From: kaminski@netcom.com (Peter Kaminski)
Subject: Re: What are ways to get on?, choices given, advice wanted...
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 92 01:30:46 GMT
Organization: The Information Deli - via Netcom / San Jose, California

Toshi Takeuchi <tt@wag.caltech.edu> writes:

>My friend wants to read USENET news.  That's all.  No ftp, telnet
>necessary.  He lives in Spartanburg, SC

Find a BBS somewhere that offers Usenet news.  Cost starts at $0 (and
there are lots of places for $0) on up -- wherever you end up, try to
send the sysop at least a little something for providing the service.

If you don't have a local BBS with Usenet, you might have to use PC
Pursuit.  Cost: $30/month for 30 hours off-peak at 2400 baud.  (Or
$50/month for 60 hours -- and in either case, extra off-peak time
costs $3/hr.)

>Choice 1: Use dial-n-cerf-usa via a 1-800 number
>Choice 2: Dial long-distance to Columbia, SC or possibly to NC, wherever
>	  cheaper, probably ends up being cheaper than 1-800 stuff.
>
>	Rock Concert Net $30/mo + long distance to NC
>
>	Holonet in NC or Columbia, SC no information on prices.

The options you're considering aren't really what you're looking for,
even if they are in the PDIAL.  Remember, folks, the PDIAL is a list
*only* of providers with outgoing Internet services -- there are lots
of less expensive options if you're just looking for news and mail.

(Also note that even in the PDIAL there are less expensive options
(not necessarily better, just less expensive) than those you mention.)

Unfortunately, I'm not prepared to name any sites for just news and
mail right now, but basically cruise the BBS lists, looking for
mentions of Usenet, Waffle, etc.  (To *find* BBS lists, look on any
BBSes you know, or check local computer user groups, computer stores,
computer magazines, alt.bbs.lists, or ftp from the standard sites.)

Your phone options, listed in rough order of cost (from cheapest to
most expensive and very rough prices): local (free to inexpensive); PC
Pursuit ($1/hr); other packet-switched networks or PDNs like Tymnet,
SprintNet, Compuserve Packet Network, PSINet, etc. ($2-$8/hr),
out-of-state long distance ($8-$12/hr); 800 or 900 service
($8-$12/hr); in-state long distance ($6-$15/hr).

Phone summary: local is best, PC Pursuit is next best if it provides
the service you need, next best is a PDN.  If you're calling long
distance, check to see if out-of-state is cheaper than in-state.  800
service is *not* free, it's just a way of automatically reversing the
charges, and you're going to get billed by the provider for it.

>Choice 3: Compuserve

>	  a. comes with internet access
>          b. can use compuserve packet network to access The World.

Compuserve comes with Internet *email*, and that's it.  (BTW, at $7.95
for the flat rate option, which includes up to 60 email messages a month,
it's not a bad standard answer to "Where can I get email access?")

And you do NOT have to be a Compuserve member to use the Compuserve
Packet Network.

>	world is $5.00/mo + $2.00/hr + $5.60/hr Compuserve Packet Network
>	so, $5.00/mo +  $7.60/hr

$5.60/hr is mid-range for packet-switched services -- check the PDIAL for
some of the other prices.  And remember PC Pursuit is $1/hr off-peak...

I'm sending you the most recent PDIAL (Public Dialup Internet Access
List), even though it's not really what you want. :)

Here is the "How to Get The PDIAL" section and a new section with info
about the PDNs.

Information below: Copyright 1992 Peter Kaminski.  May be distributed
by any means, but may not be sold without permission.

------------------------------

Subject: How to Get The PDIAL

USENET: The PDIAL list is posted regularly to alt.internet.access.wanted,
alt.bbs.lists, and ba.internet.

FTP: The PDIAL list is available via anonymous ftp from site
GVL.Unisys.COM [128.126.220.104] in the directory ~/pub/pubnet/pdial.

EMAIL: To receive the most recently published PDIAL, send email with
the subject "Send PDIAL" to "kaminski@netcom.com".  To subscribe to a
list which receives future editions as they are published, send email
with the subject "Subscribe PDIAL" to "kaminski@netcom.com".  To
receive both the most recent and future editions, send both messages.

------------------------------

Subject: Public Data Network (PDN) Information

Here's how to get local access numbers or information for the 
various PDNs.  Generally, you can contact the site you're calling 
for help, too.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Unless noted otherwise, set your modem to 7E1 (7 
data bits, even parity, 1 stop bit) when dialing to look up access 
numbers by modem as instructed below.


BT Tymnet
---------

For information and local access numbers, call 800-937-2862 (voice) 
or 215-666-1770 (voice).

To look up access numbers by modem, dial a local access number, 
hit <cr> and 'a', and enter "information" at the "please log in:" 
prompt.


Compuserve Packet Network
-------------------------

You do NOT have to be a Compuserve member to use the CPN to dial
other services.                                

For information and local access numbers, call 800-848-4480 (voice).

To look up access numbers by modem, dial a local access number,
hit <cr> and enter "PHONES" at the "Host Name:" prompt.


PC Pursuit (SprintNet)
----------------------

PC Pursuit may be used to call a modem in any of 44 major metro
areas in the US from local access numbers around the country.
As such, it can be used to access most of the providers listed
in the PDIAL (those with no other PDN access or even those which 
are accessible by other PDNs).

For information and registration, call 800-736-1130 (voice) or
800-877-2006 (data).  More information is also available on the
PC Pursuit support BBS (see below).

To look up access numbers by modem, dial 800-546-1000, hit
<cr><cr><cr> at 1200 baud or '@'<cr><cr> at 2400 baud.  Enter
"MAIL" at the "@" prompt, then "PHONES" at the "USER NAME:"
prompt, and "PHONES" at the "PASSWORD:" prompt.

The PC Pursuit support BBS provides a great deal of information 
about PC Pursuit, including rates, terms and conditions, outdial 
numbers, etc.

To access the PC Pursuit support BBS, dial a local access number 
and hit <cr><cr><cr> at 1200 baud or '@'<cr><cr> at 2400 baud.
Change modem parameters to 8N1, and enter "C PURSUIT" at the "@" 
prompt.


PSINet
------

For information, call 800-82PSI82 (voice) or 703-620-6651 (voice), 
or send email to "all-info@psi.com".  For a list of local access 
numbers send email to "numbers-info@psi.com".

-- 
Peter Kaminski
kaminski@netcom.com
Newsgroups: alt.internet.access.wanted