Off-Campus High Speed Connections

Beginning August 1, 2005 Northwestern and Kellogg will no longer offer dial-up service. Instead users will have to purchase internet access from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). KIS recommends SBC/Yahoo high-speed DSL for users looking only to replace the dial-up service. For users who require a faster internet connection with speeds comparable to those at Kellogg, Comcast and RCN offer more expensive high-speed access. Please see below for details on particular providers.

Different choices for high-speed connections

The services listed below are not all available throughout the entire Chicago metropolitan area. Please make sure the service is available at your location.
Northwestern IT has a useful webpage compairing the differences between DSL and Cable Modem access as well as additional service provider information here. This page contains information for dial-up providers that charge as little as $5.95 for 600 minutes a month and three other dial-up providers under $10.

DSL Connections
DSL is high-speed internet through your phone line. However unlike dial-up, with DSL you can be on the phone and using the internet at the same time. Generally DSL is less expensive than internet access through a cable modem but DSL also has slower connection speeds. DSL is dramatically faster than dial-up and if all you do is surf the web, and check email DSL is your best option.

SBC\Yahoo DSL - KIS recommends SBC\Yahoo for those users looking only for a replacement for dial-up. SBC\Yahoo DSL is running a great promotion currently - $14.99 per month for a year of high speed access if you order online. SBC\Yahoo is also offering $49 off a $149 wireless DSL modem. This will turn your DSL connection into a wireless connection. A laptop or desktop with a wireles card can then connect to the DSL connection wirelessly. Additionally SBC\Yahoo offers unlimited dial-up service throughout the U.S. that you can use while you travel.
The following link will send you to the SBC\Yahoo ordering webpage. The cheapest option is the Express Package. If you would like to have a faster internet connection, the Pro package is cheaper than a cable modem connection but it is a much slower connection speed. Express speeds = 384Kbps -1.5Mbps, Pro speeds = 1.5Mbps - 3.0Mbps.
Click here to connect to SBC\Yahoo's ordering page.

Earthlink DSL - Earthlink has a DSL connection available in much of Chicago. It is available at the same connection speed at SBC\Yahoo's Pro package. It costs $19.99 per month for the first six months regardless of connection speed but costs different amounts for the last six months depending on your connection speed. The costs are $39.95/month for 1.5Mbps service, $44.95/month for 3.0Mbps service. Like SBC\Yahoo you receive access to Earthlink dial-up service throughout the country for free.
Click here for more information on Earthlink DSL.

Cable Modem Connections
Cable modem connections are up to 7 times faster than DSL connection speeds. You will not notice a large difference between cable modem and DSL if you are browsing the web and checking email. Cable modem will have much better performance when downloading large files, watching streaming media, or video conferencing. Cable modem speeds are comparable to those at Kellogg but the cost is higher.

Comcast Cable Modem - Comcast offers two different prices for a cable modem connection, depending on whether you subscribe to Comcast cable television or not. If you subscribe to Comcast cable television, you can receive a special introductory offer of $19.99 for the first six months of a year contract. The final six months of the contract cost $42.95 a month. If you do not have Comcast cable television, the introductory offer costs $34.99 for the first six months and $57.95 thereafter. A cable modem connection requires the use of a cable modem to access the internet. Regardless of whether you subscribe to Comcast cable television or not, you can decide to rent a cable modem from Comcast for an additional $3.00 per month. If the cable modem stops funcitoning Comcast will replace it. To buy a cable modem costs around $100 and if it stops functioning you will have to buy a new one. Additionally if you want to have a home networking kit, similar to the one offered by SBC, it will cost an additional $5.00 a month. Connection speed = 4Mbps
Click here for more information about Comcast cable modem (scroll to the bottom of the page and look under High-Speed Internet).

RCN Cable Modem - RCN has two different connection speeds available. The MegaModem Mach 10, which at 10 Mbps is comparable to many of the connections at Kellogg, costs $79.95 a month. MegaModem Mach 7, which connects at 7 Mbps costs $54.95 a month without subscribing to RCN cable television. with RCN pricing and availability of speeds differ depending on your location in Chicago. Call 1.866.830.3435 for more information.
Click here for more information on RCN cable modem connection.

Earthlink Cable Modem - Earthlink has DSL as well as cable modem acceess. The speeds available through Earthlink cable modem are Standard 5.0Mbps and Premium 8.0Mbps. Pricing depends on different factors and availability on location.
Click here for more information on Earthlink cable modem access.

Using an Off-Campus High Speed Connection

Sending Email - To send email to a non-Northwestern or non-Kellogg email address, using Eudora or Outlook software, you must connect to Kellogg VPN first. For instructions on how to do so, please see this webpage.
You can always send email using Northwestern's Webmail.

Accessing Library Resources - Northwestern Library resources can be accessed different ways, including using VPN. Please see the library's webpage on Off-Campus Access to Electronic Resources.

Connecting when Traveling

If you have the use of a computer with any form of public Internet access when traveling (such as in a hotel business center, conference center, colleague's office, relative's home), you can read and send email from your Northwestern email account using Northwestern's Webmail.

Since high-speed internet locations, both wired and wireless, are becoming increasingly ubiquitous, finding internet access while traveling has become easier than in the past. However some users like to have dial-up internet access while traveling just in case. If you travel domestically, and you sign up with SBC\Yahoo DSL or Earthlink Cable Modem or DSL, have access to dial-up numbers across the U.S. If you do not subscribe to either companies' internet access or you travel internationally you can sign up for IPass Connect, Northwestern's off-campus internet access partner. This is convenient because it can be paid through a research account or CUFS number. It includes dial-up access throughout the world and many high-speed locations as well.