Windows 7 : Connection Technologies - Analog Modem, ISDN, DSL, Cable Modem, Satellite Service, Wireless and Cellular Service

Not long ago, you had one choice to make for your Internet connection: which brand of modem to buy. Now options abound, and you can choose among several technologies, speeds, and ISP types. A huge technology shift is taking place as high-speed digital (broadband) connection services are being deployed worldwide.

Let’s take a look at the basic Internet connection technologies that are appropriate for an individual user or workgroup. After describing each one, I’ll show you roughly what each costs to set up and use.

Analog Modem

Standard, tried-and-true dial-up modem service requires only a telephone line and a modem in your computer. The downside is that this ties up a telephone line while you’re online. Furthermore, if you have call waiting, the “beep” that occurs when someone calls while you’re online can make the modem drop its connection. To avoid these hassles, many people order an additional phone line just for the modem, and this adds to the monthly expense.

Dial-up service is adequate for general Web surfing—that is, reading text and viewing pictures. However, you will find it woefully inadequate for viewing video or for voice communication. (In other words, forget about YouTube.)

To use standard dial-up Internet service, you need a modem and a telephone cable. Modems come in internal, external, USB, and PC Card varieties from dozens of manufacturers. Most computers made for home use come with a modem preinstalled. On business computers, they’re usually an extra-cost item.

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a special digital-only telephone service that can carry two independent voice or data conversations over one telephone wire. ISDN service is actually a different type of telephony; you can’t plug an ordinary telephone into an ISDN line. ISDN modems can carry data at 64Kbps or 128Kbps, depending on whether you use one or two of its channels to connect to your ISP. Although ISDN Internet service is still available in some areas, I don’t recommend it as an Internet connection option. Dial-up is nearly as fast as ISDN. If you need greater speed, and you can’t get DSL or cable service, satellite and wireless service are better options.

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service sends a high-speed digital data signal over the same wires your telephone line uses while that line is simultaneously used for standard telephone service. This means that you can get DSL service installed without needing an extra telephone line. The most common DSL service is called asymmetric, or ADSL, because it receives data at 128Kbps to 6000Kbps but sends at a lower rate. (This is fine because most Web surfing involves sending a very small request and receiving a large amount of data.)

DSL modems come in two varieties: External units connect to your computer through a network adapter or a USB cable. Internal units plug right in to your computer. If your ISP uses external adapters, before you buy a network adapter, check with your DSL provider, because often one is included in the installation kit.

Cable Modem

Your local television cable company may provide cable modem Internet service, which sends high-speed data signals through the same distribution system it uses to carry high-quality TV signals.

Cable modem service has none of the distance limitations of DSL. One criticism of cable service is that data speeds can drop during high-use times such as the early evening because everyone in a given neighborhood is sharing a single network “pipe.” Surveys show, however, that cable subscribers usually get several times the download speed of DSL subscribers.

Satellite Service

Satellite Internet service uses microwave signals and small (roughly 2-foot-diameter) dish antennas to connect to an orbiting communication satellite. You should consider only bidirectional satellite service, which uses the satellite dish for both sending and receiving. Satellite’s one advantage is that it’s available where DSL and cable haven’t yet reached, wherever there’s a good view of either the southern sky in the Northern Hemisphere, or the northern sky in the Southern Hemisphere. The disadvantages are many: Installation requires the abilities of both a rocket scientist and a carpenter, the equipment and service plans can be expensive, you’ll have to sign a long-term contract to get discounts on installation and equipment, and the system suffers from the same slowdowns that affect cable service. If you download more than your monthly quota allows, you’ll likely be punished by having your download speed cut to a crawl for the remainder of the month. Heavy rain or snow can interfere with the signal, so service may be interrupted or degraded during storms. Despite all this, many people beyond the reach of cable and DSL say that satellite service is usually worth the hassle.

Satellite service requires you to purchase a receiving dish antenna, a receiver, and a USB or network adapter to connect the setup to your computer. Your ISP should furnish these devices. For unidirectional satellite service, you also need to have a phone line near your computer.

Installing satellite or wireless modems is not terribly tricky, but the procedure is specific to the type of hardware you’re using.

One bit of advice I can give: Installing a satellite dish is difficult, and it’s best to hire a professional dish installer for this task. (Our executive editor, Rick Kughen, didn’t have the benefit of this sage advice when he installed his, and his conclusion is, “About halfway through the ordeal, I decided that I really wished I had paid the $199 installation fee.”) Some satellite providers offer free installation, however, so you might not have to get dirty installing your own or pay big bucks to have someone else do it.

Wireless and Cellular Service

Wireless Internet service is available in most major metropolitan areas and even in some remote areas, through cellular telephone providers. (Our editor, Rick Kughen, notes that he can get wireless Internet service in his rustic fishing village in central Indiana!) Three types of service are available:

• Fixed-antenna wireless service— The wireless modem connects to a small whip or dish antenna, and data transfer rates typically are more than 1Mbps using setups with fixed antennae.

• Wireless modems for laptops— With this type of service, you connect a small plug-in PC card or USB wireless modem unit to your computer, and the install software provided by your cellular company. The modem as a built-in radio, and it establishes a data connection through the cellular network.

• Tethered data service through a cell phone— Some cell phones let you connect a data cable from the phone to your computer. The telephone provides the radio and modem components.

Fixed-antenna wireless is similar to satellite service. You must purchase a receiving antenna, a receiver, and a USB or network adapter to connect the setup to your computer. Your ISP should furnish these devices. You might also have to pay for professional installation. When the network connection is set up, you can use it on a single computer or share it using a router.

The other two options are portable, and serve only a single computer. You may be able to find data plans that let you buy service on a day-by-day basis rather than committing to a long-term service contract. This can be very cost effective when you travel.

Choosing a Technology

With all the options potentially available to Windows users for Internet access, making a choice that fits your needs and limitations can become a bit confusing. Research the options that local and national ISPs provide, and then start narrowing them. Table 1 summarizes the costs and speeds of several ways for a single computer user to access the Internet (excluding ISDN and wireless service). The prices shown are typical costs for the service in question after applying the usual discounts and special offers.

Remember that you have several costs to factor in:

• The cost of hardware required to make the connection

• The cost of installation and setup

• The monthly ISP cost for Internet service

• The cost of telephone lines, if you order a separate line just for Internet access, or the savings you’ll get if you can drop one or more phone lines you use for just dial-up service when you upgrade to DSL or cable

• The savings you’ll get if you can drop separate dial-up service accounts and extra phone lines for high-speed service that you can share

In addition, if you travel frequently, ask any prospective ISP to tell you if they provide free dial-up or wireless hot-spot Internet service when you’re on the road. These costs can add up quickly if you select an ISP that makes you pay extra for this service.

For more information on selecting an Internet technology and to help choose an ISP, check out these sites:

• For information on DSL and cable, see www.dslreports.com.

• For information on satellite service in North and Central America, check out www.starband.com, www.hughesnet.com and www.wildblue.com. In Australia, check www.telstra.com. In Europe, Southern Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, see www.intelsat.com. Satellite services are often resold through regional companies.

• For information on wireless service, see www.mobilebroadbandnetwork.com or contact your area’s cellular providers.