Basic Info  |  ROAMING  | Dialup Settings  |  E-mail & News Settings  |  Dialup Numbers  |  Sympatico settings lookup

• Changing your Internet settings for roaming
  
• Automatic setup for roaming
  
• Manual setup for roaming
  
• Restoring your original Sympatico settings
  
• FAQ: Sympatico Roaming
• Contacting Member Services while roaming
• Updating your roaming software

The Sympatico service has a feature - called "roaming" - which allows you to connect to the Internet from almost anywhere when travelling throughout Canada. This feature enables you to connect to the Internet using your Sympatico account information at any Sympatico dialup location in Canada. For instance, if you live in Winnipeg and visit a cousin in Toronto, you can still send and receive e-mail, check your favourite newsgroups and browse the Web from Toronto. All you have to do is set up a new dialup connection and modify other important Sympatico settings on your computer, or use your Sympatico settings on another computer.

If you travel regularly across Canada with a portable computer, you can take advantage of the free Sympatico roaming software, a small program which, once downloaded to your computer, contains all the necessary settings for making local Sympatico connections across Canada.

There is no extra charge for roaming. When you roam, your monthly Sympatico pricing plan applies, and your time spent online accrues as usual.

To dialup to the Sympatico service from someplace other than your usual location, you must change the settings that allow you to connect to the Internet, get and send e-mail, and view newsgroups.

Depending on how far from your home location you roam, you may need only to change your local dialup number (if you do not leave the operating region of your Sympatico service provider).

There are two ways to change your Internet settings for roaming -- automatic and manual:

• Automatic setup for roaming
  This involves downloading a small program (it's free) which changes your settings for you - best for traveling with a portable computer. Requires that you be using Sympatico Internet software.
• Manual setup for roaming
  This involves changing your settings yourself - best if you're using someone else's computer to access the Internet, or for the more technically inclined.

You can also see whether there's local Sympatico access based on the phone number of the line which you'd be using for access. Use the Sympatico settings lookup.

Note: All Sympatico dialup locations support 56 Kbps access, but not all use the same protocol (V.90, x2 or K56flex). Consequently, connect speeds may not be the same when roaming as at home. Our modem connect speed table shows which modem protocols are supported and where.

You can restore your original Sympatico settings manually using the same directions for manual setup for roaming (just enter the settings for your 'home' Sympatico service provider), or automatically by using the Account Setup software for PC or Mac as described above. The method is described on the main setup page.

Before contacting Member Services, check the Service Bulletins for both your 'home' service provider and your roaming service provider's service updates, server outtages and other information you may need to know while roaming.

If you can connect to the Internet:
If you need to contact Member Services while roaming, please use the Contact Us link on the main Sympatico Help page.

If you cannot connect to the Internet:
If you are roaming away from home but still within your Sympatico service provider's region, you can contact Member Services by calling the regular number you'd usually use: 1-800-773-2121 (Bell and Lino members use 310-SURF); if you are roaming outside your Sympatico service provider's region, you can call a special "roaming" Customer Support number (see table below). This number will connect you to your 'home' Member Services office. Only they can access your account information.

For instance, if you live in Québec and you need to reach Member Services while traveling in Southern Ontario, you would dial the regular Member Services number. If, however, you live in Nova Scotia and you need to reach Member Services while traveling in Saskatchewan, you would dial the Nova Scotia (MTT) Member Services call-home number. These Help Desk roaming numbers work only if called from outside your service provider's region.