2. WHICH IS BETTER, AN INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL MODEM?
An internal modem is a built-in modem located inside the computer while an external modem is a box-typed hardware connected to the computer through a cable. An external modem is better than an internal modem since the latter is not easily accessibe and thus is hard to configure and troubleshoot.

3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A VOICE/FAX/MODEM AND A FAX/ MODEM?
The only difference between a VOICE/FAX/MODEM and a FAX/MODEM is the ability of the former to recognize a human voice thus having the capability of being configured as an answering machine. Both of these modems can be used for Internet access or sending and receiving faxes.

4. CAN A 286 OR 386 COMPUTER CONNECT TO THE INTERNET?
Yes, although the speed of the connection is very slow. Let’s say you have a 386 computer and 33.6kbps modem, still the connection is slow although you’re using a fast modem because your computer processor is slow.

At least a 486DX2-66 computer, 8Mb memory, 10Mb disk space and 28.8kbps modem is recommended. The faster the computer processor and modem speed, the faster connection the you will get.

5. DO WE NEED TO HAVE A FAST COMPUTER AND A FAST MODEM?
Not necessarily, but it is an advantage since you can maximize your subscribed Internet package. If you have a fast computer and modem then you’ll have a fast connection since your computer runs a fast processor and is connected to a fast ISP via a fast modem.

6. DO WE NEED TO UPGRADE A 386 COMPUTER BEFORE WE COULD CONNECT TO THE INTERNET?
It is not necessary to upgrade your computer, provided it can run an Internet browser, but it is better if you can, to maximize your subscribed Internet package.

(Upgrade means to change any hardware component of a computer to a higher type or add a new hardware.)

7. WHAT HARDWARE DO I NEED, TO HEAR SONGS FROM THE INTERNET?
You must have a sound card and speakers.

8. DO WE NEED TO APPLY FOR ANOTHER TELEPHONE FOR INTERNET?
No. Your existing telephone line will be fine. If you’ll be connecting to the Internet you just need to unplug the RJ11 wire from the telephone set and plug it into the modem. After you finish, then put back the wire to the telephone set. Most new modems have two connections marked PHONE and LINE. Just connect your telephone set to the one marked PHONE and your telephone line to the on marked LINE and you do away with the hassle of un/plugging your phone.

Note : If you are connected to the Internet, your line will be busy. Unless you have a call-waiting feature you can receive your call if you wish (refer to #14).

9. CAN A MISORTEL OR OTHER TELEPHONE BE USED FOR INTERNET CONNECTION?
Yes. PhilCom has interconnected with major telephone providers in the area. In PhilCom OnLink, it is advisable to use PhilCom telephone since other telephone may cause you long distance charges. Please check with your telephone company on this.

PhilCom to PhilCom call is a local call.

10. CAN WE USE A CELLPHONE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET?
Yes. You need to have a special kind of modem for mobile phones.

11. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET?
With PhilCom OnLink, if you have all the hardware requirements, you just need to pay one-month advance of your package rate, plus the registration fee . Please refer to the PRODUCTS page for current rates.

12. WHAT ARE THE USES OF INTERNET?
· Correspondence/communicate with people
· Research
· Business
· Download files/share software
· Latest news and issues

13. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF INTERNET ACCESS?
· Easy access to first-hand information
· Easy and faster way of communicating
· Cost effective
· Access to more markets

14. WHAT COUNTRIES CAN WE CONTACT THRU THE INTERNET? OR WITH WHOM CAN WE CORRESPOND?
If you are connected to the Internet you can contact any country in the world and can get any information you want unrestrained by geographical boundaries. You can correspond with countless people around the globe through electronic mail (you just need to know their e-mail address).

NOTE : You can search for people on the Internet and their e-mail addresses too. Use Infoseek search engine and click find e-mail. (www.infoseek.com)

15. IF CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET, CAN I RECEIVE INCOMING CALLS IF I HAVE A CALL WAITING FEATURE?
Yes. You just need to have another RJ11 wire. Connect the other end to the telephone handset and the other to the modem under phone. (Modem has two plugs for RJ11 wire : line and phone. The line is to be used when connecting to the Internet.)

If connected to the Internet and there is an incoming call, Internet connection will be disconnected since in a call waiting feature, a beep indicates an incoming call. The connection is very sensitive such that any noise in the line will disrupt the connection. If you don’t want your Internet connection to be disconnected we advise you to deactivate the call waiting feature before connecting to the Internet.

16. WHAT INTERNET SOFTWARES/PROGRAMS WILL YOU INSTALL?
We will be installing Internet Explorer 5.x for the browser and Internet Mail for the e-mail. All Internet software are available for FTP from our homepage (ftp.Onlink.com).

Note : If you ask for software other than what we install, check with our Technical Support – 858-0932 or our Customer Hotline at < 930 >.

17. HOW MANY SERVERS DOES PHILCOM HAVE?
We have 3 servers : 2 Domain Name Service (DNS) server : primary and secondary DNS servers and 1 E-mail server.

18. WHAT IS THE SPEED OF YOUR MODEMS?
Our receiving modems are 33.6kbps in speed. (We will upgrade to 56kbps modems soon).

19. WHERE IS THE INTERNET ACCOUNT CREATED?
It is created in PhilCom Local Exchange Area where you are located to activate the roaming account as well.

20. DO YOU OFFER ROAMING SERVICE? IN WHAT AREAS?
Yes. We are open in our service areas : Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Malaybalay, Valencia, Surigao, Bislig, Butuan, Bayugan, San Francisco, and Panabo, Santo Tomas, Lupon, Mati. Our roaming service will be offered in these areas soon: Cebu (MEPZ), Davao City and Makati.

Roaming Service also allows you to use your Internet e-mail account not only in the place you availed it. For example : you happen to visit Manila and you need to use to check your mails but you do not have an Internet account there. You can go to any Internet Café and log-in to http://www.philcom.ph or http://onlink.philcom.ph and check your mails via the web.

21. HOW DO I CHANGE MY PASSWORD?
You can change your password on-line. Just visit our homepage (http://onlink.philcom.ph) and click on Members’ Area from the menu on the left side.

22. HOW WILL I KNOW MY INTERNET USAGE?
You can check your Internet usage on-line. Just visit our homepage and click on Members’ Area from the menu on the left side.

23. WHAT OTHER ON-LINE SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
· You may view your Invoice (billing status) online.
· Philcom Mindanao telephone Directory
· Free SMS Texting
· Free e-greeting kards

24. WHAT IS YOUR ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER EXISTING ISPS?
· NO BUSY SIGNAL
We assure no busy-signal because we provide lots of dial-up lines. (Other ISPs are limited to few dial-up lines.)

· QUICKEST CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET
We have a 2xE1 direct link to Makati and several E1 links to the Internet backbone in US and Canada.

You can view it this way : (1) OnLink is like a 4-lane highway and other ISPs are 2-lane highway. Considering the same volume of vehicles will be passing thru these 2 highways, surely vehicles in the 2-lane highway will experience congestion and vehicles in the 4-lane highway will have a smooth flow. (2) OnLink is a direct flight to Manila and other ISPs has a via Cebu flight to Manila. Considering that both flights took off at the same time, surely the direct flight will arrive earlier than the connecting flight.