How to Set Up a Dial Up Internet Connection

What hardware do I need to use a dial up connection?

A dial-up account from an ISP: They should provide you with a number to dial in to connect to the Internet, as well as a user name and password. This information will be needed to set up the connection on your computer.

A land-based telephone line: Unless using a cell phone as a modem (see below), the modem will need to be connected to a land line. A phone can still be on this line by connecting it through the "out" port on the modem.

A dial-up modem: There are two kinds of modems.

Soft modem: Sometimes called "Winmodems," these are essentially sound cards that connect to a phone line, with all of the conversion between sound and data handled by software. Windows and OSX have built-in drivers for these devices, requiring no additional software installation. Some soft modems can be configured to work under Linux using the Scanmodem tool, but support is very spotty.

Some cell phones can be used as soft modems by connecting the phone's data port to the computer via USB. A special driver will need to be installed to use the phone as a modem instead of a data storage device; this drive is sometimes included with the USB cable, or can be downloaded off the Internet. Keep in mind that wireless charges will still apply, in addition to Internet service fees.

Hardware modem: A hardware modem does all the conversion between sound and data itself. These modems are guaranteed to work with Linux, and can offer a slight performance boost as the processor does not have to deal with data conversion. However, this added ability means much higher prices. All modems that connect to a serial (RS-232) port are hardware modems.

Windows 7

In the Start menu, select Settings, and then click on the "Connections" tab. Click on "Add a new modem connection." This will start a connection wizard.

Enter a name for the connection field. This name is the on you will use to find your connection on the computer, and can be anything you like. Click "Next."

In the "Select a modem" field, select "Cellular Line," even if you are using a land line and click "Next."

On the next screen, enter the phone number provided by your ISP, and then click "Next."

Finally, enter the user name and password for your service account, and then click "Finish."

Windows Vista

In the Start menu, select "Connect To." A screen will pop up showing available network connections. Click "Set up a connection or network" below this list.

On the following screen, select "Set up a dial-up connection." A connection wizard will now open, asking for the following information:

Dial-up phone number: The phone number provided by your ISP to connect to the Internet.

User Name and Password: These are provided by your ISP. Check the "Remember this password" box if you would like to connect without having to type in the password each time.

Connection Name: This name is used for you to keep track of this connection. It does not need to be specific to the service.

Allow other people to see this connection: Checking this box will allow other users on the computer to use this connection.

Windows XP

In the Start menu, click on "Control Panel," and then "Network and Internet Connections."

Click on "Network Connections." Here you will have a choice of "New Connection Wizard" and "Network Setup Wizard." Click on "New Connection Wizard."

On the "Network Connection Type" screen, select "Connect to the Internet."

This is followed by a "Getting Ready" screen. Choose to "Set up my connection manually."

Next, select "Connect using a dial-up modem."

You will now be asked for the name of your ISP. This will be used for you to find the connection on the computer, and can be any name you can remember, not just the ISP name.

On the following screen, type in the phone number used to access your ISP.

Next is the "Internet Account Information" screen. Here you will need to type in your iSP account's user name and password. Check "Use this account name and password when anyone connects to the Internet from this computer" if you would like other users to have access to this account. Check "Make this the default Internet connection" if this is your primary connection to the Internet: if a program is launched that uses the Internet, it will automatically try to connect using this account. Unless you have a third-party firewall installed, check "Turn on Internet Connection Firewall for this connection."

Finally, you will have the option to add a shortcut to the connection on the desktop. Make your choice, and click on "Finish."

OSX

From the Apple menu, select "System Preferences." Under the "View" menu, choose "Network."

Select the type of modem you are using from the menu side bar" "Internal Modem" for a modem built into your computer, or "External Modem" for one connected to the outside of your computer.

A new screen will pop up where you will be able to type in the phone number, connection name, user name, and password for your account. Fill in these fields and check the "Show modem status in menu bar" to have an icon places on the menu bar that you can use to control and monitor the connection. Click on "Apply" or "Apply Now."

Linux

Setup can vary from distribution to distribution, but the majority of distros will have "Networking" listed under the "Administration" menu.

Under the "Connections" tab, click on "Modem Connection,' and then click "Properties." A new window will open.

Under the "General" tab, check the "Enable this connection" box, and type in the phone number for accessing your ISP, and the user name and password for your account.

Under the "Modem" tab, make sure "Dial Type" is set to "Tones."

Under the "Options" tab, check the boxes for "Use the Internet service provider's name servers" and "Retry if connection breaks or falls apart." Checking "Set modem as default route to the Internet" will cause the modem to automatically connect if a program that uses an Internet connection is launched.

Click "OK."

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