The Online World resources handbook

Your first trip online. Typical pitfalls and simple solutions http://home.eunet.no/~presno/bok/v3.html
Some services (notably some Unix hosts) demand 7 bits, even parity, one stop bit.
Sorry, no luck!
Try again, just in case. The remote computer may have had a temporary problem, when
you called. The PTT may have given you a particularly noisy telephone line on this
attempt.
If this doesn't help, recheck each point in the communications process. It is so easy to do
something wrong.
If nothing helps, read the service's user information manuals. You will only rarely be
able to blame the communications program (unless you have made it yourself), or the
equipment. Most errors are caused by finger trouble and misunderstandings.
Testing a BBS
First time visitors often experience problems, and in particular if this is their first time
online using a Hayes compatible modem.
Here are some typical problems with suggested solutions:
Disable Guard Tones from the modem when dialing. If it has this feature, you can
often turn it off. Put the required command in your Modem init string.
Don't press ENTER to "wake up" the system. The software will usually
automatically detect your speed and adjust accordingly. You may just be asking
for problems by not waiting patiently (often the case when the remote software
starts by checking if you use an offline reader).
Start with your communications program set for 8 bits word length, no parity and
one stop bit. Try 7 bits, even parity if there is too much noise on the line (you
cannot retrieve programs using this setting, though).
When your modem is set at a low transfer speed, it may not wait long enough for
carrier from my modem. Most modems let you set this waiting time longer by
giving a value to a S register. (Read in your modem's manual about how to do
this).
Partial success
Some bulletin boards offer colors and music. If your equipment is set up correctly, you
can receive the welcome text in full color graphics accompanied by a melody in your
computer's speaker.
If it is not, chances are that you will get many strange codes on your screen, and an ugly
feeling that something is wrong.
There are two ways out of this problem:
1. Ask the bulletin board to send text only. This is usually simple to achieve from a
settings menu.
2. Set your computer for colors and graphics.
Finally, you must have a communications program that allows you to display colors on
your screen. Procomm set with ANSI BBS does that.
Downloading programs
We call the transfer of programs and files from a remote computer for downloading. It
means "transfer of data to your computer AND storage of the data (down) on YOUR
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