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Setting up an Internet Connection at Home

Practise using computers and the internet at an internet cafe. Münchener VHS has a FREE internet cafe (only for Teilnehmer or Teachers) at Schwanthalerstr. 2. Most internet cafes charge about 3 DM for 15 minutes.

To look at web pages, you will need a browser like Netscape Communicator (which is also an email program) or Internet Explorer (with Internet Explorer you will need Outlook Express for your email).

Here's the minimum you'll need to get started on the internet at home:

At the beginning it's good to have a friend there to help you. Neighbour's children can be very helpful (14 year-olds with skateboards and baseball caps are the best). An internet magazine for "Einsteiger" is very useful.

To set yourself up with internet access you must enter a lot of data into various different online forms. To make this easier, you can just use a CD-ROM from a service provider which will fill in the forms for you automatically.

Setting Up With a Service Provider's CD_ROM

An easy way of setting up an email account and web access is to use one of the free CD-ROMs from a service provider like Compuserve, AOL, or T-online. Just put the CD into the CD drive and follow the instructions that appear.

If you don't have one, ask a friend or else buy an internet magazine which will probably have a CD with service provider software, other software and lots of useful information.

These introductory offers usually give you the first month for free. Use this month to find out about and sign up for other internet providers and to download any software you might need.

Setting Up By Hand for Call-By-Call

These instructions are for Windows98 users to fill in the forms yourself and connect via a call-by-call provider. You can find more detailed instructions in an internet magazine.

  1. Configure a new dial-up network (DFÜ-Netzwerkverbindung):
    1. Go to Arbeitsplatz: DFÜ-Neue Verbindung Erstellen
    2. In the window that appears enter a name for the provider, choose your modem type and click on Weiter.
    3. Enter the telephone number of your provider (without blanks or dashes) and click on Fertigstellen.
  2. With your left mouse button, click on the new icon that appears and choose Eigenschaften from the popup menu.
    1. Click on the Allgemein tab and un-check the Ortsvorwahl und Wählparameter verwenden field.
    2. Click on the Servertypen tab and check TCP/IP
  3. When you open your browser a Dial-Up Connection window will appear. Your new call-by-call name should be in the Connect to: field, Your own phone number is in the User name: field (you don't need a password).
  4. Click on Connect. After a few moments, the Dial-Up Connection window will disappear and you are connected to the internet.

Going Online

When you start your browser or mail application, a window appears asking you if you want to connect to the internet.Be aware that your online time at home costs you money. For tips on saving money when surfing, see Some Tips for Surfing

Wait! How do I Get OFF the Internet?

To disconnect click on the little picture of two computers joined by a wire in the bottom-right hand corner of your screen. A window appears with information about your connection. Click on Trennen.

Email

Your service provider will probably provide you with an email account. However, it is worth considering other possibilities. There are three main types of email address you can have:

What is POP3?

POP (Post Office Protocol) describes the way most mail servers on the net work. The current version of POP is POP3. (Note that "PoP" also stands for "Point of Presence" which is a telephone number for connecting to the internet via your service provider.)

POP3 email downloads from the internet into your Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator mail program when you click on Get Mail. You can go straight back offline to read your mail. Connection times for downloading email are usually under 2 minutes (unless someone sends you a big file like an image or sound file).

What is Web-Based Email?

Web-based email collects your email on a web page. This allows you to look at your email from any computer. You need to enter a password to get to the page so nobody else can look at your mail. Web-based email is good for new users or people who don't have a computer of their own.

It has the disadvantage that each email message is on its own page and so your mail takes a long time to download causing long connection times.

What is Forwarding Email?

Forwarding email gives you an email address which automatically redirects the mails on to a different email address. This is useful if you don't like your email address, or so that you don't have to change address each time you change provider.

I Want it All!

Companies like Yahoo or GMX will give you a free email address with web-based, forwarding and POPmail for life. Send Mail to the Teacher 1