Even though been using computers for 20 years, still poking along with 56K dialup modem, primarily because my ISP (ATT.net) does not provide DSL where I’m located. Really would like to get high-speed access, but I’m getting dizzy from trying to sort out all the plans, gimmicks and providers. My phone company is Qwest, and after reading the FAQs on their site and talking to them on the phone, am more confused than ever.
Cox cable internet is equally confusing, and would rather avoid them.
I’ll never get straight answers, I’m convinced, as they blithely tell me things, but when I probe, can see they don’t know what they are talking about. So, hope some of you geniuses can provide some answers.
I use Firefox browser and Thunderbird for email, and want to continue. Qwest tells me I have to sign up with MSM, something I’ve avoided like the plague, or get some private ISP. The former’s cost is included in their package, but if I use another, have to pay for that in addition to the Qwest charges, which won’t do. They tell me I can use T’Bird email program with MSM, but when question them as to how, they have no idea.
Can Firefox browser and T’Bird email be used if do sign on with MSM? Somehow I doubt it, as expect will be forced to use Outlook or some other clunky MS program.
I’d want to install the modem & programs myself, but have read some horror stories about the awful interfaces and difficulty in making it work. Anybody had any experience in getting it installed themselves?
I’ve had Qwest DSL before and did the installation myself (an internal Intel PCI modem) with no problems. I wasn’t using MSN though, but a local ISP. Ended up getting bille by both Qwest and ISP, which you’ve already said you want to avoid, though.
I’d suggest calling the local ISP’s and asking them if they have any ideas. I ended up with wireless broadband from my ISP - no phone or cable company involved. The total cost, however, is the same as the Qwest + ISP bills. No money saved, but no MSN or AOL either (And tech support from the ISP, not a cable or phone tech).
Firefox can be used with any Internet service. It’s just a browser. Thunderbird is used to access POP3 and IMAP accounts. (POP3 is more popular.) Accounts are typically handed out by ISP’s. If you’re using Thunderbird to access e-mail from an account given to you by your current ISP, then you’re probably going to lose that account when you dump them. ISP’s aren’t the only places to get POP3 accounts though. Google offers POP3 access to their free accounts. Yahoo offers POP3 access, but you have to pay a small fee. Often people have friends with a POP3 server or contribute to websites earning an account. To put it bluntly, as long as you can get a POP3 e-mail account from somewhere, you can access it with Thunderbird.
I’d want to install the modem & programs myself, but have read some horror stories about the awful interfaces and difficulty in making it work. Anybody had any experience in getting it installed themselves?
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Just try to avoid running the phone line near devices which may emit electromagnetic interference, like things with electric motors and speakers. I’ve heard the stories too, but haven’t had such problems with my DSL. Connecting everything is quite easy. If you can handle hooking up something like a printer, you can probably handle hooking up a DSL modem.
I strongly recommend buying a broadband router for the dual purpose of security and simplicity.
The DSL or cable “modem” is plugged into the router. Once the router is configured (usually it’s pretty simple) you won’t need any special software on the PC to make the connection work.
Seconded. You should absolutely use a hardware firewall (a broadband router will serve this function, if configured properly) and a software firewall, such as ZoneAlarm or BlackIce.
You might want to reconsider that… cable is usually much faster than DSL. Here in Spokane, Qwest DSL is 1.5 Mbps downstream for the same price as Comcast’s 4 Mbps cable service. DSL does have higher upload speeds, though.