![]() Then you use the additional cable provided to connect one side of the splitter to the cable box, and the other side to the back of the cable modem. Setup instructions will probably direct you to unscrew the round coaxial cable that runs from the wall to the back of the cable box and attach the splitter. If you have DSL, plug in a DSL filter to the other jack, and then plug your phone into the end of the filter. Plug in your dial-up modem line or DSL cable into one open jack. Bottom: Snap this splitter into a phone jack in the wall. Then screw a cable to each of the two other connectors one goes back into the TV or cable box and the other goes into your cable modem. Top: Screw the coaxial cable from the wall into the single end of this connector. You can buy either of these for a few dollars at places like Radio Shack or computer stores. You usually sign up for DSL service through your phone company.įigure 1-2. One-eyed jacks are fine for cards, but splitters like these convert one cable or telephone connection into two so you can share your cable or phone line with your computer. DSL, on the other hand, uses your existing telephone lines to carry its signal. But this method is slow, expensive, and rare in residential areas.)Īs the name suggests, a cable modem ( Figure 1-1) uses your cable-TV company’s network of wires to pipe data into your house, right alongside Comedy Central and HBO. (In some remote areas, you can also get broadband satellite service. If you, a dial-up customer, have been paying for two phone lines just so you can talk and be online at the same time, you’ll actually save money withīroadband because you can cancel the second phone line.īroadband connections usually come in the form of aĭSL box (digital subscriber line). But most people take the easy road: they allow a representative from the phone company or cable company to come to their home or office to install the modem and configure the Mac or PC to use it.ĭSL services cost $30 to $40 a month. You can set up the equipment yourself to save a few bucks. ![]() There’s no 40-second wait while your modem screeches and dials. These connection methods hook you up to the Internet permanently, full time, so that you don’t waste time connecting or disconnecting-ever. If you have an older computer that has enough memory and hard drive space to meet the system requirements of Windows XP or Mac OS X, though, you can upgrade the old box with a new system and still see the best of the Web without buying a whole new machine. So Web browsers-and the software that lets them display video, animations, and other visual goodies-may be out-of-date and incapable of showing you everything that’s online. That’s because Apple and Microsoft stop updating their software when they move on to newer versions. Truth is, an old Mac or PC may not let you see all that the Web has to offer. That’s because fresh new operating systems like Windows XP and Mac OS X have built-in helper software designed to quickly guide your computer online.īut what if you already have a perfectly good four-or five-year-old model that works just fine for word processing or playing solitaire? In general, the newer the computer, the easier it’s probably going to be to get it connected to the Internet. Getting yourself that sort or gear, you need a computer.Ĭomputers are a lot cheaper than they used to be you can buy a new laptop these days for around $500. UP TO SPEED: The Most Essential Piece of GearĮquipment to get to the Internet, of course you’ve probably heard of modems, cable modems, and DSL.
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