Broadband Technology

Broadband technology is an up and coming trend providing users with local telephone service and high-speed access to the Internet. Broadband users get the opportunity for faster Internet access, an always-on connection so one doesn’t have to wait for the dial-up, and streaming video. Images, sounds, and data are transmitted in binary form either digitally or in analog. Digital is much more common and is also more reliable than analog. There is a battle going on between the different broadband services to see which will become the most popular and effective. The three major contenders of the broadband battle are DSL (digital subscriber line), cable lines and wireless broadband. All of the above have the potential to create much more efficient Internet time for you. DSL lines use the existing phone lines and are able to send all the data down these lines, cable lines generally have an unparallel capacity, and wireless provides coverage anywhere. In order to select which service is best for you, it is important to look through the technology, price, and security of each.

DSL is a general name for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a technology that uses digitally coded techniques to transform traditional phone lines into high-speed data transfer lines. The modems digitally divide your telephone line into three different channels. One channel deals with telephone traffic, one handles upstream data from your computer to the Internet and the third handles downstream data traffic from the Internet to your computer. DSL technology also does not interfere with caller-id, call-waiting or any other phone service you may already be using. It basically takes all the unused bandwidth on your phone line without interrupting your current phone service. Simultaneous voice and data transmission is possible due to an always-on dedicated connection. Within DSL, there are numerous different services: ADSL, IDSL, HDSL, SDSL and VDSL. All of these are similar, but offer different speeds both downstream and upstream. Transfer speeds range from 128 kbps to 7.1 mbps. That's from six to125 times faster than the standard dial-up connection's speed of 28.8 or 56 kbps. To get a better idea of these speeds, a DSL service which offers a 144 kbps speed is 2.6 times faster than a 56k modem and can download a 5 minute MP3 in 4.6 minutes. A 1.1 mbps service is 19.6 times faster than a 56k modem and can download a 5 minute MP3 in .6 seconds. ADSL is the most popular service for residential computers. It transmits data at higher downstream speeds than upstream. It supports up to 8 megabits per second downstream and 1 megabyte per second upstream. All of the other DSL services offer equal downstream and upstream times, but each has a different capacity to fit your desired need. One of the disadvantages to DSL is that it is not available everywhere. Copper lines carrying the high frequency data can only travel so far. DSL service carriers say prospective subscribers must live or work within 12,000 feet or so of a telephone company central office (CO) to get a DSL link. DSL is generally considered a secure technology due to the dedicated phone line. It is no more insecure than an ordinary dial-up modem. Security issues arise if you have a home network created to connect computers or share the broadband connection. Within the Windows and Macintosh operating systems a file sharing and print sharing option is available which should be disabled for further security. If the sharing is necessary then a network firewall should be considered to help with the security of the computers. The price of DSL varies. 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. 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 $40 to $50 a month for service. Businesses can expect to pay from $150 to $300 a month.

Cable lines use the existing phone lines that carry television signals to homes with cable television. The new technology offers computer users a new high speed, always on connection through these same lines while not tying up your phone lines. Most cable modems are external devices that connect to the PC through a standard 10Base-T Ethernet card and twisted pair wiring. Installation of cable services is complicated and cable operators must install and upgrade new modem equipment, broadcasting systems and build a cable network infrastructure. When installed, a splitter is placed on the side of your home that separates the coaxial cable line that serves the cable modem from the line that provides service to your television. DOCSIS, which stands for “date over cable service interface specification” is a standard that was created for cable modems in 1996 to help create compatibility between different cable modem equipment and companies. Many companies including 3Com, Cisco, Motorola and Samsung now offer cable services. Cable lines differ from DSL because users have to share the bandwidth with all active users, meaning at busy times, the connection speed my not be optimal. Cable modem speeds always vary depending on the traffic load, cable modem system, and cable network architecture. A Cable modem can also provide Internet access to multiple PCs, assuming they are connected via a LAN. Cable modems typically have an Ethernet output, so they can connect to the LAN with a standard Ethernet hub or router. Cable modems can offer speeds on average of 1 mbps or 20 times faster than a 56k dial-up modem although these speeds often are slower due to the bandwidth being shared by other users. Many people think that cable lines are less secure because they are using a shared network. This is untrue though, the DOCSIS standard has state of the art date encryption. Again, the security issues arise when network settings are used. File sharing and print sharing options should be disabled if possible, or if they are needed, a network firewall should be installed for security. The price of cable modem again varies. The price can range from $50 to $150 to cover cable wiring, the installation of an Ethernet card in your computer, and configuring software. You can also expect to pay probably from $30-$40 per month which included the modem rental-fee and unlimited Internet access.

Wireless broadband, often called fixed wireless service is now a third option in the broadband service battle. Fixed wireless service delivers a broadband connection over a ground based antennae or from a satellite signal. Fixed wireless service can be had from any location. While DSL and Cable lines are quickly growing, not all areas are able to receive their service. Wireless broadband becomes a very real option if DSL and cable lines are not easily available in your area. Wireless broadband offers many of the same features as DSL and cable. Of course it has an always-on connection so one will not have to deal with slow dial-up and busy signals. The download speeds can often be 50 times faster than your ordinary dial-up modem speed. It also does not compromise the use of the phone lines. There are two major services for wireless broadband: fixed wireless and broadband satellite service. Fixed wireless are on the ground fixed antennas often attached to a house or building. The service uses microwave frequencies to deliver speeds of up to 1.5 mbps compared to 56 kbps that dial up modems offer. Fixed wireless services offer MMDS (Multichannel Multipoint distribution Systems), which is primarily used for household connections, and LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Systems), which is often used for businesses. The downsides to these services are slightly more extensive. LMDS often have difficulties and can slow down during heavy rainstorms and blizzards. MMDS cannot always penetrate a very thick wall in a building. Both LMDS and MMDS have problems when trees, hills or other geographic features may bother the signal. The other major wireless broadband service is broadband satellite service. This is high-speed Internet access from outer space. The most common service is called DBS or Direct Broadcast Satellite. This works by having satellites in outer space send their signals to a small dish located on your house or building. This connection can download at 400 kbps. Of course, inclement weather can also affect the speed of this service as well. DBS is much more costly service. To install the antenna, software and cables yourself will cost about $300, and then another $29.99 per month for the service. DBS also has some drawbacks. The antenna must be facing the satellite to catch its signals, you must have a Pentium processor with a good amount of Ram. You will also need a modem and phone line to be able to communicate both ways with the Internet. Satellites can only send information to the computer, not receive it. Wireless services are supposed to be as secure as any other means of transmission and encryption options are available.

The growth of the Internet has created a dire need for more bandwidth. Broadband technology is a pioneer in offering high-speed Internet access at a fair price. You might know that you need a higher-speed line, but broadband offers many different services to fit many different needs. Currently, DSL and Cable lines are in the forefront of services battle. Both are similarly priced, but DSL offers a very fast downstream speed while cable offers an equal upstream and downstream speed. Wireless broadband is another up and coming technology that uses satellites to create very fast and optimal speeds, but the high price reflects the more accurate speeds. Which one of these services will prevail to become the most widely used technology? Only the future can tell, but regardless, anyone such as myself still using a dial-up modem, should be embracing this new technology with arms wide open.