# Free ISP's
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [May 11, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268 "2000-05-11T22:47:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@GoSensGo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoSensGo)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2000, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/1 "2000-05-11T22:47:55Z")
What sort of experiences do you all have with this sort of thing/have you had good experiences?
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### Author:  [@ATTGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ATTGuy)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/2 "2000-05-11T22:51:27Z")
I use FreeINet, and am pretty happy. My connection speeds usually range between 49-52K on a 56K modem. I think this is pretty close to what you can expect on a pay service.
The best part about FreeI is that it’s very easy to logon without getting the advertising banner. I know nothing about computers, but still managed.
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### Author:  [@Imthecowgodmoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imthecowgodmoo)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2000, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/3 "2000-05-12T02:03:15Z")
I use freewwweb, and see no banners while surfing or watch any ads when I sign on. I usually sign on at 50k or so, so the speed isn’t that bad. My only beef with it is that their servers seem to be down a lot. I get “invalid username/password” at least twice a week when trying to sign on.
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### Author:  [@GoSensGo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoSensGo)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2000, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/4 "2000-05-12T03:00:20Z")
The reason I ask is because I just signed up with [excite.com](http://excite.com) (which was ok, no new acct or anything, I already had an excite acct) and other than the little banner at the top, I’ve been quite enjoying it.
And given that that’s an IE5 banner, if I use Netscape while connected, so long as I don’t destroy the banner, it’ll stay connected…
Interesting…
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### Author:  [@Alpha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2000, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/5 "2000-05-27T14:57:45Z")
I use KMart’s free ISP service. Always seems to be there.
Free is free, always have a backup for when your other one is giving you busy signals.
[http://www.bluelight.com/](http://www.bluelight.com/)
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### Author:  [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2000, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/6 "2000-05-27T15:54:28Z")
As I write this, I am logged on via Global Freeway, a free nationwide ISP in Australia. I believe it has strong link to the Yahoo organisation, which may explain how it derives it funding other than through advertising.
The connection speed is almost always 33600 (I use a 33.6k modem) despite the call being long distance (but at a local call rate). I can’t complain - the service is equivalent to the commercial ISP I also use, via a local call.
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/7 "2000-05-27T16:46:10Z")
There are four local ISPs in my area that are half the cost (or less) of AOL and at least two national ISPs that are free. I have Been a Freewwweb cheerleader in many other similar ISP threads, and I continue to be one. I have better things to do with $250.00 per year than spend it on something that’s available for free. Even if you really need 24/7 tech support, Erol’s (in the DC area) is top-notch & still less than half the cost of AOL.
Here are just a few of the many many Free ISP threads that offer up some good siggestions:
[AOL vs. Other ISP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=22664)
[Free ISP’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=19205)
[free internet access](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=10952)
And just for kicks:
[Warning: AOL 5.0 unplugs other ISP’s!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=17110)
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### Author:  [@FormerlyKnownAsBlank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FormerlyKnownAsBlank)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/8 "2000-05-28T06:41:42Z")
(boost)
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### Author:  [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/9 "2000-05-28T10:50:34Z")
I used to use AOL. Now I use Juno for free. The differences…
AOL is a buggy program with tons of ads, limited email functions and frequent disconnects **at $21.95 per month.**
Juno is a buggy program with tons of ads, limited email functions and frequent disconnects **for free.**
😛
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### Author:  [@\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_D)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/10 "2000-05-28T15:09:47Z")
The **freewwweb is free AND has no ads**.
They just start you at their home page. One click and you’re done with that.
If make your favorite home page (like Yahoo or Snap) a “link” on the top of the IE browser, you can click it before the dialing is done, and never see their ads at all.
To watch out for: They load Netscape for you the first time unless you find the way to say you have a browser. (I didn’t)
(I HATE Netscape- takes up too much of my screen for the same functions). But you can just uninstall it.
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/11 "2000-05-28T15:44:31Z")
Our library has free net computer with a T1 connection. Strange, but it doesn’t seem all that fast.
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### Author:  [@Bullroar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullroar)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/12 "2000-05-28T16:15:04Z")
To get freewwweb without downloading a new browser:
[AntiPro- I’ve got a free ISP you might like better than NetZero-No Ad bar](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=24015)
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### Author:  [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-isps/19268/13 "2000-05-28T16:15:31Z")
[hijack]
Handy, what’s the CIR on that? (I’m assuming it’s a frame) You can get a T-1 with a CIR of 56k these days, burstable up to full 1.544MB. The appropriate questions are: How many people share the connection? What is the CIR? What kind of oversubscription you dealing with? If you yourself were pulling full T-1, you’d usually be moving so fast that you would notice those around you getting older at an alarming rate, depending on net congestion.[/hijack]