Now more coverage!  Still unlimited talk & text for $30/month

Tag Archives for bandwidth

Broadband Connection

What is broadband? For those who wish to upgrade their internet service provide, this salient question may be the first thing that come to our minds. But the one important question should be: What can broadband do for me that dial-up can’t?

Broadband has been taking the internet service provider wars by storm. There are tremendous benefits for broadband that individuals and business are rapidly switching to this internet pipeline. Broadband is a form of telecommunications by which a broad range of frequencies is available to wire information. The most common forms of broadband are cable and DSL. With the advent of broadband, the dial-up modem is slowly being shunted aside. Here are a few reasons why more individuals and companies are switching to broadband.

Broadband is built for speed. Because of the wide range of frequencies available, data through the internet can be multiplexed, which allows the quick transfer and delivery of information. In fact, broadband on average is around 20 times faster than dial-up. Dial-up is usually 28-56 kilobits per second (kps) and broadband is around 1500kps.

Speed is important for content delivery, particularly media. For instance, media such as videos and music demand speeds for adequate streaming. Or even popular sites such as youtube.com require a fast connection. Games, such as online role-playing games, hog connection bandwidth to adequately play online.

Broadband provides users with more than just speed. One great advantage is that it’s always on and connected. In the world of dial-up, one needs to connect through a phone line. So to connect you must dial-up, get a “handshake” and wait for the connection to be available. This process could take up to one minute, or even more, causing frustration. With broadband, there is no attempt to dial-up to the server. As long as the physical connection is maintained, the connection does not need to be dialed up. All one needs to do is have the computer connected via a LAN cable, or wireless.

This alternative service also frees up your home phone. Sometimes with dial-up, the phone line competes with the dial-up line. As such, users can only use the phone line one at a time. With broadband, access is kept separate; which means that you can still maintain a dedicated phone line. Who would want to lose important phone calls?

Can you save money with this broadband? Most will think that broadband might be a little costly; indeed, it is. However, this service does allow for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) for a cheap price. VOIP is a cost-effective way to provide IP telephony services through the delivery of voice information over the Internet. In other words, VOIP can replace your normal telephone. Some save over 50% of their phone bills with a VOIP subscription.

If you have more than one computer, you can find that it’s not easy to share a dial-up line. Usually, only one computer can use the same line. Broadband, however, allows more than one connection. In fact, there’s really no limit at all as long as bandwidth isn’t full. Dial-up may require additional lines, if there is more than one computer needing access.

Broadband provides many advantages over dial-up. Although you’ll pay a premium for its service, the benefits outweigh the costs for most people.

Various Broadband Connection

Broadband, also known as broadband internet access, is a high data-transmission rate Internet connection that make use of two of the most popular consumer broadband technologies – cable modem and DSL. With any of these technologies, your Internet connection could easily transmit data faster than 56 kilobits per second (the highest speed of a traditional dial-up modem).

The popularity of broadband internet access radically increased in many countries starting 2000. These kinds of Internet access can surf hundred times faster than conventional dial-up modems, thus the name “high-speed Internet”.

Commercial broadband Internet commonly has 256 kilobit per second, which is about the slowest broadband speed for connections advertised worldwide. However, since there is no standard bitrate defined by the industry, the term “broadband” could imply also low-bitrate transmissions or others call “narrowband”. Consequently, some consumers turn out to be disappointed about the promised Internet speed of their connections.

The Technology Behind Broadband Internet Access

The most important assessment you have to make is the kind of broadband internet you want. There are various technologies behind broadband access and you should understand these technologies to fully appreciate this service. Things you have to think about include cost, speed requirements and your location, whether home or office. Since there are many choices for high-speed connections, you should be able to know how each one works and find out which service can benefit your work or lifestyle the most.

Some Internet service providers use multi-linking technologies that achieve a faster surfing speed by doubling the speed of dial-up modems. However, if you wish to subscribe to this feature, you should have two dial-up accounts, two telephone lines, two modems and the ISP provider for multilinking. This is the oldest kind of technology and was used way before DSL, cable broadband and other higher-speed connections were available.

The most common technologies for broadband in many countries are DSL and cable modems.

The most common broadband internet is Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). This technology works by using your phone lines to transmit digital signals directly, without having to convert to analog signals. DSL offer higher data rates and allows you to connect anytime without using your phone line, making it available for incoming calls. There are many kinds of DSL, but asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) is probably the most popular for subscribers.

Cable is another type of broadband internet, which uses the fiber networks to give your cable television at home and use them for internet access. Meaning, you get to divide a given amount of bandwidth for a neighborhood. The limitation of cable internet is that some condominiums and buildings do not have cable installed. When this is the case, it could take time to install your internet subscription because building codes and other legal issues should first be done.

Satellite is the kind of broadband internet that is frequently recommended as an alternative for DSL. However, satellite internet is more expensive because you will need an antenna or a dish to receive data signals from the provider’s satellite.

Other new technologies, such as optical fiber and VDSL are now adding to consumer’s choice for higher-speed Internet connections. Although fiber-optic internet services are used lately, the technology had played a vital role in allowing consumers to connect to broadband Internet using a more cost-effective solution even over larger coverage.

The biggest challenge in broadband is to offer the service to customers in any area, even with low-population densities. Since setting up the broadband Internet access in a particular area could cause many thousands of dollars for equipment alone, many service providers do not have the network in some rural areas for fear that they will not recover the costs.

Although some local Internet providers provide these solutions, many have limitations and drawbacks. The most common problem for rural Internet providers is that these companies usually depend on the quality of local telephone companies.

In some locations that have no DSL or cable Internet, Wi-Fi networks serve their Internet needs. In other countries, high-speed mobile Internet access, such as HSDPA, EV-DO and stationary-broadband WiMax are used.

With today’s modern world where businesses and even home-based employees rely on the Internet for everyday communications and worldwide access, broadband and other high-speed technologies present consumers and businesses a expedient way to hook up to the net.

Regardless of what you choose, you can really see the difference of dial-up from broadband internet in terms of speed, reliability and performance once you plugged your computer on.

Mobile Broadband – Advantages and Disadvantages

Wireless is the new kid on the block that seems set for greatness. How could it not be, after all, when it offers various degrees of freedom that previously simply did not exist? By avoiding the clutter of wires, and allowing portable notebooks to truly be as portable as they should, wireless technology has found a place in the hearts of even the most jaded computer users.

Mobile broadband is an extension of this newfound freedom. By offering high-speed, broadband, internet access of a wireless nature through portable modems, telephones or other custom devices, it allows, again, for more freedom. Unfortunately this freedom comes with disadvantages too.

Two major advantages of mobile broadband

Firstly, mobile broadband offers unprecedented levels of convenience as far as broadband internet is concerned. All that is needed is the modem, and internet access is readily available, in theory anyway. If coverage is good enough, it would be completely possible to use mobile broadband overseas from any computer terminal you happen to pass by.

Secondly, the complete lack of need for a landline makes for further flexibility. Whether at home, work, or the park, a land line is completely unnecessary. This translates into even less cables dangling around, and even greater portability.

Two major disadvantages of mobile broadband

Firstly, rather unfortunately, the range of reception for most mobile broadband networks seems to be decidedly limited for now. Sometimes the bad reception exists in ‘pockets’ here and there from which connecting to the broadband internet is not possible, but at other times it can be entire areas that are simply not covered. Also worrisome is the fact that when there is a high concentration of users in a particular area utilizing the mobile broadband, it can cause a general slowdown in service.

Secondly, the bandwidth available to mobile broadband customers is generally much smaller than their more conventional cousins. Although this particular limitation would go unnoticed to most casual users, heavier internet users would find it stifling to their activities. Some current mobile broadband providers charge on a per-MB usage basis and this too can end up being costly unless the broadband is used sparingly.

As a verdict, mobile broadband has a vast potential that can be tapped into and taken advantage of, however it remains very much limited as of yet. That said, it should be noted that the same was said of wireless networks at one point in time, not so very long ago, and as such never underestimate what tomorrow may bring.

For the casual user that values mobility and convenience over speed and consistency, mobile broadband is still a pretty attractive option. However for heavy internet users, and others that simply cannot, or do not, wish to handle the reception problems or bandwidth limitations, it may be unwise to sign up to this particular option just yet. Once the kinks are worked out of the execution, mobile broadband really will come into its own as the preferred form of internet access.

Cell Phone Internet Access

Thanks to advances in wireless technology, cell phone internet access is a convenient reality that offers great speeds, multimedia voice and data wireless services and competitive pricing. The latest availability is 5G wireless, a high speed enhancement to the current 3G used by most cell phones.

Best of all, the cost is not high priced, making the wireless enhancements accessible to all.

Through wireless technology, mobile phones can tap into the Web and all the other online services someone may need to access while on the go. These services include email, live chats, file transfer and mobile banking. Especially valuable for travelers, you can access Web search engines to find and book hotels, transportation, and airline flights.

You can also find the nearest restaurants, entertainment venues and a calendar of events for a particular area. In short, any activity you conduct online from your computer can be done from your mobile phone with the right Web access plan.

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network offers the best global coverage and high speed cell phone internet access service. This global digital network is available in over 200 countries worldwide, which means far-reaching Web access via your cell phone.

The general rule of thumb is to short smart. There are hundreds of well known cell phone service providers but you may be shocked to realize that some extraordinary mobile phone Internet access is coming new WIFI upstarts. In fact, it’s best to use the Internet to look for the best deal. It is possible to get unlimited Internet access for a reasonable flat rate fee. Look for providers that are current with the latest advances in wireless technology.

Some cell phone internet access providers are on the cutting edge of wireless technology, offering high speed Internet access of up to unheard of download speeds. In addition, you can connect your phone to a personal computer for high speed Internet.

By leveraging the high download speeds of newer cell phones with Internet access, the mobile user can conduct numerous activities that were not possible a few years ago. Watch movies, streaming video conferencing, access your favorite TV shows…These are possible with the new cell phone Internet access capabilities. You can also manage your mobile phone with a real time Web-based administration account.

While most cell phones use a cellular carrier wave for wireless Web access, the next generation of mobile phones utilizes the Advanced Wireless Services (A.W.S.) Spectrum, which allow for a variety of wireless services.

Eliminating multiple, desperate devices with one integrate cell phone with Internet access is the almighty goal for the connected user. Why not consolidate and simplify technologies into one very fast mobile phone. You can instead tap into your cell phone’s service to get wireless access. The new wireless and Internet access via a mobile phone enables users to manage business on the go or to work entirely via the Internet.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved networking requirements and access to the Advanced Wireless Services (A.W.S.) Spectrum as a means of keeping pace with the fast growth of voice and data services. The competition among the cellular service providers is heating up. New service packages offer high bandwidth with standard Internet access via the mobile browser as standard packages.

A.W.S. is the next generation in wireless mobile. Allowing the use of the microwave bandwidth for cellular services will allow for a whole new level of data transfer and mobile phone services.

Development of the Mobile Internet

According to many sources, one of the greatest factors to inhibit the use of mobile internet is the speeds that are available. When a person has a benchmark against which to measure a service then the newer service needs to provide better results or additional features that make it more attractive. In the case of the mobile internet many people already have a faster connection from their home of office computer.

This leaves the mobile internet to provide services that will attract new users, but there is only so much of a gap in speed that the features such as mobility can cover. Unfortunately at the moment the gap is too great for most people, particularly for those people who use GPRS services. The introduction of 3G cards was trumpeted as the arrival of competitively high speeds, but for many this turned out to be untrue. One of the greatest factors working for the benefit of mobile internet is that new products and technologies are constantly being produced.

All service providers are currently trying to increase the speed of their bandwidth to attract additional customers. One of the problems is mobile internet will constantly be compared to standard broadband speeds and be found wanting. The rates that are charged by the service providers, such as T-mobile or Orange, are also higher for comparative speeds than fixed line broadband providers are. Since different service providers offer different packages people do have a choice, but often it is viewed as a choice of the lesser of two evils.

The number of mobile phones that are capable of surfing the net is increasing very quickly as it quickly becomes an expected feature on new mobile phones being released. The majority of service providers still focus on providing data cards for laptops though. This is attributed to the inability of many phones to browse the internet at a sufficiently fast rate for users. One of the greatest problems when browsing the internet on a mobile phone is the tiny size of the screen.

This has lead to an increasing number of people who are now designing their web sites so that it is possible to get a vaguely decent browsing experience. This entails coding the site so that it will be easier to view than standard sites on a mobile phone screen. Until such time as all sites are set up in this way the speed of the mobile internet will be less important. Who cares if a page can load quickly if you can’t see it properly when it has loaded?