Earthnet Technical Support for Macintosh

This web page offers solutions for many of the more common problems encountered when connecting to Earthnet with a Macintosh.

Answers to Common Connection Problems

PROBLEM: When I dial Earthnet my connection hangs at "Initializing Modem".

SOLUTION: The initialization string may need to be changed for some modems in order to connect to Earthnet. To find out what the proper init string is for your modem, go to the Modem Initialization Strings Library and look up your modem model. Use the init string in the "PPP Init String" column for your modem's best connection. To use your new init string go to the FreePPP Setup application click on Accounts then double click on the highlighted text "Earthnet" then click on Connection and type your init string in the Modem init string box. See our FreePPP Setup help for pictures of these panels.

PROBLEM: My computer tells me that my serial port is busy.

SOLUTION 1: Check to see if your Apple Talk control panel is set to use your printer port, not your modem port. If you use your modem port for Apple Talk you cannot connect with your modem.

SOLUTION 2: Your fax software may be corrupt, reinstall it and try again.

SOLUTION 3: There may be a conflict between your modem port and the fax software installed on your computer. Try turning off your fax extensions and restarting, then connect.

PROBLEM: When I dial Earthnet my connection hangs at "waiting for text: Earthnet_>".

SOLUTION 1: There are several possible solutions to this very common problem. First, make sure that your username and password are spelled exactly correctly in the connection script dialog box. If you changed your password, you must also change the connection script to your new password. Proper capitalization is extremely important. Your username should be all in lower case. Your password will be in lower case also unless you specifically requested otherwise when your account was created.

SOLUTION 2: Another poroblem occurs with an earlier version of FreePPP (2.5) on earlier systems (7.1) which causes the connection process to hang here. One tactic that often works is editing your connection script so that the line that normally reads "Earthnet_>" is left blank. What this does is bypass a "welcome message" which you see if you Telnet to Earthnet (in a normal PPP connection the message gets swallowed by FreePPP), and the server moves directly to a ppp connection.

To do this, use the modified connection script below. This may also speed up the time it takes to make a normal connection.

Wait for: username:
Send: type your username here, spelled and capitalized correctly
Wait for: password:
Send: type your password here, spelled and capitalized correctly
Send: ppp

SOLUTION 3: Your account with Earthnet may not exist, has been discontinued, or has been incorrectly processed. Even if you are sure you have an account with Earthnet, if our version of your username and password are not exactly like yours you will not get in. (See SOLUTION 1 above about capitalization of your username and password.) Please call Earthnet (546-6362) for Technical Support.

PROBLEM: I seem to dial in to Earthnet just fine, but my internet applications don't work right.

SOLUTION 1: If you are not able to get to web pages with a web browser make sure that the Doman Name Server (DNS) Information is correct in the MacTCP control panel under the "more" button (if Open Transport is off), or the name server address TCP/IP control panel (if Open Transport is on).

SOLUTION 2: Some web browsers require a lot of memory to run. To give your computer more room to work, try turning on Virtual Memory in the Memory control panel, or try increasing the memory that an application uses by highlighting the application's icon in the Finder, and choosing "Get Info" from the File menu, then typing a larger number in the memory size boxes.

SOLUTION 3: If you are having trouble with the Eudora email program, make sure the settings are correct. Eudora will not get to your mail account unless the settings in Eudora are directed at the Earthnet server. Make sure that under the Special menu in Settings under Hosts that the SMPT number is "199.45.146.1". Follow this link for pictures on how your settings should look.

PROBLEM: I can't connect to Earthnet on my Powerbook.

SOLUTION 1: On powerbooks with internal modems make sure that your Modem Init String is correct. To find out what the proper init string is for your modem, go to the Modem Initialization Strings Library and look up your modem model. Use the init string in the "PPP Init String" column for your modem's best connection. To use your new init string go to the FreePPP Setup application click on Accounts then double click on the highlighted text "Earthnet" then click on Connection and type your init string in the Modem init string box. See our FreePPP Setup help for pictures of these panels.

SOLUTION 2: Make sure that your powerbook is configured to use its ports properly. Check the control panel called "Modem" or "Express Modem" and make sure that you select "Internal Modem" (or "Serial Port" for external modems). Also check in the FreePPP Setup application under Modem Setup to make sure that you connect to the proper port.

PROBLEM: I can't connect. My system software is 7.0 or earlier or System 7.5.2.

SOLUTION: The Earthnet software will only work with System 7.1 or later. Either invest in a new computer or call an Apple Computer Specialist to install a newer system version on your machine. Sorry!

SOLUTION: System 7.5.2 is highly unreliable for telecommunication and network connection. It is strongly suggested if you are running this system that you first upgrade to system 7.5.3 then 7.5.5 (free download from the Apple Software Archive) before installing the Earthnet connection software.

PROBLEM: I still can't figure out what's going on.

SOLUTION: Call Earthnet support at 546-6362. We will help you.


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