1 My computer is on a corporate network. What do I need to do?
Many computer networks have high levels of security and block both internal and external access to all but a few specific ports in the network's firewall.
Your network administrator needs to open one or more specific ports in the network firewall. The network administrator is welcome to contact the Helpdesk to discuss the best way to deal with your organisation's security and management protocols.
2 What ports in the firewall need to be enabled so I can make an internet relay call?
Your network administrator needs to open the following ports:
- NRS website - port 5222 to both internal and external traffic
- more recent MSN - port 1852
- older MSN - port 1863
- AOL - port 5190
3 How do I get Java on my computer when my IT department doesn't allow us to download applications?
Talk to your IT department or network administrator about the best/easiest way you can access internet relay. They should be sympathetic to the needs of deaf/hearing impaired staff who need to make legitimate calls at work. Your network administrator is welcome to contact the Helpdesk to discuss the best way to deal with your organisation's security and management protocols.
4 Is there a way to use internet relay to bypass the security settings?
There are a number of websites that provide remote access to instant messaging applications; eg http://www.meebo.com/, http://www.webmessenger.msn.com/, or http://www.ebuddy.com/. You can use these sites without needing to have Java or the instant messaging application on your computer.
5 Why is the ‘Connect' button appearing grey and not responding?
You can't make a call until the Connect button is blue. Sometime you need to wait up to 50 seconds for the call page to ‘initialise' and the button to go blue.
6 What happens if the page doesn't allow me to type in the phone number?
You can't make a call until the Connect button is blue. You need to wait until the call page has fully initialised before entering the phone number.
7 What if I get an error mesage that says my 'IP address appears to be from an invalid location or outside Australia'?
This means that your IP address (your computer's "address" - the unique number that identifies your computer) is not recognised by the NRS. This could be due to one of the following:
- You are calling from outside Australia. Please note that the NRS is only available for calls from within Australia and thus you will be unable to make the call.
- You are calling from a computer network (eg from work) and your network administrator has masked your computer identity (this is commonly done for security reasons). Solution: see your network administrator or contact our Helpdesk.
- Your internet service provider (ISP) may be supplying you with an IP address that was sourced from overseas. Solution: there is no simple way for you to know if this is the problem, but contact our Helpdesk and we may be able to sort it out for you.
- You are using special software (sometimes known as an ‘IP changing security' package) that allows you to surf the Web anonymously. This software creates fake internet addresses that appear to us to be from outside Australia. Solution: disable or remove the software before making a call.
