2torial #0913:
Learn2 Choose an Internet Connection

The need for speed

In recent years, great leaps and bounds have been made to speed up your Internet access. In fact, technology industry pundits expect the majority of U.S. users to have access to extremely high-speed (also called "broadband") access in the next few years (the rest of the world may be a bit behind that schedule).

Meanwhile, if you feel like you're spending half your life waiting for webpages to display on your computer, it may be time to look at different access options. And while not everything is available in all areas, choosing the right one that's available to you will likely heighten your Internet experience and lower your stress level overall.

Nearly everyone in the U.S. has access to Internet speeds that are faster than a standard 56k dial-up connection. This brings us to an old fable that's been told and retold by automotive enthusiasts for years: A youngster driving his first car takes it to a mechanic who is famous for building the fastest cars in the state. When the youngster asks the old hot rodder just how fast he can make the car go, the sage replies, "Speed costs money. How fast can you afford to go?" The same is true for Internet access.

Beyond 56k, higher speeds cost more money--in both equipment and the price of the access itself. With a little information, you'll be able to find a balance between what you want and what you can afford.

Know your options

If you're looking for faster Internet access, we'll assume you're already familiar with web browsing, searching, and emailing. Before we get too far into the various types of services that may be available in your area, it's probably a good idea to briefly describe the "rating" system for Internet speed.

Internet speed ratings are based on kilobits per second (kbps). Usually, kbps is abbreviated to "k." So, 112k access is twice as fast as 56k, for example, meaning it will download or send twice as much data in the same amount of time. Here's the rundown of what's currently available:

56k: A 56k modem is currently standard equipment in most computers. If you have a computer manufactured before 1998, it's possible that it has a slower modem (28.8k or 33.3k). Check your computer's documentation to find out whether you're behind the times for standard dial-up access before you look at even faster options.

Pros: If you don't have a 56k modem, they're fairly easy to install for the technically astute. They're also inexpensive to have installed. This is the cheapest method of Internet access.

Cons: Not the fastest type of access. Also, if your ISP gets overburdened, you may have trouble dialing in.

Dual 56k: A dual 56k modem offers a maximum of 112k access by combining the speed of two regular 56k connections. The way these devices combine two lines differs; some split single information files at the source and reconnect on the receiving end (your computer, that is), while others grab separate files that make up a singular website (text versus graphics, for example) and reconstruct the data on your screen.

If you already have two phone lines, you can usually set these modems up to heed a call-waiting beep and hang up one line to let the phone ring without losing your connection to the Internet.

Pros: A good, reasonably priced alternative to higher-speed, more expensive access.

Cons: Only a few ISPs support multiple-line connections, so you'll have to do some checking--and maybe even switch ISPs--to use this option if it's available in your area. If you only have one phone line, paying the monthly cost and initial installation of a second line, plus an extra monthly fee to your ISP, brings the price of installation and monthly access close to that of an ISDN (which is faster).

ISDN: An ISDN (integrated services digital network) connection gives you two 64k lines. You can use one line as your voice or fax line and the other for data, or you can use both for data to give you connection speeds of up to 128k. ISDN lines need to be installed by your local telephone provider--for a fee.

Pros: They're virtually everywhere.

Cons: A little expensive for what you get, if DSL or cable access is available in your area.

DSL: DSL (digital subscriber line) technology allows connection speeds of about 384k--nearly seven times faster than 56k access and three times faster than ISDN (even faster DSL access speeds are available, though price usually limits these options to business use.)

Pros: Since DSL uses telephone wiring that's already in your home, many local telephone companies are attracting new customers with low prices--sometimes even free installation and a modem. A DSL line is always connected to the Internet. Your computer doesn't need to dial in for access. It's "always on."

Cons: Not widely available. You need to be within a specified distance from a local telephone provider's main office to receive DSL access. And if they're not offering special prices, installation and monthly fees can be expensive.

Cable access: Usually offered by the same companies that provide cable television service, cable modem access uses the same data line as your television. In the places where it's available, it can provide speeds of 2,000k and higher.

Pros: Cable access is extremely fast, and many people already have the necessary wiring in their homes because they subscribe to cable television.

Cons: Not widely available (even if you have cable, your local provider may not offer Internet access). Also, some cable modem access systems only use the television cable for "downstream" data (receiving email and downloading web pages, for example). In these systems, you still need a dial-up connection and modem to send "upstream" information (such as outgoing email).

Other, even speedier types of access are available, but price makes them prohibitive to most home users. These include T1, T2, T3, and business-class DSL. If you access the Internet from a workplace that employs one of these services, please bear in mind that you're unlikely to attain the same speed at home.

Check availability

If you're looking for faster access, you probably already have standard dial-up (56k or slower access), so put on your research cap and make some calls or get online to find out what's available in your area:

• Call your ISP and ask if it supports dual 56k connections.

• Check with your local telephone service provider and find out whether it offers DSL or ISDN and what these services cost.

• Call your cable company and ask whether it offers cable modem service (as well as whether you'll need to use a dial-up connection for "upstream" data).

Note: Prices for different services vary widely depending on where you are. Check prices and access speeds and take notes before you move on to the next step.

Balance needs and costs

With your list of available services and what they'll cost in hand, it's time to answer the question, "How fast can you afford to go?" Here are some things to consider: If money is no object, go for the fastest form of Internet access available in your area. For most of us, though, cost is an issue.

Business. If you run a home-based business, your Internet access fees may well be a business expense. If faster access will help you be more productive and earn more, it's money well spent.

Telecommuting. If you're a telecommuter who works from home (even a few days a week), you might convince your boss to foot the bill for faster access to make you more productive, especially if you spend a lot of time doing research on the Internet.

Personal needs. All the rest of the casual Internet users will have to balance the speed of their access with their quality of life. If you spend a lot of time shopping, playing games, or downloading files from the Internet, you need to decide whether faster access is worth the extra expense simply because it makes your life a little more fun.

Unless you're running a business from your home, don't be too depressed if you can't yet justify the cost of faster Internet access. In the near future, it will be as common as cable TV and telephone service--at a much more affordable price.

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