Setting up

Getting yourself online might seem a little confusing, but it is really very simple.

You might not believe it, but you only need six things (a computer, a CD-Rom, a modem, a letter from your ISP, some cables and a phone socket) and a little know-how and you'll be surfing the net.

In less than an hour this guide will show you all you need to know to get set up and online.

Your computer

Any computer sold recently will be suitable for using the internet. You can use either a PC or a Mac to go online.

Generally though, the newer the computer, the easier it is to get online.

That's because the computer will be faster, and include more user friendly operating systems.

The CD-Rom

Your computer is a good start, but you need software to connect to and use the internet.

This comes pre-installed on all new computers, but you can also normally get your ISP to send you the latest
software on CD-Rom.

Once you are online you can update your e-mail and browser software by downloading the latest versions.

The connection software helps your computer dial up your ISP and connect to the internet.

The modem

Your computer needs a modem to connect to the internet. Modems are either external (outside the computer casing) or internal (inside the computer casing).

The higher the speed of the modem - the faster you can browse web pages and download e-mail.

The speed of a modem is called its bandwidth. The standard modem bandwidth is 56K, but broadband modems have a bandwidth of about 512K.

What is bandwidth?

If you imagine bandwidth is like a hosepipe - the wider the pipe, the more water you can get pumped through it.

With an internet connection, the wider the band (or hosepipe) the more information can be pumped through - and the faster the time it takes to download a web page or document.

In those terms, a 28K modem is a very thin pipe, the 56K a little bigger, and broadband with its 512K bandwidth is like a railway tunnel in comparison.

Cables

It may seem obvious, but you will need cables to connect your modem to the phone socket and the computer.

The computer needs to connect to the modem which in turn dials up the ISP using the phone socket.

In most cases the cables will come with the modem so you don't have to buy them specially. But you can get them easily enough if something goes wrong.

A letter from your ISP

To connect to your ISP you need a user name and password, which will be provided when you register with your ISP for internet access.

All the information you need should be on a letter from them and you need this so your ISP can check that it is you that is connecting.

The ISP will provide you with a phone number for the computer to dial to get access online.

The socket

Even the best computer cannot get online without an ordinary phone socket. When you set it up, you need to make sure your computer is near a phone socket.

You don't need a special phone connection to get online with a 56K modem.

But if you do want to access at 512K or more, you will need to get your phone line upgraded to use it.

Connecting and disconnecting

The first time you connect to the internet you need to enter your username, password and the number to dial - all of these can be found on the letter from your ISP.

Your computer can then save these items so you don't have to type them in every single time you want to connect to the internet.

It can take a minute or two for your computer to connect to the internet.

You will know when you're online because your computer will show you a little icon. The icon may vary depending on your computer's operating system.

If you click on the connection icon you then have the option to disconnect from the internet by clicking the 'Disconnect' button.

You're now ready to set-up your computer and get online. Good luck!