Look DSL is a high speed connection via your phone line. It has the ability to move data over the phone lines at speeds up to 30 times faster than the fastest analog (dial-up) modems available today.
For Look DSL service, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:
|
Windows |
Macintosh |
| Processor |
Pentium 166 MHz or
equivalent |
Power PC |
| Operating System |
Windows 98/Me/2000/XP |
Mac OS X |
| Memory |
32 MB RAM |
32 MB RAM |
| Hard Drive |
75 MB free |
75 MB free |
| Display |
256 colours |
256 colours |
| Interface |
Ethernet card |
Ethernet card |
| CD-ROM Drive |
Required |
Required |
Note: You may be required to have your Windows CD to install Look Wireless. We cannot guarantee that the service will work with all types of computers.
How do I check to see if I have an Ethernet card?
On a desktop computer:
Look at the back of your computer. You will notice that there are six to eight slots. Some of these slots have devices installed (e.g. the monitor, printer or keyboard), while others may be covered with a metal plate. Check the occupied slots for what looks like a wide telephone jack with 8 gold contacts inside. This is your Ethernet card. If you have an Ethernet card, you are ready to install the DSL modem.
If you do not have an Ethernet card, you will have to install one to use Look DSL. You can either install it yourself following the manufacturer's instructions, or you can have a computer retailer install it for you.
On a laptop computer:
Find a port on your laptop that looks like a telephone jack. The network port is wider than the standard telephone jack and has eight gold contacts inside. This is your Ethernet card.
If you do not have an Ethernet card, you will have to install one to use Look DSL. You can either install it yourself following the manufacturer's instructions, or you can have a computer retailer install it for you.
| Ethernet jack |
Telephone jack |
 |
Unlike a dial-up connection a DSL connection is always on. That means no more logging on and off, no more busy signals and no more waiting for the connection to happen - it's always there. Another benefit is the ability to use the phone at the same time the data connection is on; you don't have to choose between the two.
Look DSL can reach up to 5.0Mb on the downstream and up to 800 kbs upstream. Downstream refers to data transferring from the Internet to your computer and upstream refers to data transferring from your computer back to the Internet. In practical terms this means you surf at speeds up to 25 times the speed of a 56Kbps modem. Other factors that can affect speed performance include Internet and Web site congestion.
Dial-up modems send their signals through the public switched telephone network, the same one that connects ordinary telephones. DSL modems "piggyback" their signals on top of the voice signal. On the phone company's premises, the line gets split - the voice calls are sent to the public switched telephone network, and the data transmission goes to the Internet. This method moves data off the phone companies' lines and instead uses connections optimized for carrying Internet traffic.
Most computers will be able to support a DSL connection. Newer computers tend to perform better. The first thing you will have to do is make sure your computer has an Ethernet card also known as a (NIC) card. This card needs to be installed inside your computer on the motherboard. It allows your PC to interface with your DSL Modem. Without a NIC card your modem will not allow you access to the Internet.
Look DSL will not interfere with your phone calls or sending of faxes if you install a small filter between your phone and the wall jack. Your DSL modem will be shipped to you with 2 filters included. Additional filters can also be purchased.
DSL provides always-on high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line; cable modems offer always-on high-speed Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems have greater downstream bandwidth capabilities, that bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighbourhood, and will therefore vary, perhaps dramatically, as more users in a neighbourhood get online at the same time. Cable modem upstream traffic will in many cases be slower than DSL, either because the particular cable modem is inherently slower, or because too many people in a neighborhood are trying to send or receive data at the same time.
It will take approximately 10 business days to activate your Look DSL from the time you place your order with one of our customer care agents. Once your order is placed Look will send you your Start-Up Kit that includes your modem, filters and software. This kit will be delivered to your home, or another daytime location of your choice prior to the activation date.
