Dialup Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions (and the answers) about SpeedGate dial-up accounts:

Information/How-To

How do I set up my connection?

Please see our Getting Connected page for directions on setting up your Internet connection.

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Can I have two computers use my dialup connection at the same time?

Each dialup account allows only one computer to be logged in at a time. If you need to have two or more computers connected at once, you have two options: (1) You can order additional dialup accounts (if you have enough phone lines). (2) You can network your computers together and set up one computer to dial into SpeedGate and share its Internet connection with the rest of your network.

Essentially follow the same directions we have above for DSL connection sharing. The main differences are that you do not need a second network card in the dialing computer, and that you will probably want some way for the other computers to start it dialing. Current versions of Windows with Internet Connection Sharing can configure the dialing computer to connect automatically. Linux systems have a number of options, such as Diald and Masqdialer (search your favorite software archive for more).

Note: SpeedGate does not provide support for setting up this type of connection! Please refer to the documentation and tech support for the software you are using.

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How do I find out how much time I've used this month?

In the past, we have provided a form on our website with which you could retrieve your time online statistics. Since upgrading to our new nationwide dialup lines, this feature is no longer available. However, since we are now on an unlimited-use plan, your time does not affect your bill.

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Problems

My connection pauses for a long time on "Logging on to Network."

This applies mainly to Windows systems. In your dialup settings, make sure that "Log on to network" is not checked. You might think you want this, but what it actually means is to log onto a Windows network at the other end of the dialup connection. Since we provide only Internet services, your computer will spend several seconds trying to find a network that does not exist!

You can solve this on Windows 95 or Windows 98 by opening My Computer, then Dial-up Networking, right-clicking on the icon for your connection and choosing Properties, then going to the Servers tab.

On Windows Me, go to the Start Menu, then Settings, then select Dial-up Networking. Right-click on the icon for your connection and choose Properties, then go to the Security tab.

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