Dial-up Internet service

Dial Up is the cheapest internet access option and can meet your needs if you only need mild to moderate internet access. Dial-up is also great if you’re traveling because, unlike most broadband plans, you can use it pretty much anywhere. I use a high-speed cable ISP at home and low-cost dial-up Internet service for the times I’m away from home.

Advantages of Internet Dial Up

  • Cheap – Many Nationwide ISP unlimited dial-up Internet service plans cost less than $ 10 per month.
  • Mobile – You can use the dial-up Internet service wherever a telephone socket is available.
  • Easy – No need to buy, configure or maintain special hardware.

Note: Although most dial-up ISPs advertise unlimited dial-up access, the maximum Internet connection time is generally limited to 300 hours per month, which equates to approximately 10 hours of use every day of the month. If you need more internet connection time than this, you should seriously consider a high speed cable or DSL broadband internet plan.

Disadvantages of Internet Dial Up

  • Slow – Not suitable for streaming audio or viewing multimedia videos.
  • Must connect – You must dial the ISP service to access the Internet.
  • Disconnections – If your Internet connection is down for a period of time, most ISPs will disconnect it.
  • Tie the phone – Your phone line will be busy as long as it is connected without the modem on hold.

Can I use my phone while I am online?

If you only have one phone line, you will not be able to dial or receive incoming calls while connected to the Internet, unless you have a V.92 modem with “Modem On Hold” software installed.

What is the standby modem?

Modem-On-Hold is a new V.92 modem technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls while connected to the Internet. Most dial-up ISPs support “Modem On Hold”. You will need call waiting service from your telephone company and compatible Modem-On-Hold software. You should have received software such as “NetWaiting” or “MOH” with your v.92 modem, but if not, you will need to download it from your modem manufacturer’s website.

What is expedited dial-up access?

Most Internet service providers offer a dial-up Internet accelerator. Essentially, the expedited dial-up service consists of advanced caching and compression software downloaded from your ISP and installed on your computer. This special software drastically reduces the amount of data that must be sent over the phone lines to your computer’s modem. Although you should see an immediate improvement in performance, the trade-off is that the quality of the graphic image drops a bit. The accelerator software can generally be configured to allow you to customize the compression ratio and other settings.

How do I choose the best dial-up ISP?

Personally, I would choose an established Internet provider that has a proven track record and provides many local V.92 access numbers throughout the country of the US and Canada. To avoid long distance phone charges, you should ensure that any potential dial-up ISP provides local dial-up numbers for your area. Compare low-cost dial-up Internet providers and choose the one that best meets your needs and fits your monthly budget.

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