dial-up (redirected from dial-up Internet access)

dial-up

Refers to using the regular "dial-up" telephone network to send data from a computer to a remote network or to a remote device. The computer's digital data are converted to analog signals in the same frequency range as human voice by a modem. At the other end, another modem converts the analog back to digital.

For home users, dial-up was the first Internet access service available. It was followed by ISDN, cable and DSL. See modem and dial-up network.

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dial-up [′dīl ‚əp]

(communications)

The service whereby a dial telephone can be used to initiate and effect station-to-station telephone calls.

In computer networks, pertaining to terminals which must dial up to receive service, as contrasted with those hand-wired or permanently connected into the network.