Most of you will be using a modem to connect to the internet unless you have a dedicated circuit (i.e.. wireless, DSL, T1, Satellite). The modem is the telephony device on your computer that uses the current phone lines as a data circuit. This device requires specific information in order to connect and stay connected to the internet. All of these settings are installed when you install SouthNet's software, however sometimes these may need to be changed or corrected. This support section will explain the process of changing these settings.

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Under the Windows 95/98 operating system, most of the modem, dialing and network settings necessary to successfully connect to the Internet are contained in your Dial-Up Networking (DUN) connection.

To edit your DUN connection properties, double-click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop, then double-click on the "Dial-Up Networking" folder icon you will find there. You may find several connections listed there (as shown here). To determine which connection you use, try connecting to the Internet in the usual way - the name of the connection will be shown in the upper left-hand corner of the "Connect to" pop-up, directly under the words "Connect to."

If you are creating a connection instead of editing one, double click the Make New Connection, enter a name for the connection, phone number then follow the instructions as if you were editing one.

Using the mouse, point-to the icon for your connection and click once with the right mouse button (right-click). A menu will pop-up (as shown to the left) and from that menu, select "Properties."

	Under the Windows ME operating system, most of the modem, dialing and network settings necessary to successfully connect to the Internet are contained in your Dial-Up Networking (DUN) connection, with a few differences from Windows 98. Open the Dial-Up Networking folder by going to the Start button, then Settings. The window should look like the one at the left. Your default connection will have a blue check mark on it, like the "Little Rock" connection at the left. If you are creating a connection instead of editing one, double click the Make New Connection, enter a name for the connection, phone number then follow the instructions as if you were editing one.
	Right click on top of the connection to edit, then choose Properties. The settings for that connection will come up. Verify the phone number you wish to dial and make sure the "Use area code and dial properties" is NOT checked.
	Under the Networking tab at the top, make sure you have the same settings as in the picture to the left. Next click on the TCP/IP Settings button at the bottom right of your window.
	The DNS server numbers should be entered exactly as show here. Leaving everything else on the default settings. You now have successfully edited or created your connection. Click "OK" on all the screens to exit and save.

In Windows XP and 2000 there are several different ways of accessing the dial-up networking section of windows. This may or may not be the way you are use to doing it but I will attempt to standardize these instructions for everyone. First you will need to open the Control Panel. This can be found under the START button for XP or START--SETTINGS for 2000. Once you are in the Control Panel open INTERNET OPTIONS. XP users may need to click on the "Switch to Classic View" in order to see Internet Options.
	The Internet Options windows should resemble the one here. Click on the CONNECTIONS tab at the top of the page.
	Under the Connections tab you should see your dial-up connection. It may or may not be named SouthNet. To edit a connection select it and click the SETTINGS button to the right. The page with the username and password will come up.
	Make sure your username and password are in lower case letters. Also note that Windows will put more dots than are actually in your password. Everything else should be left blank on this page. When you have finished on this page click the PROPERTIES button next to your username.
	The properties page will show the telephone number and the networking properties for the connection. First check the telephone number for your area (click here for SouthNet modem numbers). Also make sure the "Use dialing rules" is not checked. This causes the modem to dial 1-205 which is not necessary for a local number. Next click on the NETWORKING tab at the top.
	The settings on this page will determine how fast you logon to SouthNet and whether you are able to browse once connected. The only thing that MUST be checked is "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)". However some of you will have other things that cannot be taken off, like the QoS Packet Scheduler. So to speed up the logon process take off all the others. Next we will need to enter the DNS (Domain Name Server) server addresses under the TCP/IP settings. Select Internet Protocol and click the Properties button at the bottom.
	Under the TCP/IP properties make sure your computer is set to obtain an IP automatically and then enter the DNS numbers exactly as show to the left. After you have entered these numbers click OK on all the windows you have opened. This will save these settings and exit in the process. You have successfully setup your dial-up connetion.