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Once you've connected your external or PalmModem to your Palm (or started the Windows-based COM redirection program), you need to configure the modem settings on you Palm.  This is done under the "Prefs" app on your Palm.  Once you have started the "Prefs" app, select "Connection" using the dropdown list in the upper-right corner of the Palm screen.  You should see a screen similar to Figure 4.

If you are using a PalmModem, make the appropriate modem selection and specify a speed of  "14,400 bps".  If you are using an external modem, you should define a new modem configuration by tapping on the "New..." button which will bring up a form shown in Figure 5.  Type in a description for the modem name and then tap the "Details..." button which will bring up a form similar to Figure 6.  Specify the proper modem connection speed and init string (if necessary).
 

Figure 5 Defining a new connection device

Figure 6 Specifying device speed

If you are using a Windows-based COM redirection program, remember to set the same modem speed in the Palm's "Prefs" and windows application.

Configuring Palm "Network" Settings

Finally, to make a connection to your ISP, you need to configure your Palm's Network settings.  From the "Prefs" app, select Network from the dropdown list in the upper-right corner of the Palm screen.  You should see a screen similar to Figure 7.

This is where you will specify your ISP dialup phone number, login name and password, etc.  As an example, we will use the following information about a fictitious ISP to illustrate how to enter the necessary data for Internet dialup connection.

ISP:  davenet
Connection type: Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
Local PPP dialup phone number: 968-1111
User name: Pdave
Password: doggie9
Primary DNS: 201.11.11.2
Secondary DNS: 201.11.11.3

Figure 8 Example Network setup

Figure 9 Example details Network setup (Default)

If you know the IP Addresses for the Domain Name Servers (DNS) on your ISP, you can enter them as shown in Figure 10.  This can usually speed up login connection.

This should be sufficient for making a PPP connection to your ISP.  In some cases, you will need to make some entries in under the "Script..." screen to specify when to send the login name, password, etc.

Now, to actually make the PPP connection with your ISP, you will go back to the Network screen shown in Figure 6 and tap the "Connect" button.  Your Palm should then dial the specified phone number and make your connection!  Once you make a PPP connection, you will see a small vertical line flashing in the upper right corner of your Palm display (Figure 11).  When you disconnect your PPP connection (by either turning off your Palm or tapping the "Disconnect" button in the Prefs - Network screen) the flashing vertical line should disappear.

Figure 11
Flashing vertical bar indicates network connection

In some cases, it will be necessary to create a login in script on your Palm to connect with your ISP.  For example:

Your company has a secured Network, and to login you must use a "SecureID Card".  This card will generate a random numeric password based on the PIN number you punch in and the current date/time.  Because this password will always be different when you login, your Palm must wait at the proper moment during the login sequence and prompt you for the password.  Also, after you enter your login name and password, your company's login procedure allows you select from 3 different types of connection, so you must answer with the proper selection to make the necessary PPP connection.

The best thing to do is use Win95/98's HyperTerminal program to determine the ASCII text strings your company's server sends you during initial login.  The text listed below illustrates what you might see for the example described previously:

at
OK
atdt 1-111-523-6643
CONNECT 14400

====================================
|   XYZ Company Dial in server     |
|     Authorized access only       |
====================================

Access Verification

Username: smith
Enter PASSWORD CODE: *******
PASSWORD CODE Accepted

Welcome to XYZ Company Server

Enter a selection:

    1     VT Terminal Emulation
    2     TCP/IP via SLIP
    3     TCP/IP via PPP
    4     Exit menu

Selection: 3

Your IP address is 111.22.33.45

~ }#À!}!º} }4}"}&} }*} } }%}&’Ò¥õ}'}"

After you setup your Network dialup phone number and DNS (as illustrated in Figures 4 thru 10), tap the "Script..." button shown in Figure 10.  This will bring up the script window shown in Figure 12.  You can then use your stylus to make the appropriate entries as shown in Figure 13 for the example problem.
 
 

Figure 12 Blank login script screen

Figure 13 Login script for example problem

In this login script, the following sequence happens:

1. Once dialed into the Server, the Palm waits for a "name:" prompt to be sent from the server. It then sends the username specified in the screen shown in Figure 6, followed by a carriage return character.
2. Next, the Palm waits for a "ODE:" string from the server, after which, it trys to send the password string specified in the screen shown in Figure 8.  Since this password is set for "-Prompt-", the Palm will pop up a dialog box asking for the password you want to send to the server (Figure 14).  If you are using a SecureID card, here is where you put in the generated numeric password.  After you enter the password, the Palm will send it followed by another carriage return character.
3. The Palm then waits for a "tion:" string, and then automatically send a "3" as the response followed by another carriage return character.
4. The Palm should then finish the login procedure by showing the "Signing on" screen (Figure 15) and you should then have the flashing bar as illustrated in Figure 11.

Figure 14 Password screen

Figure 15 Signing on screen