Choosing The Right Dial-Up ISP
Sep 21 '00 (Updated Oct 22 '00)
Whenever evaluating a dial-up I.S.P., there are a set of questions that should be asked by everybody. Don't jump on that inexpensive service right away as you may pay dearly in the long run, in both price and service.
I've personally assisted dozens of friends, friends of friends, relatives, and co-workers on choosing a dial-up service, some in remote areas of my state as well as in the "Big City". In all cases, they made the correct decision by not jumping on the first CD promo disk that came in the mail but by carefully choosing the service that matched their specific needs.
Following is a list I've compiled to assist you in choosing the right provider.
Location is Everything
For those of us living in or near a large city, the choices seem sometimes endless but many people away from such areas usually have to depend on local providers who sometimes charge top dollar for their services.
Another aspect of location is the antique condition of phone lines resulting in degraded throughput. Many suburban towns still use wiring from days gone by. A 56k connection under these conditions is virtually impossible due to constant switching between digital to analog. Also unlikely is the availability of DSL or cable for that matter. This of course is another category altogether.
What Do I Need
There are many variables when shopping for providers and you should ask yourself these questions.
· Does this provider have local numbers in my area? And- How many lines do they dedicate to this area?
One of my first local providers had a ratio of one line per 35 customers, so the chances of connecting on a weekend were remote.
· How many e-mail addresses do I need? Sharing one POP e-mail address with other users is no fun and not very private.
If your decision does come down to the amount of boxes, keep in mind that you or anyone in your household can obtain a web based e-mail for free. There are free POP mail providers but I don't recommend any of them.
· Do I need web space for a home page? This may never be a deciding factor when you consider the tons of providers like GeoCities and Tripod, but to keep it within your ISP does have its advantages like banner free web pages.
· What limits are there on access? There aren't as many providers charging per hour today but they're still out there. You may not think you'll need unlimited access now, but what about a month or a year from now.
Many times you can take advantage of savings by signing up for a long-term contract with the provider. I would not recommend this until you are satisfied with the services provided.
· Do they provide technical support 24/7? If you were proficient in Internet troubleshooting and comfortable with setting up your software then this wouldn't be a factor.
One thing I've learned is to ask is who is providing this support. I once had a provider that had claimed 24/7 support but was contracted out to a company 2000 miles away! To be quite honest, they didn't have a clue as to what type of protocol the provider was using at the time, X2 or Flex. When I was told X2, I ran out and bought a X2 modem only to find out it was Flex.
Cost is Not Everything
If it were, the many free providers would have taken over the dial-up world by snatching up each and every one of us by now! If you buy that new computer with that inviting rebate of $400 or more, you may end up paying much more, some of it in aggravation.
Depending on your budget, a free provider may be an only alternative and there's nothing wrong with that! Just don't expect stable connections, support- or the full use of your screen since many use ad bars to compensate for the free service.
Should you decide on this route may I suggest giving AltaVista a try? They are, in my opinion, the best free provider of the bunch.
There are no set rules when it comes to pricing. It comes down to your needs and what you are willing to pay for them.
Overall
Through my years of using AOL, the old Prodigy, a handful of local providers, and of course the freebies, I've found the best to be my local phone company. Sure there may be something better out there but for the price and connection rates they provide, I'm satisfied.
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful advertisements a company could wish for, or wish never existed. Ask friends, family and co-workers on whom they use and their satisfaction with the above mentioned criteria on choosing an I.S.P. You may just find the answer you're looking for.
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