it later. The alternative is programs
- that type directly to other peoples' screens. The "online" equivalent
- of mail is "talk" which allows you to chat with a friend, typing
- directly to each others' screens. News' equivalent is "irc" or
- Internet Relay Chat which allows people to enter discussion groups on
- various topics and send messages to each others.
-
- People looking for software or information have various ways of
- accessing it. "ftp" and "fsp" are ways of getting files from computers
- anywhere in the world, with many places providing huge areas with
- gigabytes of files. The problem with these is finding what you're
- looking for amongst the millions of computers around the world. One
- solution is "archie", which can be used to search an index of ftp
- sites for whatever you're interested. Another alternative is "gopher"
- and "world wide web" (or "www") which provide a user-friendly way to
- browse through the plethora of databases and ftp sites on the net.
-
- Many games and bulletin boards are also accessible via the internet,
- including the very popular MUDs, or "Multi-User Dimension"s. These
- allow people to wander around a simulated world, interacting as if
- they were physically in the same place.
-
- There are plenty of other things to do on the internet - just finding
- out about them could easily become a career in itself! There's so many
- interesting things out there that it's impossible to list them all but
- exploring the possibilities is half the fun.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 5
- Subject: Section 5: How can I find out more about the internet?
-
- There are many excellent books and online resource guides to the
- internet. Check your local bookshop. If you've got a favorite book,
- please send me details so I can include them here!
-
- AARNet has some resource guides available on the archie.au ftp site in
- the directory /aarnet. If you have full details for any other online
- internet guides please let me know so I can list them here.
-
- Books: (most of these entries thanks to the PDIAL list)
-
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Internet; Peter Kent; Alpha Books;
- ISBN 1-56761-414-0.
-
- Connecting To The Internet; Susan Estrada; O'Reilly & Associates; ISBN
- 1-56592-061-9 (A how-to on selecting the right IP provider, from dialup
- to dedicated.)
-
- A DOS User's Guide to the Internet -- E-mail, Netnews and File Transfer
- with UUCP; James Gardner; MKS; ISBN 0-13-106873-3 ("Internet" in the
- title is misleading -- covers UUCP connections only.)
-
- The Electronic Traveller -- Exploring Alternative Online Systems;
- Elizabeth Powell Crowe; Windcrest/McGraw-Hill; ISBN 0-8306-4498-9. (A
- good tour of various personal IP and other types of providers, but some
- data is seriously out of date.)
-
- Internet Basics; Steve Lambert, Walt How; Random House; ISBN
- 0-679-75023-1
-
- The Internet Companion; Tracy LaQuey, Jeanne C. Ryer; Addison-Wesley;
- ISBN 0-201-62224-6
-
- The Internet Companion Plus; Tracy LaQuey, Jeanne C. Ryer;
- Addison-Wesley; ISBN 0-201-62719-1
-
- The Internet Complete Reference; Harley Hahn, Rick Stout; Osborne;
- ISBN 0-07-881980-6
-
- The Internet Directory; Eric Brawn; Fawcett Columbine; ISBN
- 0-449-90898-4 (Phone book style listing of resources.)
-
- The Internet for Dummies; John R. Levine, Carol Baroudi; IDG Books
- Worldwide; ISBN 1-56884-024-1 (Lots of useful information, but much
- of it is intermediate level, not "dummy".)
-
- Internet: Getting Started; April Marine, Susan Kirkpatrick, Vivian
- Neou, Carol Ward; PTR Prentice Hall; ISBN 0-13-289596-X
-
- The Internet Guide for New Users; Daniel P. Dern; McGraw-Hill; ISBN
- 0-07-016511-4 (Good, very thorough guide for new users.)
-
- The Internet Navigator; Paul Glister; John Wiley & Sons; ISBN
- 0-471-59782-1 (Good, comprehensive guide for new users.)
-
- The Internet Roadmap; Bennet Falk; Sybex; ISBN 0-7821-1365-6
-
- The Mac Internet Tour Guide; Michael Fraase; Ventana Press; ISBN
- 1-56604-062-0
-
- Navigating the Internet; Richard J. Smith, Mark Gibbs; SAMS
- Publishing; ISBN 0-672-30362-0
-
- Welcome to... Internet -- From Mystery to Mastery; Tom Badgett, Corey
- Sandler; MIS:Press; ISBN 1-55828-308-0
-
- The Whole Internet User's Guide & Catalog; Ed Krol; O'Reilly & Associates;
- ISBN 1-56592-025-2 (Good all around guide.)
-
- Zen & the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide; Brendan P. Kehoe;
- PTR Prentice Hall; ISBN 0-13-010778-6
-
- Other BBS/Internet Provider Lists
-
- FSLIST -- The Forgotten Site List. USENET: alt.internet.access.wanted;
- ftp: freedom.nmsu.edu:/pub/docs/fslist/ or login.qc.ca:/pub/fslist/
-
- nixpub -- public access Unixes. USENET: comp.bbs.mis, alt.bbs;
- email: to <mail-server@bts.com>, body containing "get PUB nixpub.long";
- ftp: VFL.Paramax.COM:/pub/pubnetc/nixpub.long
-
- PDIAL -- Public Dialup Internet Access List. USENET:
- alt.internet.access.wanted;
- ftp: rtfm.mit.edu:/pub/usenet/news.answers/pdial
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 6
- Subject: Section 6: How do I connect my own machine to the net?
-
- Most people just want to get access to the internet, and all that's
- required for that is to get an internet account on someone else's
- machine. The alternative is to attach your own machine to the network.
- This is usually more expensive and much more complex, but businesses
- often like to do things this way. Also many hobbyists do it just for
- the fun of it.
-
- There are several types of organisations which provide network
- feeds. The amateur networks are generally willing to provide feeds for
- a low cost, but also require that you be a financial member of their
- organisation so that your portion of the AARNet fees are paid for. The
- commercial organisations offer greater reliability but tend to charge
- more. Generally they charge by connect time or bandwidth used, plus
- some sort of yearly fee.
-
- You'll have to decide if you want to work on a dialup basis or if you
- need a permanent connection. Dialup connections are usually handled
- using the UUCP protocol or possibly ACSnet/MHSnet software. All you
- need is a modem and someone will to feed you. Permanent connections
- require a phone line and modem at each end at the very least, so they
- really start at around $1500 equipment cost alone. In terms of
- bandwidth these systems go to around 30kbaud. You will need a
- permanent connection if you want a full news feed. The next step is
- ISDN at 64kbaud and several thousand dollars, and from there is the
- dreamland of Megalink and other such wonders...
-
- There is a small but rapidly-increasing group of organisations
- offering network connectivity to the public. The following section
- describes each of these in more detail.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 7
- Subject: Section 7: What network organisations are there in Australia?
-
- . AARNet
- . Australian Computer Society
- . APANA
- . AUUG
- . biznet.com.au
- . Brisnet
- . Commercial Software Training
- . Compuserve Pacific
- . connect.com.au
- . Dialcom
- . DIALix
- . Fidonet
- . Hedland College
- . Hunter Network Association
- . iiNET Technologies
- . ILB Computing
- . Informed Technology
- . Interconnect Australia
- . Keylink
- . Kralizec
- . Message Handling Systems (TMX)
- . Microplex
- . Pegasus
- . Pro-Net
- . Winthrop Technology
-
- (Paragraphs in quotes come from the organisations themselves, unquoted
- paragraphs are my own guesses)
-
- ------------------------------ AARNet --------------------------------
-
- AARNet is the Australian Academic and Research Network. It's currently
- the major Australian Internet-connected computer network, and all the
- other organisations mentioned in this FAQ get their network
- connections from it. You must have a "compatible interest with" the
- education, academic or research interests to be an affiliate member of
- AARNet. It does not provide public access or commercial networking
- services except through the other organisations mentioned here.
-
- "AARNet is the Australian Academic and Research Network. AARNet is a
- private telecommunications network service operated by the Australian
- Vice Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) as a service to the participating
- member institutions of the AVCC and the Commonwealth Scientific and
- Industrial Organisation (CSIRO). Its objective is the provision of
- dedicated telecommunications services in support of members' research,
- academic and service activities. In addition, AARNet provides
- telecommunications services to other organisations under this general
- brief."
-
- Organisations interested in a connection to AARNet should contact the
- Customer Services Manager for the latest information or fetch a copy
- of the document "Connecting to AARNet" available from:
-
- ftp: aarnet.edu.au: /pub/doc/affiliate.*
-
- Contact ---> Brenda Aynsley, Customer Services Manager
- Email -----> Brenda.Aynsley@aarnet.edu.au or admin@aarnet.edu.au
- Fax -------> (06) 249-1369
- Voice -----> (06) 249-4968
- Snail -----> GPO Box 1142, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
-
- ------------------- Australian Computer Society ----------------------
-
- The Australian Computer Society is providing Internet access for
- members of the society only. Mail and news are free, but full IP
- access costs $200 per year.
-
- ------------------------------ Apana ---------------------------------
-
- The Australian Public Access Networking Association (APANA) is a
- non-profit organisation aimed at bringing the global network to its
- members.
-
- APANA is an Australia-wide network with around one hundred and fifty
- machines connected to it. Of these, over ten supply accounts for public
- access. A small group of machines uses permanent links, providing fast
- mail to the Internet and allowing ftp, telnet, talk and IRC within
- this sub-network. Other machines are connected via slower UUCP links.
-
- Email info@apana.org.au for more information.
-
- Area ------> Adelaide
- Contact ---> Mark Newton
- Email -----> m.newton@apana.org.au
- Voice -----> (08) 375-5575 (h)
-
- Area ------> Sydney
- Contact ---> Matt Perkins
- Email -----> sydney@apana.org.au
- Voice -----> (02) 689 3469
-
- Area ------> Brisbane
- Contact ---> Rhys Weatherley
- Email -----> rhys@fit.qut.edu.au
- Voice -----> (07) 279-2338 (h), (07) 864-1290 (w)
-
- Area ------> Canberra
- Contact ---> Jeff Coleman
- Email -----> j.coleman@apana.org.au
-
- Area ------> Geelong
- Contact ---> Mark Gregson
- Email -----> m.gregson@apana.org.au
-
- Area ------> Melbourne
- Contact ---> Warwick Hockley
- Email -----> w.hockley@apana.org.au
- Voice -----> (03) 571-0484
-
- ------------------------------ AUUG -----------------------------------
-
- The Australian Unix User Group has long been a popular club for UNIX
- gurus. The Canberra chapter of the group offers a volunteer-supported
- dialin system for its members. A dial-on-demand UUCP system is used to
- connect to the net.
-
- "The Canberra Chapter of AUUG Inc. (UNIX and Open Systems Users in
- Australia - see group aus.auug) runs a dialup service for members.
- The services is based around a Sun 3/160 workstation and provides
- logins to UNIX for e-mail and news connectivity and for general UNIX
- shell access. We also provide UUCP feeds for news and mail. News and
- mail user agents for MSDOS and Windows are also available. The
- service is available free to all AUUG Canberra chapter members. AUUG
- membership is around $90 per year for an individual and includes
- journals and access to other national and local chapter services."
-
- Area ------> Canberra
- Contact ---> John Barlow
- Email -----> john.barlow@anu.edu.au
- Voice -----> (06) 249-2930 (w)
-
- Area ------> Canberra
- Contact ---> Peter Wishart
- Email -----> pjw@canb.auug.org.au
-
- -------------------------- biznet.com.au ------------------------------
-
- biznet.com.au is a commercial network provider which started
- operations in June. They plan to offer UUCP and SLIP feeds to the
- general public but are currently not really operational.
-
- Contact ---> Ric Ruggiero
- Email -----> ric@uninet.com.au
- Voice -----> (03) 305-5649
- Snail -----> GPO Box 4000MM Melbourne 3001
-
- ----------------------------- Brisnet ---------------------------------
-
- Brisnet is another non-profit networking organisation. They operate in
- the Brisbane area currerntly. They are loosely affiliated with APANA and
- replace APANA's function in Brisbane.
-
- "BrisNet is a non-profit association which aims to provide cheap(ish)
- access to electronic mail and USENET news in the Brisbane and
- South-East Queensland area. We provide a dial-in USENET environment,
- UUCP feeds, dial-in IP, and permanent IP connections. Locally
- developed software is available to help improve access."
-
- Area ------> Brisbane
- Contact ---> Rhys Weatherley
- Email -----> rhys@fit.qut.edu.au
- Voice -----> (07) 279-2338 (h), (07) 864-1290 (w)
-
- Area ------> Brisbane
- Contact ---> John Lemon
- Email -----> john@ozspace.brisnet.org.au
- Voice -----> (07) 372-5296 (h)
-
- ------------------- Commercial Software Training ----------------------
-
- Commerical Software Training Pty Ltd is an international networking
- setup which offers feeds of mail and a partial newsfeed. Their primary
- area of interest is in providing network feeds to developing countries
- on a nonprofit basis. They also provide special support for Coherent
- OS users. They don't offer interactive logins.
-
- "CSTPL is primarily interested in communications research. We attempt
- to establish useable communications links between developing countries
- and developed countries. This communications is based almost
- exclusively on the uucp suite of programs, available under both Unix
- and xxDOS. We try to keep the technical aspects to the bare minimum,
- and the costs also as low as can be expected.
-
- "Subscriptions can be taken out to use cstpl as a gateway to the
- internet for email. It is never intended that cstpl will act as a
- serious netnews gateway. News feeds drive up bandwidth and costs. In
- this context, the user pays. We are primarily research, and we aim to
- cover costs only."
-
- Area ------> Mackay
- Contact ---> Robert Chalmers
- Email -----> robert@cstpl.com.au
- Data ------> (079) 524-527 UUCP login: nuucp word: uupublic (Anon uucp)
- Snail -----> 22 Minster Street, Mackay 4740
-
- ------------------------- Compuserve Pacific -------------------------
-
- Compuserve provide a pay-by-volume commercial email service.
- Compuserve were one of the original email systems in the USA and are
- still one of the largest. Compuserve Pacific is linked to the US
- Compuserve, and from there to the internet through a gateway. They
- have dialins in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and some other
- cities. People on Compuserve can be contacted using an address of the
- form: nnnn.nnnn@compuserve.com, where nnnn.nnnn is the person's
- Compuserve user id.
-
- Voice -----> (008) 023-158
-
- --------------------------- connect.com.au ---------------------------
-
- Connect.com.au now operate in most capitals. They offer feeds to other
- and support all the major protocols. Interactive accounts are not
- available. Charging for ninety minutes of connect time per day would
- total around $2000 per year.
-
- "Connect.com.au now has hubs in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth,
- Adelaide, and Brisbane. All access to connect.com.au is protocol
- based; we do not offer interactive access. We currently support the
- protocols: uucp, SL/IP, and PPP. Access is via intermittent or
- permanent modem or ISDN connections. We are happy to carry interstate
- traffic over our network as alternative to installing point-to-point
- links around the country. We also offer full access to the Internet
- and are willing to act as a mail and news gateway."
-
- Email -----> connect@connect.com.au
- Fax -------> (03) 528 5887
- Voice -----> (1 800) 818-262, (03) 528 2239
- Snail -----> 29 Fitzgibbon Crescent, Caulfield Victoria 3161
-
- ------------------------------- Dialcom ------------------------------
-
- Dialcom is a computer network service provided by OTC. I have no
- details on it apart from the name.
-
- ------------------------------- DIALix -------------------------------
-
- "DIALix Services provides Internet access to the public. DIALix
- presently runs Unix hosts in Perth and Sydney with other sites opening
- in the near future.
-
- "Dial-up and permanent line connections are available for traffic on
- our internal DIALix network and for Internet usage (within AARNet
- guidelines).
-
- "All hours phone and e-mail support is provided free of charge. In
- addition to an interactive direct login, a connection via UUCP can be
- requested. Public domain UUPC software for DOS is available
- pre-configured or for download for your own configuration. UUCP
- emulators for Mac, Amiga and Atari are also avail- able for download.
-
- Area ------> Sydney
- Contact ---> Justin Sullivan
- Email -----> justin@sydney.DIALix.oz.au
- Voice -----> (02) 948-6995, (018) 491-642
- Snail -----> Box 7, 145 Sydney Rd, Fairlight NSW 2094
-
- Area ------> Perth
- Contact ---> Jeff Johnson
- Email -----> jeff@perth.dialix.oz.au
- Voice -----> (09) 244-2433
- Snail -----> Box 153, Doubleview WA 6018
-
- ------------------------------- Fidonet ------------------------------
-
- Fidonet is a world-wide network of bulletin-boards (BBSes). Network
- topology is highly variable due to the hobbyist nature of the nodes.
- It runs on a different network protocol from Usenet, but provides a
- similar style of electronic mail and news service. While FIDOnet <->
- Usenet gateways do exist crossover between Usenet and FIDOnet is not
- particularly high. In general FIDOnet is somewhat less reliable and
- slower, although this is not universally the case. FIDONet BBSes also
- offer many other services like large file areas, online games, and
- chat. There are hundreds of FIDOnet sites around the country so I
- won't attempt to cover them all here. For more information check the
- state hub contacts that are listed every month in Australian Personal
- Computer magazine.
-
- ---------------------------- Headland College ------------------------
-
- Headland College are offering on-line mail and news access, with a
- local ftp area.
-
- "This service will be free until mid-January 1994 during stabilisation
- of the service. Currently a single modem is on line, but more are
- being added soon. One line will provide a slip connection and a
- mail/news Pop server is being added in December for off-line reading
- and replying. A full Internet service (telnet, ftp etc) is planned for
- 1994.
-
- "Once the service has been stabilised, there will be a charge for this
- service. Details of probable charges are not yet available but will be
- made available in late December or early January."
-
- Area ------> Western Australia
- Contact ---> Robert Hart
- Email -----> hartr@hedland.edu.au
- Voice -----> (091) 721-681
- Snail -----> South Hedland WA 6722
-
- -------------------- Hunter Networking Association ------------------
-
- The Hunter Network Association is a cost-recovering, cooperative
- operation of Amateur computer networking enthusiasts, who are
- interested in realising a non-profit Internetwork in the Newcastle/
- Lake Macquarie/Hunter Valley region. A sizeable portion of the
- membership are also in APANA.
-
- Area ------> Newcastle
- Contact ---> Michael Brown
- Email -----> mbrown@scorch.hna.com.au
- Voice -----> (049) 62 1783
- Snail -----> PO Box 49, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
-
- ---------------------------iiNET Technologies -----------------------
-
- "iiNet Technologies is a small, Perth based firm which can strives
- to provide any form of Network Access. We provide all TCP based
- services, including telnet, ftp, gopher, irc, and many other
- services, as well as email and a full news feed. We can also supply
- SL/IP, PPP, and UUCP to our network on request."
-
- iiNet are apparently offering accounts for a flat fee of $25 per
- month. They provide news, mail, telnet, ftp, and irc, but have no UDP
- support at the moment.
-
- Area ------> Western Australia
- Contact ---> Michael Malone
- Email -----> iinet@iinet.com.au
- Fax -------> (09) 307-8414
- Voice -----> (09) 307-1183
- Snail -----> PO Box 811 Hillarys 6025, WA
-
- ----------------------------- ILB Computing --------------------------
-
- "ILB Computing has a dialup site in Wollongong. Phone Numbers are
- (042) 25-8099 2 lines. Using MHSnet software running news/mail. 1.2G
- of news online ( i think its about 3 weeks )."
-
- Area ------> Wollongong
- Contact ---> Kevin Withnall
- Email -----> kevin@ilb.com.au
- Fax -------> (042) 26-4986
- Voice Msg -> (016) 28-5942
- Voice -----> (042) 26-1305
-
- -------------------------- Informed Technology -----------------------
-
- "We are a mail affiliate to AARNet and maintain a constant MHSnet
- connection to uniwa.uwa.edu.au. We take the full newsfeed and offer
- interactive UNIX logins as well as SLIP, PPP, UUCP and MHSnet
- connections. We have full time SLIP connections to Perth BBSes
- including Omen and CD-ROM Support."
-
- For more information email info@it.com.au
-
- Area ------> Perth
- Contact ---> Stephen Darragh
- Email -----> srd@it.com.au
- Voice -----> (09) 245-2279
- Snail -----> P.O. Box 688, Claremont, WA 6010
-
- -------------------------- InterConnect Australia -----------------------
-
- InterConnect provides public access dialin machines in most major
- cities and is closely linked to the network service provider
- connect.com.au. Their charging system includes $95 registration, $20
- per month, and $9 per hour on-line, with two hours per month and 1Mb
- of storage supplied from the monthly fee. They also have a rather
- surprising $1 per megabyte FTP charge. Possibly this presages the
- coming AARNet charges.
-
- "InterConnect Australia is now providing dialup interactive access to
- the Internet as a local call in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra,
- Adelaide and Perth. We are the first service provider to deliver
- national access to the Internet at local call telecom rates. A 1-900
- number will be available soon to provide economical access from
- anywhere in Australia outside of the major cities."
-
- Email -----> info@interconnect.com.au
- Voice -----> (1-800) 818 262 (toll free), (03) 528-2239.
- Snail -----> 29 Fitzgibbon Crescent, Caulfield, Victoria.
-
- ------------------------------- Keylink ------------------------------
-
- Keylink is Telecom's answer to public computer network access. One
- happy user reports that Keylink are very helpful. Their dialin is a
- 008 number.
-
- Email -----> /G=CUSTOMER/S=SERVICE/O=CUST.SERVICE/@telememo.au
- Voice -----> (008) 807-324
-
- ------------------------------ Kralizec ------------------------------
-
- Kralizec is a commercial public access site which is interested mainly
- in providing a service to end users, rather than feeding other sites.
- The operator places a high importance on high quality service and
- personal response. It features a large software library, including a
- lot of Linux software and a 6-platter CD-ROM changer. Each new member
- receives a 26-page Kralizec Users Guide.
-
- "Kralizec is expanding and expects to obtain a direct Internet link
- soon"
-
- Area ------> Sydney
- Contact ---> Nick Andrew
- Email -----> nick@kralizec.zeta.org.au
-
- ------------------- Message Handling Systems (TMX) -------------------
-
- The Message Exchange is the name under which the better-known Message
- Handling Systems is providing networking services to the public.
- Message Handling Systems is one of the original network providers in
- Australia. They have taken over maintainence of the SUN-III software
- which was the fundamental basis for Australian networking (good ol'
- ACSnet and the .oz domain!) until AARNet came along.
-
- TMX now market the descendant of this software as MHSnet. They also
- provide network feeds for the ACSnet network under the TMX name. TMX
- provides MHSnet and UUCP connections and imports "Clarinet" news.
- Charging is based on connect time only. Gateways are available for ftp
- and internet access as well as full or partial newsfeeds and email.
- TMX don't offer interactive accounts but do offer cheap single user
- accounts using offline readers.
-
- For further information mail enquiry@mhs.oz.au.
-
- Contact ---> Elaine Pensabene
- Email -----> elaine@mhs.oz.au
- Voice -----> (008) 806-962, (02) 550-4448
-
- ----------------------------- Microplex ------------------------------
-
- Microplex offers interactive login accounts and UUCP network feeds to
- the public. Shell accounts have access to all Internet services at a
- cost of $25 setup fee plus $23.50 per month. There is also a discount
- rate of $234 per year. They have a high bandwidth link to AARNet, and
- their prices compare quite favourably to other commercial services
- with comparable features. Their dialin capacity is very impressive -
- meaning there should be less problem with getting engaged signals.
-
- UUCP feeds cost $45 for setup plus $25 to $90 a month depending on
- connect time, and do a special deal for a UUCP feed plus a shell
- account. Contact them for further details.
-
- Area ------> Sydney
- Email -----> info@jolt.mpx.com.au
- Fax -------> (02) 888-2328
- Voice -----> (02) 888-3685
- Snail -----> P.O. Box 627 Marsfield NSW 2122
-
- ------------------------------ Pegasus -------------------------------
-
- Pegasus is a "subscriber supported" setup. Pegasus sell public access
- to their own networks, as well as UUCP access to the Internet. They
- are members of the Association for Progressive Communications, and
- hence have a bent towards environmental and other issues. They have
- full Internet access. Cheaper access is available through the use of
- their "Messenger" offline reader. The charging system starts at around
- $20 per month, with business-hours time charging at 38 cents per
- minute. A 1-800 support hotline and user manuals are available.
-
- A unique form of access they provide is through AUSTPAC, allowing
- subscribers to connect via 2400 baud modem from anywhere in the
- country.
-
- One ex-subscriber comments: "Pegasus has a live Internet link, and
- you can ftp to other systems. However, you can't access the underlying
- UNIX system, and have to work through their primitive, cumbersome and
- brain-damaged "user-friendly" menu system. In addition, Pegasus
- charges $18-$36 per hour, so you can't have long sessions unless you're
- rich. I was on Pegasus for 5 years, but left because I couldn't
- afford it, and didn't like its isolation from the larger net world."
-
- On the other hand they seem a very committed bunch and say: "Pegasus
- Networks provides an online communication and information service to
- subscribers across Australia. The network was established in 1989,
- offering services specifically to those with interests in the
- environment, development, education, media, healh, and human rights.
- It has a rapidly growing user base of individuals and organizations
- (non-government, government, and private) involved in community,
- development, education, aid, research, media, management and policy.
- Pegasus is a founding member of the international Association for
- Progressive Communications (APC)."
-
- Email -----> support@peg.pegasus.oz.au
- Voice -----> 1 800 812-812, (07) 257-1111
- Snail -----> PO Box 284, Broadway Q 4006
-
- ------------------------------ Pro-Net -------------------------------
-
- Pro-Net are a commercial setup with a slightly unusual approach. They,
- like Pegasus, are using a toll-free dialin number to allow calls from
- anywhere in Australia to be charged at the local rate. They have an
- interesting menu interface to their system and claim to have
- extensive, up-to-date archives. An on-line chat system with conference
- areas is also provided, as well as storage for databases. They are
- also importing the "Newsbytes" independent computer industry news
- service; possibly the only network in Australia to do so.
-
- "Charges are now on application. Various tarriffing policies. Now
- offering X.400 mail and Novell Network interconnection. People owning
- Novell Network Fileservers can now interconnect their local LAN to
- Pro-Net. Now offering EDI services Nationally. Educational tarriffs
- now available. Beta Testing Multimedia mail services with customised
- Front-End software for DOS and WINDOWS."
-
- Fax -------> (03) 349-1257
- Voice -----> (03) 349-2266
- Snail -----> P.O Box 186, North Carlton, Vic, 3054
-
- ------------------------ Winthrop Technology -------------------------
-
- "Winthrop Technology offer general bureau services on an Ultrix
- system. Since we are on AARNet, accounts on this system include full
- AARNet access.
-
- "Accounts are available on one of two charging systems:
- a) You can pay a flat fee of $50 per month
- b) Casual, pre-paid access. This is charged at $2.50 per connect hour.
-
- "In addition to accounts on our bureau system, Winthrop Technology
- also offer Mail Affiliate links to AARNet. Users with their own Unix
- system can get mail and news feeds. The connection can use UUCP,
- MHSnet, or local SLIP. This does not offer full SLIP to AARNet. Mail
- Affiliates are charges $150 per month for their connection and
- mail/news feed; in addition, AARNet charge $1000 per annum for the
- service."
-
- Area ------> Perth
- Email -----> kaye@uniwa.uwa.edu.au
- Fax -------> (09) 382-1688
- Voice -----> (09) 380-3698
- Snail -----> University of W.A., Nedlands W.A. 6009
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 8
- Subject: Section 8: Why do these public networking people do it?
-
- Some people seem to be in it for the money - or so they say. Others
- make no bones about the fact that they just do it for the fun. My
- personal opinion is that we're all a bunch of net-addicted wierdos who
- can't resist the temptation of infecting as many people as possible
- with the same disease, even if it costs us our personal fortunes...
-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 9
- Subject: Section 9: How do I send mail between the various networks?
-
- (This section is currently under revision)
-
- There are various different types of networks around the world.
- Gradually everything is moving towards the Usenet and Internet
- standards, but there are still plenty of separate networks that don't
- talk directly to the rest of the world.
-
- Email between FidoNet and Internet
- ==================================
-
- It's possible to mail back and forth between Fido nodes and internet
- addresses. The main thing to keep in mind is to keep the volume of
- mail small.
-
- Internet -> Fidonet
- -------------------
-
- First you need the FidoNet address, which is of the form 3:711/919 or
- 3:711/919.3, where 3 is the zone, 711 is the net, and 919 is the
- individual node on that net. Sometimes there is the .3 thing, which
- is a point off the node. You then need to change this into an
- internet version of this, which is:
-
- f919.n711.z3 or p3.f919.n711.z3
-
- Add the user name on the front, with spaces changed to full stops, eg.
-
- matthew.arnison@f919.n711.z3.fidonet.org
-
- where "fidonet.org" is the standard gateway address.
-
- matthew.arnison@f919.n711.z3.fidonet.org
-
- would be one way to mail me. I've tested this, and it works!
-
- If someone from Fido mails you using the techniques below, you may get
- away with just replying as usual for internet mail, and it will
- hopefully make it's way back to Fido land. However, that doesn't
- always work, see below for alternatives.
-
-
- Fidonet -> Internet
- -------------------
-
- Well, if you're on a Fido system, and someone from internet has sent
- you email, try just replying as normal, and that may work.
-
- But here's two ways to do it from scratch, in an excerpt from a
- document on IXGate, from Nick Andrew at Kralizec
- (nick@kralizec.fido.zeta.org.au).
-
- Nick>>>>>>
-
- When sending mail into the Internet, your sending address is converted
- by the IXgate and appears automagically on the From: line in messages.
- To send a message into the Internet from Fidonet, you send the message
- to 713/602 and in the To part of the message you put the full Internet
- address of the required destination. For example:
-
- Command? s send mail
- Matrix Address: 713/602
- To: oracle@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu
- Subject: askme
-
- Start typing your message now...
-
- This ability of the IXgate software to put the Internet address of the
- sender into the Fidonet From field of messages is what sets it apart
- from other so-called gateways and it makes replying to Netmail &
- Echomail messages an easy, intuitive and transparent task.
-
- But sometimes Internet people have names which are too long for the
- Fidonet standards - 36 characters or more. In this case, you can use
- the kludge which other "gateways" consider the normal mode of
- operation. What you do is send the message to "uucp" at 713/602 and
- type in the Internet address of the recipient into the first line of
- the message. It goes like this:
-
- Command? s send mail
- Matrix Address: 713/602
- To: uucp
- Subject: askme
-
- Enter your message now...
- To: someuser@verylongname.verylongdomains.com <-- this must be first line!
-
- Start typing what you want to say ...
-
-
- This style of message input is accepted at all times to retain upward
- compatibility with kludgy gateways.
-
- <<<<<<Nick
-
- Other collected gateways, as collected from various posts:
-
- 3:632/348, 3:632/400, 3:635/552.2, 3:712/400
-
- Not all of these gateways may support the first method above.
- However, the uucp method seems to be supported everywhere, but may
- make it diffuicult to just automatically reply at the other end. The
- best way to find out is to either try it, or mail "sysop" at the
- respective Fido node, and ask.
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 10
- Subject: Section 10: Changes this month
-
- Public access listing (section 3):
-
- * Updated: kralizec.zeta.org.au
- * Updated: APANA sites are now full IP, not firewalled
- * Updated: ozspace.brisnet.org.au
- * Updated: peg.apc.org
- * Updated: cleese.apana.org.au
- * Updated: werple.apana.org.au
- * Updated: zikzak.apana.org.au
- * Updated: yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au
-
-
- Book listing (section 5):
-
- * Added: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Internet"
-
-
- Network organisation listing (section 7):
-
- * Updated: APANA
- * Updated: BrisNet
- * Updated: connect.com.au
- * Updated: DIALix
- * Updated: Informed Technology
- * Updated: Pegasus
-
-
- ------------------------------
-
- From: OzNetFAQ Section 11
- Subject: Section 11: Disclaimer
-
- DISCLAIMER:
-
- The Network Access in Australia FAQ provides information on publically
- accessible networking in Australia. It is compiled by myself and has
- no affiliation with any commerical entity or group. It is _not_
- advertising or promotional material. It does not speak for any
- organisation.
-
- Neither is it error free. In a compilation of this size where much of
- the material has necessarily to be gathered by hearsay it is
- inevitable that errors creep in. I collect error reports and endeavour
- to correct the errors in the next issue. I do not post updates for
- every single error, particularly considering there are usually several
- a month.
-
- The form and content of the FAQ are my choice, and no organisation
- will be given special treatment.
-
- Thanks to everyone who has contributed information to the FAQ!
-
- +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
- | | "Sometimes I get the feeling |
- | zik@cs.monash.edu.au | that Schrodinger wasn't |
- | Zik Saleeba | really a cat lover." |
- +---------------------------------------------------------------------+
-