| al Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet is a form of Internet | | | | Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)) is the |
| commonly used today by taking advantage of | | | | most commonly offered service. The |
| existing telephone infrastructure lines and manipulating | | | | ‘Asymmetric’ part of the title means |
| them so that a wire not only transmits voice, but | | | | that speeds going one way are not equal to speeds |
| also data. The technique has exploded in popularity | | | | going another way. In other words, downloading is |
| and competes directly against cable Internet | | | | always going to be faster than uploading. |
| subscriptions. It is most popularly known by its ADSL | | | | Downloading includes activities such as viewing Web |
| version (the ‘A’ standing for | | | | sites, checking e-mail, streaming audio or video and |
| ‘Aysmmetric’) but in fact a customer | | | | basically anything where another server needs to |
| seeking DSL services today has many more options. | | | | send information to you. Uploading is a mirror activity |
| The difference between the various versions of DSL | | | | of downloading and happens every time you send |
| lies in speed and quality. Since the DSL technology is | | | | information to another computer. For example, |
| not flawless (unfortunately, as with many other | | | | sending an e-mail would be considered uploading. |
| inventions we come across), improvements are | | | | ADSL is a typical service offered to home-based |
| continuously made to overcome the frustrations and | | | | users. Usually, when ISPs advertise their bandwidth |
| barriers that get in the way of connection’s | | | | speeds they leave out the ‘small |
| smooth flow. Thus, there are now approximately 13 | | | | print’ about the significantly slower upload |
| DSL standards. | | | | rates. But in most cases, you should be able to find |
| Getting in the way of a DSL connection can include | | | | out both numbers. |
| the following: | | | | Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) is a service |
| A phone line made of bad quality copper. There may | | | | where both download and upload speeds are equal in |
| not be much you can do about this one. | | | | bandwidth. SDSL is gaining popularity in Europe, but at |
| An Internet Service Provider with bad service. Some | | | | this point in North America it remains an expensive |
| are just better than others, and often you pay more | | | | alternative to ADSL, despite the demand. A business |
| to get more. | | | | would benefit greatly from SDSL when considering |
| Remoteness of destination. If you, or your computer, | | | | file sharing among computers in a network and using |
| lives in the middle of nowhere, expect that the | | | | a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to upload files to a |
| quality of your DSL will eventually deteriorate as it | | | | server. When running one’s own Web site, |
| huffs and puffs to make it to the finish line (i.e. your | | | | uploading speeds may be more critical than |
| router). | | | | downloading speeds since the server’s |
| A wireless connection that just isn’t | | | | primary function would be consistently feed out data. |
| happenin’. Often the connection is blamed, | | | | Fiber lines are for the really serious players that |
| when in fact it’s the wireless router | | | | demand high speeds going both ways. In essence, |
| that’s not sending signals fast enough, thus | | | | paying for a personal fiber line means no one shares |
| rendering your high-speed Internet useless. | | | | the connection that goes all the way from the ISP to |
| Software, often the uninvited kind. This is usually not | | | | your router – no one. The installation, not to |
| your fault, but you can help it by regularly cleaning | | | | mention subscription rates of a fiber line could cost |
| your computer of stuff that you never meant to | | | | thousands. |
| download, but got downloaded anyway because you | | | | There are alternatives when SDSL or owning your |
| got tricked into it by some hacker, and never found | | | | own fiber is not an option within reach. Information |
| out. These programs are called | | | | Technology (IT) companies are able to get creative |
| ‘Spyware’ and eat your bandwidth | | | | when they need to find a way to do more with less. |
| speeds like a worm in your tummy. | | | | When high costs are out of the question for its |
| In some of these instances it’s possible to | | | | clients, some may offer the option of combining |
| take reasonable action (for example, switching | | | | multiple ADSL lines together to achieve both a higher |
| providers), whereas in others you’ll just have | | | | upload and download rate. Marketing principles tend |
| to live with what you’ve got. What you can | | | | to limit user upload speeds so that businesses that |
| do is equip yourself with the right knowledge to | | | | need the extra bandwidth will be willing to pay for it. |
| know what you’re buying when you chose a | | | | In areas where monopolies rule, it may be hard to |
| DSL service and what “speed” will | | | | find competitive Internet service options, but |
| really mean to you. So, when an Internet Service | | | | it’s not impossible. Keep your eye on the |
| Provider (ISP) advertises such and such speeds for | | | | lookout. |
| paying for their services, keep in mind the following: | | | | |