From: ange@cdf.toronto.edu (Angela Glinos)
Subject: CDF Modems
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 16:58:40 GMT

The Department of Computer Science operates its own modem pool for dialin
users of CDF. This service is available to undergraduate students who have
one or more CDF accounts and costs $25 per term to use.

Most of you are aware by now that the PACXnet dialin service is no longer
available. Due to the age of the PACXnet equipment, and the high cost of 
maintaining the service, the University decided to discontinue it.

There is no longer a "free" dialin service available to students (that we
know of).

Students are in no way required to use CDF's modems if they wish to work
from home. The University's Information Commons provides a reasonably
priced dialin service named UTORdial. Starter packages can be obtained
from the Information Desk at the Robarts and SigSam libraries. The first
20 hours of connect time each *term* are free for students who are
enrolled in a course. After the 20 hours are up, the charge is $10 for 20
hours of connect time. Note that this this an improvement from the old
pricing structure, which only provided 20 free hours when you first
obtained your UTORdial account.

The break even point (in monetary terms only) for CDF vs UTORdial is 70
hours, if you are enrolled in a course. If you think you will use CDF less
than 70 hours this term, then it will cost you less to use a UTORdial
account.

Alternatively there are dozens of commercial ISP's (Internet Service
Providers) that provide sufficient Internet access to allow remote logins
to CDF.

The main features CDF's modems pool are:

a) 14.4kb, v.42bis modems.
b) Restricted access. We limit the number of people that can use them, in
   order to maintain a reasonable level of accessibility. 
c) Flat fee. We do not currently limit or charge for the amount of
   time you are connected. Most other service providers charge by the hour.

CDF's modem service does not directly support SLIP or PPP. UTORDial does.
CDF's modem service does support Slirp, a SLIP/PPP emulator.

The number of users granted access to the CDF modems is limited to 60 (10
users per modem), determined on a first come, first serve basis.

Students wishing to sign up for this service should bring $25, cash,
*exact* change only please, to one of:

a) Dr. J. Clarke in SF2304C (9am-5pm)
b) The CDF system administrators in EA201 (10am-6pm)

You will be asked to provide the name of the CDF account(s) that you own
and will be issued with a receipt.

Currently, anyone with a CDF account can try out our modem service. The
phone number is 971-2465. At 10 am on Monday January 26th, use of the
modem pool will be restricted to only those people who have already paid
to use it. Users may continue to signup (up to the limit of 60) at any
time during the term and will be be granted access at that time.

Further questions regarding the modem service should be directed via
e-mail to admin@cdf. *However* before doing so, make sure you have read
the relevant sections in the FAQ. (type "faq".)