@t Ease with E-mail

What do I need to use computer communications?

The basic requirements are:

• a computer,
• a modem (explained in later sections),
• communications software (explained in later sections),
• access to a telephone line or another connection to computer networks,
• an account at the computer network where your e-mail mailbox will be located.

Do I need a separate telephone line for my modem?

No, since neither the computer nor the telephone need to be reserved exclusively for computer communications purposes. The telephone line is only busy when it is actually being used by the modem.

Do I need a telephone line for computer communications?

No. A few networks use low-earth orbiting satellites for computer communications (such as Healthnet, the University of Zambia, or Muhimbili Medical Centre in Tanzania). Packet radio is another way to exchange e-mail between two points, as is a line of sight microwave connection. Satellite links, packet radio technologies and microwave links can all provide useful alternatives to land- or cable-based communications links. They can connect remote provinces in countries where the telecommunications infrastructure is poor or nonexistent. For further information on this type of connection, contact:

Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA)
1600 Wilson Boulevard, #500
Arlington, VA 22209, USA
Tel: +1-703/276 1800; fax: +1-703/276 1865
E-mail: vita@vita.org (or via Fidonet: 1:109/165)

Do I need a very sophisticated computer to use e-mail?

No. The software used to access most computer networks works even with relatively old and slow computers. Technically speaking, any Apple Macintosh or IBM-compatible machine can be made to work with the software. Even an old IBM-compatible AT , XT , or 286 can run communications software and connect to a modem.

Can I use e-mail from my computer at home and at the office?

Yes. Your e-mail account is not at your own computer, but at the host computer. You can call it up through any modem to access your e-mail account. With off-line accounts, confusion may result if you try to pick up e-mail via two separate computers, such as office and home, since the mail received will then be stored on two computers instead of one.

As a new e-mail user, what should be my first objectives?

• set up an e-mail account;
• learn to use your communications software;
• learn how to send and receive electronic mail.

Once you have done all this, you will be able to contact other e-mail users. With their help and with practice, learning will become progressively easier. During this learning phase, the people who run the host computer or e-mail service will be able to help with any problems you might have.

How do I go about getting myself an e-mail account?

A reminder: once you have found a local e-mail service provider, you will have expert local partners at your disposal who can give you further advice on how to set up your communications software, what modem to buy, and what to do once you are connected to the host computer.

Set up an e-mail account

The information provided in Part 3 of this handbook will help you identify a local provider. Some offer free training to new users.

If possible, go in person when you first approach the people providing e-mail services. Sometimes this speeds up an otherwise slow process.

Set up your communications software

This section deals mostly with on-line communications software. Off-line software is more complicated to set up, and support for doing so should come from your service provider.

Unless the e-mail service provider offers to set up your computer, you will have to install the communications software yourself (see Section VI for names of software packages). In this case, you will need the following information to configure the communications software.

Specifications of your modem connection:

• the speed of the modem: usually 300, 1200, 2400, 9600, 14,400 or 28,800 Baud;
• the port to which the modem is connected; this must be a serial port, usually COM1 or COM2.

Details related to your e-mail account:

• the telephone number you must use to access the host computer;
• line settings: you need three pieces of information from your network to configure the modem, which will read something like this: Eight Data Bits , No Parity , One Stop Bit (can appear as 8-N-1 ); or Seven Data Bits , Even Parity , No Stop Bits (can appear as 7-E-0 );
• your service provider will also give you the maximum speed at which your modem can access the host computer, and a setting known as the terminal emulation (TTY, ANSI-BBS, VT100, VT102, etc.).

The above information will allow you to move forward. Now enter this information into your communications program by using its set-up procedures. Leave any settings for which you do not have information as they are.

Even if you have installed your software exactly as instructed, you may run into problems. In fact, you probably will. For instance, despite having been properly connected, your modem may refuse to dial. You may have to tell your modem to use pulse dialing rather than tone dialing. This can be done by changing the ATDT setting in the Dialing Command box to ATDP. The setting will depend on your local telephone company. Or, to take another example, if your office has an internal telephone system, you must tell the modem how to get an outside line. This might be done by placing the prefix 9 before the telephone number of the host computer. The service which administers your e-mail account will be able to help you with these kinds of problems.

Send and receive e-mail

The final step is to send a message to someone. In it, ask them to confirm they have received your message by sending one back to your mailbox. If you receive it, you have successfully sent your first e-mail, and successfully received a message as well.

Since procedures differ widely between countries and service providers, it is impossible to go into greater detail about how to obtain and set up your e-mail account. Specific information should be available in the users guide for your software and e-mail service.

The most important difference among service providers is that some offer on-line services and others only off-line services. Make sure you know which they offer before you subscribe.