1. Connecting to the Internet
Chapter 7
Connecting to the Internet
Practical PC, 3e
Chapter 7

2. Connecting to the Internet
In this Chapter, you will learn:
What an Internet connection is
Why you might want to connect to the Internet
What you need for the connection
How to connect to your ISP
What World Wide Wait means
About modems
Practical PC, 3e
Chapter 7

3. An Internet Connection
The Internet is a communications network that spans the entire globe.
The Internet gives you access to services and a variety of computer data.
The World Wide Web (WWW) is one of the Internet services available.
An Internet connection is the way that your computer accesses the Internet.
Practical PC, 3e
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4. An Internet Connection
When your PC is connected to the Internet, it is called a client computer.
Your client computer sends out requests for information and processes the answer when it is received back.
You can connect to the Internet through a dial-up connection or through a network (like in an office environment).
Practical PC, 3e
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5. An Internet Connection
From a home computer, you connect to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) which is a company who sells access time.
AOL, Comcast and AT&T Worldnet are ISPs.
Your ISP connects to the Internet through a Network Service Provider (NSP).
An Internet server contains the information you are looking for and is normally connected full time to the Internet.
Practical PC, 3e
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6. An Internet Connection
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7. Why connect to the Internet?
There are a tremendous amount of information and services available. For instance, you can:
Get the latest news and weather
Read the days newspaper
Communicate in minutes with friends and business associates through
Make travel reservations
Buy all of your Christmas presents
Run a meeting through a video conference
Practical PC, 3e
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8. Why connect to the Internet?
For instance, you can (cont):
Pay your bills
Take a college course
Do the research for a homework paper and then send the paper to your professor
Play games
Join an on-line chat group
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9. What you need to Connect
There are many ways to connect to the Internet.
The usual connection requires a computer, a modem, a phone line, an ISP, and communications software.
Any computer can be used to connect, but the computer must be connected to a device that converts computer data to be sent over a phone line to the ISP. This device is called a modem.
Practical PC, 3e
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10. What you need to Connect
Your modem will connect you to your ISP which will provide you with a user-id and password for security and identification.
Your ISP will also provide you with your unique address and various tools for managing your mail.
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11. What you need to Connect
Things to consider when selecting an ISP:
Do they provide a local phone number for access?
Does it offer high speed connections and one that is compatible with your modem?
Does it provide software for connecting to and surfing the Internet as well as managing your ?
Can you have multiple accounts and unlimited access time?
Do they have remote access and 24 hour technical support?
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12. What you need to Connect
Communications software
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13. Connecting to your ISP Steps to connect to your ISP include:
Install the communications software
Set up the software for your user-id/password and local telephone number
Use the software to dial the ISP
Some software (like a word processor) is Internet smart and will also dial your ISP when you use the send option.
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14. Using Network Connections to connect to your ISP
Connecting to your ISP
Using Network Connections to connect to your ISP
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15. What is the World Wide Wait?
The Internet is growing rapidly, and accessing data on it can sometimes be slow.
High volume transfers and technical problems can cause “traffic jams.”
The World Wide Web (WWW) has been nicknamed “World Wide Wait.”
Traffic jams are often caused by insufficient bandwidth - a measure of the transmission capacity.
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16. What is the World Wide Wait?
There are several things you can do to avoid the World Wide wait:
Get a high speed modem to provide the highest possible bandwidth.
Avoid peak hours of usage
If your ISP’s lines are always busy, look at other ISPs
Disconnect when you are complete so that others can connect
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17. What is the World Wide Wait?
Typical wait reasons and solutions
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18. Hardware – Modems
A modem converts digital computer signals to analog signals that travel over telephone lines.
Computers and the Internet use digital signals in the form of 0s and 1s.
Data is transferred between them using analog signals in the form of sound waves.
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19. Hardware – Modems There are three types of modems for your computer:
Internal – installed inside the computer and hooked into the main circuit board. A phone line cable connects to the back of the computer.
External – hooks by serial cable to the computer and by phone cable to the telephone jack.
PCMCIA modem – housed on a credit card sized card, it is handy for use on notebook computers.
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20. Hardware – Modems Three types of modems Internal External PCMCIA card
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21. Hardware – Modems
Modem speed is measured in thousands of bits per second (Kbps)
Modems typically operate in ranges of 14.4 (very slow) to 56 kbps
V.92 modems allow digital data transfers without converting to analog
Data/fax modems communicate with fax machines
Data/voice modems can function as answering machines
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22. Hardware – Modems
Modems occasionally need troubleshooting – some areas to try:
Check both ends of the phone cord connection to be sure they are firmly plugged in and in the correct jack.
Make sure external modems are plugged in.
Make sure you have a dial tone on the phone line.
Dial your ISP using a regular phone to check the number.
Use Windows control panel to help troubleshoot.
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23. Troubleshooting your modem
Hardware – Modems
Troubleshooting your modem
You can initiate a modem test by clicking this button
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24. Using Windows Internet Connection Wizard
The Internet Connection Wizard
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25. Do we need anonymous digital cash?
What do you think?
Do we need anonymous digital cash?
Have you ever made a purchase from the Internet using a credit card?
Do you think that most people believe that using a credit card in a restaurant is safer than using a credit card on the Internet?
3. Do you think that anonymous digital cash is a good idea?
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26. Chapter Summary You should now be able to: Connect to the Internet.
Select an Internet Service Provider
Install communications software and connect to your ISP
Troubleshoot various causes of slow response time on the Internet
Select, install and troubleshoot a modem
Practical PC, 3e
Chapter 7