DSL: Is It The Right Choice For You!
Jul 19 '00 (Updated Aug 05 '00)
DSL modems, depending on your provider, can have access speeds anywhere from 640k to 1.5m with upload speeds anywhere in between. An external modem is installed and there will be two changes to your existing phone lines.
One they will put a line splitter on the main line coming into your home. This will allow the digital (data) signal to be combined with the voice signal and transmitted simultaneously to the Telephone Company and their final destinations. You can be connected to the Internet and at the same time using the phone to make those important calls to family and friends.
They will also install a dual phone jack wherever your computer modem will reside, one for telephone the other for your modem. There will be a network interface card (NIC) installed into your computer and configured to use TCP/IP protocol.
The basics of TCP/IP: There are two things that you need to consider. Static vs. Dynamic IP Addresses. A Dynamic or (DHCP) assigned address is one that is assigned to your computer every time you connect to the Internet. This address will most likely be different every time you connect to your Internet service provider (ISP). This type of IP address is what you use when you use some ISP provided software to connect to the Internet using a regular modem.
The PRO of a DHCP assigned address is the cost of the DSL subscription is considerably less than a static address. The CON is that your IP address changes every time you connect to the Internet. For most cases you will only need a DHCP assigned address.
A static IP address is one that is configured directly on your computer in the network properties. It is specifically assigned to your computer. Basically you're directly connected to the Internet at all times as long as your computer is turned on. There are some reasons that you may want a static IP address.
For example: Your own Domain including web pages, (unlimited space providing you have the equipment to support it), you can house your own E-mail service, FTP site, any business services, VPN into work for telecommuting, or house a game site the possibilities are unlimited. The only problem with this is that you need the hardware and software to support all of your ideas.
There are some disadvantages with DSL. The first is there is a limited area in which you qualify to receive DSL. This is due to the way the Phone Company provides access. The connection from your house's telephone line is regular 2 pair twisted wire. This wire runs to the phone companies sub stations where it is connected to the main office via either industrial cables (no DSL service) or fiber optic cables (DSL service).
To guarantee connection speeds at a rate above a 56k modem the fiber optic cable must be used because it can support higher data transmission rates over a longer distance. The one problem with this is that there is a limit to the distance a house can be from a substation with fiber installed. A general rule of thumb is that the closer you are to the substation the better the transmission rates will be. I am right next to a substation and I get constantly close to the maximum transmission rates available.
Another problem with DSL is bad phone lines. The telephone lines in your house or the lines from your house to the substation may be old or degraded. This causes the data transmission rate to decrease due to signal loss in the lines. And having the phone company or a qualified technician replace these lines can be costly.
There are many advantages to DSL. Overall your connection speeds will remain constant because you are not competing with anyone else for bandwidth. This means that no matter how many people in your neighborhood have DSL, your connection speeds will remain the same. You do not have to install that second phone line or continue to tie up your existing phone line when you connect to the internet.
Replacing your modem easily upgrades your connection speed. Multiple IP addresses can be purchased allowing multiple computers in your house to connect simultaneously to the Internet.
I have had both cable modems and DSL. I prefer the DSL modems because of the constant connection speeds it provides. I used to live next to a college and I noticed that as cable modems became more popular the slower my connection became. There were times when it was faster to use my 56k modem to connect then my cable modem.
As of today I have not had a problem with my DSL connection and actually even experimented with running a web server from my home. The speeds are great. I stand by my DSL modem and highly recommend that everyone get one.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
bgoodday
|
|
Member: Marc
Location: Colorado
Reviews written: 271
Trusted by: 403 members
About Me:
I should be able to read, rate and write regularly now!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.