|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 For most practical purposes, DSL is just a
fast modem, and forget the technical explanation. Your provider has to have a similar connection on the other side, and you need a direct line. It’s on all the time, and can be very fast.
|
|
Think of a television set that chould only receive Channel 2 - that’s the older baseband. Then think of how much more you can receive on a television with 13 channels - or even
40. That’s broadband, whether delivered over a telephone Digital Subcriber Line (hence DSL) or a cable modem. (The description is not exact, of course.) DSL works by using more of the capacity of
the phone line. Voice and traditional modems work by modulating a signal in a limited range of frequencies (thousands of cycles); broadband sends a digital signal over a wide frequency (millions
of cycles). |
|
How fast is fast? Downloads may be as high as 7 megabits,
or 35 times as fast as a 56k modems. That’s ADSL (Asymmetric DSL), in which case your upload speed is much slower. Businesses and others who do more than surf the net often choose SDSL (Symmetric
DSL), which, for a price, can deliver up to 1.5 meg in each direction. |
|
Your mileage will differ.
These are honest ratings of the speed your DSL provider can deliver from their connection (a DSLAM probably in your phone company central office) to your computer. But very few have sufficient connection to the internet backbone (bandwidth, routers, etc.) to keep up in busy times. Look for providers who actually deliver the quality of service promised. See our
article. |
|
|
|
|
|
