All About Dial-Up Internet Service

Dial-up Internet service is still the most common type of internet connection used by consumers today (believe it, or not), and usually the least expensive.  It’s simple, inexpensive, simple, and portable.  Dial-up Internet service is just like a phone connection, except that the parties at the two ends are computer devices rather than people.

A dial-up connection allows you to connect to the Internet via a local server (on the Internet) using a standard 56k modem.  Your PC dials a phone number provided by your ISP, connects to the server, and therefore the Internet.  Now you can enjoy surfing the Net!

Some internet service providers charge by the minute for your connection.  So, the longer it takes to load the pages you visit, the more you pay for your connection. Therefore, it’s best to find a service provider who has an unlimited access feature.  The cost is the same as you would pay for a local phone call, if the dial-up service has local access numbers in your area.

High-Speed Dial-Up
What is often advertised as “high-speed dial-up” or “internet accelerator” by service providers is a form of dial-up access that utilizes the newer modem standard v.92 to shorten the log-on (or handshake) process, and then once a connection has been established the provider will selectively compress, filter, and cache data being sent to the users home with the overall effect of increasing the speed of browsing most standard web pages.

Dial-Up Advantages

Cost:  Dial-up internet service can be very economic and are widely available, the cost is usually the same as a local phone call or priced as a monthly plan. Hardware costs are also minimal, since it requires no more than a standard modem for connections – built into most new computers.

Convenience: Many dialup providers have thousands of access numbers available for you to use nationwide – allowing you access to the internet from hotels, family or friends house, etc.  Cable and DSL can only be used at your home where you have it installed.  If you expect to travel this could be the most important feature.  Providers offering service at around $10 give travelers a great backup option to their dedicated line!

Ease of Use:  Low startup costs, easy installation, low maintenance, and portability make dial-up internet service among the easiest to use.  Many new machines provide the modem necessary for handshake, leaving only a standard phone line to complete the job.  You can usually download software from the dial-up service provider’s website, or a CD is delivered with easy-to-follow scripts.  And, installation questions can be handled on the phone in only a few minutes – even for beginners.

Dial-Up Disadvantages

Speed: The number one complaint of dial up internet service is that connections are slower than other connection types. Dial-up connections transfer data over an analogue line so before the data is sent it has to be converted from digital to analogue, likewise when data is received it has to be converted from analogue to digital (this is what the modem does), this adds a performance overhead which affects the speed of the connection.  Choosing a dial-up internet service provider with a caching feature, sometimes known as an “Internet Accelerator”, will help to significantly increase the speed of browsing the web.

Consistency: The second more common complaint of dial-up internet users is getting disconnected during use.  Certainly, having a dedicated DSL (or other) communications loop to your home is more consistent than using a phone line.  However, you can help eliminate these problems by choosing a dial-up internet service provider with a large number of access lines available with unlimited nationwide access.  More access lines = more reliable connections.

Tied-Up Phone Line: Another frustration is that dial-up access ties up a phone line.  This is due to whenever you’re connected to the internet the same phone line cannot be used for phone calls.  Look for dial-up internet service providers who offer Internet Call Waiting.   This can significantly reduce frustrations of the line being tied up by alerting you of incoming calls.

With new technology, some of these disadvantages can be overcome. Read “How to optimize your dial-up internet service” for more information.