The first time you sign on, America Online will take you through an automatic process to set up your modem and select a local telephone number for you to use to reach us. Just choose "Sign On" from the first screen to go through this process. In most cases, you will not need to change your setup again.
However, there are some occasions in which you may need to "manually" change your modem and telephone number setup:
• If you travel (or move), and take America Online with you (see "Tips for Travelers" below)
• If you wish to change your local access number for any reason (for example, if your local area changes or adds an area code, or if you have consistent trouble getting online with the number you are using)
• If you live in Alaska, Canada, or Hawaii (For additional information about signing on to America Online from Alaska, Canada, or Hawaii, select "Access Outside the Cont'l USA" from the menu at left.)
To change your set-up, follow these instructions:
• Launch the America Online application, but don't sign on. Instead, click on the button that says "Set Up" at the bottom of the window titled "Welcome to America Online!." You will then be presented with options to change modem speed, network phone number, etc.
• Phone Type: Most people use touch-tone phones, and most local phone exchanges support tone dialing. If you are dialing in from a hotel room phone system, the hotel most likely supports touch-tone. But there are areas where tone dialing is not available. If you're in doubt, choose pulse dialing because that's supported everywhere.
To change the Phone Type from the default setting of "Touch-Tone" to "Pulse-rotary," point to the Phone Type box, click and hold down the mouse button, highlight your selection, and then release the mouse button.
• Phone Numbers/Baud Rates/Networks: For most members in the United States, a call to SprintNet or Tymnet will be a local call. Remember, phone charges are your responsibility, so be sure to pick either a local number or one that minimizes any phone costs. (You can find a searchable database of local access numbers in our Members' Online Support department.) When you select your access phone number, be sure to make a note of the transmission speed (also known as baud rate) and the name of the network (SprintNet, Tymnet or Datapac).
America Online allows you to enter two phone numbers: one for your first try, another for your second try in case the first number is busy or not operating. If your first number can't connect, the America Online software automatically tries the second number. If only one number is available for your area, leave this box blank. The software will automatically try the first number again. Type in your number like this: 555-1212
Be sure to select baud rates and networks that match the phone numbers you are using.
Tip: In some areas you may need to dial an area code, even for a local call. If you normally need to do this when you place voice calls, you will need to do it for America Online access as well. If you need to add an area code to the beginning of your local access phone number, type it like this: 703-555-1212
• Special Prefixes: If you are dialing from an office, school, or hotel room, you might need to dial "9" (or some other prefix) in order to get an outside line. To dial a "9" or other prefix, simply click the appropriate check box on the Set-Up form, and America Online will automatically insert the prefix before it dials your access number. If you need to dial an "8" (or some number other than "9"), you can make the change on this form by highlighting the "9" with your cursor, and then changing it to the correct number.
• Disabling Call Waiting: If you use call waiting service, you will probably lose your connection to America Online if a call comes in while you are on America Online. We recommend that you disable call waiting when you are on AOL by checking the appropriate box on the Set-Up form. We've already typed in a standard prefix for disabling call waiting. If this prefix is not right for your area, you can make the change in this field by highlighting the prefix with your cursor, then typing in the correct series of numbers and symbols. (If you are not sure what it is, check with your local phone company.)
• Edit Modem String: In the vast majority of cases, you can leave this option alone. If you are an expert user, however, and you would like to send a special command to your modem, this option is provided for you via "Edit Modem String." Some members use the modem string for such things as turning the modem speaker off or setting up the optimal modem options for connecting to America Online. For more information, select "Changing Your Modem Strings" from the Help topics to the left of this text.
• Edit Stored Passwords: You can use this option to edit passwords that you have stored for FlashSessions or for normal sign on. (for more information, select "Using FlashSessions" from the Help topics to the left of this text.) It is convenient to store your password for your normal sign-ons. However, if other people have access to your computer, it may not be a good idea to store your password, as it could compromise the security of your account. For more information, select "Entering Stored Passwords" from the Help topics to the left of this text.
Tips for Travelers
• If you are traveling with America Online, and will be staying at a hotel, be sure to ask in advance for a "computer-ready" room. Most hotels will be happy to offer you a room with an extra phone jack for your modem. If your hotel does not have special rooms for computer users, in most cases you can simply remove the cable for the phone from the phone jack, and insert your modem cable.
• Before you head out on the road, be sure to make a note of the local access numbers for your destination. You can do this easily online -- you'll find a searchable directory of local access numbers in the What's New and Online Support department.
• America Online is a good way to "back up" any documents that you work on while on the road. Simply attach any file that you work on to a piece of AOL mail, and mail it to yourself. It will be waiting safely in your America Online mailbox when you arrive home.
Changing Your Modem Strings
In the vast majority of cases, you can leave this option alone. If you are an expert user, however, and you would like to send a special command to your modem, this option is provided for you via "Edit Modem String." Some members use the modem string for such things as turning the modem speaker off or setting up the optimal modem options for connecting to America Online.
The Modem Initialization String is sent BEFORE the dialing sequence, and is sent literally (no "AT" prefix). AOL expects no response from the modem.
The Modem Configuration String is sent next. AOL forces an "AT" at the beginning of this command, and waits for the modem to reply with an "OK." (This is sent separately, unlike AOL 1.0, which sent the modem and the dialing sequence in the same command). The America Online software is shipped with a modem string of "ATQ0E0V1X1." This modem string will work for the vast majority of modems.
Hint: In most newer modems, changing the "X1" to "X2" in the default modem string will result in faster detection of a busy signal. Also, adding "MO" will turn off the speaker of most modems, so that you don't hear the connection "screech."
The Modem Exit String is sent to the modem after disconnecting from the AOL host. Like the Modem Initialization String, AOL passes the Modem Exit String to your modem without adding an "AT" prefix, and does not require a response from your modem. This is used primarily by members who wish to restore their modem to the condition it was in before they connected to AOL.
IMPORTANT: Consult your modem manual before entering any commands.
Entering Stored Passwords
You can use this option to edit passwords that you have stored for FlashSessions or for normal sign on. (for more information, select "Using FlashSessions" from the Help topics to the left of this text.) It is convenient to store your password for your normal sign-ons. However, if other people have access to your computer, it may not be a good idea to store your password, as it could compromise the security of your account.
Using Chat Room Sounds
America Online offers you the feature of sound--a new dimension to chat and conference rooms.
While in a chat or conference room, you can "broadcast" sounds to other users who are in the same room. The way this works is that the sound itself is not sent, but rather a request to play the sound is sent. The digitized sounds are typically too long to be transmitted, so only the name of the sound is sent. If a member in the room has this particular sound available on his or her disk, it is then played to that member.
For a sound to be heard, it must reside as a named 'SND ' resource on the member's disk in a file visible to America Online. There are two easy ways to make 'SND ' resources available to America Online:
-Save all sounds to the America Online file named "Online Sounds."
-Or, save your sounds in a file called "Online One," or "Online Two", or "Online Three" in the folder entitled "Online Files." Then, they'll automatically be opened by America Online at the beginning of the session, so the "SND" resources will be available. Note that the file "Online Two" will only be opened if "Online One" is found, and "Online Three" will only be opened if both "Online One" and "Online Two" are found.
How to Use Sound
Transmitting a sound in a chat room is easy. Choose the "Get Sound" option from the People menu in People Connection. A list of the sounds available will be presented. Point to the one you want to broadcast. If you choose "OK," the sound command will be transferred into the input portion of the chat room. To listen to the sound first, choose "Play."
You can also type the sound command into the input field manually, such as in the example below (including brackets):
{S <name of 'SND ' resource>}
There can be no space between "{" and "S" but there
must be a space after the "S"; be sure to end with a "}"
Remember, a sound will be heard by you and other chat room members who:
-are using System version 5.0 or later.
-have a 'SND ' resource available with the correct name.
-Have Chat Sounds enabled (in other words, they haven't chosen to disable via their "Preferences" options their ability to hear chat sounds).
A good place to check for sound files to download is the Mac Music and Sound Forum. So, get online and download or trade sound files with your friends -- and be heard!
