Below is a list of some of the more commonly asked questions about the program. If your question is not answered here, please send e-mail to help@dca.net. 



Q: How is the Penn DCANet Dialup Program different from other commercial Internet providers?
A: The Penn DCANet Dialup Program provides many advantages over packages provided by other Internet service providers (ISPs): 

  • The direct, high-speed T1 line between DCANet and PennNet ensures reliable and fast communication between you and hosts on PennNet. No other dialup Internet provider has direct connectivity to PennNet. 
  • Pricing under the program is discounted. Comparable services from non-PennNet-connected ISPs are generally more expensive. 
  • The University of Pennsylvania exclusively recommends the Penn DCANet program for commercial Internet/PennNet access.
    (This recommendation applies only to customers within DCANet's service area.) 
  • DCANet's emphasis on customer support and network redundancy means reliable, trouble-free service. 



Q: I am not sure I want to sign up. Is there a free trial?
A: No, there is no free-trial offer.



Q: Why is unlimited access not available?
A: It is the rare user that needs to connect for more than 360 hours per month. DCANet sets limits to encourage customers to disconnect from the service whenever the account is not being used, which means that more customers will be able to use the service.


Q: Can I use my account to read my Penn e-mail?
A: Yes, customers currently using Eudora (or any other supported POP mail client) to read Penn e-mail can continue to do so. Customers who use telnet to run Elm can also continue to do so.



Q: Can I access upenn.* newsgroups with my Penn DCANet account?
A: Yes! Via setting your USENET newsreading program to authenticate to netnews.upenn.edu, you can access Penn's news server via DCANet. For more information, please visit Penn's information page on netnews.



Q: Are Penn Library web resources available with DCANet access?
A: Yes, through a proxy server. See Penn Library Proxy Server for instructions. 



Q: Are there any known problems using the Penn Library Proxy Server?
A: Firewalls will block proxy transactions and some older Browsers do not support proxy.



Q: Does my account include a separate e-mail address at DCANet?
A: Not automatically. A separate e-mailbox may be purchased, however. See the DCANet signup page to request e-mail account(s).



Q: What if I don't like my DCANet username, can it be changed?
A: Yes, it can be changed. You can either request a change via e-mail to accounts@dca.net or fill out the DCANet Account Upgrade form.



Q: Can I change my password as well?
A: DCANet has a password changing utilities on the DCANet Technical Support Page.



Q: Can I get additional e-mail addresses?
A: Yes. See the Optional Add-Ons page for details.



Q: If I cancel my account before the end of a billing period, can I get a refund?
A: Yes, DCANet cancels accounts on the last day of the month. If you cancel your account, it will be deleted on the last day of the current month, and you will be refunded any amount paid for your account beyond that time.



Q: I really like the Penn DCANet Program. Can my father/brother/mother sign up too?
A: Only if they have a valid PENNcard and Network ID.



Q: What software do I need?
A: Modern operating systems come with all of the software that one would need to connect to DCANet. The OS simply needs to be configured. Configuration assistance is available online at www.dca.net/support, by e-mailing help@dca.net or calling into the help desk at 888-432-2638.

If you wish to upgrade your web browser or e-mail client (program), DCANet can provide you with a cd-rom or you can download them off of the Internet.



Q: My computer or terminal can not run PPP. Can I use telnet instead?
A: If your computer is not able to run PPP (such as Mac Classics, 286-compatibles, and VT100 terminals), you may sign up for the program and have your account instead log you in via telnet to a host of your choosing at Penn (e.g. mail.sas, eniac.seas, or pobox).



Q: How can I check the number of hours that I have been online so far this month?
A: Visit this page with your Web browser to check your current monthly usage.



Q: When I dial in to DCANet, I am assigned a different IP address each time. Can I get a static IP address?
A: Yes, your account can be configured to have a static IP address for a one-time $15 processing fee. Note that static IP-address customers will be limited to using only one DCANet dialup number. Static IP addresses are linked to an individual modem pool. To request a static IP address, send e-mail to help@dca.net.



Q: What kind of modems are used in DCANet's modem pools?
A: DCANet uses all-digital V.90 and ISDN capable rack-mounted modems throughout its network. These modems support connect rates of up to 56k. See DCANet's list of dialup locations for details.



Q: What about ISDN?
A: DCANet uses Livingston Portmasters to provide dialup ISDN access. The Livingtson ISDN card supports 56k, 64k, 112k, and 128k ISDN connection rates. Rates above 64k are supported by Multilink PPP.



Penn DCANet Dialup Program homepage