You can connect as an UP providing that you...

- have a reasonably fast connection

- aren't firewalled (tools > advanced tools & you'll see whether you're behind a firewall)

Staying connected to the network for a long time (high uptime) can also help.

If you meet that criteria, the network will choose you to be an UP when UPs are needed

If you're showing as behind a firewall, you can give us your system details & we might be able to help out with that issue: System details - help us to help you -> Provide these details when you post!!!

There isn't a great advantage to connecting as an UP... you might see a small difference in search results (as UPs connect to a greater number of other UPs & leaves than a leaf). But on the other hand, in my experience UPs tend to see fewer uploads than a leaf.

Both help the network in different ways... UPs by devoting bandwidth to handling more search traffic (& shielding leaves from unnecessary traffic) & leaves by devoting bandwidth to uploads.