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Internet Access

    Internet Access Editor's Picks

    • How to Get Free Satellite Internet Access

      While it is possible to get free satellite Internet access for a short time, there is no way to keep it. Many Internet providers, including satellite Internet providers, will offer a combination of discounted or even free service, equipment and installation for a limited period only. After this time period is up, you are subject to... more »

    • How to Disable Internet Access

      Many people purchase computers mainly for accessing the Internet. However, there are many instances in which a computer administrator might want to disable Internet access. For example, a parent who does not want a young child to go online without supervision or a business or school that furnishes specific PCs for the use of filling... more »

    • How to Test the Speed of Your Internet Access

      Internet service providers (ISPs) boast about their fast connection speeds whether you use a dial-up modem or a T1 line. The test results they offer as proof are naturally biased toward their services. The only way to obtain accurate speed test results is to use a third-party website unaffiliated with a particular ISP. more »

    • How Does Cable Internet Access Work?

      For the setup, the cable company has lines of fiber optics run through the ground that are then divided out to sub stations. From these sub stations they connect a main hub outside each home or apartment building. From there the cable is fed from the main hub outside the home in through the wall into the home. The coaxial cable is... more »

    • How Does Cable Internet Work?

      Cable Internet or broadband internet is an internet service that runs off of the same network as cable television. It is many times faster than a dial up internet service and is always turned on as long as the cable is hooked up to the modem. more »

    Internet Access Quick Guides

    • Broadband for Beginners

      If you have been using a dial-up Internet connection and are looking for something faster,...

    • About Online College Courses

      Online colleges are hot with enrollment figures at an all-time high. eHow reveals ways online...

    • Wi-Fi for Beginners

      Wi-Fi is a service that provides Internet access in public locations such as coffee shops. It...

    • AutoCAD Basics

      If you plan to go into architecture, drafting, or even technology design, you'd better get...

    Internet Access Articles

    Wikipedia

    Internet access

    Internet access refers to the means by which users connect to the Internet.

    History and types of connections
    Common methods of Internet access include dial-up, landline (over coaxial cable, fiber optic or copper wires), T- lines, Wi-Fi, satellite and cell phones.

    Dial-up connections are the most common type of Internet connection available from ISPs and the slowest and (usually) the least expensive. A dial-up connection allows users to connect to the Internet via a local server using a standard 56k modem, the PC literally dials (hence the name) a telephone number (provided by the Internet Service Provider) and connects to the servers modem and therefore the Internet. Once connected users are free to search the web as they please, however, compared to modern speeds of broadband Internet, dial-up is very slow and can only nominally transfer at 56 Kilobits per second.

    Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (ADSL) have become a widely available broadband Internet connection, providing a variety of data rates. The connections work by splitting the function of a phone line into separate channels for voice telephone calls and for data (Internet). Thus, a user can talk on the phone and be connected to the Internet at the same time. ADSL connection services are sold with different speed specifications, below are some common configurations for download/upload speed:
    * 512kbit/s/128kbit/s
    * 1 Mbit/s/256kbit/s
    * 3 Mbit/s/768kbit/s

    Cable Internet, the principal competitor to DSL, is offered at a range of prices and speeds overlapping that of DSL, but tends to concentrate more on the high end of the market.

    Wireless connections
    Wi-Fi provides wireless access to computer networks, and therefore can do so to the Internet itself. Hotspots providing such access include Wi-Fi-cafes, where a would-be user needs to bring their own wireless-enabled devices such as a laptop or PDA. These services may be free to all, free to customers only, read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet+access

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