Even before you commit to a service provider, there are ways to gauge whether the ISP you're considering is a good fit. Some factors you may want to consider include operation during peak hours, whether the ISP will warn you of disconnections, quality of technical support and e-mail response time.
Nothing is more frustrating than getting a busy signal when trying to dial up.
Logging on during peak hours is a good way to test your ISP's performance. Sudden Disconnections Sudden disconnection can be very frustrating. Some ISPs will warn you before disconnecting you, while others are less courteous and will cut you off when Internet traffic becomes too heavy for their servers. Technical Support Call your ISP's technical support line to see what happens. If you find yourself waiting long, you might want to take your business elsewhere.