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Hot PC Deals > Internet Access Guide

A Little History Of The Internet

The Internet was started in the 1960s by the Department Of Defense. The original intend was to allow computers made by different vendors to communicate with each other. In order to accomplish the task, the TCP/IP protocol was developed. Soon, other organizations such as the National Science Foundation as well as colleges and universities began using TCP/IP to allow their computers to communicate with each other. They called the networks connected by TCP/IP internets.  The collection of all of the little internets is now known as the Internet.

About Bandwidth Measurements Of The Internet Connection

Connection speeds are measured by the number of bits of data that can be transmitted in a second. Dial-up connections are typically measured in kilobits per second, or Kbps.  Each character of data is made up of eight bits, and one kilobit equals one thousand bits. So, a 56Kbps modem is capable of transmitting 56 thousand bits of information.

Broadband connections such as DSL and cable, can reach speed in megabits (Mbps), or millions of bits per second.

Like to find out how fast is your Internet connection? take a .

Type of Internet Connections:

Dial-up Connections

In the early days of the Internet, the only way most home users could connect to the Internet was with modems. If you want to download music files and photos or play Internet games, the dial-up connection is considered quite slow and unreliable. However, the dial-up connection is still an inexpensive and viable option to get on the Internet to get news, research and job hunting. It's still the most accessible option to connect to the Internet when you are traveling.

There are many ISPs (Internet Service Provider) out there, but, personally I like to recommend NetZero for dial-up connection, because you shouldn't pay more than $15 for dialup connections. I used NetZero for several years and I found its service very reliable. The only down side of NetZero is that they will put a menu bar on your browser, even though it is quite small. The other good ISP I heard about and was mentioned by friends is peoplepc.com. For global small business access, give TollFree ISP a try.

 PeoplePC Online Accelerated with Accelerator technology. 3 months, half price...then just $15.95/month


Even though a 56K modem is capable of transmitting 56Kpbs of information, but as you might noticed, you are not able to get connected at the maximum speed. This is due to in part of the phone line condition, but most importantly, it's the result of FCC's regulation to keep the maximum dial-up speed under 56Kpbs. There are software programs which can speed up your dial-up connection. "Propel Accelerator" is one such program which they claim can Speed Up Your Dial-Up connection up to 5 times of the original dial-up speed. When combine with Netzero or JOI dial-up service, the total cost is still under $20, which I believe is a pretty good deal.

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One of the drawbacks of using dialup is the tying up of the phone line. The good news is the latest modem standard v.92 supports the Modem on Hold function:

Modem on Hold allows you to put your internet connection on hold while you take or make a telephone call. Modem on Hold enables "broadband-like" voice and data services over the same telephone lines, at a much more reasonable dial-up price. However, your ISP has to support this standard, so before you sign up for the service, and you modem is v.92 compatible, ask the ISP if they support this standard. 

The other way of sharing the phone line is to use a switchboard device. One of such device is the Command Communications ComSwitch.

If you plan on sharing your Internet connection among the computers on your home network, you should definitely get a broadband connection. There are currently two type of high-speed broadband connections available to most home users: DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) and cable modems. Another option is the satellite connection which is too expensive for most home users.

 

DSL-A Fast Alternative To Dial-up Connection

DSL offers several advantages over other connection methods. It uses your existing telephone lines and a DSL modem to connect your computer to the Internet at high speeds. The connection is "always on," which means you no longer need to dial up to the ISP to make the connection.  All you need to do is just launch your web browser and you are on the way to surf the Internet.  In addition, you can use your telephone to talk at the same time, no more tying up the line while surfing.

Broadband connections are measured in two speeds: the download speed for data being sent to your computer and the upload speed for data being sent from your computer.  Depending on your subscription plan, you can typically expect DSL download speed to reach 1.5Mbps and the upload speed of at least 128Kpbs. As you might expect, the increase in speed will cost you more as oppose using dial-up connection. Currently you can get a DSL connection for as low as $14.99 from AT&T High Speed Internet. You might need to pay an installation fee for a technician to install DSL service in your house. This fee varies with vendors.

Shopping for DSL Service? You are Seconds Away from Finding the Best DSL Service Provider in Your Neighborhood.

 

Will You Be Protected Against the Next Big Computer Virus???

Security is a major concern with any broadband connection because your network is always connected to the internet. It's a big temptation for hackers. You should purchase a software called firewall to protect others from accessing your home network through the Internet. One of such program is ZoneAlarm Pro. Also, to protect your computer from viruses transmitted through the Internet, you need to install anti-virus programs such as McAfee anti-virus program from McAfee.com, Norton Anti-virus software as well as Antivirus & security software from Panda software

One of the drawbacks to DSL is its limited geography availability. You should contact a service provider, such as your local telephone company, to see if DSL is available for the area you live in.

Cable Modem Internet Access

Another option for home high speed Internet access is the cable modem, which uses the same cable line that is hooked up to your television. Cable modem connections are more readily available than DSL connections, and the installation is much easier. 

Cable modems offer potentially higher speed than DSL. The only catch is that your cable modem connection is share with other subscribers in the neighborhood, so the speed might fluctuate when the connection is being used heavily. Providers usually limit the number of homes that share a connection to ease this burden.

Just as with DSL connections, cable modems are a good choice for sharing Internet access. Because the connection is always on, so you need to address the security issue just like DSL connections to prevent unauthorized access. AT&T, now Comcast is one of the major providers of cable modem Internet access.

High-Speed Satellite Internet Access

Often times Internet access is not available in some areas. That's where the high-speed satellite Internet access comes in. Currently it's more expensive than other Internet access services. One such service provider is DIRECWAY Satellite Broadband. It is the new high-speed Internet solution that's available to everyone in the continental United States with a clear view of the southern sky.

Please Click here if you like to find out more about their high-speed satellite Internet access service. 


Surf the Internet Safely

 

 

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The Internet is full of scam artists and fraud, learn how you can protect yourself online, check out this website:

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Putting It All Together

So, which Internet access method is the right choice for you?  It all depends on availability, your usage and how much you want to spend. You can tap into the vast resources of the Internet with any of the connection method. Another great Internet resource many users might not know about is the USENET. It has huge numbers of news groups. Some ISP may or may not include them as a part of their services. But you can subscribe to the unlimited and uncensored news groups through Titannews.com. Get on-line today. 

What to learn more? Learn The Net Here.


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