Dial-up Internet access in the UK

BT Yahoo offers dialup access in the UK:

• Pay As You Go: Account creation and setup is free - and you're charged by the minute that you're connected (as low as 1p per minute off-peak) . You're paying for a local-rate phone call, and charges appear on your phone bill.
  

For more on BT Yahoo's dialup service, go to register.btinternet.com.

BT also offers a range of broadband tariffs

If you're looking to get more from your Internet connection... consider Broadband and wi-fi. This site offers some useful information on both of these areas:

• Broadband Advice - Information on high-speed, always-on Broadband Internet access.
• Wi-fi - Internet without wires. Connect a router to your Broadband connection then access the Internet from all of your PCs, laptops and PDAs

To connect to the 'net using a dial-up service (as opposed to Broadband Advice or Wi-fi), you'll need to plug your modem into a phone line - but what about if you don't have a phone line close to your PC? The common solution is to run a telephone extension cable from your home's Master phone socket - kits are available from Argosand Maplin Electronics.

If you don't fancy running cables around your house, or messing around banging cleats into your skirting board, there is another option - You can use your home mains wiring to connect to your master phone socket, using a wireless extension kit (pictured). More on this on our Phone Extension page

A question from site visitor Mick Hodgeson: "I have currently bought a new computer and we need to get dial up as the plan for the Internet. My problem is that when I go into the BT dial up, it automatically dials to attempt to get into the Internet. However in my establishment you have to dial 9 for an outside line. I cannot find a way to circumvent this or to make any alteration in the dial up system to impose the 9 in front of the number."

Assuming you have Windows XP, go to Start > Control panel > Phone and Modem options. Add a location, e.g. "Work", then adjust the "To access an outside line..." settings to add a 9.

Once you have Broadband at home, you may be interested to know that you can access your home PC by remote control - great for accessing your files and emails from work, a hotel, a cybercafe or even from a Windows Mobile PDA.

Find out what the remote service offered by GoToMyPC can do for you. More on our dedicated GoToMyPC page.