Internet

Connecting to the Internet on Regular Basis

After the first time, you will connect to the internet by clicking (or double-clicking) on one of the icons. During the ISP setup procedure, you probably installed an icon on your desktop. To get started, double-click the icon. Some ISP’s provide a customized icon with their name on it. So if you don’t have one of these icons on your desktop, don’t worry. Go ahead and double-click on your ISP’s icon.

Another way to get started is to look for the icon on the taskbar. Your taskbar can contain shortcuts to any application on your computer. When using the taskbar, you only have to click once.

When your browser starts running, it will also show you the Dial-Up Connection box. If you chose to connect automatically, just sit back and wait for the computer to make the connection. You’ll know it has finished when the Dial-up Connection box disappears.

You should also look at your taskbar. At the opposite end from the start button (probably right next to your clock), you should see an icon of two computers. This means you have established a connection to the internet. This is your Connection icon.

Once you are connected, a web page should start to appear in your browser. In computer lingo, we say that the page is "loading" until all the information is available on your computer. The first page is called Home page. Usually, your ISP will setup the browser to load a Home page that they want you to see. It’s possible to change this to a different page. I’ll tell you how to do that in a later lesson.

What s All That Noise When I Connect?

Many computers allow you to hear the sound of your computer making a connection with the internet. First, you will hear the touch-tone dialing from your modem. Then you will hear all kinds of beeping, buzzing, and clicking.

Before your computer can be connected to the internet, it needs to figure out what speed to go. The computer at the other end of the phone line has to agree on that speed. This process is called the handshake. During the handshake, the two computers will try to communicate at the fastest speed possible. Once it s all negotiated, your modem will go quiet. It s still making all those squeals on the phone line, but you won t hear it. While it s possible to mute the sound of the handshake, most people feel reassured that something is going on while they wait to be connected.