Links:
800 Service
 PSC Support How-To's and Walkthroughs Browser
 How to Configure Dial-Up Networking in Windows 98 for EarthLink
 EarthLink Server Settings (DNS, Mail, News, FTP, Personal Web Space, and Sign-On Address)
 Support Center - Access
 Support Center - Chat
 

I recently had to install a dial-up connection for my Earthlink account on a Windows 89 computer.   In attempting to do so I researched the Earthlink web site and used Earthlink's "Internet Chat" support facility to gather information about the procedure I needed to follow.

Although the support facilities provided were helpful, there were some problems with them, which I suggest be corrected.

First, the web page  How to Configure Dial-Up Networking in Windows 98 for EarthLink   is incomplete, as it does not address the need to modify the default TCP/IP settings.  This is apparently a known issue, as the information provided by Earthlink's Internet Chat help facility is much more complete.  The web page should be redone to include all of the steps and information included in the procedure provided by the ELN Internet Chat representative.

If I understand correctly, the Internet Chat  information was provided from an Earthlink document designated as "#PFR#/DUT/Dia/PC/Win9x/ConfigDUN"; that information should be available on the web page.

Second, that document itself needs to be revised and corrected.  I have copied the document below, revised to incorporate suggested changes which are necessary to reduce the possibility of confusion about how to enter the Earthlink access number when establishing the dial-up connection.   These changes are necessary to provide instructions about proper configuration of the connection's Dialing Properties when the connection is to an access number requiring "Dial 1" telephone connections.

The existing instructions do not include information about how to handle dial-up connections which require the use of "Dial 1" telephone calls.  In fact, instruction #11, which is to  "Uncheck the option to Use Area code & Dialing Properties" is out and out wrong, in situations where Dial 1 is required to access numbers within the users' Area Code.

In the copy of the instructions below, my suggested changes are identified by bold type.

Jayasudha P, ELN Technical Support: You can use the instructions below as a guide to configuring a new EarthLink connection on your computer:

1. Double-click the My Computer icon.
2. Double-click the Dial-Up Networking folder.
3. Double-click the Make New Connection icon.
4. Delete the contents of the Type a name for the computer you are dialing field, and type EarthLink.
5. Click the Next button.
6. Enter your EarthLink access number.

In many locations, you need to dial the area code, preceded by a 1, to dial all numbers which are not local numbers.  All calls outside such local prefixes are "Dial 1" calls, and are either toll Long Distance calls, or 800, 888, etc. toll free numbers!  To establish the Dial-up connection properly for such numbers you must enter the area code in the in the area code field, and may have to modify the connection's "dial properties" after it is established (see below).

For Example: You live in La Crosse, KS, and your local calling area is restricted to only one prefix, 222, (covering a 6 mile square area and 2000 customers) and all other calls within your 785 area code are long distance toll (Dial 1) calls.   To dial into Earthlink you need to dial an access number in a nearby town, Hays.   You would enter 785 in the in the area code field, and the 7 digit access number in the Telephone number field.  (You will also need to modify the the dial up connection for Dial 1 dialing within Area Code as described in 1. through 8. below.)

In some urban locations, you may need to dial the area code but not a "1" to connect to EarthLink.  In these cases, place the entire 10 digit number in the Telephone Number field. Do not put the area code in the area code field. Also, if you need to disable call waiting, enter "*70," in front of the phone number (without the quotes.)

For Example: You live within local calling distance of Atlanta, but to dial into Atlanta you need to dial 404. You also have call waiting. You would enter "*70,404-335-0600" for the phone number. If you are unsure, try dialing the phone number on a normal phone.

7. Click the Next button.
8. Click the Finish button.
You will get a message that the connection has been established; now it must be modified.

If your e-mail address ends with @earthlink.net, @sprintmail.com, or @mac.com, enter 207.69.188.185  (Verify with ELN Website)
If your e-mail address ends @mindspring.com or anything else, enter 207.69.188.185  (Verify with ELN Website)

If your e-mail address ends with @earthlink.net, @sprintmail.com, or @mac.com, enter 207.69.188.186  (Verify with ELN Website)
If your e-mail address ends @mindspring.com or anything else, enter 207.69.188.186  (Verify with ELN Website)

IF your connection requires "Dial 1" access, as do all Toll Free connections and many toll connections within your Area Code, then:

1. Double click the connection you have just established, to open the "Connect to" window.
2. Click the Dial Properties button to open the Dialing Properties window, My Locations tab.
3. Click Area Code Rules button, to open the Area Code Rules tab.
4. In the "When calling within my area code" block check the "Always dial the area code (10 digit dialing)" box.
5. Enter the prefixes for Earthlink access telephone numbers which are within the local Area Code, and which require the use of 10 digit dialing in the "Dial 1 for numbers with the following prefixes" box.
6. Click OK, and verify the number to be dialed and the "Dial as a long distance call" box at the bottom of the "My Locations" tab of the Dialing Properties window.
7. Click OK to return to the "Connect to" window, then click "Connect".  (NOTE: Many changes within the "Connect to" window are not saved until a connection is established using the changed settings.  If the attempt to connect fails, the changes may have to be redone.)
8. After the connection is established, disconnect, and open the "Connect to" window to verify the proper settings have been saved.

Jayasudha P: Please follow the above steps.
Jayasudha P: This will take care of the issue.

pivonka571@earthlink.net: Yes, I want a copy of the instructions, and will ask for them. You should tell people there that the walkthrough at the support web site does not follow these instructions, and should be corrected.
Jayasudha P: Sure, I will inform this to the concerned department.
Jayasudha P: There is an option to send a copy of this chat to any email address that you would like. You can request it after we have concluded this session. To have the session emailed to you, just fill out the proper fields at the end of the post-chat survey that will appear when you close this window.
pivonka571@earthlink.net: Also, in my response to the quality review inquiry, I will be noting that the assistance window we are working in does not resize in Netscape 7.0, which makes it very difficult to read your typing to me.
pivonka571@earthlink.net: Windows which are fixed in size, and not resizeable, are not good things for users. That should be fixed too.
Jayasudha P: I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.
Jayasudha P: You can send your suggestions to suggestions@earthlink.net
pivonka571@earthlink.net: Thanks for your help.

(Note that the survey window never materialized.)

Finally, although Jayasudha P, ELN Technical Support, was courteous and helpful in the Internet Chat help session, and gave me the information which started me toward a solution to my problem, the assistance window we were working in does not resize in Netscape 7.0, which made it very difficult to read Jayasudha's typing to me.  Windows which are fixed in size, and not resizeable, are not good things for users. That should be fixed too.

Error 650 :
Dial up networking was unable to establish a connection.  Error 650
The computer you're dialing in to does not respond to a network request.
Check your server type setting in the properties of the connection.
If this problem persists, check with your network administrator.   

(CORRECTED) How to Configure Dial-Up Networking in Windows XP for EarthLink

Use the instructions below as a guide to configuring a new EarthLink connection on your computer:

1. Start > Control Panel
2. Network Connections
3. Double-click the New Connection Wizard icon.
4. Click the Next button and select "Connect to the Internet
5. Click the Next button, and select "Setup my connection manually"
5a. Click the Next button, and select "Connect using a dial-up modem"
6. Click the Next button, and enter the name you will use for this connection, usually your (EarthLink) ISP name, with a modifier ("1", or "dialup", etc.)
 6a. Click the Next button, and enter the ISP access number for this connection.

In many locations, you need to dial the area code, preceded by a 1, to dial all numbers which are not local numbers.  All calls outside such local prefixes are "Dial 1" calls, and are either toll Long Distance calls, or 800, 888, etc. toll free numbers!  To establish the Dial-up connection properly for such numbers you must enter the area code in the in the area code field, and may have to modify the connection's "dial properties" after it is established (see below).

For Example: You live in La Crosse, KS, and your local calling area is restricted to only one prefix, 222, (covering a 6 mile square area and 2000 customers) and all other calls within your 785 area code are long distance toll (Dial 1) calls.   To dial into Earthlink you need to dial an access number in a nearby town, Hays.   You would enter 785 in the in the area code field, and the 7 digit access number in the Telephone number field.  (You will also need to modify the the dial up connection for Dial 1 dialing within Area Code as described in 1. through 8. below.)

In some urban locations, you may need to dial the area code but not a "1" to connect to EarthLink.  In these cases, place the entire 10 digit number in the Telephone Number field. Do not put the area code in the area code field. Also, if you need to disable call waiting, enter "*70," in front of the phone number (without the quotes.)

For Example: You live within local calling distance of Atlanta, but to dial into Atlanta you need to dial 404. You also have call waiting. You would enter "*70,404-335-0600" for the phone number. If you are unsure, try dialing the phone number on a normal phone.

7. Click the Next button.
7a.  Enter the Internet Account Information - Username and password.
7.b  Click Next

8. Click the Finish button.
You will get a message that the connection has been established; now it must be modified.

Instructions have NOT been modified for XP below this line.....
Internet Protocol TCP/IP properties

If your e-mail address ends with @earthlink.net, @sprintmail.com, or @mac.com, enter 207.69.188.185  (Verify with ELN Website)
If your e-mail address ends @mindspring.com or anything else, enter 207.69.188.185  (Verify with ELN Website)

If your e-mail address ends with @earthlink.net, @sprintmail.com, or @mac.com, enter 207.69.188.186  (Verify with ELN Website)
If your e-mail address ends @mindspring.com or anything else, enter 207.69.188.186  (Verify with ELN Website)

IF your connection requires "Dial 1" access, as do all Toll Free connections and many toll connections within your Area Code, then:

1. Double click the connection you have just established, to open the "Connect to" window.
2. Click the Dial Properties button to open the Dialing Properties window, My Locations tab.
3. Click Area Code Rules button, to open the Area Code Rules tab.
4. In the "When calling within my area code" block check the "Always dial the area code (10 digit dialing)" box.
5. Enter the prefixes for Earthlink access telephone numbers which are within the local Area Code, and which require the use of 10 digit dialing in the "Dial 1 for numbers with the following prefixes" box.
6. Click OK, and verify the number to be dialed and the "Dial as a long distance call" box at the bottom of the "My Locations" tab of the Dialing Properties window.
7. Click OK to return to the "Connect to" window, then click "Connect".  (NOTE: Many changes within the "Connect to" window are not saved until a connection is established using the changed settings.  If the attempt to connect fails, the changes may have to be redone.)
8. After the connection is established, disconnect, and open the "Connect to" window to verify the proper settings have been saved.