Frequently Asked Questions

1. Monash Dial-up Service call charges

STD and IDD Rates

I live outside the metropolitan area, how do I know if I am paying STD rates for my call?
The 0198333839 number is available Australia wide at local call charge rates. There are no STD charges.

I intend taking my laptop overseas, I hope to use it at my destination to access Monash, what should I consider?
Is the power supply in the country you are visiting of the same voltage as Australia, if not can your power supply be adjusted to conform to the destinations countries power supply standards.
Is your modem type compatible with the telecommunication system in the destination country? Will you be using international long distance dialing to connect back to Monash or will you have a local point of connectivity?

2. Internet access

To access the Internet using the dial-up service, a VPN session must first be established, and the web browser `Proxy Settings’ must be correctly set.

See the VPN section below for details.

3. Sending & receiving emails

A quick and simple method of reading and sending emails is to use the My.Monash portal.

However to use computer based mail clients, a VPN session must first be established, and the web browser `Proxy Settings’ must be correctly set.

See the VPN section below for details.

4. Establishing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) session

If using the dial-up service to access the Internet or email through a computer based mail client, a VPN session must be established after connecting to the dial-up service.

Visit the VPN page for details on how to install and use the VPN software. In particular, read the FAQ section.

5. Browser proxy settings

To access the Internet via the dial-up service, your browser must be correctly configured.

Please refer to the Microsoft Internet Explorer dial-up configuration page for further information.

6. Modem and disconnection problems

What is 56K?
56K is a general term given to the new generation of modems. These new generation modems deliver speeds of up to 56Kbps, almost twice the capacity of conventional 28.8Kbps modems. Although the name suggests an actual doubling of speed this is not the case, several real-world limitations restrict the maximum rate of 56K to an actual speed of around 53Kbps, and that is under ideal connection conditions. Add to this the fact that 56K was designed to work in one direction only, that being from your ISP to your computer and a more likely connection speed would be in the region of 42 - 46K

I have a 56K modem, and so does a friend, can I dial their PC and get a connection speed of 56K?
No, the type of technology used in 56K modems is not designed for 'peer to peer' type calls. The best connection speed you could expect will be approximately 33.6K, even if both modems are rated at 56K.

Things that can affect modem connections:

Noise caused by devices on the telephone line:
Try disconnecting all devices from the line, including FAX machines, answering machines, portable phones, and other telephones.

Poor quality telephone line:
Try listening carefully when you next on the phone to a friend. If you hear any signs of noise or ''electrical interference'', then it will almost certainly be the cause of disconnection.

Radio towers and CB radios:
Having these nearby can cause problems, especially in the case of ''Internal modems'', as the computers case acts as an antenna. External modems are less affected by HF interference because they are sufficiently shielded.

Very slow computers:
If an application on your computer takes a long time to load, you may find yourself disconnected. For example if a connection is idle, an echo is sent to your PC which then in turn is expected to respond. If, after a predetermined number of response failures, the dial in system assumes that your modem is no longer connected and the call is terminated. This type of loading time problem usually affects 486 or older computers that have insufficient system resources, for example Netscape will take forever to load on such a PC.

Poor quality modems:
Some ''El Cheapo'' modems have trouble under some circumstances. If you have an Austel approved modem, you have a good chance of having a decent quality one. Some modems purchased overseas do have problems in Australia.

Call Waiting:
To disable Telstra call waiting, add #43# prefix to each call.

Connections at Low Speed:

If you keep getting connected at 26400 or 24000 or lower, it will be for one of the following reasons:

Poor Line Conditions:
The modems attempt to connect at the highest speed possible for correct data transfer. V.34 28.8k modems will connect at 28.8k only if the phone line conditions are ideal, and the modems are fully compatible. Quite often, a V.34 modem will connect at 26400, 24000 or even lower if the telephone line isn't up to standard.

Modem Incompatibility:
There are several modems available in Australia that are not of sufficient quality. Genuine brand name modems will give you the least problems, it boils down to the adage, You get what you pay for. Furthermore there are a few modems that will not communicate correctly as not all hardware is compatible.
Always purchase an Austel approved modem.

Line Noise:
Any line noise can, and usually does affect connection speed, but is more likely to cause the modem connection to drop out. Try removing all devices such as telephones, portable phones, FAX machines and answering machines from the phone line, except the modem. One brand of phone, the TouchPhone 200, causes a great deal of hum on the line. Unfortunately, Telstra will only guarantee a stable data connection over a standard telephone line of 2400 baud. As a test, it pays to attach a phone to the line and make a voice call; listen carefully to noise, crackles and hum - if any is audible, it will most likely affect the modem. Port Speed: The serial port speed should be locked at a rate of 38400 or higher. A port speed of 57600 is usually preferred. Incompatible compression/error correction protocols This is not usually a problem with Austel approved modems, but disabling compression can sometimes help with drop outs on poor quality lines, or cheap modems.