Dialup options -- unplugging from the net and need my fix

April 27, 2007 10:03 AM

What's a good dialup Internet service for Texas cities? All I need is just basic dialup Internet, as I'm visiting relatives in San Antonio who don't have WiFi or DSL. I looked at Earthlink but they rope you into a $22/mo plan after an introductory period and that sounds pretty steep.
posted by rolypolyman to Computers & Internet (11 answers total)

Response by poster: Also bonus points for ideas for a free or low-cost basic firewall that blocks the rogue port scanners, Back Orifice, and other crap that infests dialup IPs. I've tried AVS and Kerio but they all require registration, and I won't be using this enough to justify the cost.
posted by rolypolyman at 10:19 AM on April 27, 2007

If it's any help, you can get free WiFi at any San Antonio Public Library locations.
posted by isidore at 10:22 AM on April 27, 2007

What about just doing a free AOL trial, then canceling after your trip?
posted by dcjd at 10:22 AM on April 27, 2007

Avoid PeoplePC unless you want a screwed computer as it works ONLY with their dialer and software whick SUX. NetZero?
posted by raildr at 10:54 AM on April 27, 2007

Response by poster: What about just doing a free AOL trial, then canceling after your trip?
No way. Google around at the slimy stuff they do regarding retention.
posted by rolypolyman at 11:17 AM on April 27, 2007

Response by poster: Avoid PeoplePC unless you want a screwed computer as it works ONLY with their dialer and software whick SUX. NetZero?
Looks like they use a prioprietary dialer too. It sucks that it's so hard to find an ISP that doesn't play shenanigans.
posted by rolypolyman at 11:29 AM on April 27, 2007

Check Freedomlist. I had success with All2Easy in California back when I used dialup; it's cheap ($4.95/mo), doesn't require you to use a lousy ad-infested interface, and canceling is a snap.
posted by stefanie at 11:33 AM on April 27, 2007

Just for the record: with AOL, you don't have to cancel the account. You can simply change it to a free account, and you don't have to call a rep to do it.
posted by kindall at 11:59 AM on April 27, 2007

Note that if you have DSL from one of at&t's companies you already have an associated dial-up account. Or, if you know anybody who has one, you could borrow it. ;)

That costs nothing.
posted by wierdo at 12:10 PM on April 27, 2007

coffee shops? nice to get away from my relatives on these trips...
posted by thilmony at 12:37 PM on April 27, 2007

Academic Planet is $8.99 a month with no contract. They have a local number for San Antonio.
posted by busboy789 at 8:10 PM on April 27, 2007