How to Get Online With Just Local Phone Service
During the 1980's and 1990's, the most common method of Internet access involved using dial-up (connecting a computer to a telephone line and dialing a local number). While this method for many has been replaced by an always-connected cable or DSL modem, it is still possible to use the dial-up method. While dial-up is slower than DSL, cable, or other broadband Internet services, the advantage of dial-up is that there are several free providers. Described below is a method for getting online with local phone service through dialupforfree.com, which will work in many countries throughout the world.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Computer with dial-up modem installed (if your computer has a telephone jack, it has a dial-up modem)
- Internet connection (for obtaining login, password, and dial-up number)
Instructions
-
Obtain Login, Password, and Dial-Up Phone Number
-
1
Get on the Internet and open a web browser to http://www.dialupforfree.com.
-
2
Enter your email address and zip code in the fields provided.
-
-
3
Check your email for a message from dialupforfree.com and note the login, password, and dial-up phone number contained in the email. Follow the link inside the email for "Getting Started."
Connecting to the Internet for PC
-
4
If your computer is a PC, the Automatic Setup is the simplest option. Click the link for "Download Automatic Dialup Installer" and run the program after it downloads.
-
5
Click "OK" when the a window pops up informing you that the program is not registered, and accept the license agreement in the next window. Then enter your login, password, and dial-up phone number into the provided fields, and click "OK". The window will close.
-
6
Make sure your computer is connected to the phone line. Then click Start in the lower left hand corner, click "Connect To", and then click on "Dialup For Free". Click the "Dial" button on the window that pops up, and the computer will begin dialing the number. Once this process completes, you will be connected to the Internet.
Connecting to the Internet for Mac
-
7
Click on "System Preferences" in the Apple menu; then from the "View" menu, click "Network".
-
8
Click "Internal Modem" from the "Show" pop-up menu (or the "Configure" pop-up menu if your Mac OS X is older than version 10.1). Then click the "PPP" tab. Enter your login, password, and dial-up number in the provided fields.
-
9
Click the "TCP/IP" tab, and then click "PPP", then click "Apply Now".
-
10
Open the "Applications Folder" and click "Internet Connect". Click the "Connect" button and the computer will dial the dial-up number. Once this process completes, you will be connected to the Internet.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You will need to connect to the Internet using some other method in the beginning in order to receive your dial-up number, login and password.
