Connecting to Juno with your Palm

Update:  The instructions below have not been tested since the Juno/Netzero merger and may no longer be valid.

Equipment I Used
Palm: Palm IIIc running PalmOS 3.5.2
Phone: Motorola StarTAC ST7867W

Phone Service Provider: Sprint PCS

Before You Begin
In order to connect to Juno on your Palm you’ll need either a Palm modem, wireless modem for the Palm or a cell phone that can be used as a wireless modem so that you can access the internet.  (You can find instruction for how to set up your Palm to use a cellphone as a wireless modem here.)

You’ll also need an active Juno account.  So if you don’t have one yet got to their web site and sign up.  You will have to sign into Juno at least once with their software before being able to start this project.

Enabling RASSPY On Your PC
This project requires a little work on both your PC and your Palm.  The steps are rather easy so don’t let this scare you.

  1. The key to this project is a program called Rasspy.exe.  Download it here.
  2. After you download it and extract the zip file copy the rasspy.exe file to C:WINDOWSSYSTEM32. (If you’re using Windows NT or 2000 then copy rasspy.exe to C:WINNTSYSTEM32).
  3. Right click on the Juno shortcut on your desktop and select properties from the context menu.
  4. Click the Shortcut tab in the Properties dialog.
  5. Put your cursor at the beginning of the Target field to the left of the current contents of the field.  Be very careful not to delete anything that is currently in the field.
  6. Type the following text into the field: ‘C:windowssystem32rasspy cmd=’ (without quotes).  If you are using Windows NT or 2000 replace windows with WINNT.)
  7. Click the OK button. 
  8. Double click on your newly edited Juno shortcut to start your Juno connection.  Rasspy will put up a dialog box with your encypted Juno username and password.

Creating A Network Setting On Your Palm
Now that you have your encrypted username and password you are ready to use them on your Palm.

  1. On your Palm launch the Prefs applet and go to the Network section.
  2. Tap the Menu button and select New from the Service menu.
  3. In the Service field type Juno.
  4. In the username field type the long username string provided by rasspy.
  5. Tap the password field, type in the long encrypted password provided by rasspy and tap the OK button.
  6. In the Connection field choose the connection you want to use to access the internet. (See my page on how to connect to the net using a cellphone.)
  7. In the Phone field enter your local Juno dialup number.  This is the number your Juno software uses to dial up Juno.
  8. Tap the details button on the bottom right corner of the screen.The following settings should be made on this screen:
    Connection type: PPP
    Idle timeout: Power Off
    Query DNS: Checked

    IP Address: Checked Automatic

  9. Tap the OK button.

When the Connect button is tapped your Palm will use the connection entered into the Connection field to dialup Juno. Once the connection is completed you will have full internet connectivity from your Palm through Juno.

What Can I Do With This Connection?
This connection is a regular PPP connection to the internet.  With this connection you can use PQAs (see my page on how to use PQAs with a non Palm VII), browse the web with a Palm or WAP browser and check your email.  (See my article on how to set up MultiMail Pro to check your Yahoo email.)

UPDATE 3/14/2001:  Though you can’t check you Juno mail with a standard POP client, such as MultiMail Pro, you can check it using the Juno PQA.  You can download it here. 

Can I use RASSPY To Decypt My Username And Password For Other Free ISPs?
Yes.  Rasspy will work to decrypt usernames and passwords sent to most free ISPs.  However not all of these ISPs are usable with a Palm.  I have only been successful with this method using Juno.  (I tried this method unsuccessfully with NetZero.)  If you try this method with other free ISPs or are successful in using your Palm to connect to any ISP (regardless of the method) please email me.