Connecting from Home & While Traveling

Access to the Internet from home computers and while traveling is through an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company or organization that provides access to the Internet. Most companies charge for this service, but adventurous travelers might want to check out ISPs that provide the service free in the local area. There are dozens of ISP's providing services in the Phoenix metropolitan area. You can locate them by looking in Dex Phone Book under "Internet Access Providers."

ASU offers free low-speed ISP service to faculty, staff, and graduate students who are employed by ASU.

ASU also has affiliation arrangements with a few ISP's that provide special pricing or services to all ASU students, faculty and staff.

You will need to configure (enter settings for) your e-mail client to appropriately reference the incoming and outgoing mail servers that relate to the e-mail client and ISP that you are using. As many ISPs do not provide an SMTP service and because the Exchange/Outlook server is behind the campus firewall, Information Technology recommends using a browser to access your e-mail when traveling or working from home. Telecommuters should install SecuRemote for access to secure services, including our Exchange/Outlook e-mail server.

Low-Speed ISP's

Low-speed ISP's like ASU's PPP service use telephone modems and telephone lines. With this technology, a phone line can be used by only one device at a time (telephone, FAX, computer modem) and is effective only for short, quick checks of e-mail or simple browsing needs.

High-Speed ISP's

High-speed ISP's support file transfer speeds that are up to 300 times faster than speeds available with dial-up modems. Most have significantly faster speeds for transferring data to your computer (download) than for transferring data from your computer (upload). Some of the services offer a choice of transfer speeds. There are differences among the services in terms of maximum possible data rate, price for installation, monthly service fee, and availability within the Phoenix metropolitan area. Following are the major technologies used by high-speed ISP's:

• DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology enables telephone companies to provide high speed services to the home using existing telephone lines. DSL provides a dedicated connection -- a connection that is not shared with other subscribers. There are several ISP's that offer DSL services in the Phoenix area, including Qwest with its Qwest DSL.
   
• Cable Modem technology allows Cable TV providers to deliver high speed services over the same cable lines used to carry TV signals. Cable connections are shared with other users, so actual speed is affected by what others around you are doing. This technology is offered in the Phoenix area by Cox Communications with its Cox High Speed Internet service.
   
• Fixed wireless systems provide service via a home rooftop antenna that points at a transmission antenna as far as 35 miles away. Connections are dedicated. Sprint offers fixed wireless ISP service in the Phoenix area via its Sprint BroadBand Direct product.
   
• Two-way satellite Internet services fill the need for high speed Internet connections in rural and remote locations. Using satellites that orbit far above the earth's atmosphere, companies are able to offer two-way service (the satellites both send and receive data). Connections are shared with other users. There are several satellite ISPs that offer service to homes, most of them relying on DirecWay's technology.

Options for Travelers

Some ISP's provide both home and travel access to the Internet. If yours does, check with them to find out how to use the service away from home.

Other possibilities for Internet access while traveling:

• Find a free ISP that provides local service in your travel area and sign up with them before leaving Phoenix, or find a national ISP and sign up for a 30-day trial.
• Many hotels and conference centers offer access, usually for a fee.
• Access is available in many airports for a fee.
• If you travel frequently or if you are part of a group of people that does, you may be interested in Verizon's Wireless Internet BroadbandAccess service. You can purchase the necessary laptop access card and the associated monthly plan at special contract rates through Telephone Services.
• There are Internet cafés, also called cybercafés, in many cities. These provide for-fee Internet access, with purchase or for fee.
• Most public libraries offer access, usually for free.
• Use ASUPPP, if you have an account. This is not usually very desirable, since it involves a toll charge.

E-Mail by Browser

If you intend to access your e-mail while traveling or from home, be sure that you know how to do so using an Internet browser. You will need to know the URL of the campus Exchange e-mail server to access your Outlook mail:

• http://outlook.west.asu.edu/

Don't forget to log off and CLOSE THE BROWSER when you are done, to prevent others from accessing your mail from this computer.