they fit it for you, unless you have a willing computer expert relative!
As well as choosing and installing the modem, you need to choose an ISP to connect to, and provide your internet connection. I would suggest BT Yahoo or AOL, whose (free) CDs with necessary software and connection settings may be on display in the store where you buy the modem. I suggest these two because they are large and trustworthy and have an excellent reputation for getting people online who are new to it all.
Having said this, there are about 10 million households in the UK who don’t connect to the internet in this way. They connect using broadband, a much more convenient way of
connecting to the internet. Broadband (you might also hear this referred to as ADSL) is one way of connecting to the internet that, compared with dialup, is very fast. Typically it is up to 40 times faster to load a webpage or download a file. Fortunately, this multiplication is not reflected in the cost; about £15 per month for a basic broadband service, and a free broadband modem is often provided when signing up.
Broadband is, or can be, online all the time, if your computer (or modem) is switched on, but this does not impact on your usage of the telephone for normal telephone calls. Although
the broadband is connected over it, the telephone line is split into two channels, data and voice. The computer remains connected over the data connection and you can talk on the voice connection independently. The downside of
broadband is that you are likely to have to sign up to a 12 month contract. If you decide you don't want to go online after the first month, the ISP might still charge you for the remaining 11 months, which is costly for something you are not using. It is for this reason that I would suggest using a dialup service for at least the first month of your internet use. It is then straightforward to upgrade to broadband after this time. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the way the broadband service is delivered, not all telephone exchanges are enabled for it, and your household must be within a certain distance from the exchange. This really only affects some rural households, and you should be advised if this is the case by your ISP.
Again, you need to make a decision on which ISP to connect through to the internet and, again, I would suggest AOL and BT Yahoo, for the same reasons. Both of these providers should provide you with ample instructions on how to connect the equipment to your computer when you sign up with them, and provide telephone support if you have any problems.
The final way of
connecting to the internet that I am going to look at is via a cable modem. Confusingly, this is also referred to as broadband (but not ADSL)! You have to be in an area that has a cable service (NTL or Telewest) and the service is delivered through a cable modem connected to your computer. It is very similar to broadband ADSL; you should see about the same speed of browsing and it is about the same cost. However you don’t connect to an ISP, your cable modem connects to NTL or Telewest directly, you pay for your internet connection along with your telephone bill or television service package. If you want to take out a cable subscription, contact your local cable company to make sure you are in an area that they cover. They will then provide you with all information you require to get online with them. You should now be in a position to march down to the local computer shop, pick out what you need and get online. When you get back home and your computer successfully connects to the internet, make sure you make
http://www.pitchcare.com the first website you look at and send an email to
al@pitchcare.com letting me know you were successful. In the next issue I’ll look at the basics of using a web browser and email client. See you then.
Alastair’s Links
Search for your ancestors to add to your family tree, find references in the 1881 census and from even earlier and not just in the UK.
www.familysearch.org
A free online encyclopedia. It is created by its users, constantly being edited and shaped to be more accurate by the second.
www.wikipedia.org
Simply see what’s on or create your own personalised TV Guide, add the channels that you watch and remove the ones you don’t. Includes satellite and cable listings and is free.
www.radiotimes.com
You can have each and every copy of Pitchcare - The Magazine delivered direct to your door for just £30 a year (Overseas £50).
To subscribe to Pitchcare - The Magazine log on to
www.pitchcare.com
If you’d prefer to read an online version, you can have the magazine emailed to you in PDF format for just £15. Subscribe to both hard copy and PDF versions for £40 a year (£60 Overseas) and make a saving of £5 on the combined price.
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www.pitchcare.com/re
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