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Free Dialup Account Followup Question
After a recent article Inexpensive and Free Dialup Internet Service Providers, Subscriber VR wrote:
Hello,Terry. Thanks for your newsletter.
Just read the article for a dialup backup. Been wanting to do this for a long time just for times when my cable broadband is down. Will look at the NetZero.
Now for the question. I have a desktop and laptop w/xp and using a linksys router. The laptop is wireless. I have poked around on the net but cant find what I'm looking for to tell me how to set up a dialup account without it overrideing my broadband and to switch to it when I need it. I get real confused with this wi-fi. I had to get someone to setup for me when I first started. The more I read the more confused I get. Sounds crazy doesn't it? I know just enough if I go real slow I can manage, but its a real head scratcher sometimes. Any place you can point me to that might help with instructions. I know I will have to download software and I think thats what I worry about. Will the software screw up my broadband connection or do I have to manually go in a switch something?
Sorry about going on so long. Hope you can help. Thanks for your newsletter.
V.R.
Texas
I think V.R. will like the NetZero Free option. That's what I'm using for my backup for my cable connection. It's also handy when I travel with my notebook computer.
All you have to do, if your broadband connnection goes out, is to turn off wireless on the laptop and/or pull the ethernet cable from the desktop.
This will disable the wireless/wired connection until you plug in again or turn the wireless back on.
If you don't do this, your computer will still think the network connection to your router or cable modem or DSL modem is still active — and it will continue to try to use that as your Internet gateway. By pulling the cable, Windows
Setting up the connection is as simple as running a small setup program, which will create a dialup connection icon in the Control Panel, Network&InternetConnections, Internet Connections folder.
When I travel, I keep a shortcut to the dialer on my desktop for easy access.
As far as VR's concern about screwing up the broadband connection, I didn't have any problem with that and one of my friends, who is considerably less networking-knowledgeable didn't either.
One very important point to note: You have to set up your backup connection BEFORE you need it! If you wait until your cable goes out, you won't be able to connect to set up a backup!
If you use a cable modem or a DSL modem,
get your free 10-hour per month account from NetZero today.
Link to this page — just add this code to your web page!
<a href="http://www.terryscomputertips.com/computers/free-dialup-account-followup-question.php">Free Dialup Account Followup Question</a>
Copyright © 2006-2007 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.
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