| Millions of people all over the world connect to the | | | | wait for a lengthy dial-up connectiono Is 50 times |
| Internet each day through ISPs (Internet service | | | | faster than typical dial-up connectiono Allows you |
| providers). Most people know what type of | | | | to use the telephone and Internet at same timeo |
| connection they have: dial-up, cable, DSL or | | | | Requires a phone line, a filter, and a data sending |
| satellite--some connections are high-speed | | | | receiving box that translates datao You must be |
| broadband (the terms are interchangeable) while | | | | in the phone company's DSL service area since |
| others aren't. | | | | these delicate transmission frequencies deteriorate |
| While the average Internet consumer knows the | | | | over a short distance. |
| name of their connection type, few know much | | | | Satellite ISP |
| more. When you explore the assets and liabilities | | | | Satellite is a connection that makes high-speed |
| of each ISP method, you can best choose the | | | | Internet accessible to areas where DSL and cable |
| Internet connection that will fit your household | | | | connections are not yet available. Data is |
| habits best. | | | | downloaded (received) about 10 times faster than |
| Dial-up ISP | | | | dial-up through a satellite dish attached to your |
| Dial-up is a connection that sends information | | | | home. Some satellite systems have slower |
| through the phone line by way of a modem. | | | | uploading times (sending data) because data must |
| Some dial-up ISPs offer accelerators that use | | | | travel over phone lines through a modem. Other |
| content compression and page caching to increase | | | | systems use the satellite both ways--for uploading |
| the speed of the data transfer. If you have a | | | | and downloading. |
| phone line, you can generally find a dial-up ISP in | | | | Satellite ISP:o Is always on so there is no need to |
| your area. | | | | wait for a lengthy dial-up connectiono Is usually 10 |
| Dial-up ISP:o Typical speed of 56K per secondo | | | | times faster than typical dial-up connectiono |
| Uses the telephone line; you can't call and surf the | | | | Allows you to use telephone and the Internet at |
| Internet simultaneously (without an additional line)o | | | | same timeo Does not require a cable lineo Is very |
| Requires a phone lineo Usually the least expensive | | | | expensive to set up; an Internet satellite dish and |
| Cable ISP | | | | satellite modem are required.o Some satellite |
| A cable Internet provider offers Internet service | | | | providers penalize you for frequent downloads |
| through the same coax cable through which you | | | | and uploads with a megabyte limit ; this should |
| receive cable television. Currently, cable is the | | | | appear in the fine print of your contract, so read |
| fastest of all connections, but speeds can be | | | | carefully and ask questions |
| affected by the number of local customers | | | | Wireless ISP |
| connected at the same time. A cable connection | | | | Wireless is an Internet connection offered by |
| requires a modem that can be rented from the | | | | businesses with access to a main Internet route. |
| ISP or purchased from a local computer dealer. | | | | Data is downloaded about 50 times faster than |
| Cable ISP:o Is always on so there is no need to | | | | dial-up through a direct line-of-sight (LOS) from |
| wait for a lengthy dial-up connectiono Is 50 times | | | | your home to the provider's antenna. You must |
| faster than a typical dial-up connectiono Allows | | | | have a powered receiving antenna on your |
| you to use the telephone and Internet at the | | | | property to send and receive data. |
| same timeo Requires a cable connection | | | | Wireless ISP:o Is always on so there is no need |
| DSL ISP | | | | to wait for a lengthy dial-up connectiono Is usually |
| Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), like a dial-up | | | | 50 times faster than typical dial-up connectiono |
| connection, comes through your phone line, but | | | | Allows you to use telephone and the Internet at |
| DSL uses electrical signals at frequencies that | | | | same timeo Does not require a cable lineo May |
| humans cannot hear. Many phone companies offer | | | | cost a few hundred dollars to set up; an antenna |
| DSL connection at discounted prices if you also | | | | with power is requiredo You must be able to see |
| use their phone services. There are two main | | | | the provider's antenna from your antenna for the |
| differences between DSL and dial-up: first, DSL is | | | | connection to work--hills, trees and buildings |
| much faster (up to 50 times) and second, | | | | blocking the view will cancel the connection |
| because you cannot hear the data signal, you can | | | | Whether you live on the Internet and like to surf |
| use your phone and the Internet at the same | | | | at break-neck speeds or are looking for an |
| time even with only one phone line. | | | | Internet provider that offers a cost-effective |
| DSL ISP:o Is always on so there is no need to | | | | service--there is an ISP that's perfect for you. |