DSL Internet with No Phone? Yes, It’s Freestanding.

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Tom Sullivan

Cut the cord and save!

DSL has long been the high-speed Internet service associated with phone service. That’s because, traditionally, DSL Internet access could only be delivered over an active phone line. If you “cut the cord” and went without phone service at home, you’d have to turn to cable or satellite Internet for broadband.

But EarthLink has for many years also offered a different kind of high-speed DSL with no phone required. It’s called…

Dry Loop? Naked? We’ll Go with Freestanding DSL.

We call our no-phone-DSL service Freestanding DSL because it stands free, apart from any phone service. This type of DSL Internet service is sometimes called dry loop DSL, naked DSL, or standalone DSL. (But since none of those terms are well known or understood, we decided not to go with “dry,” “naked” or “alone” for our DSL service.)

Freestanding DSL is just as fast (offering Internet connections up to 7Mbps) and just as reliable as regular high-speed DSL Internet service. So, if you don’t have an active home phone line, it’s a great broadband alternative. And if you do currently have home phone service and you qualify for Freestanding DSL, you can cancel your home phone service (using only your cell phone) and save money each month.

No Phone = Big Savings
Cancelling home phone service typically saves consumers an average of $240 a year (based on an average basic calling plan, plus all the additional taxes and surcharges you have to pay). If you have more than the most basic home phone plan, you save even more. This money-saving feature makes Freestanding DSL the DSL of choice for the cell-phone-only crowd.

Where You Can Get Freestanding DSL

If you want to go without a landline phone, EarthLink Freestanding DSL sounds almost too good to be true, right? But it’s for real. The only “catch” is that it’s not as widely available as regular DSL Internet service.

It is available nationwide, but only in areas where Verizon is the local telephone company. If you know Verizon is in your area, you should be good to go. If you are unsure, simply enter your home address and zip code in the Check Availability box on our Freestanding DSL page to see if your location qualifies (a home phone number isn’t required to check availability, but you can enter it if you do still have a home phone). Even if you don’t qualify for Freestanding DSL, you’ll see other high-speed services that are available for you, such as Cable Internet (which also doesn’t need a home phone line).

When to Cancel Your Phone Service

If your location qualifies for Freestanding DSL and you still have your phone line active, it’s best to disconnect your phone service before you place your order for Freestanding DSL. Installation will be easier if phone service is disconnected before you order Freestanding DSL. So call your phone company as soon as you can.

Other Differences Between Freestanding and Regular DSL

As we noted above, in most ways Freestanding DSL is just like regular DSL Internet access – without the phone service, of course.

One minor, positive difference is that with Freestanding DSL you do not need to install phone line filters around your house as you do with regular DSL (if you do get a self-installation kit with filters you can disregard them and skip any set-up instructions mentioning filters).

Another is that Freestanding DSL does not interfere with home alarm systems the way regular DSL services sometimes do. Because Freestanding DSL is a dedicated line with no phone service on it, it should not affect your home alarm service and your alarm service should not affect your DSL.

Installing Freestanding DSL

You can quickly and easily install Freestanding DSL using the self-installation kit and free DSL modem we send you. You can install the modem anywhere in your home that you have a phone jack (as long as there is no active phone service on the line). If you want to use your DSL Internet access in a room that does not have a phone jack, you’ll need to install the modem in a different room (with a phone jack) and then install a wireless router so you can use your high-speed Internet connection in any room over Wi-Fi. EarthLink Home Networking comes with a free Wi-Fi router and everything else you need.

If you are one of our Freestanding DSL customers already, let us know how you like it by leaving a comment below.

And you can all weigh in on the question of what we should have named the service: freestanding DSL, dry loop DSL, naked DSL, or standalone DSL?

Cable Internet – Troubleshooting Cable Modem Connection Issues

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Tom Sullivan

Cable Internet access is more than just extremely fast. It’s also an extremely reliable way to connect to the Internet.

But connection issues do occasionally come up. The good news? Often you can quickly and easily troubleshoot and resolve the issue by looking at the cable Internet modem lights.

So, if you ever have problems connecting to the Internet, take a look at the cable modem lights and follow these recommendations.

Cable Modem Connection Light is Out

If the light on the front of your cable modem that indicates your cable connection (it may be labeled Status, Online or Cable) is out or blinking, you will be unable to connect to the Internet.
To re-establish your Internet connection, first make sure that the coaxial cable is firmly connected to the back of your modem.
If the cable is properly connected to your modem and the light is still out, try to reset the modem.
To reset your cable modem, press and hold the Reset button for five seconds. If your modem does not have a Reset button, you will need to power cycle (turn off, then on) your modem. See the complete steps for power cycling your modem below.

Cable Modem Power Light is Out

If your modem’s power light is off, make sure that the modem is securely plugged in. Your cable modem should be plugged in and powered on 24 hours a day.
If the modem appears to be securely plugged in and the power indicator light is still out, test the outlet or power strip your modem is using by plugging something else in. You can also plug the modem into another outlet and/or power strip that you know is in good working condition.
If you have confirmed that your outlet and/or power strip are working and the cable is securely connected to the modem, but the power indicator is still off, a service call may be required. Try power cycling your modem (using the steps below) before you contact Technical Support.

Cable Modem PC Light is Out

If the light on the back of your computer (next to the Ethernet cable connection) and/or the light labeled PC on your cable modem is out while your computer is on and your operating system loaded, your network card may not be functioning correctly.
To troubleshoot your cable modem connection, try the following:
Confirm that the Ethernet cable (which looks like a slightly enlarged phone cord) is securely plugged into both the cable modem and to the back of your computer. If the cable looks securely plugged in and the light on the back of your computer or your cable modem is still out, try unplugging the cable and plugging it back in to the back of the computer first and then the back of the cable modem.
Try running the diagnostic program that came with your network card, if available.
Reset your cable modem by pressing the reset button for five seconds or power cycle your modem using the steps below.
Shut down and then restart your computer.
If the above still does not solve the problem, please contact Technical Support.

Cable Modem Light is Blinking

If you are having problems receiving email or browsing the Web, you should verify that your cable Internet modem is successfully communicating with the broadband network.
Depending upon the type of modem you are using, the cable Internet connection indicator light on the front of your modem may be labeled as Status, Online or Cable.
If that light is blinking, you may need to reset your cable modem by pressing the Reset button for five seconds. If your modem does not have a Reset button, you will need to power cycle (turn off, then on) your modem (see detailed steps below).
If, after one or two minutes, the connection light on your cable modem continues to blink, a Technical Service call may be required.

Cable Modem Light is Orange

If the light on your cable modem labeled Status is orange, you will be unable to connect to the Internet. To re-establish your connection:
1. Make sure that the coaxial cable is firmly connected to the back of your modem.
2. If the light is still orange, try to reset your cable modem. To do so, unplug the modem and leave it unplugged for one minute.
3. Plug the modem back in, and wait one or two minutes for it regain connection.
4. If the light does not turn green, a Technical Service call may be required.

How to Power Cycle Your Cable Internet Modem

Windows Users

Make sure the coaxial cable is plugged securely into your cable modem.
Unplug the cable modem from the power source.
Leave the modem unplugged for two minutes.
Plug the cable modem directly into the wall outlet.
Wait for the modem to regain block sync (this usually takes just one minute or less but may take up to five minutes).
When your cable modem lights are illuminated and steady, try visiting at least two websites.
If the lights on your cable modem are correctly illuminated but you can’t get on the Web, run winipcfg or ipconfig, verify that you have obtained a valid IP address and try release/renew.
Try once more to access a couple of websites.
If you still can’t connect to the Web, shut down your computer and turn off the power by pushing the On/Off button on your computer.
Restore the power and turn your computer back on.
Try connecting to the Web again.
If your cable lights are properly illuminated and the steps above have failed to restore your connection, you will need to call Technical Support.

Mac Users

Make sure the coaxial cable is plugged securely into your cable modem.
Unplug the cable modem from the power source.
Leave the modem unplugged for two minutes.
Shut down the computer and turn it off.
Plug the cable modem directly into the wall outlet.
Wait for the modem to regain block sync (this usually takes just one minute or less but may take up to five minutes).
Check the lights on your modem to ensure the cable lights are steady.
If the lights are illuminated, try visiting various Web sites.
If your cable lights are properly illuminated and the steps above have failed to restore your connection, you will need to call Technical Support.

Living with Social Media

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Chris Chase

Social media has completely permeated our culture. No one will be mad if you pass up using super-specific social networking sites and apps (like Pinterest), but you’ll definitely get sideways looks if you tell people you’re not on Facebook.

It’s odd that, with all the popularity of social media, theredon’t seem to be any tips sheets or guides on how to “properly” use it. And that’s exactly why EarthLink has put together a quick cheat sheet to help you with the basics:

BE YOURSELF

When the internet was newer, anonymity was key. Disguising your true identity with usernames like “HappyMom97″ was a socially acceptable way to communicate through your computer. This is no longer the case. People want to find you (actual people from your past and present, like your friends, relatives, and coworkers), so it’s expected that you will now use your real name and a real photo in your social media profiles (some sites, like Google+, even require it!). That being said, please NEVER including sensitive information like addresses, phone numbers, or even your current and past employment (the one exception is LinkedIN, a professional social site where it pays to show off your resume).

WRITE FOR YOUR MOTHER

If you wouldn’t want your mother to read it or see it, don’t post about it or upload a picture of it. Only share photos of yourself that you’d be proud for an employer to see (the number of employers using social media to check up on applicants and current employees is on the rise), and try to avoid heated discussions. Those conversations always work better face-to-face, and people reading it can easily take what you say out of context, no matter how well-worded or thought-out it is.

BE FRIENDS WITH…FRIENDS

Only “friend” people you know in real life. If you get a message from a stranger, feel free to message back (most sites allow messaging…like an in-social-media email…between non “friends”), but don’t “add” them until you’ve met or spoken outside of social media.

KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE

Send a message if you want it to privately talk to someone
Post on a friend’s wall if it’s for a specific person, but one of your or their friends might enjoy what you’re sharing (like a recipe or a video of a sleeping cat)
Post a status about something general that all your friends might enjoy (like the deal on lunch you discovered)
Only comment on a post or status with something relevant (Example: if the original post is “I adore ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE by The Beatles,” comment “Me too!” and not “I miss you…how are you?” That’s better for a separate wall post or message.

Use these as a jumping off point to get yourself settled into communicating through social media. It’s meant to be a fun way to represent yourself online, so have fun with it!