| > | | | | These types of systems create some very |
| Cable and DSL providers rely on a series of | | | | specific problems that online users need to be |
| cables much like an irrigation network. Satellite | | | | aware of. |
| Internet, on the other hand, brings internet access | | | | - Accessibility: Even though some of these |
| directly to homes. | | | | providers are creating far better technology, like |
| Dial Up and Cable internet access service | | | | fiber optics, if the infrastructure doesn't exist in |
| companies do their utmost to overcome a simple | | | | your town, you can't have it. |
| problem in the way they provide access to the | | | | - Community Service: If you are lucky enough to |
| internet. Their networks are made nearly the | | | | live where they do have service, your rates are |
| same as irrigation systems. It's a way of getting | | | | still at the mercy of everyone else using the |
| a medium, whether it is normal water or high | | | | service. If a lot of other people are all on the web |
| speed, from one source to many different | | | | at the same time everyone's speeds are going to |
| locations. Farmers would dig ditches in order to | | | | suffer. There is only so much bandwith the cables |
| immediate the circulation of the water. Regardless | | | | can cope with, which means you could easily pay |
| how you style the ditches though the | | | | for speeds you won't ever actually experience. |
| straightforward physics of water flow imply that | | | | - A Little Too Connected: And the networks of |
| the distribution is rarely perfectly equal. The | | | | cables are all connected, whole neighborhoods can |
| further you are down the network, i.e. from the | | | | lose access if a single cable gets interrupted; more |
| origin, the less you will get . Not even close great, | | | | if the trouble occurs nearer to the source. |
| this irrigation system nevertheless made it feasible | | | | Since they need not run wires down and up town |
| to farm fields more effectively and consistently. | | | | your internet access is immediate and unique. So |
| The irrigation model, however, isn't an efficient | | | | if you want really fast broadband internet it is |
| way to distribute broadband internet. Dialup and | | | | possible to get it. The only thing that limited you |
| cable providers count on a system of cables all | | | | from doing everything you want to online was, or |
| branching off of original sources and should they | | | | is, your internet connection. Your internet should |
| have to branch off too far they run the cables | | | | be just that, your internet, and you shouldn't have |
| through boosters meant to step-up the | | | | to be patient with the technical drawbacks of |
| concentration of the signal. | | | | your provider's network. |