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How to connect to the Internet
Introduction
This Information Sheet is
for those organisations that, after reading "Genealogy on the
Internet" (1) or "Internet for Greenhorns" (2) or similar
material, or having been convinced by other means, have decided to
establish a presence on the Internet. Its purpose is not to
duplicate information contained in these references but to provide
practical advice as to how, after hardware and software requirements
are in place, to arrange an Internet connection and to get it
working.
Many members of the
Federation are too small to have their own premises and computer
equipment. In many instances they can still enjoy the benefits of
Internet connection by using the equipment of one of their members,
possibly at the relatively small cost of providing a modem plus a
dedicated telephone line to the member's home. It would be unusual
to not to be able to find a member willing to agree to such an
arrangement in return for the enhancement of his/her system in this
way.
How to select an Internet Service/Access Provider (ISP/IAP)
Reference (1) includes a
comprehensive list of Australian service providers, most of which
are commercial organisations. Minimising of costs is a prime
requirement of societies and it is possible to find service
providers that are prepared to assist voluntary not for profit
organisations at rates that are considerably less than those charged
by the commercial providers. For example, some universities come
into this category.
The ability of a
service provider to provide good service is an important
consideration. Their attitude to small users, and technical
capacities such as modem ratio and speed of connection, should be
assessed.
Selection of a provider
should therefore be made only after assessment of both costs and
service offered by a number of providers.
Web page design
The Web home page
is the document that Internet users will find when an address (home
page/uniform resource locator URL) is called for on the Internet.
Design of these requires knowledge and experience so it is necessary
to find a suitable person to execute this work - it can be done
professionally but there are capable enthusiasts within most
societies who may be prepared to assist.
The designer of the home
page will have to be advised as to what is to be included and if
there are any specific requirements for the design such as logos,
colours, etc. plus detailed information that is to be included.
Home page addresses for
links that are to be made to other societies, organisations, etc
will have to be provided.
Domain Name
A domain name is a
customised portable Internet address. As such a domain name may
reflect elements of the name of an organisation. This makes
addresses, including email, more identification specific and usually
shorter. For example, a home page address
of:
"http://www.wn.com.au/gol/genealogy/..../....main.htm"
could be "http://www.....com.au"
NOTE: It is now possible to provide an indication of society status in a home page address by the inclusion of the letters "asn".
Domain names must
be registered to protect their uniqueness.
Further information can be
obtained from your internet service provider.
The obtaining of a Domain Name for a web site has two benefits:-
- It projects a sense of authority and permanence compared to names given by most service providers.
- Changing of service provider is easier because your web site address, and possibly your mail address, does not change.
On the
negative side, a domain address has a cost for maintaining it. Using
an USA agent will prove much cheaper!
How to Operate
How to operate
your Internet facility (in the broad sense, not the detailed how to
use) will depend very much on whose computer has been used to
achieve the connection and where it is located. A regime for
operation will have to be customised to suit these criteria. Two
important aspects of this regime must be:-
- Who deals with email received, particularly enquiries for information.services?
- Who regularly updates the home page?
Call Waiting
Problems can occur with the
use of the Internet on telephone lines that have the "Call Waiting"
facility if it is not disarmed when on the Net. Disarming is done by
pressing #43# before connecting to the Net, and restoration by *43#.
What does Connection Achieve?
Connecting to the Internet
makes possible another valuable communication medium - email. This
service enables instant communication with other
organisations/persons who are connected, thus eliminating what has
become known as "snail mail"!
There are
therefore significant benefits to be achieved by societies which
connect to the information super highway.
References
- Foxworthy A, "Genealogy on the Internet", Coherent Publishing, Melbourne, 2nd Edition, 1996
- Internet for Greenhorns," Forum", Federation of Genealogical Societies;
- Communication from Federation of Family History Societies by C Hanna.
Last modified: 28 February 2006