Information About Internet Connections

Internet connection speeds are measured in kilobits or megabits per second. The five main types of Internet connections are satellite, wireless, dial-up, cable, and DSL. There are many considerations that people must take into account when choosing which type of Internet connection they will use. Their location in relation to the location of the provider, whether the Internet connection is for a home or business, or their primary reason for using the Internet are all things that must be taken into account before deciding which Internet connection to use. Faster Internet connections allow you to download large files and to view streaming audio and video at a much faster rate.

Dial-Up Connection
As the cheapest of the Internet connection options, dial-up is often also the slowest. It also has the added disadvantage that you cannot use the telephone and the Internet at the same time, as the connection uses the telephone line to reach the Internet service provider. If you are not downloading large files or viewing streaming video, however, dial-up can still be a good Internet connection. Dial-up can reach a speed of up to 56 kbps and is useful for simple Internet use such as reading email and viewing websites.

Broadband Cable Connection
If the primary reason for connecting to the Internet is for a residential connection, then cable Internet is the easiest option for you. Cable is the most common Internet connection for residential users of the Internet. Because it uses the same system that connects your television to cable, this Internet connection has very fast speeds of nearly 400 kpbs per second. Its speed is almost twice as fast as a dial-up connection.

DSL Internet Connection
DSL stands for digital subscriber line. This type of Internet connection uses both a modem and phone line, though unlike dial-up you are able to use both the phone and the Internet at the same time. DSL is an ideal Internet connection for downloading audio and video and for viewing streaming media online. It is a faster connection then cable, but it is still very affordable to install.

Wireless Internet Connection
Also known as Wi-Fi, wireless Internet lets you use nearly any type of technology with wireless capabilities to connect to the Internet. If your home or office has Wi-Fi, you can use your laptop to access the Internet at any part of the house or office. Wireless uses a broadband modem and a router to provide an Internet connection and is very common in most cities now. Restaurants, hotels, airports, and most coffee shops now offer free Wi-Fi to their customers. The speed of wireless is close to that of DSL.

Satellite Internet Connection
The most common place you will find satellite internet connections used is in rural areas where cable and DSL simply are not a feasible option. Satellite is definitely more expensive than other Internet connections, but is just as fast. It can be even faster than DSL in some cases. Because of the equipment used to get a satellite Internet connection, such as a dish and other indoor equipment, fees for a satellite connection can be as high as 600 dollars initially plus the monthly payments.

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