Network Access in Australia FAQ

Archive-name: internet-access/australia
Last-modified: 1994/09/18
Version: 2.8
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 Im 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: What services are available on the Australian Network?
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 inAustralia. It contains information on the various organisationsproviding 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 byusing your text viewer to search for the words "Section 7".
New versions of the FAQ are posted monthly, incorporating any updateswhich 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. Also, if you're going to republish the FAQ elsewhere, pleasemake sure it's the latest version. Anything older than a month _will_be incorrect.
The most recent version of the FAQ is always available on the manyFTP sites which archive FAQs. An example location is:
ftp://archie.au/usenet/FAQs/alt.internet.access.wanted/Network_Access_in_Australia_FAQ
The FAQ is also available on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.cs.monash.edu.au/~zik/netfaq.html
------------------------------
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 machineUniversities 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
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western AustraliaThere are three 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.
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 sendAlso 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 - packetisationAfter 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>
* * * * *
Site name -----> canberra.dialix.oz.au
Organisation --> DIALix Services
Location ------> Canberra
Dialins -------> 3 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet email/ftp.
Machine -------> SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (06) 251-3811
Contact -------> Justin Sullivan <justin@canberra.dialix.oz.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> capcon.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Canberra
Dialins -------> 2 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $110 p.a.
Machine -------> i486/66 running Linux
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> standard shells, nn/tin, elm/pine, gopher/WWW
How -----------> dial (06) 292-7655
Contact -------> Craig Gibson <craig@capcon.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> mana.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Canberra
Dialins -------> 1 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> APANA membership (ed: hey, isn't that free?)
Machine -------> Amiga
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 6 hours
Features ------> offering UUCP/News/E-Mail + files
How -----------> Email only
Contact -------> Jeff Coleman <billy@mana.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Canberra
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 06 257 2662 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> posgate.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Canberra
Dialins -------> 1 * V32/V.42bis
Charges -------> APANA membership + $10/month (mail info@apana.org.au for details)
Machine -------> 486DX33 Linux 1.2
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> offering dialup/permanant SLIP/PPP/UUCP only (no shell)
How -----------> dial (06) 285 1701, login as ???, http://posgate.apana.org.au
Contact -------> Mark Purcell <m.purcell@posgate.apana.org.au>
============================ New South Wales ===========================
Site name -----> geko.com.au
Organisation --> Geko
Location ------> Sydney
Dialins -------> 8 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> UNIX shell: $20 setup + $15 per month,
SL/IP: $80 setup + $40 per month
Machine -------> SPARC 1000, Solaris UNIX
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> UNIX shell, Telnet, FTP, News, Mail, also SL/IP and PPP
How -----------> Ring sales on (02) 968-4333
Contact -------> Dez Blanchfield <geko@geko.com.au>
* * * * *
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 -----> dwarf.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Wollongong
Dialins -------> 1 * V32/V.42bis
Charges -------> Nil
Machine -------> LINUX, (386DX40)
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 18 hours
How -----------> dial (042) 973837
Contact -------> Russell Noble <russ@dwarf.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> jolt.mpx.com.au
Organisation --> Microplex
Location ------> Sydney
Dialins -------> 25 * 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 -------> $15/month for 10 hours, $1/hr thereafter
Machine -------> Sun 3 (SunOS 4.0) / 386DX/40 (Linux)
Link ----------> IP
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 -----> magna.com.au
Organisation --> Magnadata Public Access Internet Services
Location ------> Sydney
Dialins -------> 16 * V.Fast
Charges -------> Shell $32 per month, SLIP/PPP $40 per month
Machine -------> 486dx50 PCs
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> No time charges at all, shell and SLIP/PPP, dial-up and
dedicated, free email support
How -----------> dial (02) 267 7711, login as "guest"
Contact -------> info@magna.com.au, voice <info@magna.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> scorch.hna.com.au
Organisation --> Hunter Networking Association
Location ------> Newcastle
Dialins -------> 3 * V32/V.42bis
Charges -------> $40 pa (interactive), $60 (private systems), $100 (public sys)
Machine -------> 386DX40, 8Meg core, total 2G HD, Linux 1.0
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 -------> 18 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet email/ftp.
Machine -------> PCs, SCO and SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (02) 948-6918, login as "visitor"
Contact -------> Justin Sullivan <justin@sydney.dialix.com>
* * * * *
Site name -----> sysx.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Darlinghurst, Sydney
Dialins -------> 1 * V.32
Charges -------> $25.00 pa
Machine -------> 386/33 running Waffle 1.65 & various
Link ----------> UUCP - 6 hr max delay to AARNET.
Features ------> Geared towards electronic musicians and artists.
How -----------> login on (02) 361-4063
Contact -------> <scot@sysx.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> toaster.hna.com.au
Organisation --> Hunter Networking Association
Location ------> Newcastle
Dialins -------> 1 * 2400
Charges -------> none
Machine -------> 486sx33, 8 meg core, 200M drive, CD-ROM
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 6 hours
Features ------> CICA and Hobbes CD-ROMs online.
How -----------> Email
Contact -------> Matt McLeod <matt@toaster.hna.com.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
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Sydney
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 02 906 6677 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.com.au>
========================== Northern Territory ==========================
Site name -----> turtle.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Darwin
Dialins -------> 6 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $20 per month
Machine -------> ?
Link ----------> IP - 19kbps to APANA
Features ------> ?
How -----------> dial (089) 723 499, login as "info"
Contact -------> Robert Nagy <robert@turtle.apana.org.au>
============================== Queensland ==============================
Site name -----> brisbane.dialix.oz.au
Organisation --> DIALix Services
Location ------> Brisbane
Dialins -------> 3 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet email/ftp.
Machine -------> PC, SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (07) 889-0799, login as "visitor"
Contact -------> Justin Sullivan <justin@brisbane.dialix.com>
* * * * *
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 -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Brisbane
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 07 279 3914 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.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 -------> Rhys Weatherley <rhys@fit.qut.edu.au>, voice (015) 576-698
* * * * *
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>
* * * * *
Site name -----> pro-vision.pronet.com
Organisation --> Independent
Location ------> Townsville
Dialins -------> 1 * ?
Charges -------> from $40/year for 20 hours/month, $60/year for 30 hours/month
Machine -------> Apple IIgs, running proline v3.0
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet ?
Features ------> menu or like shell offering users file area.
Apple II software, graphics, sound.
How -----------> By email, mail or phone
Contact -------> Christopher Griggs <cgriggs@pro-vision.pronet.com>
=========================== South Australia ============================
Site name -----> adelaide.dialix.oz.au
Organisation --> DIALix Services
Location ------> Adelaide
Dialins -------> 7 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet e-mail/ftp.
Machine -------> PC, SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (08) 231-6822, login as "visitor"
Contact -------> Jo Brock <jbrock@adelaide.dialix.oz.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> apanix.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Adelaide
Dialins -------> 6 * V32.bis/V42.bis, 1 * V32/MNP5, 3 * V22.bis
Charges -------> $65/year or $40/6 months or $10/month for 2 hrs/day dialup.
Machine -------> Sparcstation ELC
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Internet news, mail, ftp, telnet, IRC, muds, gopher, WWW.
Unix shell or menu (SL/IP to APANA members)
How -----------> Dial (08) 373-5485 or telnet, login as "apanix".
Contact -------> Adrian Corston <adrian@apanix.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> arrakis.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Adelaide
Dialins -------> 1 * V32bis/V42.bis
Charges -------> Free access for 1 month, $40 per year thereafter. May change.
Machine -------> 4.2 Berkeley UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Full Internet services including: news, irc, telnet, and ftp.
How -----------> dial (08) 377-0217 or telnet arrakis.apana.org.au [202.12.89.9] login as "guest"
Contact -------> Greg Robinson <greg@arrakis.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, 730MB 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>
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Adelaide
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 08 364 1451 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.com.au>
=============================== Tasmania ===============================
Site name -----> calvados.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Hobart
Dialins -------> 1 * V.42bis
Charges -------> $30pa
Machine -------> 386sx, MS-DOS, Waffle
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 18 hours
Features ------> ?
How -----------> dial (002) 34-8530, login as "new"
Contact -------> John Lamp <system@calvados.apana.org.au>
=============================== Victoria ===============================
Site name -----> accserv.ppit.com.au
Organisation --> AccServ
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/MNP/V42.bis
Charges -------> $100 pa for mail/news account. $150 for mail/news/netftp
30 minutes/day included. extra $50 for 30m/day extra
Machine -------> Intel 486 DX/66 running BSDI 1.1
Link ----------> MHSnet - permanent link
Features ------> Mail/news access, netftp
How -----------> Phone Paul Pavlinovich (03) 747 9823, or 0418 109 905
Contact -------> Paul Pavlinovich <manager@accserv.ppit.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozonline.com.au
Organisation --> Australia OnLine
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> 8 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $95 once-off for SL/IP, $10 once-off for CompuServe +
13c/minute + $1.80/Mb (minus 1Mb/hour free
Machine -------> IBM 486 Clone, BSDI UNIX
Link ----------> IP - ISDN to Melbourne AARNet hub
Features ------> Handles SL/IP. Full support.
How -----------> Ring sales on (03) 888-2622
Contact -------> Michael Bethune <info@ozonline.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> cloud.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> 1 * V.32bis
Charges -------> $10 pa
Machine -------> IBM 386 Clone, MS-DOS
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 12 hours
Features ------> Mail/news access, fidonet, files; public BBS
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 pa
Machine -------> Amiga 2000, AmigaDOS 2.04, 350Mb HD, CDROM
Link ----------> UUCP - time to internet: 12 hours
Features ------> Mail, news, ftpmail. CDROM incl. Fred Fish, AmiNet, more
soon. Online games. No file ratios.
How -----------> dial (03) 331-5092
Contact -------> George Seremetidis <sysop@guru.apana.org.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> insane.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> 7 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $50 pa
Machine -------> i486/33, 16MB RAM, 1GB disk; NetBSD UNIX
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Macintosh supported, easy-to-use Menus
(SL/IP to APANA members)
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 -----> iaccess.com.au
Organisation --> Internet Access Australia Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> ? * V.Fast
Charges -------> $99.00 registration + $7.50 per hour online (six hours free)
+ volume charges
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> SL/IP and PPP access
How -----------> Ring sales on (03) 576 4222
Contact -------> Anthony Bodin <anthony@iaccess.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> melbourne.dialix.oz.au
Organisation --> DIALix Services
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> 12 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet e-mail/ftp.
Machine -------> 486, SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (03) 562-2399, login as "visitor"
Contact -------> Justin Sullivan <justin@melbourne.dialix.oz.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 03 525 4904 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> suburbia.apana.org.au
Organisation --> APANA
Location ------> Melbourne
Dialins -------> 2 * V.32bis, 3 * 2400 baud
Charges -------> $50 pa, $30 pa (students)
Machine -------> PC running Linux
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> catering for internet beginners. free e-mail.
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 shells, nn/tin/rn, elm/pine/mail
How -----------> dial (03) 888-1726, login as "register"
Contact -------> Andrew Herbert <andrew@werple.apana.org.au>
=========================== Western Australia ==========================
Site name -----> classic.iinet.com.au
Organisation --> iiNet Technologies
Location ------> Perth
Dialins -------> 10 * V.32bis/V.42bis, 2 * 2400 bps
Charges -------> $25/month plus volume charges
Machine -------> PCs running Linux
Link ----------> IP
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 -------> 38 * ?
Charges -------> $45 pa for BBS + $50 pa for Mail/News/Ftpmail + $200 pa for
full internet access'
Machine -------> 486s / Linux
Link ----------> IP (7 links to internet?)
Features ------> Main BBS has 43 CD-Roms, online games, multi-user chat etc
Internet box has full FTP, TELNET, GOPHER, IRC etc
How -----------> dial (09) 370-3333 or support (015) 190-465
Contact -------> <gmplatt@cougar.multiline.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> ozemail.com.au
Organisation --> OzEmail Pty. Ltd.
Location ------> Perth
Dialins -------> ? * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> $25 to join, $10 per hour until 9pm, $5 afterwards
Machine -------> i486, UNIX.
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Easy to use Windows software, PPP, SL/IP, UNIX shell
How -----------> dial 09 472 1021 and select "register"
Contact -------> Phone sales on (008) 805 874 or email <support@ozemail.com.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> perth.dialix.oz.au
Organisation --> DIALix Services
Location ------> Perth
Dialins -------> 20 * V.32bis/V.42bis
Charges -------> 1c/minute connection, 1c/1000 bytes Internet e-mail/ftp.
Machine -------> PCs, SCO Unix, SVR4 Unix
Link ----------> IP
Features ------> Menu access, Unix shell or UUCP. e-mail, usenet, ftp, telnet,
talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin etc.
How -----------> dial (09) 244-3233, login as "visitor"
Contact -------> Jeff Johnson <jeff@perth.dialix.oz.au>
* * * * *
Site name -----> tower.it.com.au
Organisation --> Tower Internet Services
Location ------> Perth
Dialins -------> 4 * V.22bis/V.32bis/V.42
Charges -------> R/O news access at $25 a year, net write access $50 a year
Machine -------> 486DX-50 running Linux
Link ----------> MHSnet
Features ------> We do not charge for time and impose no daily limits
How -----------> dial (09) 316-3892, login as "visitor", no password
Contact -------> <root@tower.it.com.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 a list of ftp sites for whatever you're interested in. 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 add 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 0-13-010778-6Other BBS/Internet Provider Lists - FSLIST -- The Forgotten Site List. USENET: alt.internet.access.wanted;
ftp://freedom.nmsu.edu/pub/docs/fslist/ or ftp://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'srequired for that is to get an internet account on someone else'smachine. The alternative is to attach your own machine to the network.This is usually more expensive and much more complex, but businessesoften like to do things this way. Also many hobbyists do it just forthe fun of it.
There are several types of organisations which provide networkfeeds. The amateur networks are generally willing to provide feeds fora low cost, but also require that you be a financial member of theirorganisation so that your portion of the AARNet fees are paid for. Thecommercial organisations offer greater reliability but tend to chargemore. Generally they charge by connect time or bandwidth used, plussome sort of yearly fee.
You'll have to decide if you want to work on a dialup basis or if youneed a permanent connection. Dialup connections are usually handledusing the UUCP protocol or possibly ACSnet/MHSnet software. All youneed is a modem and someone will to feed you. Permanent connectionsrequire a phone line and modem at each end at the very least, so theyreally 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
- AccServ
- Australia OnLine
- Australian Computer Society
- APANA
- AUUG
- Brisnet
- CSTPL
- Compuserve Pacific
- connect.com.au
- Corinthian Engineering
- Dialcom
- DIALix
- Fidonet
- Geko
- Hedland College
- Hunter Network Association
- iiNET Technologies
- ILB Computing
- Informed Technology
- Interconnect Australia
- Internet Access Australia Pty Ltd
- Keylink
- Kralizec
- Message Handling Systems (TMX)
- Magnadata Public Access Internet Services
- Microplex
- OzEmail
- 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
----------------------------- AccServ --------------------------------
AccServ are a commercial setup which offers only non-interactive network services but at low rates. Online services such as telnet, ftp, irc, gopher and World Wide Web are not available. On the other hand at $100 per annum for a 30 minute per day mail/news account they are one of the cheaper commerical providers.
"AccServ is a commercial operation of PPIT Pty. Ltd. which aims to provide affordable access to the InterNet for individuals who may not have the expertise, desire, or funding to maintain their own InterNet connection. AccServ is connected to the InterNet through TMX (The Message eXchange) and ultimately the AARNet (Australian Academic and Research Network).
"AccServ provides a simple menu-based interface to: Electronic Mail (e-mail) allowing you to send to (or receive from) almost anywhere in the world; Usenet News; "Archie" file searches; and NetFTP (anonymous file fetches from public access InterNet file servers). No knowledge of Unix or network complexities is required."
Area ------> Melbourne
Contact ---> Paul Pavlinovich
Email -----> <paulp@ppit.com.au>
Voice -----> (0418) 109-905
------------------- 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 ---------------------------------
APANA operates an Australia-wide network with over three hundred machines (belonging to individual members of APANA) connected to it. All members (as far as we can tell!) have set up their link and their machine(s) so that they can send/receive e-mail and news.
In addition, over 100 of these machines have full connectivity (in most cases, permanently) to The Internet via the APANA IP Network, so that their users can use ftp, telnet, talk, IRC to each other and the rest of The Internet, and access archie, gopher and WWW servers around the world. Internauts can access APANA servers.
The other two hundred or so use dialup UUCP to transfer news/mail in batches, typically once or twice a day. In a number of cases, remoteness from major cities such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney precludes permanently connected phone lines (which is only economically feasible within the same area code). In other cases, people prefer the simplicity and cheapness of UUCP.
Over ten APANA members (individuals) supply accounts for public access, as listed elsewhere. Most of these also have direct IP access.

APANA's fee scale for full membership in 1994 is as follows:
Joining fee (once only) $20
Annual membership $50
Affiliate membership (for use of the APANA Network via a full member's machine) involves no fees to APANA, but will normally involve a charge of $50-100/year to the owner of the machine.
E-mail <info@apana.org.au> for an automatic response giving more details about APANA.
Area ------> Adelaide
Contact ---> Mark Newton
Email -----> <adelaide@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (08) 373-5575 (h)
Area ------> Brisbane
Contact ---> Phil Homewood
Email -----> <brisbane@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (07) 355-4162 (h)
Pager -----> 016-070 #671-8727
Area ------> Cairns
Contact ---> Dave Freeman
Email -----> <cairns@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (070) 51-4110
Area ------> Canberra
Contact ---> Craig Gibson
Email -----> <canberra@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (06) 292-5366 (voice/fax)
Area ------> Geelong
Contact ---> Mark Gregson
Email -----> <geelong@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (052) 21-3450
Area ------> Hobart
Contact ---> John Lamp
Email -----> <hobart@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (002) 23-1366 (w), (002) 34-3913 (h)
Area ------> Melbourne
Contact ---> Warwick Hockley
Email -----> <melbourne@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (03) 571-0484
Area ------> Sydney
Contact ---> Matt Perkins
Email -----> <sydney@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (02) 689-3469
Area ------> Wollongong
Contact ---> Russell Noble
Email -----> <wollongong@apana.org.au>
Voice -----> (042) 96-5015 (h)
------------------------- Australia OnLine ---------------------------
Australia online provide both interactive SL/IP access to the internet and UUCP feeds. They also provide access to CompuServe U.S. (though CompuServe in itself is quite expensive). They provide full support to customers, which may be very useful to less experienced network users. Pricing is $7.80 per hour on-line, with an extra $1.80 per Mb of data transferred. One megabyte per hour is covered by the on-line costs. The minimum on-line charge per month is $15.60. Registration is $95 for SL/IP and $10 for CompuServe only.
"We are committed to ensuring that our modem pool always has sufficient spare capacity to ensure that our customers can successfully connect whenever they choose.
"ISDN bandwidth is dedicated to *interactive* users so as to ensure that our interactive users aren't suffocated by heavy corporate batch transfers."
Area ------> Melbourne
Contact ---> Michael Bethune
Email -----> info@ozonline.com.au
Voice -----> (03) 888-2622
------------------------------ 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>
Voice -----> (06) 261-2900 (w), (06) 247-2996 (h)
----------------------------- Brisnet ---------------------------------
Brisnet is another non-profit networking organisation. They operate in the Brisbane area currently. Now that APANA has a chapter in the Brisbane area, there is a choice between organisations with similar aims in this area.
"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), (015) 576-698 (w)
Area ------> Brisbane
Contact ---> John Lemon
Email -----> <john@ozspace.brisnet.org.au>
Voice -----> (07) 372-5296 (h)
------------------------------ CSTPL ---------------------------------
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 and outback areas on a nonprofit basis. They don't offer interactive logins.
"Commerical Software Training Pty Ltd is an AARNet Value Added Reseller, and is thus able to connect others to the network. This includes full domain registration assistance and MX record handling. cstpl.com.au is extending its operations and research into Queensland as well as seeking to provide network feeds to developing countries. The special area of interest is Asia, with on going research in China, and connections to Pakistan. The Queensland project is enabling Cairns, Mt Isa, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton to be connected to the Brisbane server via DDS, providing internet access for users, with servers in all cities. All options will be available to users as a local call. The time frame for completion of all links is early 1995."
Contact ---> Robert Chalmers
Email -----> <robert@cstpl.com.au>
PSTN ------> F:079524032 P:079524395 FC:1800067722
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) 025-240

--------------------------- 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
------------------------ Corinthian Engineering ----------------------
Corinthian Engineering P/L offers a network hub service Australiawide. Like connect.com.au they do not offer login accounts, instead they are aimed at providing permanent network feeds. While not forthcoming with pricing information they are "primarily aimed at the commercial or higher volume user requiring a premium service, full technical support, 24 hour 7 day availability with known costs". They offer a number of extra services including name server management and packet filtering at no extra cost.
Contact ---> Richard Perini or Dave Dodd
Email -----> <rpp@ci.com.au> or <dave@ci.com.au>
Fax -------> (02) 906 1556
Voice -----> (02) 906 4333
------------------------------- Dialcom ------------------------------
Dialcom is a computer network service provided by OTC. I have no details on it apart from the name.
------------------------------- DIALix -------------------------------
"DIALix Services is a Network Affiliate Member of AARNet and runs public access sites in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra. Internet access is available for both business and personal users from $10 with most services available at 1 cent per minute of connect time.
"Users connect to DIALix through multiple dial up lines to use e-mail, usenet news, ftp, telnet, talk, finger, irc, gopher, rlogin and so on.
"All hours telephone and email support, user guides and online help, Windows and Mac front-end software available. Log in on any DIALix system as visitor for further information or on-line registration."
Area ------> Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra
Contact ---> Justin Sullivan
Email -----> <justin@sydney.DIALix.oz.au>
Voice -----> (02) 948-6995, (09) 244-2433, (1800) 64-2433
Snail -----> PO Box 7, Fairlight NSW 2094
------------------------------- 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.
--------------------------------- Geko ------------------------------
Geko provides network access in the Sydney area, both UNIX shell-style accounts and SL/IP access. Their prices are very low for a commercial service with a shell account costing only $15 per month after the setup cost of $20. Dialin SL/IP is a little more expensive at $40 per month plus $80 setup fee, but still quite cheap compared to other providers. Permanent SL/IP and high-speed connections are also available. A very good ratio of five users per modem is maintained.
Area ------> Sydney
Contact ---> Dez Blanchfield
Email -----> <info@geko.com.au>, <sales@geko.com.au>
Voice -----> (02) 968 4333, (018) 412 666
Fax -------> (02) 968 4334
---------------------------- Hedland College ------------------------
Hedland 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
------------------- Internet Access Australia Pty Ltd ----------------
Internet Access Australia was seen to be doing a good trade at the Victorian PC show. They offer mainly dialin SL/IP anbd PPP access, and sell a basic internet pack for $99 including Trumpet/Winsock and 6 hours connect time. After that the charge is $7.50 per hour. They have a never full modem policy.
Contact ---> Anthony Bodin
Email -----> <iaccess@iaccess.com.au>
Fax -------> (03) 563 7854
Voice -----> (03) 576 4222
Snail -----> 1st Floor 769 Centre Road, Benleigh East, Victoria 3165
-------------------------- 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>
------------- Magnadata Public Access Internet Services -------------
Magnadata provides a commercial internet service based around SLIP/PPP. They claim that flexibility is their prime aim, and offer various networking services in addition to standard user services.
"Our charging is radically different from most of the large service providers, in that we don't have any charge for time spent on-line. It is because of these sort of charges that networks like Compuserve are a sort of electronic wasteland, where everyone works offline, and then uploads - there are no _people_ around, and people is one of the most important things about the Internet. At Magnadata, there are no charges for time spent on-line."
Area ------> Sydney
Email -----> <info@magna.com.au> URL - http://magna.com.au
Fax -------> (02) 264 7308
Voice -----> (02) 264 7326
Snail -----> P.O. Box A770, Sydney, 2000
------------------- 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
------------------------------ OzEmail -------------------------------
OzEmail is a company offering a complete client interface to the internet via their easy-to-use Windows client software which they sell for $80. They provide internet mail access, Usenet news, access to AAP, "Newsbytes", and their own message base. Online charges are to be $2 an hour for mail and $10 an hour for interactive use. Local access is available in most capitals. They also offer ISDN network feeds to companies.
Email -----> <support@ozemail.com.au>
------------------------------ 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, health, 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.apc.org>
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 provide 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: What services are available on the Australian Network?
*** This section has been deleted ***
------------------------------
From: OzNetFAQ Section 9
Subject: Section 9: How do I send mail between the various networks?
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 3:711/919.2, where 3 is the zone, 711 is the net, and 919 is the individual node on that net. Sometimes there is the .2 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 p2.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 its 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------v
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 difficult 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
The main change this month was the conversion to an m4 macro preprocessor format to allow creation of both text and html forms.
Public access listing (section 3):
* Added: Northern Territory area
* Updated: posgate.apana.org.au
* Updated: jolt.mpx.com.au
* Updated: kralizec.zeta.org.au
* Updated: sydney.dialix.oz.au
* Updated: turtle.apana.org.au
* Added: brisbane.dialix.oz.au
* Updated: adelaide.dialix.oz.au
* Updated: calvados.apana.org.au
* Updated: iaccess.com.au
* Updated: melbourne.dialix.oz.au
* Updated: classic.iinet.com.au
* Updated: perth.dialix.oz.auNetwork organisation listing (section 7):
* Updated: CSTPL
* Added: Corinthian Engineering
* Updated: AUUG
* Updated: DIALix
* Updated: Internet Access Australia
------------------------------
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!
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| | "Sometimes I get the feeling |
| zik@cs.monash.edu.au | that Schrodinger wasn't |
| Zik Saleeba | really a cat lover." |
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