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Category: Computers & Technology : Internet and Websites
As an Internet user, you have probably experienced annoying busy signals while trying to get connected. You could have even done the laundry waiting for a particular Web page to load. And, if you're a parent, you have probably had more than a few discussions with your kids for tying up the telephone line while exercising their freedom of speech in chat rooms.
To resolve these issues, you may have thought about buying a faster modem, getting an ISDN (integrated services digital network) line, adding another phone line or plunking down your hard-earned money to buy the state-of-the-art PC that the guy at the computer store told you would be the answer to all your problems. With Internet usage growing at 60 percent per year, the slowness with which your PC fumbles through those increasingly graphic-oriented Web pages will get worse. But, not to worry. ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) may be your field of dreams, and it's about to slide into Philadelphia.
ADSL delivers high-speed modem communications over existing phone lines. Larry Plumb, a spokesperson for Bell Atlantic, says the ADSL services connections can be up to 245 times faster than a 28.8K modem, up to 55x faster than an ISDN line and up to 4x faster than a T1 line. Your connection speed with cable modems varies depending on how many other customers are sharing the line. Of course with ADSL, the speed of transmission to your home is much faster than from your home. For example, personal ADSL service offers 640 KBPS (kilobytes per second)) to your home, but only 90 KBPS from your home.
Timing is everything
The ADSL technology uses bandwidth from a part of your telephone line that doesn't get used during voice communications. In other words, you can talk on the phone or send a fax and access the Internet at the same time on the same line! But don't get too excited just yet. ADSL technology is distance-sensitive - so you must be located approximately three miles of your Bell Atlantic central office to get the service. To find out if you live within these boundaries, call Bell Atlantic Speed Solutions at 1-800-339-8028.
With ADSL, you get all the speed all the time. Infospeed DSL (the name of the Bell Atlantic ADSL service) will give you automatic and continuous access to your ISP (Internet Service Provider), which means you won't have to dial up, log on and deal with busy signals or connection errors. So, where's the catch? According to Plumb, the only way users can get the Infospeed DSL service right now is by signing up for ISP service with Bell Atlantic.net. However, America Online offers a special account for customers who already have high-speed Internet access (ISDN, ASDL, etc.). This will allow you to use your Infospeed DSL service to access AOL. In addition, according to Plumb, Bell Atlantic is partnering with other ISPs, all of which are in various stages of connection for the Infospeed DSL service.
Show me the money
To get the Infospeed DSL service, you will have to purchase an Ethernet card for about $30.00. According to Plumb, the pricing for the Infospeed DSL service varies.
System Requirements
Windows 95/98 or NT 4.0 (Macintosh support coming in 1999)
Intel Pentium/Pentium Pro/Pentium MMX/Pentium II, AMD K5/K6 or Cyrix 586/686 processor
32 MB RAM
25 MB free hard-drive space
CD-ROM drive
Resources to accommodate an Ethernet card if one is not already present (available slot, available IRQ, available I/O resources)
Other High-Speed Internet Connection Options
Cable modems
Cable modems offer service over a shared cable. With a cable modem, your connection speed will vary depending on how many other customers are sharing the line. In addition, the use of cable lines requires a digital system, which means that only locations with fiber-optic digital wire infrastructures in place can offer cable modem service. However, you won't experience connection problems with cable modems because cable modem access is always on, and thus there is no connection delay. Cable modems are designed to reach a maximum speed of 1.5 MBPS (million bits per second) and the effective rate is generally 3 MBPS. According to Joe Waz, a spokesperson for Comcast Cable, cable companies are in the process of moving into a system of open standards, which will ensure compatibility between cable modems, increase volume of deployment and allow cable modems to become a consumer electronics purchase. (At present, users of cable modems must least the equipment from the Cable Company.)
Comcast presently offers cable modem service in Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia as well as Abington and Willow Grove in Montgomery County. Cable modem installation costs range from $100 to $175 and unlimited access monthly subscription fees are $35 to $50 depending on the area. Comcast service is offered at $39.95 per month, which includes the lease of the cable modem and unlimited Internet access.
ISDN
ISDN is a set of digital telecommunications standards that transmit voice, video and data over standard telephone lines up to 128 KBPS. ISDN is 7.5 times faster than a 14.4 KBPS modem. An ISDN line will get you connected at a maximum speed of 128 KBPS (kilobits per second). The cost for ISDN service (through Bell Atlantic) is $31.00 per month for 20 hours, plus several one-time fees including $50.00 for the outside line connections, $100.00 for inside wiring and $160.00 for the modem. According to Claus E. Schmidt, an information technology consultant with Alpine Data Systems, Philadelphia, PA and Newark, DE, users of ISDN lines are charged an additional fee for any time over 20 hours --- which can add up quickly. ISDN service is available to all Bell Atlantic customers who live within 18,000 feet of a central office. To find out if you qualify, call Bell Atlantic High Speed Solutions at 1800-339-8028.
T1
A T1 line is a high-speed, dedicated connection capable of transmission speeds up to 1.544 MBPS. Made up of 24-channels each channel is capable of 64 KBPS throughput. When all 24 of these channels are dedicated to one customer it is referred to as a point-to-point T1. However, if you don't require a full 1.544-megabit connection, you may opt for a portion of a T1. For example, you could get a 10-channel, 640k connection. This is commonly known as a fractional T1.
Prices vary for T1 connections ranging from $975 a month for a full T1 connection to $280 a month for a fractional T1 connection. These prices do not include the setup fee, which could run you at least $2,000. Transmission speeds go up to 1.544 MBPS.
Because a T1 line requires a special, dedicated circuit from the telephone company there is an additional monthly fee known as local loop.
According to Schmidt, T1 lines are an excellent high speed access solution for businesses which require more outbound bandwidth than ADSL can provide.
For more information concerning high speed Internet access, visit the UAWG (Universal ADSL Working Group) web site at http://www.uawg.com.
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