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How do I connect to the internet?

Mobile broadband is available from 3, T-mobile and vodafone, prices and network coverage vary. Before you sign up, try and arrange a 'grace' period so that you can return the equipment if it does not work in your area. The modem is usually locked, so that you can not use it with a sim card from another provider.
This is a good solution if you move around a lot, and speeds can be reasonable, depending on the area.
Here in Blackpool, it is possible to stream music/radio stations on the 3 sevice, haven't tried video yet.

On a windows machine, when you insert the 3 'dongle' it installs the software automatically, and is ready to use. If autostart is disabled, the install will not begin automatically, in this case, navigate to mycomputer, find the dongle icon and select explore, find setup.exe and double click on it to install the software.

Packages
Most operators are now offering a variety of packages which are worth looking for. For example, in early 2008, Sky offered free broadband with their £15 sky tv packages.
3 offer 'pay as you go' mobile broadband.
TalkTalk offer free 'phone calls with their broadband package.

All our computers are internet capable. (MODEMS ARE NOT SUPPLIED) but most providers send a modem through the post to you, when you sign up.

Cable connection in cabled areas, see virgin media for prices.
An engineer comes out to install the network box in your house then you have to connect an ethernet cable from the network box to the network card in your computer. Wireless connection is not normally supplied (Dec 09)

There are two methods of connecting to the internet when using an ordinary telephone (BT) line. Standard and broadband.

== Standard Connection ==

This was the original way to connect to the internet, before the advent of broadband. Your computer 'makes a telephone call' to the internet service provider to establish a connection. This means that the telephone line is engaged all the time that the internet is in use, so you can not make or receive telephone calls.
** This is now only worth considering if you only intend to send a few emails a week.

== Cost (April 2005) ==

Because this type of internet access is effectively a telephone call, it can be arranged to appear as a telephone call on your telephone bill. This is generally called 'pay as you go' and is ideal for low usage. There is no commitment or contract to set up, your internet usage just appears as telephone calls on your telephone bill. If use can be restricted to evenings and weekends, the cost is generally quoted as one penny per minute. The other option is a monthly contract. You agree to pay a certain amount per month for unlimited use. Nothing appears on your telephone bill, you pay the same amount every month, usually by standing order. Different Internet service providers will have various options available. You need to know how many hours a month you will spend on the internet to work out which will be the cheaper option.

== Broadband ==

Broadband connections are usually at least 10 times faster than a standard connection, and do not 'engage' the telephone line when in use, so you can still make and receive telephone calls while another member of the family is 'surfing the net'. The connection is always available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at no extra cost. Some internet service providers apply what they term a 'cap', this means if you download lots of music and films, there may be an additional charge if you go over an agreed download limit. Broadband normally requires payment by monthly standing order, with a yearly contract. The telephone line has to be tested to discover if it is capable of supporting broadband, this can be done by the internet service provider. If the line is suitable, it then needs to be enabled for broadband, the internet service provider does this, and may add a one off charge to do it. A broadband filter/splitter and a broadband modem will be required, these may be supplied by some internet service providers.

== Cost (April 2005) ==
Fifteen pound a month is the cheapest available at the moment, but changing rapidly and dependant on the package chosen, so shop around.

= Summary of choices =

*Choose an internet service provider(ISP)
*Choose a service/package from the ISP
*Choose a modem

== Choose an internet service provider (ISP) ==

Some popular ISP's which you may of heard of, or seen advertised are:-
*Freeserve (now Wanadoo) (now Orange)
*AOL
*BT
*TalkTalk
*Sky
*Tiscali
*Demon
*Plusnet

and there are hundreds of others, so how do you choose? When computer magazines run surveys to discover the 'best' ISP, they generally look at several criteria
*Reliability of the service providers
*Quality of the customer support
*Facilities/services provided
*Price

You might want the cheapest, or you may want AOL because you have heard they have facilities to shield your children from the worst the internet has to offer. You may choose plusnet because you want the free database and scripting facilities. You may choose based on what a friend has. You are spoilt for choice, decide what you need, and hope for the best. In my experience, none of the ISP's have performed consistently over the years. Initially, we used Compuserve, one of the biggest names at the time, but they are gone now.
At this stage, you always ask who we use. The answer is freeserve and Demon, but this does not constitute a recommendation.

== Choose a service/package from the ISP's ==

If you only expect very light use, then pay as you go on a standard modem can be almost negligible on your telephone bill. But one hours use every evening at a penny a minute works out at nearly seventeen pounds a month. With that level of use, broadband becomes the obvious choice.
== Choose a modem ==
There are serial modems, usb modems and ethernet modems. If the ISP is going to provide a free modem as part of the package, you need to make sure it is suitable for your needs. For example, freeserve supply (or used to) the Alcatel speedtouch usb broadband modem. This will not work if you have windows95 on your computer, but it will work if you have windows 98. An ethernet modem would work in either situation.
*For broadband and windows98 or above. ie ME/2000/XP etc. a USB or ethernet modem will work
*For broadband and windows95, we suggest an ethernet modem
*For broadband on Linux, we suggest an ethernet modem
*For standard (not broadband) a serial modem works with any operating system, windows or linux

== Installation ==

The ISP will normally send the required setup/installation instructions, including username and password after you sign up. We allow use of our computer suite if you want us to help you sign up online. We can install your choice of modem for you if required. You would need to bring the modem and base unit to us.
Broadband connections will only work on the telephone number assigned to the account (your telephone number) so we can not test your broadband setup in our workshop.
Standard serial modems on pay as you go accounts, can be setup, tested and shown working in the workshop, as can mobile broadband 'dongles'. This means that when you take it home it will work.

== Anti virus and Firewall ==
You must have antivirus and a firewall installed before connecting to the internet. If you connect without these, your computer will soon become unusable.

Free for home use versions of the two items are available.
*Antivirus:- AVG from http://www.grisoft.com

Windows XP and above has a built in firewall so ZoneAlarm is not required
*Firewall:- Zone alarm from http://www.zonealarm.com

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