Connecting to the Internet

What Do You Need?
Computer Requirements
What is a Modem?
Modem Checklist
Internet Software

What Do You Need?

There are 5 main things you will need in order to connect to the Internet:

1. A computer
2. A modem
3. Access to a telephone line
4. An Internet Service Provider (such as Missourinet.net)
5. Some basic Internet software (these generally come with your operating system)

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Computer Requirements

For the technically minded, you would want your computer system to have the following minimum requirements:

• 64 Mb RAM
• 133Mhz CPU
• 1 Gigabyte hard drive
• Windows 95 operating system

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What is a Modem?

A modem is a piece of hardware that gets attached to a computer. It can come in two forms – Internal or External. An internal modem looks like a computer chip attached to a card that slots inside your actual computer. An external modem looks like a rectangular device with light diodes on it that sits on your computer desk – it connects to your computer via a cable. A phone line cable needs to be plugged into the modem to allow it to function.

Modems allow computers to communicate outside of themselves by translating computer data into audio tones for transmission across telephone lines. Your modem sits between your computer and the telephone line, handling the conversion of data to audio and vice versa. At the receiving end is another modem that sits between Missourinet’s computer and the telephone line.

So when you connect to the Internet, your computer sends a connection request to your modem by providing the phone number to connect to, the username to connect with, and the password for authentication. The modem dials the phone number you provided (which in this case is your local Missourinet dial-up number) and communicates with the Missourinet modem. The Missourinet modem in turn asks for the username and password of your account, which your modem provides, and if the data is correct, you are connected to the Internet via Missourinet.

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Modem Checklist

Speed: The modem should have a speed of at least 33.6Kbps, although 56Kbps modems are now the standard. The ‘bps’ rating indicates how much information the modem can send or receive per second. So obviously, the higher the number, the faster your connection speed.

Software: When you purchase the modem, it should come with driver software – which are the files used to install and run the modem correctly so that it can be utilised to its full potential.

Internal or External?: The choice here is really quite based on user preference. Some users prefer internal modems as they are tucked into the computer and do not take up desk space. Other users prefer external modems because they can get some indication of how the modem is performing by looking at the various light diodes on the modem. In terms of connection quality, typically external modems produce a better quality connection, however this is very much dependant on good brands.

For a good quality modem consult your local computer supplier – insist on quality as the effectiveness of your Internet connection relies heavily on your modem. For further assistance Missourinet can provide you with a list of modems that we find reliable and least troublesome when connecting to our rotaries.

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Internet Software

Some basic Internet software includes:

• A web browser – Your operating system will provide Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator
• An e-mail program – Your operating system will provide Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator
• An FTP (File Transfer Protocol) program – Your operating system may provide one, if it does not there are numerous freeware ftp programs available to download from the Internet.

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