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Although dial-up Internet has made a small resurgence as a cheap option in the struggling economy, for many the crashing, screeching sounds of logging in to one’s 56k AOL Internet connection is a distant memory. However, high speed providers have often been been slow to provide service to some rural areas. Misinformation and confusing ads about high speed Internet abound. Here are some tips to consider when deciding on high speed Internet service.
What is High Speed?
High-speed (also called broadband) Internet is usually defined by what it is not: dial-up. Dial-up Internet typically provides a connection speed of 56kbs, meaning that it transfers 56,000 units of information per second. High speed connections are higher. Definitions of high speed from various sources have ranged from as low as 64kbs to as high as 2mbs (2,000,000 bits per second), but more common definitions are 256kbs and 768kbs. Over time, the general trend has been for the general definition of “high speed” to become higher and higher. Because of varying standards, it is important to get a specific figure from any company offering high speed/broadband.
High Speed Considerations
The figure provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) is the maximum total speed, and performance is not guaranteed to be that high at all times. In fact, most or all ISPs overbook their bandwidth (capacity for transmitting data), under the assumption that not all of their customers will be using their full Internet capacity all at one time. When many users are online at once, this assumption can prove false, and Internet speeds will suffer. Ask your potential ISP about their policies.
- As Internet speeds have increased, websites have increased in number and size of content, so even if your connection is ten times faster than it was in 1997, surfing the Web may not be
- High speed Internet allows phone lines and Internet to be used simultaneously
High Speed Options
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
DSL provides high-speed Internet access using the already-existing telephone line infrastructure. These lines have a high bandwidth, and consequently speeds are fairly high. Most DSL services available for the home are asymmetrical, meaning that they offer higher download speeds, but this is not a problem for most users unless they upload large amounts of data, perhaps for professional reasons. The use of telephone lines gives DSL wide availability, and the recent expansion of “naked” DSL means that DSL Internet can be available even without landline telephone service.
Cable Internet
Much as DSL uses phone lines, cable Internet uses the already-existing cable TV infrastructure. Cable Internet also has high bandwidth and high speeds, as well as fairly widespread availability. In addition, many cable Internet providers offer economical “bundles” where cable TV, Internet, and other services are packaged together.
Although Cable and DSL are perhaps the most popular high speed options, there are other competitors:
Satellite Internet
Living an a rural area is no object for this type of Internet service because it can broadcast to literally any location in the world, as the signal comes from satellites orbiting the earth. However, despite recent price drops, it remains one of the most expensive options, and the delay as the signal bounces from the satellite to the receiver is noticeable enough that certain activities that require real-time input, such as online gaming, are not feasible. Also, satellite Internet providers often have a “fair access policy” where after reaching a (typically rather low) limit on data transfers, bandwidth is significantly reduced for a period of time, such as the rest of the month. Weather may also interfere with the signal.
Cellular Broadband
As one might expect, cellular/mobile broadband uses signal from cell phone towers to provide Internet access. While cellular Internet is predominantly used for cell phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices, various products such as Cardbus, ExpressCard, USB cellular modems, and cellular broadband modems allow one cellular Internet connection to be used on multiple computers and can make cellular Internet a viable solution for the home. With the advent of 3G (which stands not for any sort of connection speed but for “third generation”) networks, cellular Internet can be quite fast. However, if cell phone reception is spotty in an area, then cellular Internet service will be as well.
Over the years, Internet speeds have increased dramatically, and high speed connections are now cheaper than ever before. There are many options available, which can be a curse as well as a blessing. However, with a little research, and by asking your would-be Internet Service Provider the right questions, you can soon be surfing at high speeds using whatever option is right for you. pl
For our print edition story, The World Wide Web in This Small Corner of the World by Annie Tobey, pick up a copy of our January/February 2010 issue, hitting the streets just after January 15th.
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