Before you can choose an ISP or Internet Service Provider, you need to know just what an ISP is. An ISP could also be referred to as a gateway to the internet. The internet is a vast network of computers all over the world that are connected to each other that store information. An ISP provides the access that allows your computer to connect to that network so that you may retrieve information stored somewhere else. It will be your needs, desires and actual availability that will determine the type of connection you will have and the ISP that you will use to surf the internet.
Your computer uses an operating system that supports the communications protocol of the Internet, which is known as TCP/IP, to perform the actual connection. There are 3 basic types of connections you can use. The first is a Dial-Up, which uses your phone line to connect to the ISP. The second is a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), which is another form of a phone line connection faster then the Dial-Up. The third is a Cable Modem which is generally connected through your Cable TV provider. There are, of course, other means to connect to an ISP but for the purposes of this discussion, we will presume these 3 are the only types available to you. Let’s break down the major difference between these 3 types of services.
Exactly as the name implies, this type of service uses your phone line to call or dial into the ISP computers to connect to the internet. Many in the industry refer to this service as POTS or Plain Old Telephone Service. This is the slowest of the 3 types of connections but is available in all parts of the country. You are connected to the ISP via a modem inside your computer only as long as the two computers are communicating, meaning as long as the phone line is active between the two. You dial in to connect, you hang up to disconnect. Dial-Up providers can be of local origin, meaning based in a town close to you, or a National Company, based somewhere outside the area you live in. As the need for internet connections grew, the different dial-up services purchased more local access numbers so that they could sell their services all over the country. By having more areas available for people to connect, the popularity of the internet grew. It also became easier for business travelers to stay connected as they had more and more access numbers available to them in different parts of the country. Few people would be happy with an ISP if they had to use long distance services just to connect to the internet. While available in all parts of the country, the one downfall of this type of service is while you are connected to the internet, you will not have use of your phone line, unless you purchase a second line from your telephone service provider. However, that is an added expense that most people are not willing to add to their monthly cost of living expense. There are devices available to consumers that allow this problem to be bypassed, meaning the device would signal the user to incoming phone calls and allows the user to disconnect from the internet in order to receive the call. When the call is done, the device reconnects to the internet.
The DSL or Digital Subscriber Line is a direct connection between your computer and the ISP that is never turned off. Your computer always has access to the ISP, even when you are not using it. The line would come into your home and is connected directly to your computer thus eliminating the need for a modem. This is a much faster type of connection then the dial-up. DSL is a leased line from your telephone provider but is not available in all areas of the country. However as the popularity grows, so does the availability. You would need to contact your local telephone provider to find out availability. Since this type of connection uses a dedicated line to connect, you will never be without your actual telephone so you man call out and receive calls while connected to the internet.
Cable Modem is provided by your local cable company. You would have an actual modem connected to your computer that the cable company sends and receives the signals from. The connection to the ISP, like the DSL, is available all the time. This is also a much faster connection then dial-up and does not suspend your actual telephone so that you may call our and receive calls while connected to the internet.
Now that you know the differences between them it is time to determine how to choose a service that is right for you. The first way to begin your search is to ask friends and family if they have an ISP, who they are and what they think of them. The second way to begin your search for an ISP provider would be to simply open your yellow pages phone book and look under Internet Service Providers. The next best way for you to start, if you do not have access to an internet connection from a friend or family member, is to visit your local library to access the internet to find out who provides services in your area. One source of information is a website called The Connection Bridge. http://www.theconsumerbridge.com/hsisp.html?source=overture You enter your area code and prefix to your home phone number and the website will return to you a listing of providers in your area. But be warned, there are many providers the may not make their list simply due to the size of the company. Another good online source is The List. http://www.thelist.com/index.html You can search for provider’s bases on Location/Area Code or U.S. Nationwide search. The Nationwide search would be handy if you travel and take a laptop with you.
There is a certain amount of criteria you will also want and will need to know before you determine which ISP is right for you. The ISP provides a service to you by allowing you to connect to the network that makes up the internet but by all means this should not be all that they provide. At a minimum for you monthly fee they should provide you with the access to the World Wide Web and an email address. Now you are probably scratching your head and saying “Well, if I have an email address, I have to have access to the World Wide Web, right?” Actually no! There is a company called “The Mail Station” http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/hardware/Articles/a2003-05-20-mailstation.html This is a no frills way to send and receive email only. While the service is web based you do not have actual access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. You can receive pictures with this device but it is limited to 100 KB which is quite small. While it does serve the purpose of email, it defeats the purpose of the World Wide Web. It is not recommended for the person who wishes to “surf”.
You may also want to look for an ISP that provides the possibility of room on their server for a personal website (the average amount they might provide is 10 MB but that varies by provider), FTP (File Transfer Protocol) services that allow you to upload or send files across the internet, chat rooms and newsgroups. Look for providers that have these features at no additional cost.
If you are looking at a dial-up provider, you will want one that has more then one access number. There can be times, and yes it does happen, that if a dial-up provider does not have enough access numbers, their system can become overloaded thus stopping further incoming connections until the number already connected has dropped to a level the system can handle. This can be truer of smaller ISP’s as compared to the larger ones. Ask them how many clients they currently have and what the ratio of client to phone numbers is. The lower the ratio, the better your chances are of you never getting a busy signal or being “booted” offline.
You will also want a provider that allows you to check your email from their website or an alternative site from any computer. You would use a secure login procedure with your username and password and be able to read and reply to emails directly from the server without downloading them to your computer. Be aware though, by using this type of service, the server may not save them to download to your computer the next time you are logged in. Meaning, if you read it online, it will not be sent to your computer for reading again at a later time. While this is not an absolute criterion, it is a convenience that you might want to consider important if you travel and do not own a laptop. You would be able to check your email from any computer at a hotel or internet cafe.
Lastly, you will want to ask them how long they have been in business. Do they have happy customers or not so happy ones? Call the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if they have complaints filed against them and, if so, how many? There are many start up ISP’s that are here today to take your money and gone tomorrow when you want to connect. Be certain to pick a reputable one!
Using the following checklist can assist you in determining which ISP Provider is right for you. Always remember to contact any potential providers to get your questions answered before subscribing to their service. If they are not willing to take the time to service your initial needs, this will tell you how they will feel about servicing your needs in the future.
What type of service is available in my area?
____ Dial-Up
____ DSL
____ Cable Modem
What is the monthly cost of services?
____ Dial-Up
____ DSL
____ Cable Modem
Is there a limit to the amount of hours I can connect with your service?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Depends on package selected
(Note: Some Dial-Up Services provide a choice for limited total connection hours to help consumers save money on ISP services. If you opt to choose lower connection hours, be certain the ISP Provider has a way for you to check your usage hours online. Also inquire about the costs for going over allotted hours.)
For Dial-Up, is there a discount if I pay by Quarter, Semi-Annually or Annually?
____ Yes
____ No
(Note: For DSL and Cable Modem, the cost is generally billed monthly and place directly on your phone or cable bill, thus not allowing discounts for advance payments)
For Dial-Up, can I pay for my service online or will you send me a paper bill?
____ Pay Online
____ Paper Bill
____ Your choice of which to receive
Is there a start-up fee?
____ Yes
____ No
Is there a free trial period?
____ Yes
____ No
What do I get for my monthly cost of service?
____ Email and Internet
____ Personal Website space
____ FTP
____ Newsgroups
____ Chat Rooms
____ Other Service (Have them tell you what it is)
If any services above are not included in the monthly fee, what is the cost of them?
____ Personal Website Space
____ FTP
____ Newsgroups
____ Chat Room
____ Other Service (Have them tell you what it is)
How many email addresses are provided with my account?
____ 1
____ 2-3
____ More then 3
If only 1 email address, can you purchase more?
____ Yes (what is the cost?)
____ No
Can I check my email online from another computer through your Website or an alternative Website?
____ Yes
____ No
If you provide space (or sell space) for a personal website, how much space it is?
____ 5 MB or under
____ 6 MB or over
Do you have technical help services available 24/7/365 via both email and phone?
____ Yes
____ No
Do you have a toll free number for technical help services?
____ Yes
____ No
What is the average response time for help both on the phone and email?
____ Phone Help Time
____ Email Help Time
What is the average amount of time per month that your service is not available or down?
____ Never
____ Between 1 and 5 Hours
____ Between 6 and 10 hours
____ Over 10 Hours
What is your average connection speed? (Dial-Up should not be slower then 56K)
____ Dial-Up
____ DSL
____ Cable Modem
Tell me why I should use your service.
Note: this is the point where you let them go into their sales pitch. Let them tell you about all the satisfied customers they have and give a run down of the services they provide. Listen to them careful, take note, then compare what each has to say.
Most importantly, do your math! Make certain that what ever ISP you decide to use, you can afford their services month in and month out. While most do not charge a set-up fee they will charge a reconnection fee if you interrupt the service. Plan ahead and order the service you can afford. It’s easier to upgrade at a later date then to have your service downgraded or disconnected due to the costs associated with it.
Once you have everything in place, enjoy your time on the World Wide Web and prepare yourself for the ride of your life.