Digital Subscriber LIne Essay, Research Paper

The Quest For Speed

Imagine a world where connecting to the Internet was as simple as turning on your television. Where web pages pop up on the screen like we would all like for them to. We are all aware that WWW is an a acronym that stands for World Wide Web, however, it turns out to be World Wide Wait. But now, in most places, the World Wide Wait is over. There is a new technology DSL.

Digital Subscriber Line, or DSL is a new technology for bringing high ? bandwidth connection to Internet service for both business and homes over ordinary copper telephone lines. DSL is a reference to family of digital subscribers to line technologies. The connection of speed for DSL ranges forms 1.544 MBPS to 512 KBPS. DSL lines allow for one line to carry both voice and data signals, and the data part is continuously connected. It has a higher transfer rate, and it has more available spectrum. Our ordinary telephone service only makes use of the 0-3400 Hz frequency ranges, which means 56 KBPS speed limits on a standard modem.

DSL is relatively new. Not many people are familiar with this new technology yet. It?s a service that everyone should have if they are using a standard dial-up connection, and prefer to have a faster Internet connection. DSL is the use of existing twisted pair of wires that make it cheaper to install, and which does not require additional cables to be laid. And, unlike other modems DSL is not a bus technology.DSL requires no additional phone lines. It gives the user 24hour access, and it does not tie up the phone line. So the user never has a busy signal while they are on line. Most ISPs offer a range of speed so the user can choose the speed they prefer to use. ADSL is the type of DSL that is preferred for small business and homes. It will allow the user to download data faster than they can send data.

Despite all these positive attributes, DSL is not without a flaw. For example, for a user to be eligible for DSL, the user must be geographically located within a certain distance from the telephone office. DSL service and availability is still in early stages. Prices in most areas are considered to be very high. Prices can change over night just like the way they would for everything else. Price range varies; it all depends on the service provider and it?s surrounding area. Local taxes, and government regulations may also determine users cost. In most cases, the user must pay for the cost of hooking up DSL lines, and the monthly charges from the phone company. If the user chooses to use a provider other than the phone company it?s estimated cost is about $100 a month extra.

It all begins with a phone call to your telephone company. From there the ordering process starts. The telephone company first determines if you are calling form an area where DSL is available. Then, if the user is close enough the telephone company runs a test through to see if the wires will be able to handle the bandwidth needed for DSL. For DSL to be installed the phone company will place a splitter in the box of your location. This allows the user to use voice service while using DSL. Then it?s all plug and plays from there unless you are connecting a network.

DSL is not available in many areas yet. Mainly because of distance problems, or because the local telephone companies have not yet acquaint this product. But with DSL, technology is developing rapidly, it will soon be introduce by many companies. Efforts will be made to improve the transmission over greater distance. This technology is still in the early stages of roll out with standards, and products just getting under way.