I'd check first if the cable modem has a backup dial-up service. Charter Pipeline does.

Michelle


>I have a friend who is thinking of switching from a dial-up ISP to cable modem. This would be perfect for her home office, but she still needs occasional dial-up access from another office. This really is very occasional, and will be primarily for checking e-mail on the cable modem ISP's account(s).
>
>I was thinking of setting up one of the "free" ISPs (AltaVista, Yahoo! etc.) at the secondary office, and giving it a test. If anyone has had any experience with these ISPs could you please comment:
>
>1. Do you need special access software, and does that interfere with any other preconfigured dial-up access with other ISPs?
>
>2. Can you access e-mail accounts other than those of the free ISP?
>
>3. Realistically, can you get a connection at the local access number(s)?
>
>4. Any other limitations/restrictions/gotchas/comments?
>
>TIA.