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THREE STEPS TO GETTING ONLINE With the growing popularity of the internet, if you're not already online, you probably want to be. To do this, you will need a modem. There are many emerging technologies such as DSL and cable modems, but for now we will be talking about dial-up access. Using a dial-up modem is the most common and lowest cost way to access the internet at this time. To determine if you already have one installed, inspect the back of your machine. Look for a card or opening with one or two telephone jacks on it. This is the modem. If you do not have one, don’t panic just yet. If your system has at least a Pentium or equivalent processor, you should have no problem adding one. Older systems will need to be evaluated on an individual basis. STEP 1 – MODEM In order to purchase a modem, you will need to determine the type your system requires. Most newer systems will accept a PCI type card internally. These are usually the lowest priced. This type is commonly called a winmodem or softmodem. The hardware settings are determined by the plug and play interface and the operating system. Older systems, some newer model units, and some of you not running Windows may require a hardware jumperable modem, or an ISA interface card. As a general rule of thumb, units slower than a 166mhz will usually require one of these. Laptops are in a class all to themselves. They will commonly use a PCMCIA or “PC card” type as they are now called. PC card modems resemble a thick, metal credit card with a telephone cable attached. They slide into a port on the side or back of the laptop. For some non-standard desktops and laptops, the only way to add a modem is externally. These are usually a bit higher in price, require an additional cable, and most run through a serial port. They will require a high speed UART chip. The store where you purchase the modem should be able to tell you if your system will be able to support an external modem properly if you take the system in with you. Recently on the market are USB (universal serial bus) modems. The main benefits of a USB modem are portability, and ease of installation. STEP 2 – ISP So now, you have a modem. What do you do next? You need to sign up for service through an ISP (internet service provider). You can usually locate several providers in the yellow pages. Some websites even say they will give you free access if you don’t mind viewing advertisements while you are surfing. However, they can be plagued with busy signals. How do you choose? Ask questions, and talk to your friends. Do you mind waiting to get online if all the lines are busy? Does the company have service problems, or do users complain of being dumped offline? Do they offer plenty of space for your web page, or charge extra if you are a business? Find one that offers the quality of service you expect, and if you’re not happy, you can always switch. STEP 3 – BROWSER You will need to install or set up a browser. A browser is software you will use to view webpages. Your ISP should provide you with any software or instructions you will need to access their service. If you have any problems, a call to technical support should take care of them. Once you have everything installed, just click the icon and start surfing! |
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