UIUC 800 Numbers: Windows ME or 98 Dialing Instructions

This page contains information about connecting to UIUCnet via 800 number with a Windows ME or 98 system.

Info icon University-provided dialup networking is no longer available.

The UIUCnet Dialup and UIUCnet Premier services were retired on July 1, 2009. For network access alternatives, see our pages on replacement dialup networking options or high-speed networking options.

What you'll need in order to connect

Note: If you haven't yet configured your system for regular dial-up networking to campus (without the 800 number), you should make sure that part of your configuration is working first. See Windows ME Dialup Networking or Windows 98 Dialup Networking for instructions.

Configuring your system to connect to campus modems through an 800 number

For most users, 800 number access to campus dialup pools is a special case rather than the everyday method of making a network connection. There's also no need to use 800 number access from within the 217 area code. Therefore, we'll be defining a "travel" location which is outside the 217 area code and a special "UIUC 800" calling card in your calling rules.

After you've created your regular dialup configuration as noted above, you can modify that configuration's calling rules to add your "Travel" location and define the custom calling card for your 800-number access.

In your Network and Dialup Connections window (Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Network and Dialup Connections), double-click on the icon for the dialup connection you want to use with the 800 number, as though you were going to connect to the network.

A window like the following will appear, although the information shown won't yet be filled in:

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However, instead of connecting, select the Dial Properties button.

Dial Properties

A new window like the following will appear, although it won't yet contain the traveling location or the UIUC 800 number; we're about to configure those.

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In order for the 800 number rule to be correctly applied, you must have more than one location defined. Assuming that your computer already contains a location defined as "home" or "work" or something similar, we'll now create a new travel-specific "location" outside the 217 area code.

First, click the New button to create a new location. When it's first created, it will likely be called New Location (2) or something similar; rename it to UIUC 800 by typing over the New Location (2) place name. ("UIUC 800" is the location you will use whenever you are calling from a place where you want to use the UIUC 800 number to connect.)

Next, give your Travel location an area code which is not 217. (712 is used in the sample, but any other non-217 area code could also be used).

Next, make sure For long distance calls, use this calling card is checked.

Finally, to configure the "UIUC 800 number" calling card information, click the Calling Card button.

Calling Card

In the Calling Card window which appears, click the New button to define a calling card called UIUC 800 number.

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Type your own personal access number in the Personal Identification Number (PIN Number) field (given as 555555555 in the example). This number is assigned only to you. All other numbers shown will be the same, but this one uniquely identifies you, like your NetID.

Type the University 800 number (1-800-782-4800) in the Long Distance field (the field which says "To use this calling card for long distance calls, I must dial this access number (phone number)"). Since this field will not accept hyphens or spaces, type it as one straight string of numbers: 18007824800

Next, click the Long Distance Calls button. This opens the Calling Card Sequence window.

Calling Card Sequence

The Long Distance Calls window will be blank to begin with; you'll complete it to look like the following screen shot.

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Warning: Although the option to have Windows ME or Windows 98 wait for a dial tone does exist, this feature does NOT operate correctly. Therefore, do not tell Windows ME/98 to wait for a dial tone like XP or 2000 would. Instead, use the time delays as shown.

To provide the calling card steps:

  1. Under step 1, select CallingCard Phone Number and instruct it to wait for 4 seconds.

  2. Under step 2, select PIN and instruct it to wait for 4 seconds.

  3. Under step 3, select Specified Digits and give it the number 9, then instruct it to wait for 2 seconds.

  4. Under step 4, select Destination Number (without area code) and select Done.

At this point, your configuration should look like the screen shot shown above. Click OK in the Calling Card Sequence shown above.

This will return you to the list of calling cards, with your newly created UIUC 800 number entry highlighted. Click OK again.

Checking your new location and dialing rules

Now you should be back to your first Dialing Properties window. At this point, all the information shown should match the screen shot below.

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Check your configuration. There should be a new UIUC 800 location defined, belonging to the 712 area code; the long distance calls check box should be checked, and your UIUC 800 number calling card should be selected.

(Note that the local and long distance boxes may contain 9s or be blank depending on the procedure you use to access an outside phone line.)

The Number to be dialed as sequence at the bottom should look like this. (Note: The ME and 98 interfaces will use the phrase [UIUC 800 number] to represent your PIN.)

If your dialing configuration matches this, click OK. (If you're planning to run a dial test from on campus, there will need to be be a 9 in front of the 1800 string.)

If your configuration doesn't match this, click Calling Card and recheck the screen shots above to make sure that everything matches.

At this point, you're ready to run a dialing test. Make sure your modem is plugged into a phone line and double-click the icon for the UIUC dialup connection you plan to use. Give your user name and password and see whether you can connect.

WARNING: Unlike the Windows 2000 and XP configurations, the Windows 98 and ME configurations will display your PIN in the dialing string displayed in the connection window. Take care to safeguard this number, and don't dial it when strangers could be looking over your shoulder; your personal account will be charged with any access fees incurred with this PIN.

Returning from the trip and customizing for other locations

When you've returned from your trip and want to use your regular method of dialing in to UIUCnet Premier or Dialup, simply return to the Dialing Rules tab by double-clicking on your dialup icon and selecting Dial Properties in the window which appears.

In the Dialing Properties window, click on the list which shows the UIUC 800 number location, and select your regular location instead. The "Phone number will be dialed as" option will return to its usual configuration.

Similarly, you can later turn the UIUC 800 number back on by selecting the UIUC 800 location from this list.

Other options

The descriptions presented above assume that you will begin your dialing string either directly with the UIUC 1-800 number or with 9-1-800. However, some locations require other calling sequences -- for example, some hotels require you to dial 8 before the 1-800 number; others use 109 or a different number entirely.

Check with the hotel or office you're calling from in order to determine the correct sequence of numbers to be dialed before the UIUC 1-800 number at that particular location.

Note also that the UIUC 1-800 number is only useful within the United States; if calling from a foreign country, you'll need to dial a different sequence of numbers, and your modem may or may not be able to communicate with their phone lines. For more information about modem dialup from international locations, see Network Access for Travelers.