How to Use Dial-up on Vacation

By: Hannah Miller Click author's name for more of his/her articles

If you have a broadband connection at home, you can't very well use it when you're not at home. In today's world, however, even when you're on vacation you need to stay informed and have a way of communication. Plus, you can use the Internet service for fun!

Most vacation homes and summer homes are in rural locations and therefore don't have many Internet options. Couple that with the smaller demand for access and temporary need for Internet, and you've got a great case for dial-up.

The reason dial-up is so ideal for a vacation home is that it doesn't require large amounts of equipment or a difficult set up procedure. Therefore, when you get to your home away from home, the last thing you will have to worry about is a frustrating, tedious set up process or worry about getting the access set up just in time to pack up and leave!

Thankfully, dial-up is usually available anywhere in the U.S. as long are you have a land line phone. All you need is a dial-up ISP and you're good to go. Here are a few pointers to picking the dial-up company that is best for this situation:

*Contracts. Ask them whether they have a long term commitment or contractual agreements that will make problems using their service for a short time.
*Cancellations. Find a service that has a simple cancellation policy, no fees and a simple cancellation is key.
*Access numbers. Check how many access numbers they have for your location. Extremely unpopulated areas have less access numbers, so you may make sure you have several if possible and that you check with your phone provider that the calls will be local for you.
*Billing. Look for a simple billing setup and check for fees or taxes to avoid an unwelcome surprise when you get home from your restful time off.
*Software requirements. There are plenty of ISP's who don't require you to use their software to set up the service. Find a company that will allow you to set up the connection manually. This makes it easier to set up in a remote location. If you are going to be travelling to different areas, you don't want to be stuck without Internet because you don't have the software installed or forgot to bring the CD.
*Price. Try to find something basic that doesn't cost too much. After all, you probably won't need it that much and dial-up is going to connect at about the same speed regardless of what ISP is providing the service. Also, ask about any specials they may have for less usage. You can sometimes get dial up for free or for a few dollars a month by getting a minimum usage (about 10-30 hours a month) plan.

Once you find the right provider at the right price, you're ready to go. All you'll need is your computer (with a working dial-up modem, or an external modem) and a phone cord less than 10 feet (four feet is ideal). Once you reach your destination. Plug the phone cord into the phone jack in the wall, and the other end into the back of your computer or your external dial-up modem. You will need to set up the connection manually. You're ISP can help you if you haven't done this before.