About our Dial-Up Internet Service

The WVNET dial-up Internet service is intended to support the missions and goals of higher education, public education, libraries, and state and local government. These missions and goals include education, research, administration, community service and economic development.

The service itself emphasizes only Internet access. Actual services, such as e-mail, news feeds, etc., should be provided by either campus computer centers, libraries, public education, state government, or by a commercial Internet provider.

Note: WVNET has no control over material available on the Internet.

The Background

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded to WVNET a grant to improve Internet access at each of the sixteen public colleges and universities in West Virginia. The grant funds faster phone lines between the schools and WVNET, as well as associated routers and communications equipment.

As a cost share to the grant, WVNET has installed dialup Internet access at each of the campuses. Some schools also have multiple campuses supported by WVNET.

Please refer to our list of state college and university sites providing dialup access .

Account Details

• $16.95 per month
• Unlimited usage
• Up to 4 e-mail accounts (note that some schools administer their own e-mail accounts)
• 4MB personal Web space
• Statewide Local Access (1-500-My-WVNET)
• Pay with check, credit card, automatic debit

Please read WVNET's Budget & Accounting information on Terms and Payment Guidelines.

WVNET's dial-up services allow access
To both WVNET and the Internet.

TCP/IP addresses are "dynamically allocated," meaning that your Internet address is likely to be different each time that you log on.

Dynamically assigned IP addresses make it impractical for you to set up your personal computer as a permanent server for FTP or World Wide Web access. We recommend that you sign up for a WVNET enhanced Web Hosting package for those purposes. Please contact us for more information about WVNET's Web Hosting packages.

Electronic Mail (e-mail)

WVNET offers "POP3 mail service." This provides you with a permanent electronic mail address from which you can send and receive mail.

You should either obtain electronic mail access through your local institution, or you should request POP3 mail capability when you apply for a WVNET Internet modem access account.

Note: If you do request POP3 mail capability on mail.wvnet.edu, it takes approximately one hour to process the request.

See E-mail @ WVNET for more information regarding obtaining and setting up email accounts.

Update Your Account Information or Request Payment Coupons

Help us keep your contact and billing information current!

Using our Update your account information form lets our Business Office verify that your contact information is correct. You may also request Payment Coupons by using this form.

WVNET's Policy Regarding Computer Abuse

Computer users must practice ethical behavior in their computing activities. Users of this service are subject to the WVNET Computer Abuse Policy, their local campus computing policies, applicable network (i.e., SURAnet and NSFnet) usage guidelines, as well as state and federal laws regarding computer abuse.

The WVNET Computer Abuse Policy covers the following six areas:

• Privacy
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Copyright issues
• Harassment
• Miscellaneous actions of any sort which inappropriately interfere with the normal computer and network operations.

Abuse may result in the loss of access privileges, requirements for restitution, suspension or expulsion from school, civil fines and/or judgments, and/or referral to law enforcement agencies for criminal prosecution. Please contact the Help Desk (304)293-5192 if you have questions or concerns regarding computer abuse.

Terms, Conditions, and Payment Guidelines

• Terms and Payment Guidelines (WVNET Budget & Accounting)
• Update your account information - Use this page to let our Business Office verify that your contact information is correct. You may also request Payment Coupons by using this form
• See WVNET's payment options for your modem account

Getting an Internet Dial-up Account

You may obtain a modem account by contacting the WVNET Help Desk. You will receive an account user id and password which will be ready for immediate use. This account will continue to be available only if payment is received in a timely manner.

Communications Settings and Recommendations

Modem Protocols

WVNET modems are X2 and v.92 compatible.

If you experience problems getting your modem to connect to WVNET, please call the WVNET Helpdesk for assistance. 

Setting up your computer to connect to WVNET

Other Account Information

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about WVNET's Internet Dialup Service
• Getting Started with the WVNET Internet Dialup Service Brochure (PDF)
  

E-mail@WVNET

You can either obtain e-mail access through your local institution, or by requesting POP3 mail capability when you apply for a WVNET Internet modem access account. Institutions such as WVU and Marshall* provide e-mail accounts for their mail server and do not use WVNET for e-mail purposes. If you request POP3 mail capability on mail.wvnet.edu, it will be ready in approximately an hour.

For information on obtaining a K-12 e-mail account, please contact the West Virginia Department of Education.

* Note that some schools (i.e., WVU and Marshall) maintain their own e-mail servers. Information needed to access those e-mail accounts and service-related technical support will need to be obtained from those local Help Desks .

How do use my WVNET e-mail account?

E-mail is a wonderful tool for communication. Getting started using your e-mail, however, can sometimes be a little confusing. Each person with a WVNET account has an e-mail account. This kind of e-mail is called POP mail. This means that when someone sends you a message it waits on the server here at WVNET until you tell your computer to check in and download the messages so that you can read them. To read your e-mail you need to set up a program or "e-mail client" to collect and present your e-mail to you. There are many e-mail clients you can choose to use, but we recommend, for simplicity's sake, two different programs, all free to download and use: Outlook Express and Netscape Mail.

To begin sending and receiving mail, you must first set up your e-mail program. If you have Microsoft Internet Explorer you probably have a copy of Outlook Express. The same applies to Netscape; you should already have a copy of Netscape Mail. 

You should check to see if you have the latest version, however. If you do not, you can download it from our Software Archive: Windows | Macintosh

Follow the links below to set up your e-mail program. If you need help, call the WVNET Help Desk at (304)293-5192.

Personal Web Space

Modem Problems?

These tips and links have proven useful in investigating problems which may be related to your modem. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Busy Signals

Customers receiving busy signals when dialing either the toll-free "500" number or one of the new local access numbers should report this to the WVNET Help Desk. Make note of the time of day and the number being dialed. Note also whether it was a "fast busy" or a "slow busy" signal. A fast busy indicates that a trunk line carrying the calls is completely full. A slow busy usually indicates a problem with the modem pool.

Helpful Modem links:

• US Robotics v.92 Support Link
  This link is very helpful for the US Robotic modems that we have problems with. It explains about V.92 and how you can disable some of the V.92 features. We found that disabling the Quick connect with modem init string AT+PQC=3 works in most cases.
• 56k.com Modem Central
• www.modemhelp.org
• Driver Zone

Modem Troubleshooting - Error Messages and Fixes for Windows operating systems:

***IMPORTANT*** Before you try any of these steps please make sure your modem drivers are up-to-date. If your computer is still under warranty please contact the computer's manufacturer for help with your modem problems.

Some Windows error messages and fixes that might be helpful:

618 - Port is already open

(Reboot and make sure that no other programs are using your modem)

629 - The port was disconnected by remote computer. ;

• Check the username and password)
• Check the dial up settings
  If IPX/SPX or NETBEUI is checked and not TCP/IP this would be the cause.
  (The only thing that needs to be checked is TCP/IP.)

630 - The port was disconnected due to hardware failure;

• Shut down your computer for 10 sec and then start it back up
• Try uninstalling and reinstalling the modem
• Call your local help desk

638 - Request timeout

• Reboot the computer
• Check the dial up network settings
• Create a new dial up

676 - Line is busy

• Check the phone number you are dialing make sure you are dialing the correct number for your area
• This includes if you should should dial a 9 to get an outside line

678 - There is no answer

• Make sure you are dialing the correct number for your area
• Can you hear a "handshake?"
• If you have call waiting and would like it turned off while you are online, make sure you have;*,70 before the phone number
  • Check to see if you have a dial tone on the phone line
  • Check to see if you have the phone line plugged into the line side of the modem
  • Make sure the phone line is plugged into the line side of the modem
  • Check to make sure you have selected the correct modem in the dial-up
  • Make sure you have @wvnet after your username
  • Make sure that logon to network is not checked in the dial-up properties
  • Reboot your computer.
  • If that does not work you will have to remove TCP/IP - Call your local help desk
  • Go to My Computer > Dial-Up Networking
  • Right click on your connection icon and select Properties.
  • Click on the Configure button at the bottom of that screen.
  • Then click on the Connection tab.
  • Then click on the Advanced button.
  • You will see an extra settings box on this screen. This is where you can put the init string.

679 - Cannot detect carrier

680 - There is no dial tone

691 - Access denied because of username and/or password is invalid.

718 - PPP timeout

Rockwell/Context Modems

We have found out that Rockwell/Conxent modems have problems connecting and need an init string. Below are some of the init strings we use with these modems.

+ms=v34

+ms=v90

Another known solution is putting 3 commas after the phone number. (example 15006998638,,,)