Home Internet Options

You have options for your home Internet connection.

Internet access is a necessity these days. There are a number of options when connecting to the Internet, one of which will be the perfect solution for your situation.

Dial Up

Dial up connections use your phone line and an analog modem. The top speed for a dial up modem is 56 Kbps.

Cable

Cable can provide download speeds of between 4 to 6 Mbps (megabits per second). This service is provided via your existing cable TV connection using a cable modem.

DSL

Digital subscriber line Internet access is provided through your existing phone line and can deliver speeds matching cable connections. The farther you live from the telephone central office, however, the slower your connection will be.

Satellite

High speed Internet access via satellite can be expensive. Download speeds are similar to other high speed Internet options. Satellite will require that a satellite dish be placed on your home. Extreme weather can interfere with the satellite signal.

Wireless

Wireless Internet providers are growing more popular as the technology becomes more reliable and the speeds increase to match those of cable and DSL. Wireless Internet access is not as widely available as the more traditional connections.

FiOS

Verizon's FiOS is a broadband service that uses a fiber-optic network and can provide Internet access at speeds of up to 50 Mbps for downloads. Upload speeds vary between 5 Mbps and 20 Mbps.

References

• Internet Access Guide