Why do I need a dial-up connection?

While in school, you are able to connect to the internet via the wireless network. Of course, this facility is not available to you at home, so you need a dial-up facility (that is, one that uses your telephone line to connect).

IMPORTANT: Read this first! The CLC recommends that you use this method, and only this method, for connecting to the internet from home using your telephone line. Commercial internet packages such as Freeserve, AOL, and the majority of these so-called 'free' CD-ROMs available from high street shops have a tendency to alter critical network settings on your computer. This could prevent your laptop from connecting to the internet at school or, in the worst case, from connecting to the network at all. Connecting to the internet in this way costs 4p per minute during the day, 1.5p per minute during weekday evenings, and 1p per minute at the weekend (for BT customers). This number is eligible for Friends and Family discounts.

 

Setting up the connection for the first time

1. Log on to your laptop and wait for the hourglass to disappear.

2. Double-click on the My Computer icon in the top left of the screen.

3. Double-click on the Dial Up Networking icon.

4. Double-click on the Make New Connection icon.

5. Click Next.

6. Type UK2 as the name of the new connection and click on Next.

7. Enter the telephone number as follows:

Area code: 0845
Telephone number: 6091370

8. Click on Finish to complete the setup.

 

Using the connection

1. Log on to your laptop and wait for the hourglass to disappear.

2. Double-click on the My Computer icon in the top left of the screen.

3. Double-click on the Dial Up Networking icon.

4. Double-click on the UK2 connection. The dialogue box asks for a username and a password: both of these are UK2 again (in capitals or lowercase).

5. Click on Connect to connect to UK2. You will have to start Netscape or Internet Explorer to browse the world wide web.

Remember to disconnect after you have finished using the internet to avoid clocking up unnecessary charges! Double-click on the dial-up connection symbol on the taskbar (shown to the right here) and click Disconnect.

Image courtesy of http://www2.essex.ac.uk/cs/handbook/appendix_g.htm