Broadband is the name given to high speed Internet connection, which is becoming the preferred way to surf the Web. Dial-Up is quickly becoming a thing of the past, but as more and more people look towards broadband technology to improve their Internet experiences, the question of what service to get pops of often. For that reason, it’s important to know just what your broadband options are, so that you can make an informed decision on how to assimilate high-speed Internet access into your home and your life. There are three major broadband options currently available: Cable, DSL, and Satellite. In addition to these, there are some future broadband options that are soon to emerge, and they’re worth keeping your eye on.
Let’s start by talking about cable, which is used by more people than any of the other broadband options that are currently available. This is because, for the most part, cable is cheaper, faster, and more reliable than the other services that are available. After all, it is much cheaper to hook up a cable to your computer than to rely on expensive satellite networks or any wireless equipment. There are some problems with Cable, though. Since you have to share a bandwidth with your neighbors, if the company you choose fails to keep up the bandwidth in your area, the speed of your Internet is likely to fall.
Earthlink is one of the most popular providers of cable broadband. For only $41.95 a month, you’ll have fast Internet access throughout your home, and Earthlink does not have any set up or equipment fees. You only have to play for the service you receive. Another major cable Broadband competitor is Cablevision. While it has a slightly cheaper monthly rate, you are responsible for paying for the modem, which costs about $129.95. This service claims to be faster than Earthlink, but that all depends on the bandwidth available, as Earthlink tends to have more.
DSL is quickly growing in popularity and is the closest rival to cable connections these days. By choosing a company that offers DSL, you won’t have to share bandwidth with your neighbors. That means that your Internet speed will remain constant. If you are a business owner, DSL companies tend to have more options for you, whereas other services cater more towards the home. Many DSL companies have gone out of business, however, so make sure you find a reputable one that will preferably offer free installation, since installing DSL on your own is difficult.
Earthlink, the same company that offers cable broadband, also offers DSL in over 90 markets nationwide. It costs $49.95 a month, and once again offers no extra fees for setup or equipment. With a decent download and upload speed, it stands up to its competitors in price and quality. Another major DSL competitor is MSN Broadband, which is cheaper per month by ten dollars. However, there is a one-time fee of $99 for activation. A “Gold” plan is also offered that costs the same as Earthlink and offers an even faster connection. The activation fee still applies.
Finally, we reach the third option that’s widely available: Satellite. This doesn’t have nearly as many subscribers as cable or DSL, though it hasn’t been available as long. The great thing about getting a satellite connection is that it is offered everywhere, so if you live in an area that cable or DSL isn’t offered in, you can still have fast Internet access with a satellite provider. Also, if you already have satellite television, you should check with your provider to see if they offer Internet access as well. More often than not, you can get a great offer by purchasing both services from the same company. The satellite option offers excellent service, but it the most expensive option of the major three. Your service can also be affected by the weather, just like your satellite television.
As usual, Earthlink offers satellite broadband service for only $69.95 per month. The hardware to get everything going is very pricey, costing $399. You’re also going to have to pay for installation and a modem. After all these costs are added together, the whole system starts to get pretty expensive. However, if you’re willing to shell out the cash for it, you’ll get some of the fastest speeds available from any broadband option today.
Now that you’ve gotten a taste for the three major broadband options, let’s goes over the emerging options that are slowly becoming available, just so you can get a taste of the future of broadband. The first is power line broadband, which uses electric utility lines to transfer data. This technology is still in the testing phases, but companies in Cincinnati and Manassas, Va are offering broadband services such as this, while North Carolina and Washington, D.C. are testing the technology. This broadband option brings Internet access straight into people’s home through their wall sockets. All you’ll have to do is plug in and start surfing. Some companies can’t get past power transformers, though, and offer the service through a wireless modem.
Many phone companies have started offering their own broadband wireless service only a couple years ago. They’re now starting to become very popular, though they tend to cost more than DSL or cable options. While this may not appeal to homes, people on the go will be the most likely to take advantage of the service.
So there you have it, all the broadband options available to you today. If you’re looking for faster Internet service and quicker downloads, look into getting set up with one of the options discussed here. This is especially true if you’re still dealing with dial-up. Cable and DSL are most certainly the way most people will want to go today, though satellite coverage has an appeal to many people, especially to those households and businesses that operate outside of DSL or cable company’s areas. So choose the option that’s right for you, and start enjoying faster Internet access.
By: Jawahn Thompson
Posts Tagged ‘Bandwidth’
So What Broadband Options are Available to You?
January 21st, 2010Evaluating Bandwidth Choices-Fractional T-1 Vs T1
January 18th, 2010
Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There’s lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you’ll find some help when evaluating Fractional T1 vs T1. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.
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Technology: Fractional T1
Speed: 128 Kbps – 1.544 Mbps
Description: Same service as a full T-1 provisioned in increments of 64 Kbps. A full T-1 is 1.544 Mbps or 24 channels, Fractional T-1s start at 128 Kbps or 2 channels.
Application: Used to connect a company to the Internet when less than a full T-1 is required. Circuit runs from the location into the Internet.
Pros: Provides access straight into the carrier’s backbone. Unlike DSL and Cable Modem, there is no aggregation. Fractional T-1s have unused channels which can be turned up on demand.
Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.
Costs: Fractional T1 cost starts at around $100-200 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider). A required router is additional unless provided as a “freebie” incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However….the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.
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Technology: T1
Speed: 1.544 Mbps
Description: A 24 channel cirucit that can be used for Frame Realy, Private Line, VPN or, most commonly, Internet access.
Application: Connects a company’s LAN into the Internet or carrier’s Frame Realy network.
Pros: Provides access straight into the carrier’s backbone. Only slightly more expensive than a Fractional T-1. 99% availability in U.S. Very reliable.
Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.
Costs: A full T1 obviously will cost more than a Fractional T1. Expect cost to start at around a $400 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provder). A required router is additional unless provided as a “freebie” incentive by the vendor. Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However….the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example…Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. Also, expect to pay more if you are in a rural area or need integrated (voice and data combined) or bonded (multiple T1s bound in 1 network….option vs full DS3) T1 service.
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Technology: E1 (Europe)
Speed: 2.048 Mbps
Description: The European equilivent of the T-1.
Application: Connects a company’s LAN into the Internet or carrier’s Frame Realy network.
Pros: Provides access straight into the carrier’s backbone. Very reliable.
Cons: Setup and monthly costs can be prohibitive.
Costs: A full E1 usually costs more than it’s North American counterpart. Expect cost to start at around a $800-1000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from an equivalent Tier 1 provder). A required router is additional unless provided as a “freebie” incentive by the vendor (not common in Europe). Price climbs as distance from the providers Central Office (CO) increases. However….just as with the North American version the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used.
By: Michael Lemm
Metro Ethernet Service and Providers – The Basic Concept of LAN
December 1st, 2009
Different Metro Ethernet services include various concepts which are covered in terms of data in the metro. Concepts such as the forms in which an Ethernet service can take shape, for example “retail” or traditional private line services and “wholesale” where a carrier may sell a large transport pipe to many smaller service providers.
In both of these scenarios many different customers will be sharing the same Metro Ethernet equipment and infrastructure. Even so this is not an issue as each client is issued with an isolated circuit, so traffic is not all bundled up together. This service is the business of selling transport pipes in which the customer receives a well defined SLA, and this is dictated by circuit they purchase.
If switching or packet multiplexing is applied as in the case of Ethernet Transport, EOS, and RPR, things become slightly different. Different customer packets will be “multiplexed” in the same pipe, which means they share the same bandwidth. There is nothing physical which divides one customer’ service from another, in other words no hard boundaries. The only boundaries which exist are logical and this means traffic is separated by means of “packet queuing” this ensures QoS and definition for multiple services.
The service provider knows how to define and identify one customers’ traffic from another, when the network or pipe is shared and they are also able to identify as well as enforce the service which a particular customer has purchased. Specific bandwidth is allocated per the customers’ package and they are able to “transparently” move traffic for a specific customer between different locations. Scaling the number of customers is also important, as is deploying a VPN service for any-to-any connectivity.
Ethernet itself is the most widely used form of LAN or Local Area Network technology. It was originally developed from a system known as Alohanet from the Palo Alto Research Center, which was further developed by Xerox, Intel and DEC. Typically this kind of network makes use of coaxial cables which are made up from pair of twisted wires. The most commonly used are 10BASE-T which provides up to10Mbps transmission speeds.
We also find Fast Ethernet which is known as 100BASE-T where we are looking at speed of 100 Mbps, a 1000Mbps speed is not unknown, and this provides and incredibly high level of support to the LAN. We also find Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet also.
It was named by one of the developers, a certain Robert Metcalfe, and it was name such because of the light-transmitting “ether” which was supposedly the way light traveled, or pervaded the Universe. By the same token the cabling or “ether” is also able to carry information throughout an entire network which could be considered to be its own little universe.
It is has become a very standard protocol to use for the purposes of communication, and believe it or not Robert Metcalfe invented this in 1973. Because Digital, Intel and Xerox were responsible for developing the first working models, the first standard model for Ethernet was known as “DIX” and it was this hard wired LAN which came into world-wide use. Now you have a little background on Metro Ethernet Service.
By: Bill Rothschild