Last update - June 12, 1996
Your key in the dialing process and connecting to the Internet is Trumpet Winsock if you are a Windows based PC user. Many problems in the connection process will be related to how you have configured and used Winsock.
Trumpet Winsock FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Due to Trumpet Winsock's popularity and its problems, there is an Internet discussion group solely dedicated to the wonders of this software. It is found on the Usenet at alt.winsock.trumpet. This is the FAQ for the group that not only explains its purpose but also answers the most common questions posted on the group.
Trumpet Winsock Troubleshooting Guide This is an excellent link to a webpage that will tell you more than you would want to know about Winsock. Better yet, there are some other links to associated winsock applications such asemail, Usenet, and the World Wide Web.
Netscape FAQIf you are using the Netscape browser, you are never too far from a link to Netscape's homepages where you can get guides or even news on the latest releases.
World Wide Web FAQ A general guide to the World Wide Web. Learn what the term URL means.
A Guide to the Eudora Mail Package An excellent online guide from Staffordship University School of Computing and Qualcomm. And believe it or not, a new Usenet group is forming to allow people to discuss the wonders of Eudora email. It will be called comp.mail.eudora. Stay tuned.
Through the use of email, you can instantaneously send electronic mail to the far sides ofthe globe. You can also use email to receive subscriptions to publications or even subscribe to discussion groups on topics that interest you. Search the "list of lists" and select a group that you like. Address an email request to subscribe by addressing a message to listserv@domain where the @domain are the letters that follow the listserv name. Leave the subject line blank and put in the body the message "subscribe your name" without the quotation marks and putting in your first and last name. Listservs are computers so it will quickly return a message acknowledging your request .Some listservs want email addresses rather than names in the body so it will bounce your note and you will have to send another with "subscribe username" in the body. Do not send the subscribe note to the actual listserv address, i.e. group-l@domain. It would go to the entire discussion group rather than to the list subscriber.
List discussion groups Postings on subscribed groups are automatically sent to your email address. Use this index to review the "list of lists."
Listserv search engine - run a search of list discussion groups using a keyword.
NewsXpress is the newsreader software that will access the Usenet. Usenet is another collection of discussion groups like the listservs. However,postings are saved and accessed for several weeks on a server where readers can view them. The list of groups carried by Internet Montana will appear when you open News Xpress. There are many documents on the Internet about Usenet groups. Most groups also have their own FAQs to explain the direction of the group and answer many of the common questions that tend to be asked over and over. Two good FAQs to give you a start in this area are below.
Search for Usenet newsgroupsThis link will allow you to search for Usenet newsgroups by topic.
Search Usenet and Listserv groups For the truly adventurous Internet traveler, try this search engine that will search Usenet groups and Listservs (see the email section for details) for your topic of interest.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is simplified into a familiar Window-based format. FTP is a tool that will allow you to transfer a seeming limitless flow of shareware and freeware programs to your computer. Even entire novels and great classics are available to be transferred..
FTP sites and other information Select this link and you will be taken to a website that not only has a FAQ on FTP but also has FTP site lists. These lists are available by site or by file listings. Select the file lists to find a topic of interest. Many of the topics may seem to be in a foreign language, but if you muddle through, you should find a site worth checking out. Once there, you will find further help in the readme or index files.
Open your telnet application, and you will get a box requesting a telnet address. If you don't know what telnet is and you don't have an address, you have ended up at the end of the road. I don't have a handy FAQ for telnet, but with an address of a site of interest, you can easily explore this resource. There are many library catalogues,freenets, bulletin boards, and other resources that can be accessed using telnet. The most thorough directory for telnet addresses is a program called Hytelnet. The most recent version, 6.9, can be downloaded or you can access it through the World Wide Web. Although it is a handy program,storing it on your computer will take 2 megs of space. It also takes a little time to get used to its workings.
Additional information on Hytelnet This link will explain more on Hytelnet and also provides a FTP link to acquire the program if the introduction does not discourage you further.
Hytelnet on the Web If you can't wait, access the Hytelnet directory and get addresses immediately.
Upgrading Eudora and Netscape Netscape and Eudora now come in newer versions. This webpage describes some of the changes, provides links to the new software, and instructions on how to install and configure them .
If you don't like the software we provided or you have a sense of adventure, there are several libraries of Winsock software available. You can add new features or experiment with other programs. I found several interesting sites including the link below.
Tucow's Ultimate Collection of Winsock software
I hope this information has proved helpful. There are tons of helpful resources available on the Internet. The links I have provided are based on what I thought was most informative. If you find any links that you think are better or if you have any suggestions on how to make this webpage more informative to the new user, please email me. A handy email link is provided below.
Copyright 1996 David Councill