Resources & Services: Computing
Networking: Italian Net Access
To connect your personal computer in Rome to the internet: Obtain a "Codice Fiscale" (an official national number like a Social Security number that will be equally useful if you want to activate a cell phone or do anything official in Italy), With your passport and reading material in hand, go to the Ministero Delle Finanze - #7 on the main drag to St. Peters. Take a number as you walk in the door. Go to the information window. Get a form. Fill it out. Sit down and wiat until your number comes up. Process the form at the appropriate window.
2. Take your Codice Fiscale number to the nearest Italian computer that can get on line. (Someone in the Rome Center Office can do this most easily.) Call up ibero.it on the web. Follow directions for getting a free online server. You will be required to use your Codice Fiscale. Print off their directions for the propoer number to dial.
3. Dial up ibero.it. Then start your winsock connection to get to homer. Once I got on ibero.it (and there are other free servers) it was easy. Don't bother with AOL, MSN, Compuserve, etc. unless you do not have a UW connection. I found their numbers impossible to access while trying to install their service here or there.
4. As with any free server, it can be busy right after work. I found it easy to get through late at night, on Friday and Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. But, by and large, I could usually get access after a few trys at any time.