Few things in life are for free, but Internet access can be.

Using the Internet is free while on campus, but many peopledon’t know that free Internet is available on home computersas well, via a SacLink account.

A SacLink account is the user ID and password needed to log onto the Internet at school, as well as to CasperWeb to checkfinancial records and grades.

When students register for a SacLink account, all theinformation to establish free e-mail and dial-up Internet access isavailable. Whether or not students actually read the information isa different story.

The SacLink Web site, www.saclink.csus.edu/saclink/, has a listof 14 different phone numbers that students can use to establish adial up connection to the Internet. The Web site suggests callingthe phone company and finding out which number is best.

Once a number is selected, users must configure their homecomputer for Internet access using a SacLink account. Configurationinstructions are on the SacLink Web site. After that, everything isset and ready to log on to the Internet using a SacLink ID andpassword.

David Hill, director of university computing and communicationservices, said that most areas are free of charge, but not all are.The phone company may have a fee for dialing.

“I assume that most students know about the servicebecause the information is available when you go to check yourgrades,” Hill said. “At night, the lines are very busy,but if you keep trying, the system will turn over enough times sothat you can get in. Most students aren’t online for anextended period of time. It’s mainly just to checke-mail.”

Sac State communications senior Jon Brose has triedSacLink’s Internet service.

“I used to use it because it’s free, but it is alsoreally slow because it’s a dial up connection, so I decidedto get DSL instead,” Brose said.

Many students are deciding to go with high speed Internet or DSLwhich is indisputably much faster, but these services can alsostart around $30 a month.

“I live out in Lincoln and I wasn’t sure if I couldstill dial-up,” Senior biology major Cliff Hawley. “Ialso didn’t want to change my e-mail.”

Free Internet, no matter how slow or busy, is better than noInternet at all. It’s also a wallet-friendly alternative toexpensive service.

For more information, visit the SacLink Web site or call itsoffice at 278-7337, located on the third floor of Sequoia Hall.