ACN Volume 1 No 3 Oct. 1988 How to Use the Merit Network? by Michael Hauben (Editor's note: This article was written to tell Detroit area residents how to call Ann Arbor BBS's without having to pay a zone charge. For computer users outside of the Detroit area, they can use PC Pursuit to call Detroit to connect to the MERIT network.) Introduction Would you like to be able to call Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, while only being charged for a local call? If so, I have the solution! If you like to call in and around Ann Arbor then this will save you money! (There is one catch though. You will only be able to call Ann Arbor locally if you will be using your computer to connect to another computer.) Overview of Steps To start off you have to load a telecommunications program into your computer. Next you call a Merit number that is local to you. Once you are on Merit, you connect to the dial-out modems. Finally you can dial the number you want by using the AT command set. Materials Required A computer, modem, telecommunications software, a phone line, and a number for dialing a modem local to you for Merit. Cautions Sometimes the dial-out modems don't work! So don't get frustrated! Definition of Terms Modem - An acronym for MOdulate-DEModulate. This is a device which lets computers communicate over phone lines. Merit - A network of the educational computers in Michigan. Telecommunications program . A program which runs on your computer which lets you use the phone lines to connect to another computer. Network - The linking up of computers. Dial-out modems - These are modems which when you connect to them, let you use them to dial out of the network. Step One: Setting UP A. Boot your computer with your system disk. B. Turn your modem on and check to see if it's connected to your computer and phone line. C. Run your telecommunications program. Step Two: Connecting A. Call your local Merit number, with your telecommunications program set at 300 or 1200 baud (there are a few 2400 baud numbers), 7 data bits, even parity, 1 stop bit (7, E, 1) and full duplex. B. At the "%Terminal=" prompt, either press return or enter your terminal (emulation) type. C. At the "Which host?" prompt, type "DIALOUT-AA" to connect to the dialout modems. D. Hit return two or more times. Step Three: Dialing A. After "Ok", type "ATSMCSLCC0D9 ###-####"; (###-#### is the phone number.) If the number is busy, or if it doesn't answer, then type "D" or "R" and return to redial until you're connected! Step Four: Quitting A. Send a character. B. Type "%QUIT". C. At the "Which host?" prompt type "Q" to disconnect from Merit. D. Exit your telecommunications program. E. Shut your computer and modem off. Telephone numbers to dial MERIT: 300/1200 (313)593-5059,(313)577-0335 2400 (313)577-0321 Some BBS's you can call using MERIT: M-Net 994-6333 300/1200/2400 baud Beyond Reality 995-0754 300/1200/2400 baud Kite-Net 663-6201 300/1200 baud DMD HQ 420-4624 300/1200/2400 baud Other services available from MERIT are connections into CompuServe, The Source, PC-MAGNET (PC Magazine's new electronic service) and the NSFSCN (National Science Foundation Super-Computer Network). =========================================================================