I've use both AltaVista and NetZero on occasional basis when my ISP's access numbers are busy! I have always been able to get a connection from the free service. The ads do get in the way a little bit, but getting a connection during busy times is worth it.

>Thanks for the feedback, Evan, AltaVista was one of the ones I was going to try. Nice to know it seems to work well from Vancouver.
>
>>I use the free Altavista ISP sometimes.
>>
>>>3. Realistically, can you get a connection at the local access number(s)?
>>
>>Yes. I have never got a busy signal with the two Vancouver number yet. Either during the day or evening.
>>