Dial-up internet is still preferred by some due to limited options or cost. Consider level of support, cost, number of access numbers, terms and conditions, proprietary dialers, and connection speed when choosing a provider.
Although many people are now using faster options to connect to the Internet, dial-up services are still the method of choice for many people. In some cases, this is necessary when no other connection methods are available in a particular location. Other people find the cost and slightly higher speeds of today’s dial-up access to be sufficient for their needs.
Not all remote access services offer the same level of service. While many ISPs offer around the clock technical and customer support, this is not always the case. Additionally, some services offer a limited amount of support each month, but then charge a per-minute or flat fee for each additional support incident that occurs. The best dial-up services are the ones that have free technical and customer support available when you need it and at no extra cost.
Cost is another factor to consider when looking for the best dial-up service. Don’t let a higher price fool you. Even with competition from more robust connection options, there are some of the branded dial-up services that still charge similar monthly rates to DSL and broadband prices. Many of the low-cost dial-up providers will offer services and connection speeds equal to or even better than those offered by the more expensive services. Check out consumer reports on dial-up ISP options in your area and compare low-cost services to others in terms of what they offer. Chances are you can get excellent service for half the price of expensive services.
Be sure to take a long look at the number of phone numbers available for dialing in your area. The best dial-up services will offer three to five different numbers that are local calls to your location. Beware of services that appear to provide no more than one or two access numbers even for metropolitan areas. This is a sure sign that you will have trouble connecting when you want to.
Read the terms and conditions carefully before engaging with any type of Internet access provider. Many remote access services will drop your connection if they are not in active use for between 45 minutes and five hours. There are even some that will charge extra if you exceed that many hours of use per month. The best dial-up options won’t drop an idle connection and won’t limit your monthly usage at all.
Proprietary dialers are another issue to consider when evaluating various dial-up services. If you have a lot of resources, this isn’t a big consideration. However, if your system is older and relatively low on resources, be aware that the proprietary dialer can use up a lot of the available resources. In this scenario, the best dial-up option for you would be a service that allows you to use dialup software already loaded on your hard drive. Many of these services can even access your dialer and set it up for you as part of the setup process.
A final consideration is the speed of the service. Note that even if your dial-up provider advertises the fastest dial-up speed available, that speed may be limited by the quality of your phone line and modem. To find the best remote access option for your situation, try different services that either provide a free trial period or charge an extremely modest fee to let you try the service for the first month. You’ll likely find that you consistently get better connection speeds with a particular provider, making the job of identifying the best dial-up service for you a quick and easy task.
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