External Usb Modem

[brainiac]

I'm having to use dial-up at the moment (don't ask!) and the new laptop I've bought does not have a port to plug the lead from the BT phone socket straight in. I believe I need an external USB V.92 modem, sometimes called a fax modem. Does anybody use one of these with a Windows laptop, and do they work properly? I see Amazon has them, but I'd rather buy one in a shop so I can ask questions....!

[TheChair]

What are you planning to use it for?
Surely not the Internet?
V92 gives a max download speed of around 56Kbs which (for most modern sites) would be unacceptably slow.
Also, there are very few ISPs who offer a dial-up connection (BT stopped offering dial-up in 2013). One that does is Freeola, http://freeola.com/dial-up-internet/
At 2p per minute that's like a penny a page!
Would you not be better off getting a 3G dongle?

[brainiac]

I'm planning to use it for dial-up connection to the internet via an 0845 number (which is free after 6pm with my land-line provider). This worked fine with my old laptop, but I didn't realise new laptops don't have the port to connect the phone line directly. Plenty of the USB modems, it seems, on Amazon, but I'd prefer to get one in a shop to check it's what I want, and so I can take it back if it's wrong!

[TheChair]

Have you got a Maplin near you? They stock them, as do Argos.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/micronet-usb-v92-56k-modem-a13hh

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3057672.htm

They're pretty trivial devices, so I'd be surprised if you found one that didn't work.

[brainiac]

I have a Maplin and Argos not that far away, so I'll try there. Many thanks for your replies

[Tuvok]

Sounds like your old computer had a built in modem.

I take it you normally have broadband, but don't have it just now?

If this is only a temporary situation, could you perhaps ask your neighbours if you could access their wifi until yours is back up and running?

[brainiac]

No, I'm stuck with dial-up for now. You're right - my old laptop had a modem built in, but new laptops do not, hence my problem. Didn't think to ask before I bought it, but it looks like it's fixable with a USB external modem........ I hope so!