Internet Access Types and Their Speed Advantages & Disadvantages
Internet access, speaking directly to consumer connectivity, began with dial-up. In fact, for many of us it's difficult to understand how the Internet ever grew as fast as it did considering how frustrating dial-up service could be. With the introduction of DSL and cable Internet service an entirely new broadband experience was created, one that also made the use of dial-up significantly worse as web page designers no longer optimized their pages to keep down load times. As web pages became larger in size the load times got to a point where many dial-up users could no longer view certain sites.
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Dial-up
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Dial-up Internet service is a technology where a device known as a modem is used to convert the digital language computers use into analog sound in the audible range so that it can be transmitted across the traditional telephone network. At the other end an ISP would have a modem that would then translate the analog back into digital allowing it to be piped to the Internet. Unfortunately, dial-up was plagued with problems including the random disconnect as well as the issues of connection quality. Add to that the need to tie up a telephone line and dial-up's fate was sealed.
DSL
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DSL is an acronym for digital subscriber line. Unlike the dial-up analog modem described above, DSL modems have no need to translate digital bits of information into audio sounds to transfer the data, instead using the frequencies above the range used in audio telephone calls to transfer data digitally. DSL has its limitations including that the speed a user can connect at rapidly diminishes the farther the user is located away from the telephone company's central office. It should be noted that DSL is available in two different varieties, ADSL (Asymmetrical DSL) and SDSL (Symmetrical DSL). ADSL provides an unequal download/upload speeds whereas Symmetrical DSL provides the same speed for both upload and download.
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Cable
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Consumer grade cable connectivity has now been deployed almost anywhere cable TV service is available. Cable is an asymmetrical service and is generally more expensive than the competing DSL service in any given area.
Wireless
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Wireless Internet is available in two very different types of technology. EV-DO/Edge technologies offered by the cell phone providers supplies relatively slow connection speeds with most providers placing caps on the amount of data that can be downloaded in a billing cycle. Overall, this is a very expensive way to purchase connectivity but you are paying for the convenience of mobility. License Exempt Wireless, which is usually owned and operated by a local company, is rapidly catching on in many rural locations and provides excellent value for the price.
Satellite
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Satellite broadband as supplied by HughesNet and Wild Blue is usually purchased when there is no other provider available. Like EV-DO and Edge technologies, satellite companies also mandate caps on the amount of traffic that can be passed. Satellite also has one serious drawback, latency. Latency is the amount of delay that is injected by the provider's technology. Latency creates problems in such applications as VoIP (like what Vonage offers) as well as with online gaming.
Fiber
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One of the largest U.S. deployments of fiber is Verizon's Fios network. While this service is not available throughout Verizon's territory, it is being widely adopted where it is available. Currently, Fios is delivering the fastest consumer grade speeds, but the cable companies are working to upgrade their networks in an attempt to catch up.
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