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Setting PPP Dialup under Mac OS X

These instructions are based on the directions from Apple's website. They are a little technical so if you have suggestions to help make this document easier to follow please let us know by calling Member Services at 244-1962 or e-mailing

1. Choose System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
2. Choose Network from the View menu which is the blue globe in the top row of icons.
3. Click on the "show" drop-down list (the "Configure" pop-up menu prior to Mac OS X 10.1). Choose active network ports and check internal modem. Next Choose internal modem from the "show" drop down menu.
4. Make sure the TCP/IP tab is on top.
5. Type the following information into the corresponding fields. "Location:" gives you a drop down list. Choose "new location" and type in prairienet.org "Configure:" is another drop down list. Choose "internal modem". Domain Name Server: 192.17.3.3 (then on the next line) 128.174.5.58
6. Click on the PPP tab at the top of the window.
7. The service provider should already be listed as prairienet.org. For a main telephone put in 239-1001. Your Prairienet login goes in the Account Name field (do NOT include @prairienet.org as that is your e-mail address not your login). Enter your Prairienet password in the password field. You also have the option to click in the "Save password" box from this screen.
8. Click on ppp options at the bottom of this screen. For the session options you can decide what you want to set these at but usually you don't want it to disconnect if idle to be set lower than 15 minutes. None of the advanced options need to be changed. Click okay on that window to apply those options.
9. You can close the Network window now by clicking on Save at the bottom of the screen. The connection is now created and saved and ready to use.

Anytime you want to establish a connection open "Internet Connect", located in the Applications folder and click connect. It will establish a connection and you can then use a browser like Netscape or Internet Explorer or any other program that requires an internet connection. When you are done be sure to disconnect the connection so your time on Prairienet doesn't continue. You will need to go back to Internet Connect to disconnect. You also have the option of "show modem status" in the menubar which is not checked by default. This will give you a modem status icon at the top right of your screen, near the clock that you can just click on to get the disconnect option.