# Who is still using dial-up ISP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 31, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790 "2001-10-31T21:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/21 "2001-11-01T02:26:18Z")
At home we have a dial-up. 56.6, I believe. And with my techie (ish) of a mother, I would think she’s have investigated the option of DSL. ---
**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/22 "2001-11-01T02:47:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\ ***Geobabe** , true, dial-up is not obsolote and many people still use it. Unfortunately, many big names who have webpages(VH1, MTV, U2, RHCP, even PBS) think that is not the case and continue making more and more graphic full complex pages. My home computer chokes each time I try to enter those webpages. \*\* But the _real_ question is **why** you would ever want to visit [mtv.com](http://mtv.com) in the first place. One shudders at the thought. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/23 "2001-11-01T03:05:16Z")
I have dial-up. It’s still the only option in my neck of the woods. I use a 56K modem. I usually have time to grab a cup of coffee and a snack while dialing up. It’s cheap, so I don’t mind. ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/24 "2001-11-01T04:02:26Z")
No, dial up isn’t going away anytime soon, especially not with the economy where it is. As to the OP - I subscribed to **Bellsouth Fast Access ADSL** about a month ago and then disco’ed it about two weeks later. Here’s why - 1. I get sent the wrong modem - I asked for an RJ-45 style modem and I was sent a USB style one. This dosn’t help me at all really because I wanted it pluged into my home’s network and share the connection among several computers (yes I know it can be done with the USB kind too, but I don’t want my precious baby acting as a stupid proxy) 2. I send the modem back and when I get the correct one it comes with the incorrect software. However the software, _in no way at all_ tells me that it’s the wrong software, it just fails at the last step. 3. On the phone with Bellsouth, it takes the tech **two hours** to figure out that I’ve got the wrong software. I spend the next hour and a half downloading the correct software off of their ftp proxy site. I get back on the phone and lo and behold - I downloaded useless software. I double and triple check - yes, I got the right file - yes, the file runs - yes, it fails at the end. I go back and redownload the software two more time, while esclating my issue with Bellsouth 3 times! Never does the software work. I spend the next _ten @#$%^& days_\* on the phone with Bellsouth techs trying to get it working - and at the end of each phone call I get the same thing - Tech- “Uh, Mr. Tyklfe, theirs nothing else I can do for you, but we’re gonna keep charging you for a service you can’t use” Me- “So you’re saying you’re an idiot, right?” Tech- “That’s correct, Sir. Thank you for choosing Bellsouth” 1. The final straw comes for me and I decide that before I cancel my service I’ll try one more thing - Load a new OS on a seperate drive. This isn’t something that I really wanna do because of what I’ll have to do later (I won’t go into it) to clean up my computer. 1. It works! I’m finally connected The hitch? It only works right for one day! 6. The next couple of days that I struggled with it, the following series of events would take place. My computer would connect to BS’s authentication box - I would authenticate - I would be assigned an IP address - I would be assigned a DNS server - and then I would be completly unable to pass trafic on the net I mean, I couldn’t even ping anything, it was bad. So finally, after all the stress - I called BS again and told them exactly what they could do with their modem and fast access. I was so mad that yesterday, I also canceled my local phone service with them too. (went with a competitor) To heck with this - I’m gonna get cable ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/25 "2001-11-01T04:09:28Z")
BTW- I back to using a 28.8 conn now - and I hates it. Yes, hates it - nasty hobbittssssss… oh sorry, got carried away… ---
**Author:** ![ThunderBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThunderBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThunderBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/26 "2001-11-01T04:09:40Z")
Dial-up here as well. $10 a month vs. $50 a month plus the installation hassle isn’t worth it for me yet. Nice little 56k modem that consistently connects at 40k. I seem to have a worse-than-average phone line. ☹ I’m also curious to hear the speed at which other people (with 56k modems) connect. Am I the lowest with a 40k connection with my 56k modem? ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/27 "2001-11-01T05:38:44Z")
Ouch, Ouch, OUCH is this a sore topic for me! ☹ I am one of those unfortunates who were left out in the cold when Northpoint went out of business. I never got my $250 rebate for installation, and I only had the DSL service for six months. But yes, it was worth it, even for $50 a month for IDSL which was the only thing I could get at the distance I am from the CO. Speed was “only” 128kbps. **ThunderBunny** , you are hardly the slowest. I regularly can only get 31.2k on my 56k modem. (Sometimes only 28.8 and once in a thousand times, 46k) Yes, some sites are slow. But it is still a whole 'nother lifestyle with DSL. You can start a download, then move on to something else. Play an online game. Have 4 or 5 copies of Internet Explorer running at once, while you are Googling for info, you can be playing an online radio station. Right now my income has been unfortunately reduced, so it lessens the blow of having no high speed access available, but the next chance I get, I will have either DSL or cable access. (I visited my brother {who has a cable modem} for a week and brought my computer. It was heavenly.) ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/28 "2001-11-01T05:45:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by half-life \* > \*\*I’ve got free service with NetZero. Until free is gone, I won’t pay. > > Also, I once tried to work at my brother’s cable-connected computer. Sure downloads were faster, but that’s the only thing! All other surfing depends on getting the web site’s attention on every click, and it goes no faster at all. \*\* um I’m guessing you dont play games, surf several pages at once, or download large files/large quantities of files at once? with my cable for 50$ a month I have 2 pcs online, and can have several downloads going at once and have 3 pages of the straight dope open at once cause the mb server is so damn slow that I can read a thread while another is opening up. I will go kicking and screaming fighting tooth and nail with every ounce of will against the very idea of returning to dialup. (ok thats a bit much, lets just say dialup sucks ass) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/29 "2001-11-01T11:07:22Z")
**Lateralus** …jajajaja 🙂 . My response? Because I like Daria and want to see Daria’s site, since back at home I didn’t have cable TV to see the show. I remember back then(oh, about 4 months ago), it choked my computer. Later I heard that [mtv.com](http://mtv.com) had another upgrade or change of style…_shudders_, I tried to enter there through my school’s fast internet connection…It took some time to download!!! Other place that also has the lets-put-big-graphics-and-stuff-and-forget-the-dial-ups is [station.sony.com](http://station.sony.com). I played Jeopardy back home using the crappy dial-up, and usually had no problems, since the system was more or less stable and the programs were not so complex. Now, when I play it here, I’m glad I have the fast connnection. Even with it, it takes about 3 minutes or so to download all the graphics and stuff for the games. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/30 "2001-11-01T11:12:14Z")
I use a flat-rate 56k dial-up that costs me £10pcm. I haven’t had any problems with it for months now (they had major DNS issues when I first joined). I don’t download large files are watch a lot of streaming media, so it does for my needs at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![ThunderBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThunderBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThunderBunny)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/31 "2001-11-01T11:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Critical1 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by half-life \* > > \*\*I’ve got free service with NetZero. Until free is gone, I won’t pay. > > > > Also, I once tried to work at my brother’s cable-connected computer. Sure downloads were faster, but that’s the only thing! All other surfing depends on getting the web site’s attention on every click, and it goes no faster at all. \*\* > > um I’m guessing you dont play games, surf several pages at once, or download large files/large quantities of files at once?\*\* I used to play Starcraft on my connection to NetZero. I had an egg timer beside my computer; every 20 minutes or so I’d have to minimize Starcraft and click on the stupid ad that came with Netzero, then close the explorer window that opened, and go back to my game. Wow, I must have been desperate. ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/32 "2001-11-01T12:58:50Z")
Still surfing at home with 56K (actually, a pretty consistent 49.3K). I do my hardcore file downloading at work at bring it home on Zip disk. Our cable company keeps making vague promises about one day having cable modem service available. I guess it’s a tough move for a cable company as small AS FRIGGIN COMCAST! If the day does come, I am considering the move. Right now I’m paying 20 a month for dial-up plus 6 for voice mail (a compromise between myself and my phone-loving spouse). So it wouldn’t be that much more for cable modem service and it would free up the phone line (DSL will never be an option where we live). The one thing I’m not looking forward to is changing email addys. I’ve had the same dial-up address for about two years now. I’ve been gradually shifting over my subscriptions and registrations to my Yahoo account, but I’m sure I’ll forget someone important. ---
**Author:** ![MagicalSilverKey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/33 "2001-11-01T15:20:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThunderBunny \* > \*\*Dial-up here as well. $10 a month vs. $50 a month plus the installation hassle isn’t worth it for me yet. > > Nice little 56k modem that consistently connects at 40k. I seem to have a worse-than-average phone line. ☹ > > I’m also curious to hear the speed at which other people (with 56k modems) connect. Am I the lowest with a 40k connection with my 56k modem? \*\* I average 45,333kbps via 56k modem. If I am lucky, I get 46,667kbps at the maximum. Here’s the hitch though: What you THINK you might be connecting at isn’t necessarily your _ **actual** _ speed. Check these sites out. They are pretty neato: [http://computingcentral.msn.com/internet/speedtest.asp](http://computingcentral.msn.com/internet/speedtest.asp) > **[McAfee | Antivirus, Identity Protection, and Mobile Security](https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/index.html)** > > McAfee Award-Winning Antivirus for PC, Android, Mac, and iOS now includes McAfee identity protection. Download McAfee for Free Today! I also am using this software: [http://www.modemmax.com](http://www.modemmax.com) and it really works. It is NOT spyware. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/34 "2001-11-01T15:56:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*Here in Union City, CA, self-proclaimed “Gateway to Silicon Valley,” neither Cable internet or DSL are even available. Sheesh. \*\* Heck, until last year I lived **in** Silicon Valley, and couldn’t get broadband. No DSL, no Cable Modem, nothing. ISDN @ a zillion $ / mo was the best I could get. Silicon Valley is about the worst connected urban area you’ve ever seen. Let’s face it, folks, [broadband is dead](http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20011011.html). Northpoint, Covad, Excite@Home, and all the other big DSL/Cable ISPs are dead or dying. What will be left soon will be a) the Bells, who, as **Tyklfe** found out, don’t care if you have broadband, and don’t want to sell it to you, and only do so because Congress forced them to, b) Cable companies who are losing money on broadband but sell it to screw the phone companies, and c) miscellaneous (satellite, wireless). At this juncture broadband is looking to become more expensive, and _less_ available over the next few years. Very depressing. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/35 "2001-11-01T16:18:46Z")
Dial-up user here. I get it free through the UW, so it’s hard to beat the price! Odd thing is, my 56K modem DOES NOT connect faster than 26.4, usually only 24. At least I’ve got a T1 at work and pretty free to download what I want. Just get it at work, burn or ZIP it, and take it home. It does suck to use the dial-up at home after using a T1 all day though! ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/36 "2001-11-01T16:24:16Z")
La-la-la-la-laaaaa, the cable guy’s commminggg this afternooooon! Earthlink’s offered us an upgrade from dial up because they just inked a deal with Time-Warner cable to use their lines. Free cable modem installation and a cheaper-than-normal monthly rate. I’ll finally be able to download music and movie trailers almost as fast as I do at work! [sub]Er, I mean, I don’t do that at work. Because that would be an inappropriate use of company resources, naturally.[/sub] I’m so excited that I’m only slightly annoyed that I’m going to have to deal with the enormous TW monopoly for two services now. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Why A Duck \* > \*\*I do my hardcore file downloading at work… \*\* Durn, you’re lucky. I just KNOW I’d get busted if I tried to download any of that stuff at work. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Why\_A\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@Why\_A\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Why_A_Duck)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/37 "2001-11-01T16:45:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Why A Duck \* > > \*\*I do my hardcore file downloading at work… \*\* > > Durn, you’re lucky. I just KNOW I’d get busted if I tried to download any of that stuff at work. 😉 \*\* A-har-dee-har-har. Seriously though, I remember last year when the little duckling hatched. How the hell do you have time to be posting when there’s a new cub about the house (congrats, btw)? ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/38 "2001-11-01T17:14:39Z")
I play games on-line and Dial-up just doesn’t cut it. I have a cable modem and a router linking 4 computers to the net. Since we share the cost… it’s only $10.00 a month each. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/39 "2001-11-01T17:19:14Z")
I have a 56k modem & a freephone number for my ISP. In return for totally free service, I put up with them disconnecting me every two hours. I don’t play online games & it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than the other options… ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790/40 "2001-11-01T18:03:59Z")
I got in on AT&T Worldnet when it was 4.95/150 hours/month and haven’t let go. Pretty solid connects at 50.x Kbps and I haven’t had a whoel lot of issue with drops. I would like to have a DS or Cable or something, but I travel so much, it’d sit unused for 2-3 days a week, plus, truthfully, the dail-up is quite servicable. I can have 2-3 web-windows up + mIRC + a teveo webcam with very little problem or lag. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-still-using-dial-up-isp/90790.md?page=3)