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The ABCs of DSL Internet
DSL stands for digital subscriber line, which is the method that
has brought us high speed Internet connection at an affordable
price. Basically, this technology allows high speed data
transfer over the copper lines found in our telephone system.
There are many variations of DSL, namely ADSL, HDSL, SDSL and
RADSL. The world of digital has brought society faster and more
efficient data processing, making the downloading of audio and
video files easier and quicker. How does this technology bring
us Internet access? Let’s explore the wonders of the technology.
DSL Makes Use of Telephone Lines
In order to bring information technology to a lot of people and
to decrease the amount of hassle to make the technology
possible, DSL creators wanted to make use of existing systems.
This lead them to exploring the option of using telephone lines,
which were already in place in all urban areas and in many rural
regions. Telephone lines make use of copper wire to transmit
electrical signals. When you talk on the phone, the acoustic
signals from your voice are converted to electrical signals,
which are then transmitted along these wires at a specific
frequency. The nature of copper allows it to transmit signals of
many frequencies. This means that telephone lines have other
frequency levels that are not used and can be used
simultaneously to transmit signals from voice conversations and
digital transfers. The creators of the concept of information
transfer through wires, Alexander Graham Bell and Samuel Morse,
would be amazed to see how far their simple principles have been
taken.
Improving DSL Technology
Once DSL had
been properly established, people quickly began looking for ways
to improve the method. One of the main improvements was to
increase the speed of the data transfer. This led to the birth
of a new kind of DSL, known as ADSL, or asymmetric digital
subscriber line. ADSL is able to divide up the available
frequencies in the wire, which dramatically increases transfer
speed. The technology makes use of the fact that Internet users
download far more information than they upload onto the servers.
ADSL technology is ideal for most home users that downloads lots
of data from various websites, but upload very little of their
own data. There is one important consideration for ADSL users.
They must ensure that they are located fairly close to the
central office (CO), which provides their connection. The
greater the distance between client and provider, the slower the
Internet connection.
A type of ADSL known as
rate-adaptive DSL (RADSL) is a technology that uses software to
monitor data transfer rates so it can modify the deliver rates
accordingly. In contrast to ADSL, which assumes that downloading
far exceeds uploading, RADSL does not assume anything and
monitors each customer’s particular data transfer pattern and
adjusts the rates to maximize the uploading and downloading
speeds.
A new technology that is
still in the developmental phase is the very high data rate DSL
(VDSL) concept. This technology seeks to decrease the effect
that physical distance has on the connection speed. When it is
complete, it will be able to send data at much higher rates over
short distances. To perform at really high speeds, the
technology cannot depend on the traditional copper wires; it
requires fiber optic cables for its function. This technology
will be very well suited to business users.
Uses of DSL Technology
At first, it appeared
doubtful that DSL technology would survive for long because of
concerns with its availability in remote regions and its access
speed. Then the technology caught on fire in Asia and Europe,
bringing the number of users to over twenty million globally.
With the vast improvements that occur everyday in the
technology, it has become increasingly available in
traditionally obscure places and connection speeds are getting
faster.
There are so many uses
for this technology that once you have been exposed to it, it is
impossible to give it up! People use it for shopping a lot of
the time. If you are very busy and do not have time to visit the
mall, or if you simply like to avoid the crowds, online shopping
is a very useful way to make your purchases. You can purchase
anything from books, clothes, jewelry to your furniture and even
your groceries online!
DSL Internet is also very
useful for educational purposes. Teachers can post homework
assignments and resources online for their students. Students
can also make use of the technology by uploading their homework
to their teachers. Most journals, magazines and newspapers now
have online versions of their issues so people can access their
archives at any time of the day or night.
Many people make use of
the Internet to handle their financial arrangements. Most
financial institutions offer their services online so that their
clients may monitor their account activity, pay their bills, and
make their investments in the comfort of their own home. Another
major use of the Internet is instant messaging in real time.
Yahoo and MSN messenger have become incredibly popular as a new
mode of communication. Users simply type messages to each other,
which are transferred in real time. This helps to reduce the
cost of communication over long distances as it can be used as a
substitute for phone conversations.
Getting Your Personal
DSL Connection
Finding a DSL Internet
service provider can be quite a challenge, given that there are
so many companies out there offering their services. It is
difficult to make a decision when there are so many different
options at your fingertips! The different providers will offer a
range of bandwidths and service plans. Whether you are a single
user working from your personal computer at home or a multi-user
at a large business corporation will have a significant impact
on the provider that you choose.
The first thing that you
need to do is find out is if a DSL connection is available in
your area. If you know your area code and the phone number of
the place where you want your Internet to be set up, you can
quickly find out if a connection is possible in your
geographical location. A DSL provider will be able to tell you
within seconds whether or not they offer their services to your
particular location. Next, if you are eligible for hook up, your
service provider will inform you as to what type of modem and
router you will need to purchase. You will need an Ethernet port
on your computer to access a DSL connection. If you do not have
this connection, you can purchase an Ethernet card to be
installed in your computer. After getting the appropriate
hardware, the rest of the set up will be handled by
professionals. All you will need to do is sit back, relax, and
look forward to your new permanent online connection.
DSL Internet has done
wonders for the world of information technology. It has made the
information super highway available to people all around the
world at speeds that make the technology efficient and useful.
As DSL Internet continues to be upgraded and improved, we can
expect to see grander features and innovations that we have not
yet imagined.
