🚀 go-pugleaf

                   Network access in Australia FAQ
                   -------------------------------

Release version 1.6 - 93/11/01
Compiled by Zik Saleeba - zik@cs.monash.edu.au


  ***   CHANGE OF NAME: this FAQ used to be called "Australian   ***
  ***   public network access FAQ". I've changed it because      ***
  ***   people kept on assuming it was affiliated with APANA in  ***
  ***   some way. It's not!                                      ***

This is my compilation of information on public networking in
Australia. It contains information on the various organisations
providing network access, how to get an account with network access,
and how to attach your own machine to the network.

It will probably never be quite complete but I'm trying to keep it as
accurate and up-to-date as possible. If you have any information which
is not included here, or if you have corrections or constructive
comments to make, please mail me. Please see the end of the FAQ for a
disclaimer.

The big questions on public network access:

       * Who can I go to for Usenet news and electronic mail?
       * What's AARNet?
       * Why do these public networking people do it?
       * What public access machines are in my area?
       * How can I connect my own machine to the global network?
       * How do I send mail between the various networks?

The answers to these questions are below!

************************************************************************

Q: Who can I go to for Usenet news and electronic mail?

A: There is a small but rapidly-increasing group of organisations
offering network access to the public. This includes -

 . APANA
 . AUNET
 . AUUG
 . biznet.com.au
 . Brisnet
 . Compuserve Pacific
 . connect.com.au
 . Dialcom
 . Fidonet
 . Informed Technology
 . Keylink 
 . Kralizec
 . Message Handling Systems (TMX)
 . Pegasus
 . Pro-Net
 . Sydney University
 . Winthrop Technology

(Paragraphs in quotes come from the organisations themselves, unquoted
paragraphs are my own guesses)

------------------------------ Apana ---------------------------------

The Australian Public Access Networking Association (APANA) is a
non-profit organisation aimed at bringing the global network to its
members.

APANA is an Australia-wide network with around one hundred and fifty
machines connected to it. Of these, over ten supply accounts for public
access. A small group of machines uses permanent links, providing fast
mail to the Internet and allowing ftp, telnet, talk and IRC within
this sub-network. Other machines are connected via slower UUCP links.

------------------------------ AUNET ---------------------------------

AUNET is an international networking setup which offers feeds of mail
and a partial newsfeed. It provides special support for Coherent OS
users. It's not clear to me whether they offer interactive logins or
not. They do offer a free anonymous uucp login with access to Coherent
UNIX sources. The standard feed charge is $532 per year.

"Aunet is primarily a research and development site, currently
involved in projects such as localization of X11R5 and Coherent for
the Chinese language. Distance education opportunities for Australians
and others form the backbone of the controlling organisation,
Commercial Software Training Pty Ltd. Our close links with educational
institutions provide us with the facilities that may be of benefit to
others. Students enrolled in CST courses are the primary users of the
service.  Our fees thus only constitute a cost recovery factor for our
upline provider."

------------------------------ AUUG -----------------------------------

"The Canberra Chapter of AUUG Inc. (UNIX and Open Systems Users in
Australia - see group aus.auug) runs a bulletin board service for
members. The services is based around a 386 SCO UNIX machine and
provides logins to UNIX for e-mail and news connectivity and for
general UNIX shell access.  We also provide UUCP feeds for news and
mail.  We have several public domain packages which allow feeding of
UNIX mail and news to MSDOS based machines via the UUCP protocols.
News and mail user agents for MSDOS and Windows are also available.
The service is available free to all AUUG Canberra chapter members.
AUUG membership is around $80 per year for an individual and includes
journals and access to other national and local chapter services.
Arrangements for non-members should be made through the Canberra
chapter committee, see contacts below."

-------------------------- biznet.com.au ------------------------------

biznet.com.au is a commercial network provider which started
operations in June. They plan to offer UUCP and SLIP feeds to the
general public within a month of starting.

----------------------------- Brisnet ---------------------------------

Brisnet is another non-profit networking organisation. They operate in
the Brisbane area only. They are loosely affiliated with APANA and
replace APANA's function in Brisbane.

"BrisNet is a non-profit association which aims to provide cheap(ish)
access to electronic mail and USENET news in the Brisbane and
South-East Queensland area.  We provide a dial-in USENET environment,
and UUCP feeds.  Locally developed software is available to help
improve access."

------------------------- Compuserve Pacific -------------------------

Compuserve provide a pay-by-volume commercial email service.
Compuserve were one of the original email systems in the USA and are
still one of the largest. Compuserve Pacific is reputed to be linked
to the US Compuserve, and from there to the internet through a
gateway. They have dialins in Melbourne and Sydney. People on
Compuserve can be contacted using an address of the form:
nnnn.nnnn@compuserve.com, where nnnn.nnnn is the person's Compuserve
user id.

--------------------------- connect.com.au ---------------------------

Connect.com.au now operate in most capitals. They offer feeds to other
and support all the major protocols. Interactive accounts are not
available. Charging for ninety minutes of connect time per day would
total around $2000 per year.

"Connect.com.au now has hubs in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth,
Adelaide, and Brisbane.  All access to connect.com.au is protocol
based; we do not offer interactive access.  We currently support the
protocols: uucp, SL/IP, and PPP.  Access is via intermittent or
permanent modem or ISDN connections.  We are happy to carry interstate
traffic over our network as alternative to installing point-to-point
links around the country.  We also offer limited access to the
Internet and are willing to act as a mail and news gateway."

------------------------------- Dialcom ------------------------------

Dialcom is a computer network service provided by OTC. I have no
details on it apart from the name.

------------------------------- Fidonet ------------------------------

Fidonet is a world-wide network of bulletin-boards (BBSes). Network
topology is highly variable due to the hobbyist nature of the nodes.
It runs on a different network protocol from Usenet, but provides a
similar style of electronic mail and news service. While FIDOnet <->
Usenet gateways do exist crossover between Usenet and FIDOnet is not
particularly high. In general FIDOnet is somewhat less reliable and
slower, although this is not universally the case. FIDONet BBSes also
offer many other services like large file areas, online games, and
chat. There are hundreds of FIDOnet sites around the country so I
won't attempt to cover them all here. For more information check the
state hub contacts that are listed every month in Australian Personal
Computer magazine.

-------------------------- Informed Technology -----------------------

"We are a mail affiliate to the AARNet and use MHSnet to maintain a
constant connection to uniwa.uwa.edu.au.  We take the full newsfeed
and also maintain an online BBS-type filebase."

------------------------------- Keylink ------------------------------

Keylink is Telecom's answer to public computer network access. One
happy user reports that Keylink are very helpful. Their dialin is a
008 number.

------------------------------ Kralizec ------------------------------

Kralizec is a commercial public access site which is interested mainly
in providing a service to end users, rather than feeding other sites.
It is a "Professionally run system which concentrates on quality"
according to the operator, and features a large software library.
Expansion is expected in the near future.

------------------- Message Handling Systems (TMX) -------------------

The Message Exchange is the name under which the better-known Message
Handling Systems is providing networking services to the public.
Message Handling Systems is one of the original network providers in
Australia. They have taken over maintainence of the SUN-III software
which was the fundamental basis for Australian networking (good ol'
ACSnet and the .oz domain!) until AARNet came along.

TMX now market the decendant of this software as MHSnet. They also
provide network feeds for the ACSnet network under the TMX name. TMX
provides MHSnet and UUCP connections and imports "Clarinet" news.
Charging is based on connect time and volume. Gateways are available
for ftp and internet access as well as full or partial newsfeeds and
email. TMX don't offer interactive accounts but do offer cheap single
user accounts using offline readers.

------------------------------ Pegasus -------------------------------

Pegasus is a "subscriber supported" setup. Pegasus sell public access
to their own networks, as well as gateway access to the Internet. The
access is based around phone calls to a number which can be dialled
anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call. They are members
of the Association for Progressive Communications, and hence have a
bent towards environmental and other issues. They have full Internet
access. Cheaper access is available through the use of their
"Messenger" offline reader. Charging is reputed to be around $240 for
one hour's access per month.

"PEGASUS NETWORKS: a fully Australian owned and operated company
providing electronic messaging services to subscibers throughout
Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Pegasus offers a
variety of services including E-MAIL, E-CONFERENCING (up to 2000
different topics with a particular emphasis on environment and
community based issues), Subscriber Support Hotline, UUCP-LAN/WAN
service, AARNET/INTERNET gateway, WAIS, FIDO-gateway, alternative news
sources, file transfer and a facsimile and telex service. Pegasus is a
carrier for subnetworks such as COUNCILNET, ARTSNET, LANDCARENET,
BECNET, HOMEONET and others. Pegasus Networks is a founding member of
the global Association for Progressive Communications providing
gateways from a total of 92 countries."

------------------------------ Pro-Net -------------------------------

Pro-Net are a commercial setup with a slightly unusual approach. They,
like Pegasus, are using a toll-free dialin number to allow calls from
anywhere in Australia to be charged at the local rate. They have an
interesting menu interface to their system and claim to have
extensive, up-to-date archives. An on-line chat system with conference
areas is also provided, as well as storage for databases. They are
also importing the "Newsbytes" independent computer industry news
service; possibly the only network in Australia to do so.

"Charges are now on application. Various tarriffing policies. Now
offering X.400 mail and Novell Network interconnection. People owning
Novell Network Fileservers can now interconnect their local LAN to
Pro-Net.  Now offering EDI services Nationally. Educational tarriffs
now available.  Beta Testing Multimedia mail services with customised
Front-End software for DOS and WINDOWS."

------------------------- Sydney University --------------------------

"The University of Sydney operates many information systems for the
benefit of staff, students and organisations that have an affiliation
or common interest with the work of the University. In certain
circumstances other users may be given access to the University's
computer resources."

------------------------ Winthrop Technology -------------------------

(This entry edited as it was far too long)

"Winthrop Technology offer general bureau services on an Ultrix
system. Since we are on AARNet, accounts on this system include full
AARNet access.

"Accounts are available on one of two charging systems:
a) You can pay a flat fee of $50 per month
b) Casual, pre-paid access. This is charged at $2.50 per connect hour.

"In addition to accounts on our bureau system, Winthrop Technology
also offer Mail Affiliate links to AARNet. Users with their own Unix
system can get mail and news feeds. The connection can use UUCP,
MHSnet, or local SLIP. This does not offer full SLIP to AARNet. Mail
Affiliates are charges $150 per month for their connection and
mail/news feed; in addition, AARNet charge $1000 per annum for the
service."


************************************************************************

Q: What's AARNet? 
A: It's the Australian Academic and Research Network. It's currently
the major Australian Internet-connected computer network, and all the
other organisations mentioned in this FAQ get their network
connections from it. You must be an academic or research organisation
to be a direct part of AARNet. It does not provide public access or
commercial networking services except through the other organisations
mentioned here. Here's what the people from AARNet say:

AARNet is the  Australian Academic and Research Network. AARNet is a private
telecommunications  network  service  operated  by   the   Australian   Vice
Chancellors'  Committee  (AVCC)  as  a  service  to the participating member
institutions of the AVCC and  the  Commonwealth  Scientific  and  Industrial
Organisation   (CSIRO).   Its   objective  is  the  provision  of  dedicated
telecommunications services in support of members'  research,  academic  and
service activities. In addition, AARNet provides telecommunications services 
to other organisations under this general brief. 

There are two basic connection services offered by AARNet to Affiliate Members;
 
1)  Mail  Affiliate  Membership,  which enables an affiliate organisation to
exchange electronic mail and news with AARNet. 
 
2) Network Affiliate  Membership,  which provides  full TCP/IP network-layer
connectivity  to AARNet and the peer networks that make up the Internet.
  
For  individual users or organisations that wish to use electronic mail only
occasionally, or that  have  little  existing  computing  infrastructure  or
funding to support a full scale AARNet mail or network affiliate connection, 
it  is  possible  to  gain access to AARNet through one of the organisations 
described in this FAQ (all of whom are AARNet affiliate members  of  AARNet, 
or have entered into a formal arrangement with AARNet. 

Organisations  interested  in a connection to AARNet should obtain a copy of
the document "Connecting to AARNet" available from: 

ftp: aarnet.edu.au: /pub/doc/affiliate.*

or

Brenda Aynsley, Customer Services Manager, AARNet
GPO Box 1142, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
Tel: +61 6 285 8358, Fax: +61 6 285 8211
Email: Brenda.Aynsley@aarnet.edu.au or admin@aarnet.edu.au

************************************************************************

Q: Why do these public networking people do it?
A: Some people seem to be in it for the money - or so they say. Others
make no bones about the fact that they just do it for the fun. My
personal opinion is that we're all a bunch of net-addicted wierdos who
can't resist the temptation of infecting as many people as possible
with the same disease, even if it costs us our personal fortunes...

************************************************************************

Q: What public access machines are in my area?
A:
================================= ACT ==================================
Name:           canb.auug.org.au
Organisation:   AUUG
Location:       Canberra
Dialins:        (2 V32/MNP5 lines - phone numbers available on request)
Hours:          no restrictions
Charges:        no fees
Subscription:   Available free to AUUG Canberra members
Machine:        386 running SCO UNIX
Other services: UUCP (public domain DOS based UUCP, News and Mail available)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Canberra
Dialins:	V.32/V.42
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:      sserve.cc.adfa.oz.au
Contact:        Geoff Collin <gco@cc.adfa.oz.au>
Location:       Canberra
Dialin:         V.32/MNP5 
Hours:          any
Charges:        $50 p.a.
Subscription:   ??
Machine:        ??
Other services: Offering UUCP connections only

============================ New South Wales ===========================
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Sydney
Dialins:	5 lines - 2 * V.32/V.42, 3 * V.32bis, 2 * PEP
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:      extro.ucc.su.oz.au
Organisation:   Sydney University
Location:       Sydney
Dialin:         6 lines, V.32bis
Hours:          any
Charges:        $20 a month basic charge +
		CPU x Memory  $0.003 / K Minute (50% off after 6pm)
		Disk space    $0.025 / Mbyte day
Subscription:   A referee who is an academic at Sydney Uni is required
		for application.
Machine:        ?
Comments:	Live internet and fax service available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:      kralizec.zeta.org.au / godzilla.zeta.org.au
Organisation:	Kralizec
Contact:        Nick Andrew <nick@kralizec.zeta.org.au>
Location:       Sydney
Dialin:         (02) 837-1183 (up to 14400 bps, V.42bis)
                (02) 837-1868 (up to 14400 bps, V.42bis)
                (02) 837-2349 (2400 bps only)
Hours:          any
Charges:        $10/month or $1/hr which ever is greater ($60 min per
		six months)
Subscription:   login as "guest"
Machine:        workstation running SunOS 4.0
Other services: 1 Gb of spinning storage
time to AARNet:	3 hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                          kumear.apana.org.au
organisation:                      APANA
city, state:                       Lake Macquarie, NSW
main phone number:                 (049) 48-5408
number of lines:                   1
modem standards supported:         V32 + below; V42, V42bis, MNP5
annual contribution ($):           $15
avg time to AARNet:                18 Hours
Machine, operating system:         Amiga 2000, AmigaDOS 2.05
User front-end software:           DLGPro BBS
Comments:                          kumear is run from The DUNGEON BBS. Also
                                   has extensive FidoNET echo's available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:      lsupoz.apana.org.au
Contact:        Anthony Rumble <root@lsupoz.apana.org.au>
Organisation:	APANA
Location:       Sydney
Dialin:         02 418 8750 (V32bis + below; V42, V42bis, MNP2-5 and
		10) 3 lines
Hours:          24 hour
Charges:        $10 joining fee, $5 an month or 15c/hour whichever is higher
Subscription:   login as "guest"
Machine:        486DX running Linux
Other services: offering UUCP/News/E-Mail + files, APANA Sydney Main HUB
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:      sleeper.apana.org.au
Contact:        Matthew Geier <matthew@sleeper.apana.org.au>
Location:       Sydney
Dialin:         02 718 6996 ( Ringback ) 
Hours:          
Charges:        
Subscription:   login as "guest" with password "guest"
Machine:        
Other services: Desolation Road Railfan BBS and Dialup Unix
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           tmx.mhs.oz.au
Organisation:   Message Handling Systems
Location:       Sydney
Dialins:        519-2044 (3 x V22/V22bis/V32 modems)
                519-2723 (2 x V22/V22bis/V32/PEP modems)
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        $8 per connect hour (min 1 hour/month)
                or
                $4 per connect hour for a prepayment of $1,200 p.a
                        Connection software fees apply
Subscription:   Contact Elaine Pensabene
Machine:        ?
Other services: MHSnet, UUCP, DOS* and MAC*
                (*public and commercial DOS and MAC software available)

=========================== South Australia ============================
Site Name:      apanix.apana.org.au
Organisation:   APANA
Location:       Adelaide
Contact:        Adrian Corston <admin@apanix.apana.org.au>
Time to AARNet: 24 hours
Lines:          +61 8 373 5485 V.42bis (3 lines)
Charges:        $10 join + $10/m (interactive - preferred).
                Permanent SL/IP and dialup UUCP by arrangement
Subscription:   Login as "guest" or email admin@apanix.apana.org.au
Machine:        Encore MultiMax 310, 6cpu, 64mb ram, 3gb disk.
Comment:	Internet news & email, unix shell, SL/IP, unix tuition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:	byron.apana.org.au
Organisation:	APANA
Location:	Adelaide
Contact:	John Lindsay <root@byron.apana.org.au>
Time to AARNet: 24 hours
Lines:          +61 8 364 2016 2400baud
                +61 8 364 2017 V32bis
Charges:        $10 join + $10/m (interactive).
Subscription:   Login as "guest" or email root@byron.apana.org.au
Machine:        386DX33 5mb ram, 0.8gb disk, CDROM.
Comment:        Programmer's hangout, news, mail, UNIX shell and menu.
		slip available by negotiation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Adelaide
Dialins:	V.32/V.42
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Site Name:	cleese.apana.org.au
Organisation:	APANA
Location:       Adelaide
Dialins:	(08) 322-2915 (v.42bis + below; MNP4, MNP5)
Charges:	None (yet)
Time to AARNet: 12 hours
Subscription:   login as "guest"
Machine:        i486DX/33, 16Mb RAM, 420Mb disk; 386BSD UNIX
Comment:        SA APANA hub site; UUCP and SLIP feeds for APANA members
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                       cswamp.apana.org.au
organisation:                   APANA
city, state:                    Adelaide, SA
main phone number:              (08) 370 2133
number of lines:                1
modem standards supported:      V.32bis and below; MNP 4
annual contribution ($):        none
avg time to AARNet:             24 hours
Machine, operating system:      80386/16, 2MB RAM, 321MB disk; MS-DOS 4.01
User front-end software:        Maximus 2.01wb bbs
Comments:                       Whatever echoes/newsgroups and files I am      
				interested in and have space for,
                                this machine is not often free. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                       cumquat.apana.org.au
organisation:                   APANA
city, state:                    Adelaide, South Australia
main phone number:              (08) 287 1938  (V.32bis/MNP)
number of lines:                1
modem standards supported:      V.32 + below; MNP5, MNP4
annual contribution ($):        voluntary
avg time to AARNet:             24 hours
Hours:                          no restrictions
Subscription:                   log in as "new" or "visitor"
machine, operating system:      i386/25, 2MB RAM, 105MB disk; MS-DOS 5.00
User front-end software:        Waffle 1.65 / InterMail 2.10
Comments:                       USEnet and AARnet news site,
                                InterNet mail site.  NO FILES available.
                                The system operator is slightly weird, and
                                encourages slightly weird users :).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           tmx.mhs.oz.au
Organisation:   Message Handling Systems
Location:       Adelaide
Dialins:        ?
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        $8 per connect hour (min 1 hour/month)
                or
                $4 per connect hour for a prepayment of $1,200 p.a
                        Connection software fees apply
Subscription:   Contact Elaine Pensabene
Machine:        ?
Other services: MHSnet, UUCP, DOS* and MAC*
                (*public and commercial DOS and MAC software available)

============================== Queensland ==============================
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Brisbane
Dialins:	V.32/V.42
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           ozspace.brisnet.org.au
Organisation:   Brisnet
Location:       Brisbane
Dialins:        All speeds, ring for details
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        From $60 p.a. for dial-in, $150 p.a. for UUCP
Subscription:   Contact BrisNet committee
Machine:        386 PC compatible; Waffle
Other services: UUCP feeds
Comments:       Charges reflect start-up costs and membership fees and will
                likely drop in future years as the number of people increases.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           peg.pegasus.oz.au
Organisation:   Pegasus Networks Pty Ltd
Location: 	Brisbane
Dialins:        V22bis/V32bis/V42bis lines in Brisbane
                National access via AUSTPAC or AARNet
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        On application
Subscription:   By email, mail or phone (see next section)
Other services: E-mail and conferencing, gateways to
                Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           tmxbris.mhs.oz.au
Organisation:   Message Handling Systems
Location:       Brisbane
Dialins:        (07) 870-0250 (2 x V22/V22bis/V32 modems)
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        $8 per connect hour (min 1 hour/month)
                or
                $4 per connect hour for a prepayment of $1,200 p.a
                        Connection software fees apply
Subscription:   Contact Elaine Pensabene
Machine:        ?
Other services: MHSnet, UUCP, DOS* and MAC*
                (*public and commercial DOS and MAC software available)

=============================== Victoria ===============================
hostname:                              cloud.apana.org.au
organisation:                          APANA
city, state:                           Melbourne
main phone number:                     (03) 803-6954
number of lines:                       1
modem standards supported:             V22, V22bis, V32, V32bis
annual contribution ($):               none
avg time to AARNet:                    12 hours
Machine, operating system:             IBM 386 Clone, MS-DOS
User front-end software:               Waffle/RemoteAccess
Comments:                              also public fidonet bbs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Melbourne
Dialins:	V.32/V.42, PEP
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           csource.oz.au & csource.cec.edu.au
Organisation:   Unique Computing Pty Ltd
Location:       Melbourne
Dialins:        Numbers unknown, speeds: PEP, upto v32. Perhaps has v.32b.
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        Unknown
Subscription:   Unknown
Machine:        PC based, Waffle v1.65
Other services: Fidonet gateway for a lot of Usenet messages.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                  guru.apana.org.au
organisation:              APANA
city, state:               Melbourne, Victoria
main phone number:         (03) 326 0440
number of lines:           2
modem standards supported: V.32bis + below; MNP1-5, V.42, V.42bis
annual contribution ($):   $15 (once-only)
avg time to AARNet:        12 hrs
Machine, operating system: Amiga 2000, AmigaDOS 2.04, 350Mb HD, CDROM
User front-end software:   DLG Pro BBS/OS
Comments:                  Amiga Only BBS.  All amiga Fido & Usenet
                           message areas plus others of interest to
                           enthusiasts.  550Mb files online including
                           all Fred Fish disks (1-750 on CDROM), plus
			   AmiNet CDROM. Online games & multi-user chat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                       insane.apana.org.au
organisation:                   APANA
city, state:                    Melbourne, Vic
main phone number:              (03) 802-1195
number of lines:                2
modem standards supported:      V.32bis and below; V42, V42bis, MNP
annual contribution ($):        none
avg time to AARNet:             12 Hours
Machine, operating system:      80386/33, 4MB RAM, 180MB disk; MS-DOS 5.00
User front-end software:        RemoteAccess BBS 1.11+
Comments:                       Only Macintosh Supported.  Good Range of
                                newsgroups, as well as a Memeber of this       
                                FidoNet.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:		suburbia.apana.org.au
Organisation:	APANA
Location:	Melbourne
Dialins:	(03) 596 8366 (five lines)
Hours:		No restrictions
Charges:	No charges (under review)
Subscription:	?? 
Machine:	PC running Linux
Comments:	Full news feed, part of the APANA IP network.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organisation:   The Message Exchange (Message Handling Systems)
Name:           tmxmelb.mhs.oz.au
Location:       Melbourne
Dialins:        (03) 347-6277 (3 x V22/V22bis/V32 modems)
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        $8 per connect hour (min 1 hour/month)
                or
                $4 per connect hour for a prepayment of $1,200 p.a
                Connection software fees apply
Subscription:   Contact Elaine Pensabene
Machine:        ?
Other services: MHSnet, UUCP, DOS* and MAC*
                (*public and commercial DOS and MAC software available)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:			werple.apana.org.au
organisation:                   APANA
city, state:			Melbourne, Victoria
main phone number:		(03) 888 1726
number of lines:		5
modem standards supported:	V.32bis + below; V.42, V.42bis, MNP5
annual contribution ($):	$78
avg time to AARNet:		1 min
Machine; operating system:	i486/33; NetBSD
User front-end software:	standard unix shells (e.g. tcsh, bash)
                                nn/tin/rn, elm/pine/mail
Comments:			full news feed
				full access to standard unix facilities
				APANA IP network access
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hostname:                     zikzak.apana.org.au
organisation:                 APANA
city, state:                  Melbourne, Victoria
main phone number:            (03) 562-8814 (and 562-8813 for 14.4kbaud)
number of lines:              4
modem standards supported:    V.32bis + below; V.42bis
annual contribution ($):      $30
avg time to AARNet:           1 min
Machine, operating system:    Amiga 3000, 18Mb RAM 2.4Gb disk; SVR4 UNIX
User front-end software:      UNIX tools, nn, elm, menu available
Comments:                     Full news feed, full ip network access


=========================== Western Australia ==========================
Name:           connect.com.au
Organisation:	connect.com.au Pty Ltd
Location:	Perth
Dialins:	V.32/V.42, PEP
Contact:	connect@connect.com.au
Hours: 		any
Charges:	Basic access $2000 per 90m per day per annum.
Machine:	80486SX (8MB) running Xenix
Comments:       UUCP, SL/IP, PPP only - no interactive logins.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           it.com.au
Organisation:   Informed Technology
Location:       Perth
Dialins:        8 at V.32/V.42, PEP ((09) 245-2511 rotary)
Contact:        info@it.com.au or login to our BBS on (09) 245-1925 (V.32bis)
Hours:          any
Time to AARNet: 30 seconds
Charges:        R/O news access at $45 a year, net write access $120 a year
Machine:        486-33 running ESIX SVR4 and 386SX-33 running Linux
Comments:       We do not charge for time and impose no daily limits.
                SLIP, uucp, PPP and MHSnet connections also available.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           multiline.com.au
Organisation:   Independent
Location:       Perth
Dialins:        ?
Hours:          ?
Charges:        $50 per year
Subscription:   ? - try email to root@multiline.com.au
Machine:        486 / Linux
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organisation:   Winthrop Technology
Name:           yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au
Location:       Perth
Dialins:        6 @ 9.6/2.4/1.2 direct, or telnet direct
Hours:          Any
Charges:        $50 per month flat fee or $2.50 per connect hour
Subscription:	Contact Kaye Stott
Machine:        DECsystem 5200, Ultrix V4.3
Contact:        wthelp@yarrow.wt.uwa.edu.au
Other Services: Mail Affiliate services; Unix bureau services;
		facility management; contract programming
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name:           tmx.mhs.oz.au
Organisation:   Message Handling Systems
Location:       Perth
Dialins:        ?
Hours:          No restrictions
Charges:        $8 per connect hour (min 1 hour/month)
                or
                $4 per connect hour for a prepayment of $1,200 p.a
                        Connection software fees apply
Subscription:   Contact Elaine Pensabene
Machine:        ?
Other services: MHSnet, UUCP, DOS* and MAC*
                (*public and commercial DOS and MAC software available)


************************************************************************
Q: How can I connect my own machine to the global network?

All the organisations provide network feeds. The amateur networks are
generally willing to provide feeds for free, but require that you be a
financial member of their organisation so that your portion of the
AARNet fees are paid for. The commercial organisations offer greater
reliability but tend to charge more. Generally they charge by connect
time or bandwidth used, plus some sort of yearly fee.

You'll have to decide if you want to work on a dialup basis or if you
need a permanent connection. Dialup connections are usually handled
using the UUCP protocol or possibly ACSnet/MHSnet software. All you
need is a modem and someone will to feed you. Permanent connections
require a phone line and modem at each end at the very least, so they
really start at around $1500 equipment cost alone. In terms of
bandwidth these systems go to around 30kbaud. You will need a
permanent connection if you want a full news feed.  The next step is
ISDN at 64kbaud and several thousand dollars, and from there is the
dreamland of Megalink and other such wonders...

Contacts:

AARNet:
    All areas
	Brenda Aynsley		Brenda.Aynsley@aarnet.edu.au
				Voice: 06 285 8358
				Fax: 06 285 8211
				Snail: Customer Services Manager, AARNet
				       GPO Box 1142
				       CANBERRA ACT 2601

APANA:                          info@apana.org.au
    Adelaide
        Mark Newton             m.newton@apana.org.au
                                08 322 4071 (H)
    Sydney
        Anthony Rumble          root@lsupoz.apana.org.au
				02 418 8220 (H), 02 878 7358 (W)
    Brisbane
        Rhys Weatherley         rhys@cs.uq.oz.au
                                07 279 2338 (H), 07 365 1657 (W)
    Canberra
        Jeff Coleman            j.coleman@apana.org.au
    Geelong
        Mark Gregson            m.gregson@apana.org.au
    Melbourne
        Warwick Hockley         w.hockley@apana.org.au
                                03 571-0484

AUNET:
    Mackay
				earth@nanguo.xanadu.dialix.oz.au
				Voice: 079 53 1490  
        			Data: 079 52 1070 UUCP login: nuucp 
					word: uupublic  (.Anonymous uucp.)
				Snail:  AUNET
				        A Division Of
				        Commercial Software Training Pty Ltd.
				        Level 2 - 44 Gordon Street
				        Mackay. 4740
				        Australia.

AUUG:
    Canberra
        John Barlow             john.barlow@anu.edu.au
                                (06) 249 2930 (W)
        Peter Wishart           pjw@canb.auug.org.au

biznet.com.au:
    All areas
	Paul Pavlinovich
				Voice: 03 747 9823
				       018 177 025
				Fax:   03 747 8152
				Snail: GPO Box 4000MM Melbourne 3001

Brisnet:
    Brisbane
        Rhys Weatherley         rhys@cs.uq.oz.au
                                07 279 2338 (H), 07 365 1657 (W)
        Mark Looi               m.looi@qut.edu.au
                                07 273 6100 (H)

Compuserve Pacific:
    All areas
				Voice: 008 023 158
				
connect.com.au:
    All areas
                                connect@connect.com.au
                                Voice: (03) 528 2239
                                Fax:   (03) 528 5887
                                Snail: connect.com.au pty ltd
                                       29 Fitzgibbon Crescent
                                       Caulfield Victoria 3161

Informed Technology:
    Perth
				info@it.com.au
        Stephen Darragh		srd@it.com.au
				09 245 2279
	David MacKinnon		davidm@it.com.au
				Snail: Informed Technology
		                       P.O. Box 688
		                       Claremont
		                       WA 6010

Keylink:
    All areas
                                /G=CUSTOMER/S=SERVICE/O=CUST.SERVICE/@telememo.au
                                008 807 324

Kralizec:
    Sydney
	Nick Andrew		<nick@kralizec.zeta.org.au>
				(02) 837-1397, 1900-2300

    
The Message Exchange (TMX):
    All areas
        Elaine Pensabene        elaine@mhs.oz.au
				enquiry@mhs.oz.au
    Sydney
                                (02) 550-4448
    All areas
				(008) 806 962

Pegasus:
    Brisbane
                                (07) 257 1111
    All areas
                                support@peg.pegasus.oz.au
                                008 812 812
                                Snail: PO Box 284, Broadway Q 4006

Pro-Net:
    All areas
                                Fax:   (03) 349-1257
                                Voice: (03) 349-2266
                                Snail: Pro-Net Australia
                                       P.O Box 186
                                       North Carlton, Vic, 3054

Sydney University:
    All areas			Voice: (02) 692 3491, (02) 660 6557
				       help desk: (02) 692 3537
				Snail: Information Services Building H08
				       University of Sydney
				       Camperdown  NSW  2006

Winthrop Technology:
    Perth
				kaye@uniwa.uwa.edu.au
				Fax:   (09) 382-1688
				Voice: (09) 380-3698
				Snail: University of W.A.
				       Nedlands  W.A.  6009


I currently have no official contacts for the other public networks.


************************************************************************
Q: How do I send mail between the various networks?

There are various different types of networks around the world.
Gradually everything is moving towards the Usenet and Internet
standards, but there are still plenty of separate networks that don't
talk directly to the rest of the world.

Email between FidoNet and Internet
==================================

It's possible to mail back and forth between Fido nodes and internet
addresses.  The main thing to keep in mind is to keep the volume of
mail small.

Internet -> Fidonet
-------------------

First you need the FidoNet address, which is of the form 3:711/919 or
3:711/919.3, where 3 is the zone, 711 is the net, and 919 is the
individual node on that net.  Sometimes there is the .3 thing, which
is a point off the node.  You then need to change this into an
internet version of this, which is:

f919.n711.z3    or      p3.f919.n711.z3

Add the user name on the front, with spaces changed to full stops, eg.

matthew.arnison@f919.n711.z3

Then we need to choose a gateway, which is simply one system which is
connected to both Fido and internet.  It helps on long distance phone
charges for Fido sysops, and will be probably faster, if you choose a
gateway that is as close as possible to the Fido node you want to send
mail to.  Here's a list (anyone who has sites to add, please mail the
maintainer of the FAQ).

    *.fidonet.org -> Melbourne, Fidonet networks 63x, 67x (Tas)

    *.fido.zeta.org.au -> Sydney, nets 71x, 64x

For people in Adelaide (nets 80x) mail Arthur@cswamp.apana.org.au
(Arthur Marsh) saying who you want to mail in Adelaide.

International varieties:

    *.z1.fidonet.org -> U.S.
    *.z2.fidonet.org -> U.S. (forwards by agreement with EUnet to Europe ?)
    *.z6.fidonet.org -> U.S. (forwards by similar agreement to Taiwan ?)

where instead of *, you put the address we made above, eg:

    matthew.arnison@f919.n711.z3.fido.zeta.org.au

would be one way to mail me.  I've tested this, and it works!

If someone from Fido mails you using the techniques below, you may get
away with just replying as usual for internet mail, and it will
hopefully make it's way back to Fido land. However, that doesn't
always work, see below for alternatives.


Fidonet -> Internet
-------------------

Well, if you're on a Fido system, and someone from internet has sent
you email, try just replying as normal, and that may work.

But here's two ways to do it from scratch, in an excerpt from a
document on IXGate, from Nick Andrew at Kralizec
(nick@kralizec.fido.zeta.org.au).

Nick>>>>>>

When sending mail into the Internet, your sending address is converted
by the IXgate and appears automagically on the From: line in messages.
To send a message into the Internet from Fidonet, you send the message
to 713/602 and in the To part of the message you put the full Internet
address of the required destination. For example:

 Command?  s         send mail
 Matrix Address: 713/602
 To: oracle@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu
 Subject: askme

 Start typing your message now...

This ability of the IXgate software to put the Internet address of the
sender into the Fidonet From field of messages is what sets it apart
from other so-called gateways and it makes replying to Netmail &
Echomail messages an easy, intuitive and transparent task.

But sometimes Internet people have names which are too long for the
Fidonet standards - 36 characters or more. In this case, you can use
the kludge which other "gateways" consider the normal mode of
operation.  What you do is send the message to "uucp" at 713/602 and
type in the Internet address of the recipient into the first line of
the message. It goes like this:

 Command?  s         send mail
 Matrix Address: 713/602
 To: uucp
 Subject: askme

 Enter your message now...
 To: someuser@verylongname.verylongdomains.com <-- this must be first line!

 Start typing what you want to say ...


This style of message input is accepted at all times to retain upward
compatibility with kludgy gateways.

<<<<<<Nick

Other collected gateways, as collected from various posts:

3:632/348, 3:632/400, 3:635/552.2, 3:712/400

Not all of these gateways may support the first method above.
However, the uucp method seems to be supported everywhere, but may
make it diffuicult to just automatically reply at the other end.  The
best way to find out is to either try it, or mail "sysop" at the
respective Fido node, and ask.


************************************************************************
DISCLAIMER:

The Australian Public Network Access FAQ provides information on
publically accessible networking in Australia. It is compiled my
myself and has no affiliation with any commerical entity or group. It
is _not_ advertising or promotional material. It does not speak for
any organisation.

Neither is it error free. In a compilation of this size where much of
the material has necessarily to be gathered by hearsay it is
inevitable that errors creep in. I collect error reports and endeavour
to correct the errors in the next issue. I do not post updates for
every single error, particularly considering there are usually several
a month.

The form and content of the FAQ are my choice, and no organisation
will be given special treatment.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed information to the FAQ!

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                   |  "Sometimes I get the feeling   |
|      zik@cs.monash.edu.au         |   that Schrodinger wasn't       |
|           Zik Saleeba             |   really a cat lover."          |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+