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DSL: What does it mean? What is it good for? One of the newest Techno-babble terms is DSL. It is destined to become a household word in the coming year or two. So it may be worth your while to understand what it is and what it is good for. Let’s start with definition of terms. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is usually a service for connecting a subscriber to the Internet. This technology utilizes the same telephone cabling that connects your home or office to your telephone company’s central office (CO). However, advances in technology are able to squeeze significantly faster speeds from the same wire. DSL represents a new class of ‘broadband’ technologies. Broadband refers to the overall capacity of a line to carry data. Analog lines, which include standard dialup technology, are considered narrowband. PC users who must resort to using dialup modems over standard telephone lines to reach the Internet can appreciate the speed limitations. First, one has to put up with the time to connect or reconnect. Once connected, speeds aren’t always that great. Also, the telephone line cannot be used for its other valued purpose, talking, while you are connected. Home users and small businesses may order a dedicated line, or modem line, to prevent inevitable conflicts. One type of DSL service known as A-DSL, piggybacks off an existing line. This means users who wish to use the phone for talking are able to while surfing the Internet. Better still, connect time is eliminated. The Internet connection is “always on” 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Finally, connect speeds are higher – much higher. More on definitions: There are several flavors of DSL. In fact, you will often see DSL referred to as xDSL. This article will discuss the three most used references to x:
Each type of DSL offering serves a different market need. ADSL is well suited for residential users and for small office/home office (SOHO) configurations. Downstream speeds are usually more important than upstream speeds to a typical user. ADSL providers compete with cable modem services. More on cable modems later. SDSL is well suited for business users. It may be used for connecting different offices together over the Internet. Each office may have a LAN with numerous users and servers attached at each location. Large files are likely to be uploaded across the Internet backbone as downloaded. Business configurations such as this create Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to permit secure communications between different locations. ISDN is often referred to as a digital dialup service. If a user is currently using an ISDN line, IDSL offers Internet access, including VPN possibilities, over greater distances than ADSL or SDSL, although line speeds are usually lower. ISDL may be attractive if other DSL services are unavailable. DSL has a distance limitation of 18,000 feet between the user and his/her CO. ADSL often competes with cable modems for residential users who wish to upgrade their Internet access. So how does one choose between the two? Presently, few people have the luxury of choosing. Your home may have cable modem service OR ADSL service offered, but seldom both. If this is your situation and you want to upgrade your Internet access now, my advice is NOT to wait. Go with the service that is currently available. Users can now have broadband access to the Internet for as little as $39.99 per month. Both cable and telephone companies are in a frantic pace to upgrade their infrastructure and most homes and SOHO businesses will have a choice within one to two years. If you are in the situation of having choice today, consider the following issues. Cable modem service is currently residential home oriented only. This may change in the future, but at present, they have no business offerings. When you order the service, the agreement calls for providing Internet access to a single PC. If you have a SOHO and wish to share the line with two or more computers, the cable company will not help you. You must configure the network yourself. In fact, you will be in violation of their sales agreement if you do. ADSL service, on the other hand, is designed for and marketed to residential and SOHO users. However, most telephone companies do not currently have trained technicians for installing and supporting LAN configurations. Users must turn to network specialists, such as TM Technology Systems & Consulting, LLC., to share the Internet connection with multiple PCs and/or to setup VPN services. NOTE: Because Internet connections via xDSL and cable modems are “always on”, a security appliance or firewall is strongly recommended when installing one of these services. SDSL providers are mostly business client oriented. Their installers are well trained and their Help Desk technicians are currently more computer-savvy then cable modem and ADSL providers. The cost of the service ranges from $200 per month upward. This is more costly than ADSL, but the quality of service is higher, too. These prices compared favorably with other connectivity options such as Frame-Relay, Fractional T-1, and T-1. The latter are dedicated circuits that can be used for building a private network or connecting to the Internet. The latter usually costs $400 per month to more than $1000 per month. Businesses that currently use dedicated circuits may want to consider SDSL to lower their monthly line costs. Please note, however, the key advantage of dedicated circuits and why many businesses will not jump ship too quickly: Security and Reliability. This article gives a brief definition of terms and a simple explanation on how these new services may prove useful. However, there is more to the xDSL puzzle than was presented here. Before deciding which service is best for your situation, take the time and effort to define your requirements and carefully research the various alternatives available to you. |
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