Module 2: Connecting to the Internet

 

If you want to connect to the internet from your home computer, you need to set up an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). 

ISPs differ greatly in the services they provide, and there are several available to choose from. Your home computer probably came with some suggested ISPs that you can open an account with. People often change their ISP over the course of time, depending on the type of services they want. If you want to change your ISP, they will most likely require you to install their software on your computer.

Free Internet Service Providers

There are some free ISPs available to use on your computer. Keep in mind that these free ISPs often push a great deal of advertising to make up for "being free". Most of the free ISPs have a time limit for how many hours you can be online per month. Usually this limit is 10 hours per month. Free ISPs are dial-up services, which means your computer will use its modem to dial the phone number of the service, and this will be done on your telephone line. You must download the company's software in order to use this type of ISP. 

Low Cost Internet Service Providers

A low cost ISP ranges from about $7 per month to about $15 per month. They are dial-up services. Many low cost, dial-up ISPs offer unlimited access. The most common problem that can occur with low-cost internet service providers is that your modem gets a busy signal when trying to connect. 

For more information about free and low cost ISPs the site, freedomlist, is a useful site to browse. There are reviews and basic explanations of several ISPs. 

Internet Service Providers

Most of us have heard of these well-known ISPs, some of them even have commercials on television.  Among them are America Online (AOL), Earthlink, MSN (Microsoft Network), and SBCYahoo. These service providers generally cost around $20 per month for unlimited access using a dial-up connection. 

DSL and Cable Internet Service Providers

Many of the more well-known ISPs also offer high speed internet services. High speed services involve the use of a DSL (digital subscriber line) connection or a cable connection. Digital subscriber lines carry data at higher speeds over standard telephone wires.  Cable connections require that a different type of modem be added to your computer. A cable connection is one of the highest speed connections currently available to the general public. Costs for these high speed services ranges anywhere from $30 per month to $55 per month for unlimited access.

Tempe Public Library does not endorse any particular ISP or offer recommendations on which ISP to use.

Module 3: Surfing the Web

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