Best Dial-Up Internet Service?

[riverdees05]

We have AOL and now that they give free email with High Speed Cable, we are thinking of changing to a different dial up service for back up. We would want to be able to use it for timesharing at the various resorts that you still have to use dial up. So we are looking for an internet service that has a lot of local numbers. We are concerned that AOL may start shutting down numbers as they have customers switch to their free service. Any recommendations?

 

[Makai Guy]

There are several sites devoted to rating and comparing dialup ISPs. Here are several:

http://www.freedomlist.com/
http://www.myispfinder.com/
http://www.findanisp.com/
http://www.thelist.com/

You can find many good ISPs with huge lists of local numbers for less than $10/month. Some even go down around the $5/mo range.

Be sure to get one that allows you to access via a plain Dial Up Network (DUN) connection. Avoid those that require you to use their own proprietary dialer and/or browser.

You can still download your mail from your current ISP, but you may not be able to send mail via your current ISP when connected via a different service (depends on how your ISP's smtp server is set up). Make sure you get a backup service that provides their own smtp server.

I've been using www.poetworld.com as my backup and when on the road for several years now. They're a few bucks more than some, but my experience, and the experience with poetworld reported on those websites, is generally excellent.

 

[Kozman]

Back Up Dial Up

I use SBC dialup when I'm on my timesharing trips. They have a very good selection of numbers. However, if you don't have SBC (DSL), I've had good luck with Senior Globe. You can pay by the month at about $9.95 per month. They have a very good selection of numbers as well. Another to look at is express56. Several of my friends use them with no complaints.

I've used Net Zero in the past, but will not recommend them to anyone since a few years ago they dropped a large portion of their customers (including me) because they used their 'unlimited' service too much!! LOL! What part of unlimited didn't they understand? Anyway, they got sued and lost big time for false and misleading advertising. They removed the unlimited from their advertising until the suit was settled and then it was back again. Beware!!!

 

[isisdave]

I use budgetdialup.com -- you can buy 10 hours for $5.95, about a penny a minute in most of the US, or more hours for slightly cheaper. The time is good for a year, and you can set your account to recharge automatically when you get low. The cost per minute is 2 cents per minute in AK HI PR and VI and six cents a minute in their many overseas sites, and also for 800 access if you happen to be in a place they don't support -- which has never happened to me.

You can also get 30 days (used to be unlimited, now 120 hours (!)) for 9.95. If you have an "hourly" balance and decide to buy a month, it uses the monthly amount and your unused time will still be there when the month is up. This plan works only in the 48 states and you can't use the toll-free number.

 

[The Conch Man]

I've used Net Zero in the past, but will not recommend them to anyone since a few years ago they dropped a large portion of their customers (including me) because they used their 'unlimited' service too much!! LOL! What part of unlimited didn't they understand? Anyway, they got sued and lost big time for false and misleading advertising. They removed the unlimited from their advertising until the suit was settled and then it was back again. Beware!!!

I have Netzero as our "Free" Dail-up ~~ Never any problems & have been with them for years (Way back in the late 90's) ~~ Never had to pay one penny yet ~~ Looks like I'm never gonna pay them anyt money ~~ Its a shame that you were casted-out ~~ I'm sure it cost a little money now to join Netzero but their service is great when we are on the road ~~

 

[taffy19]

I use budgetdialup.com -- you can buy 10 hours for $5.95, about a penny a minute in most of the US, or more hours for slightly cheaper. The time is good for a year, and you can set your account to recharge automatically when you get low. The cost per minute is 2 cents per minute in AK HI PR and VI and six cents a minute in their many overseas sites, and also for 800 access if you happen to be in a place they don't support -- which has never happened to me.

You can also get 30 days (used to be unlimited, now 120 hours (!)) for 9.95. If you have an "hourly" balance and decide to buy a month, it uses the monthly amount and your unused time will still be there when the month is up. This plan works only in the 48 states and you can't use the toll-free number.

Another trouble free service in California is www.surfside.net. We have used them for many years at $99 per year. I believe that they also bill bi-monthly. I found out that they do not have dial-up numbers in HI.

 

[Judy]

Road Runner

We have Road Runner. It's been available with local numbers everywhere I've tried to use it. On our recent trip to North Carolina, it was nearly as fast as my home Cable ISP.