Internet Broadband

Broadband Internet is a technology that uses either telephone (DSL) or cable TV lines and digital coding to create a connection to the Internet from your computer. That link can carry vast amounts of voice, video and data information at very high speeds.

How does Broadband Internet work?

Carriers use the lines' higher frequencies that telephone or cable TV carriers don't need. Digital modems are hooked up at both ends of the line -- one in the home, the other in the nearest telephone or cable company. The modems digitally divide your line into three channels: One handles telephone or TV signal traffic, one handles upstream data from your computer to the Internet; and the third handles downstream data traffic from the Internet to your computer.

What are the major advantages of Broadband Internet?

It's fast. It's always on. It doesn't tie up your telephone while you're online as a so-called "dial-up" service does. And it won't interfere with caller ID, call waiting, cable TV reception or other features. But the most important change you will notice is increased productivity in your online habits. You will perform more in-depth reasearch, do all your banking and pay your bill online, easily update your antivirus and other software, etc., all this in a very fast way and without worrying for how long you've been online because your phone line is not tied up.

How fast is the connection?

The technology can deliver data ranging from 128 kbps to 7 mbps. That's from six to 125 times faster than the standard dial-up connection's speed of 28.8 or 56 kbps modem. With a DSL broadband connection, you can:

Download huge files from the Internet in a fraction of the time it takes a dial-up service
Move from Web site to Web site as if you were changing the channels on a TV set
Access a growing range of news, entertainment and information resources, including specialized services being developed expressly to take advantage of broadband's blazing speeds
What does always-on mean?
Once you've turned on your computer and clicked on your Internet connection icon, that link stays on as long as your computer does. There's no need to dial a telephone number and then wait for your modem to connect you to the Internet -- often a time-consuming, frustrating exercise -- every time you go online.

An always-on connection lets you hop on and off the World Wide Web whenever you want with no delay, send an e-mail at a moment's notice or access vast databases at the flip of a switch.

What is Broadband Internet biggest drawback?

Probably the biggest one is the fact that it's not available everywhere. However, there is another option: Satellite Internet. As long as you have a clear view of the southern sky, you can get Broadband Internet via satellite. The equipment, setup and monthly charges are a bit more expensive but still affordable.

Who offers Broadband Internet service?

Almost every telephone carrier in North America and Europe is at some stage of DSL deployment. That ranges from Baby Bells such as SBC Communications to independent companies such as Earthlink, Covad, Sonic, SpeakEasy and GTE. Internet via cable is offered by Comcast, Adelphia, Qwest and other companies.

How much does Broadband Internet service cost to install?
Many companies offer free installation. Others charge $100 and up for a residential connection, and from $200 to $500 or more to connect a business.

How much will a Broadband Internet connection cost me per month?
Again, it varies. Your monthly bill will depend on your connection's speed and whether you've ordered extras like additional e-mail boxes. A typical home user can expect to pay around $40 a month for service. Businesses can expect to pay from $150 to $300 a month for an enterprise class service.

What kind of equipment do I need?

A digital modem that's usually leased from your service provider and included in your monthly bill. Your computer also must connect to the modem, which is done through an Ethernet cable that your Broadband Internet service vendor usually provides. To transform a telephone or cable TV line into a high-speed data line special equipment must be installed on both ends of the line — at the customer premises and the local telephone/cable TV office.

Can I share my Broadband Internet with more than one computer?
Yes, but your computers have to be networked. You'll need a network card for each additional computer, Category 5 or 5e network cables and a NAT router with a switch or hub. These components are very economical and commonly available at any computer store. Once these components are installed they will allow the computers within the network to share your single Internet account concurrently and independently. As a nice side effect the NAT router will shield your PC's on your internal network from the outside providing a level of security against hackers. But please do not consider your NAT router a real, fool proof firewall.

How do I know if I qualify for an Internet Broadband service?

You can visit the web page of any Internet Broadband Service Provider (ISP) to check for service availability in your area. However, if you want a recommendation, choose a company that offers a history of stability such as SBC, Comcast or EarthLink (you want to minimize the probability of your Broadband ISP going out of business as it happened to many users of @Home in 2001 or DirectTV DSL in 2002).