Accelerated Dial-Up and Your Home Internet Business - Is it a Good Combination?

By Bob Davis

I have always been a firm believer that in order to run a successful Internet business, it is important that you use the fastest, most reliable Internet connection that is available to you and that you can reasonably afford. In this article, I'll be addressing the relatively new form of Internet connection called accelerated dial-up.

You've probably seen accelerated dial-up services advertised in television commercials and some of you may even be using it right now. Most Internet service providers advertise surf speeds up to 5x faster than standard dial-up. First of all, let's make it clear that accelerated dial-up is not a form of broadband or high speed Internet access.

Common industry perception tends to view any speed over 512 Kbps as broadband when in actuality, the FCC defines broadband as anything over 200 Kbps while the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) classifies it as anything upwards of the 150 Kbps to 200 Kbps range. To put these speeds in perspective, a standard V.90 dial-up modem will allow you to browse the web at a maximum speed of 56 Kbps, dependent on both the hardware your ISP provides, and the quality of your phone line.

Accelerated dial-up still uses your normal phone line and still transfers data at the same rate as standard dial-up. There are three primary reasons that your surfing experience is 'accelerated' and there is nothing magical about any of them:

* Web page caching
* Data compression
* Improved network communication

With web page caching, your ISP essentially 'predicts' the pages that you will visit by caching or storing your frequently visited pages on its network. Since these cached pages are already downloaded, the appearance is that you are actually surfing at faster speeds. Your ISP is making use of what is called a 'cached network'.

Web accelerators use a compression algorithm to compress certain text and images before the data is transferred. The accelerator software that you install on your PC can uncompress the text data but images cannot be uncompressed. This is because the only way to compress an image is to reduce its quality by using a 'lossy' compression algorithm and once this takes place, there is no way to undo the process. Basically, your ISP uses a type of image optimizer on their end before transferring the data to you.

The accelerator software also manages the connection between your modem and the ISP network so that it stays optimized. In most cases, this simply means that your connections remain persistent rather than being closed and then re-established.

So, what benefits are provided to your Internet business by using an accelerated dial-up connection? Put simply -- None.

While accelerated dial-up is wonderful for web browsing and web-based email retrieval, typically to the tune of another $3.00 to $6.00 per month, file transfer times, streaming media transfer times and secure page download times remain identical to what you experience with standard dial-up. In the world of Internet business, faster surfing speeds do not compensate for faster data transfer rates.

For most online businesses, file transfer and email retrieval are the two primary tasks that benefit from a high speed Internet connection. Accelerated dial-up does not provide a speed boost in either of these areas.

Accelerated dial-up plans often tout faster email access on the web in addition to the faster surf speeds. It's the 'on the web' that you need to be aware of. This means that web-based email services like Yahoo or Hotmail will appear to be faster, but your local email applications such as Outlook, Netscape or Eudora will serve up your email as slow as ever.

When it comes to running your Internet business, don't skimp on your Internet connection. Strive to get the fastest, most reliable high speed Internet connection that is available in your area. If you can't immediately afford the 'speed you need', then upgrade once you get some online profits rolling in. Don't settle for any type of dial-up unless you absolutely have no other choice.

Bob Davis is a professional database consultant, web designer, graphic artist, and Internet marketer. If you'd like some solid tips on starting your own legitimate internet business, then visit his free 'Home Internet Business Guide for Beginners' at http://www.internetbusiness-home.com.

ADSL vs. 3G vs. iBurst vs. myWireless

By Bronwen Elisabeth Roberts

The upside and downside of broadband Internet in South Africa

Always-on internet is all the rage as smaller firms seek a comprehensive broadband connection.

There is an escalating demand for ADSL, with service providers reporting figures of 100% to 200% growth over the past six months. When the price of ADSL was high the market take-up was slow, but as soon as Telkom reduced the cost, demand escalated.

A lot of this demand is coming from small businesses that have been using a dial-up connection and are realising it is now more viable to use an always-on broadband internet connection.

Where a small business used to pay 11800 a month for 512 kilobits per second (kbps) ADSL line, it now costs about R318 a month.

If a business is spending 30 minutes a day connected to the internet on a dial-up line it will cost about R342, and this could justify an ADSL line.

Small businesses that are using a 64kbps leased line connection at 112 000 a month are now saying they would be better off paying a quarter of the price for ADSL even if it means having a less consistent quality of service.

However, it is hard to satisfy demand and with Telkom there is a four to six-month lag in service delivery.

Having been sold on the benefits of ADSL customers want it now and are asking whether they should go for another type of broadband service such as 3G/HSDPA, iBurst or myWireless instead.

HSDPA is providing good response times and router devices are available that will allow a small business to connect multiple laptop and PC users to the service and share the bandwidth in the same way they would with ADSL.

A bundled 3GIHSDPA router and data card as an alternative to ADSL is available. A number of different mobile data packages are also available with 3G and HSDPA - ranging from R350 to R5 000 a month, depending on how many megabytes of data download capacity is required.

The advantage of 3GIHS-DPA is that the service will switch to EDGE or GPRS if the user moves out of the coverage area, whereas with the iBurst and My-Wireless wireless service there is no alternative.

Dual-mode cellular/WiFi phones are available that allow calls to be routed to users over the wireless local area network (LAN) when they are in the office or over the mobile data network when they are traveling, using the same device. This is a lot cheaper than making conventional cellular voice calls, charged for by the minute, because data is charged per megabyte of capacity. This will save companies a lot of money because statistics show that 50% of cellular calls are made in the office environment.

A company should have an internet protocol-capable PBX to take advantage of this new capability. Then, if an employee has a wireless access point at home, VoIP calls can be routed to him on his dual mode phone from his office.

Stand apart with on demand and always on. International and cellular least cost routing ensures you cheap business calls.

Evaluating Bandwidth Choices-OC3 vs OC12 vs OC48

By Michael Lemm

Looking for bandwidth? That can be a daunting and frustrating task even in the best of situations. There's lots to consider in order to make the right decision for your needs. Below you'll find some help when evaluating OC3 vs OC12 vs OC48. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Cost.

~~~~~~~~~

Technology: OC3

Speed: 155.52 Mbps

Description: Optical carrier (fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 155.52 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC3 to start at around a $10-30,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider).....not including local loop or extensive setup. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...Tier 1 providers may cost more than local/regional Tier 2 and Tier 3 providers but are much more stable and reliable. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

~~~~~~~~~~

Technology: OC12

Speed: 622.08 Mbps

Description: Optical carrier (fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 622.08 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC12 to start at around $1-300,000+ for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)..... plus several hundred thousand dollars in setup costs. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

~~~~~~~~~~

Technology: OC48

Speed: 2.488 Gbps (Gigabytes per second)

Description: Optical carrier (multiple strands of fiber) connected by equipment capable of speeds up to 2.488 Mbps.

Application: Large enterprise or ISP backbone.

Pros: Extremely high speed and throughput.

Cons: Extremely high cost.

Costs: Expect cost of an OC48 to start at around $3-500,000 for a stable, reliable system (e.g. from a Tier 1 provider)..... plus several hundred thousand dollars in setup costs. However....the pricing for these connections can vary widely depending on the carrier, location of service and the application for which the connection is being used. A Tier 1 provider should always be the provider of choice for any business serious about the quality of their OCx network.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Broadband Gives You Access To The Internet, Phone and TV

By Keith George

Do you remember using the Internet back when you had to dial in using a modem. If you are unlucky enough to still be using dial-up Internet access, I feel for you. The internet is a growing and dynamic entity and everyone will have broadband sooner or later.

Naturally companies try to offer access to internet in growing number of ways. Assuming the user has the correct hardware, a wi-fi account, and is in range of the transmitters, the service allows the user to connect to the internet at broadband speeds without the use of cables. Users can log on to the internet at these hotspots provided they have an account with the broadband supplier and the necessary wireless equipment, such as a wireless laptop or broadband-enabled mobile phone.

An extra phone is the only way to get calls that cannot be received due to the dial up connection. Fixed line operators are now incorporating wireless with their traditional phone services providing ease of having one device and one bill for both mobile and fixed line calls. You can take it out of your phone bill.

Broadband phone actually uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to carry phone calls through the internet. There are also a number of companies that has VoIP as a free service.

Digital Subscriber Lines, or DSL uses the existing customer phone lines to provide internet or intranet access to businesses and homes using high-speed broadband technology of varying levels. But even with all the technology that has gone into the making of the Internet, there seems to be more to be expected than has been seen. It's easy to understand why; the technology industry defines it in different ways as well.

Just be sure you do not choose an ISDN line (because it is getting obsolete) or power line (because the technology is not mature, and it will be some years before the bugs are ironed out). The cheapest broadband deals allow for such technology to reach our homes for less than $10 per month.

Ok, on to the two major broadband access methods, cable and DSL. There is cable access, DSL access, satellite access. Although cable broadband internet is a whole lot faster than dial-up, I usually experience a slight delay when opening a webpage.

Perhaps most people do not notice the latency associated with cable internet, but it got my attention right away. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. Approximately 4 million people in the UK use ADSL with an extra 2 million using a cable connection, meaning 6 million people in the UK have an always-on internet connection.

The fact is that anything less than the speed supplied by a broadband cable has become inadequate for todays internet users.

Providers

However it has emerged that broadband providers touting such products are not revealing the full story to their customers. The key will be for broadband providers to develop the services that broadband allows for, and to deliver them to as many households as possible. High-speed Internet services are growing in popularity because intense competition from broadband providers is continually driving the product exposure in the marketplace to new highs, and prices to new lows.

Connecting to the Internet for the first time in your home or office is as easy as securing a fixed telephone line (which you probably already have) and signing up to one of the dozens of Broadband Providers, like AOL and others.

Satellite

Bummer indeed, but you still have broadband Direct PC by satellite and it seems to make it through those clouds and so you can surf the NOAA website and get the latest results or watch video streams of the local TV station right. Broadband Internet by Satellite is about the coolest invention in the World and indeed it has helped the unconnected become connected even if they live in the middle of nowhere. Did you know you can get a special satellite antenna hooked up on your motor home or recreational vehicle that will enable you to get the Internet anywhere in North America.

Television

So they are bundling broadband with other products, such as home phone, digital television and mobile. The acronym is used to describe services which broadcast on-demand television programming to consumers, delivered via a broadband connection on normal telephone line to TV screens. Broadband television is a means of providing TV programs via the Internet.

Broadband Television is being hailed as the biggest change in the way we watch television since it was first invented.

Keith George always writes about valuable news & reviews. A related resource is Economy

The Future of Online Marketing

By Rodney Brooks

The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over, and expecting different results - Albert Einstein

Lets face it. The methods by which consumers are absorbing information and the ways we perceive, retain and engage with brands and brand messages have changed enormously.

Magazines, radio broadcasters and television networks, are losing advertising to the Web. With television networks, the growing problem is that digital television is bringing on the rise of video-on-demand, video downloads, interactive game networks, Internet TV and other consumer and revenue stealing enterprises. Radio broadcasters are losing listeners, talent and revenues to iPod playlists and satellite upstarts.

Because enough consumers spend a lot of time accessing information and entertainment through digital media cable TV, mobile phones, video games and the Internet the overall pattern of media use has shifted.

Which means that these can be wonderful times for Internet Marketers who recognize the trends and are capable of change.

Using different media to create more meaning to, and develop deeper connections with your customer, should be one of the things at the top of your marketing checklist.

One sure method of developing a deeper connection with your customer is to simply add video to your website. People will be more open to your offers if they can see and hear you. You are able to convey a deeper sense of emotion in your messages by the use of facial expressions and in your tone of voice, thereby deepening the connection between you and your audience.

Another quick and easy method is to add a podcast or online radio broadcast to your Website that will be of interest to your target market. There are hundreds of sites online with free information, videos, training and tutorials on podcasting and adding audio and video to your Website, with more and more coming online everyday.

There now also seems to be a new Prime Time - 9am 5pm. Why? Simply because more people have access to computers during those hours. A recent survey conducted by Internet Retailer Magazine (www.internetretailer.com), indicated that more and more people are using their lunch breaks to shop online.

Mobile devices such as cell phones and iPods will create additional means of reaching customers outside of their homes.

Adults and children alike are broadcasting podcasts, playlists, online periodicals, even original music recordings and films, and according to Strategy+Business Magazine, over 8 million Americans maintain their own blogs. The social networking Web site MySpace, on which men, women and children post about themselves and their interests, has more than 50 million registered users and was adding 4 million new users a month at the end of last year. The shopping site eBay has 79 million registered users. And YouTube, a site launched in February 2005 for member-uploaded video clips, already streams more video than Google or Yahoo.

With so many people now connecting to the media in so many different ways, the possibilities and opportunities for todays advertisers are endless. What we are now witnessing, is The Most Significant transformation of the marketing profession in more than 50 years.

By embracing and utilizing the many different advertising channels afforded us by this new digital media, and injecting into this mold our own individual savvy and creativity, todays Internet Marketer can continue to be successful well into the next millennia.

Rodney Brooks is President / CEO of Brooks Global eBusiness Solutions Take look at the most amazing suite of video products never before seen on the Internet or anywhere else! Company is launching in June 2006 Go to: http://brooksglobal.blogspot.com

What is Broadband?

By Neil Shevlin

Defining broadband can get complicated

There are many different takes on how to actually define the word: broadband. The first and most obvious way to define it is a transmission medium that allows for multiple pathways and types of data, far exceeding simple voice communication devices. Simply, put it is the ability to access a variety of data through one connection at a reasonable speed.

Where a phone line severely limits the amount of information it can transmit, a broadband line, which has bandwidth greater than 2 mbps, unlike a standard dial-up connection which will only have 56kbps, can allow for a variety of different frequencies and channels to travel down its wide pathway. This makes it optimal for those who play video games on the Internet or are involved in heavy graphics work that they need to import, send and receive along the information superhighway.

The minimum width of a broadband line has become a matter of debate. While initially, the broadband definition was a line that was greater than 2 mbps in width, other experts began asserting that it should be at least 3 mbps wide. Still others complain that at least 20 would be appropriate. But now, broadband services start as low as 1 mbps, for those who are trying out broadband for the first time. So who really knows what the minimum level of bandwidth is needed in order for it to be called broadband? One thing is certain though. DSL service which an range from 256 kbps capacity on the downstream and upstream side up to 1.5mbps, or even higher, is considered a broadband service as well. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. So, in reality anything with greater capacity than a narrow line, like a telephone line, which can only hold up to 64 kbps, is technically considered a broadband service.

Broadband services have become all the craze in the past few years. When the Internet started to become more mainstream in the 1990s people were content with simple dial-up Internet services, which used only narrow lines. But as the need for speed became important, especially as files and Web pages became more elaborate, requiring more computer storage space and memory, the need for larger bulks of information being able to be sent and received at a quicker pace became essential. Hence, we have the broadband revolution. Today, hardly anyone uses narrow band service, or dial-up. Broadband Internet access is the name of the game. And if you work in an office it is absolutely essential, as larger chunks of information are frequently sent to and from businesses on a regular basis. Simply put, if you dont have broadband today, you are probably a person who does not need the Internet for a living. With the number of telecommuting jobs available today, the need for broadband serv ices is only likely to expand greatly.

About The Author:

Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.

For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband

http://www.ukcheapbroadband Copyright 2005

Please feel free to copy and paste this article and it's resource information.

Broadband Service Providers

By Alen Wilson

The Internet has reformed the way we do business, making broadband access absolutely critical. Broadband enables your business to progress in a much better manner. With the number of residential and business customers turning to high-speed Internet connections like DSL, cable and even satellite, the number of broadband service providers is also increasing. But broadband availability and more importantly, accessibility has developed a lot slowly in rural markets. The factors that come into play are lower population density; fewer business and more remote users make rural markets less appealing than their urban counterparts.

It is believed that those in rural areas face a lot of difficulty in getting access to broadband. Because of fewer broadband providers in rural areas, the competition is a lot less. The price for broadband access therefore is relatively higher in these areas than in areas saturated with broadband providers.

There are varied broadband Internet service providers and they offer several connection forms. Broadband can be separated into several different categories, such as cable, DSL, and satellite. The major benefit of broadband service over dial up service is the uploading speed of websites. When changing from dial up to broadband service, the speed increases exponentially which saves you time and energy. Broadband is an always-on connection, so you do not need to connect to it each time you want to use the Internet.

One broadband Internet service provider is your local cable company. They have supreme speed and are easy of use. Each time you turn on your computer your Internet connection is ready and you do not need to take the time to connect to it.

The cost is sometimes a concern for Internet users, but these broadband Internet service providers sometimes offer package deals with your cable TV service or a slower access speed for a reduced price. Several broadband Internet service providers offer DSL service.

One of the major drawbacks of this service is that it is distance sensitive. It is quite dependent on the phone lines and any disturbance will cause disruptions to your service also. The best way to find out about the pros and cons of any broadband Internet service provider is word of mouth.

Satellite broadband service Internet providers offer a service that many rural or out of the way areas are not offered by their cable company or other providers. This is an added bonus to many customers who would otherwise not have Internet service without the satellite providers.

Broadband Internet service providers offer a service that millions of customers use everyday. The main job is to research the type of service that you want to use whether cable, DSL, or satellite and find the right choice for you and your family.

Compare the web speed, features and cost while making your decision. Enjoy surfing the web with the speed and convenience that you will love!

Amazingly, some broadband service providers provide some value added services also. There are dozens of other features and services broadband service providers bundle with their broadband connection. Broadband service providers need to be awakened to the fact that it's not just about speed and price, it�s all about differentiation.

All About Wireless Routers

By James Dyson

It is an incomplete computer network without a router. So, what all it does within a network. A router actually transfers data packets along networks. It requires at least two networks for a router to connect, commonly it connects two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISP network. As a connecter device, routers are positioned at gateways, where two or more networks are connected.

Routing in the Internet Routing is the technique using which data get its transfer path from one host computer to another. To say technically, routers uses headers and tables to determine the best path for transferring data packets among networks, and for this they use protocols such as ICMP to communicate with one other and thus configures the best route between any two hosts.

Difference between Routers, Switches and Hubs Many people understand routers, switches and hubs for one another beside their different type of functionality.

Today most routers are integrated into a single device having the features of a router, switch and hub. Still a router, switch and a hub are all quite different from one another, even after integrating all into a single device.

A switch and hub are two devices, which do similar task on a network. Both serves to be as a central part of your network and transfers data, which are known as frames. A transferred frame from a computer is received and improved to transmit it to the port of the destination computer. The difference here between these two devices is in the way by which frames are transferred.

On another side, routers are completely different from a switch or hub. Where a hub or switch job is to transmit frames, a router role is to route the data packets to other networks where its task is to submit the data packet to its destination ultimately. The major difference here of the data packet is that it contains destination address together with the data, which guides it to its destination.

All routers have a port to connect to a DSL or Cable modem and the integrated switch facilitate users to create a LAN. This makes possibility for the computers on a LAN to connect to the Internet.

How a Wireless Router Work A router is connected to the broadband modem and in turn, it is connected to your computer to connect the Internet. There are wide ranges of wireless routers available in the market. In the wireless router category, for the transmission speed of data, they do not actually compete with each other.

The data transmitting speed is an important aspect and should be high. People who want to have a router should also find it easy to install as well. The array of its OS support should be versatile. A wireless router working well with Windows, Mac and Linux should be the best one among all.

While Setting up Your Wireless Router... Once you had decided to go wireless for your Internet, then your laptops/computers should have in-built wireless points to carry it around your workplace or at home without any LAN cables. It will be astonishing to work so.

But you also need to know a little background to set it up. Generally, a wireless router features many, a router, modem, firewall, port switch and a wireless access point. It makes your broadband easily sharable among others in you office or at home.

While installation, it needs to be careful about which socket on your router is the correct one for connecting it to the port on the wall. Improper connection may lead to temporary access loss consuming hours together to fix it. So please make sure that the cables you are supposed to connect are of right match.

Setting up a wired router should be comparatively easy by simply following the instructions manual given with the router. However, for installing a wireless router, it needs to be little trickier. Usually the instructions should be sufficient but checking out to have few tips on setting a wireless router will make you secure doing it.

You can cash back on broadband from a reward site.

Broadband Internet Access; What is in It for You?

By Michael Russell

The Internet is the vogue of the day and the wave of the future. So much has been seen and heard about the Internet. It has revolutionized almost every part of our existence, from the way we think to how we buy and sell things. But even with all the technology that has gone into the making of the Internet, there seems to be more to be expected than has been seen.

The Internet is like a cyber library. It is a huge international network of computers with tons and tons of information. The means of accessing the information contained in the Internet varies. The earliest Internet access was the Dial up method.

The Dial-up Internet connection involves an Internet access over a public switch telephone network. With the dial-up connection, users in a neighborhood share the available bandwidth provided by single cable line. The connection speed usually varies depending on how many people are using the service at any particular time.

More advancement in technology gave birth to the Broadband Internet connection option. Broadband is a high-speed transmission. It is used to refer to Internet access, which uses cable modems or DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). Broadband DSL connections are faster and more effective compared to dial-up connections.

The Broadband technology can support a wide range of frequencies. Broadband in general refers to data transmission where multiple pieces of data are sent simultaneously to increase the effective rate of transmission.

The medium through which the broadband technology is based has the ability to transmit multiple pieces of data simultaneously and to carry signals from different network carriers. This is done through fiber-optic cables. The fiber-optic cables are made of thin glass strands and have the capacity of transmitting trillions of bits per second.

The broadband, therefore makes access to the internet faster and more efficient. Because of the high-speed transmission, retrieving information from the internet has become really fast and efficient.

The speed of data transmission over the DSL is measured in Megabytes per second (Mbps). With broadband connection, the threshold frequency varies from one provider to the other. It ranges from 1.5Mbps or as high as 45Mbps with some providers. Although the broadband Internet access option costs more than the conventional Dial-up connection, you will enjoy what you are paying for. The speed and efficiency of connection is something you won't want to miss. Besides this, most cable companies operating broadband connections would normally allow you the luxury of being online 24/7 and on the phone for a flat monthly rate. You can always plan your budget to accommodate the few extra bucks for this luxury.

The other part of the story is how do you choose a reputable operator out of the multitude out there. When it comes to this, there are several things to consider and compare before making your choice. Of course, you will need to compare prices, that comes up first, but do not forget other factors like, speed of connection, abilities and credibility of the operator, additional features that comes with your purchase and the ease of use of their service. There are Internet companies that will offer additional features like Spam blockers, virus scan and even firewalls. All these should be considered before you make a purchase. Whatever you choice remember that you are spending your hard earned bucks, you deserve the best service, take your time to get the best and enjoy the new era of internet connection via the broadband technology.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Broadband

An Innovative New Way to Connect to the Net While You Travel

By Kathy Steinemann

Computer technology is in a constant state of flux - and with it, the various methods of connecting to the internet. Carrying a laptop computer with you while you travel is probably a way of life if you take frequent business trips. You know all about DSL, dial-up, wireless, and cable connections - but the hotel reservations desk has just informed you that their hotel offers iBridge internet. 'Huh? iBridge?' you say! Will it work with your current laptop computer?

iBridge in a Nutshell

iBridge technology uses existing electrical wiring to connect to the net. Telkonet, a company based in Germantown, Maryland, has devised a system that allows you to establish an internet connection by plugging a special adapter into any available electrical outlet. The adapter has an input for Cat 5 cable - today's standard for Ethernet connectivity. Within seconds, you can be using your laptop to surf the net. iBridge transforms electrical lines into a 'bridge' between your computer and the net, with strong built-in security and reliability.

Where can iBridge be Utilized?

A few hotel chains have elected to use iBridge. You will find the technology installed in Sheratons, Sandman Hotels, Ramadas, Holiday Inns, Hiltons, Choice Hotels International, Best Westerns, and America's Best Value Inns. It is quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive to install. Older buildings do not require expensive cabling renovations. Reservations clerks might not be cognizant of the technology, but they will tell you that guests use it and love it.

A few communities have installed iBridge. The monthly user fee is usually lower than established conventional systems such as dial-up or broadband. Condominiums and apartment complexes are ideal arenas for iBridge installations. NASA and the US military use it. The grapevine says that Telkonet's invention is even being employed by the military in overseas areas such as Iraq.

A Short Explanation of the Technology

Internet packets arrive at a Telkonet 10/100 gateway Ethernet port. A specialized multi-channel router then instantaneously scans power lines for spikes and interference, dispatching the data out over clean power lines in PCL format. At the receiving end, data enters an iBridge device that converts everything back to the format recognized by your computer - which is connected to the device via Cat 5 cable.

Looking to the Future

Wouldn't it be convenient if internet access were available at every electrical outlet in the world? You could 'plug in' at home, in restaurants, airport terminals, bed and breakfasts, or meeting venues - not worrying for a second about the security problems associated with wireless access.

Another company is developing a global 'HomePlug' protocol that will allow worldwide networking of computers and appliances. Someday you should be able to program your stereo equipment, kitchen gadgets, televisions, and home surveillance systems from anywhere. Gene Roddenberry (the creator of 'Star Trek') may have foreshadowed much of the technology we take for granted today. However, he certainly had no idea that electricity would eventually be used to link the entire world via the World Wide Web.

ฉCopyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included.

Kathy writes for several travel-related websites: Adult Escapes - as well as many others.

Sunrocket Internet Phone Service - One of the Best VoIP Providers for the Money

By Debbie Jacobsen

Sunrocket internet phone service is probably the best VoIP value available in the United States today. At $199 for a year�s worth of unlimited local and long distance calling within the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, Sunrocket�s annual plan works out to only $16.58 per month. With this annual broadband phone service plan, you need to pay the $199 up front, but you will never see any additional charges. Sunrocket�s VoIP plans are �all-inclusive�, meaning there are no extra fees commonly associated with other telephone service and cellular service providers. Sun Rocket does not charge extra for the various FCC and governmental access fees, and there are no add-on taxes either. What you see is what you get with Sunrocket, which is one of the really nice things about this VoIP provider.

Unique Features Regarding Sunrocket�s Unlimited Annual VoIP Plan

Sunrocket offers some really unique �freebies� for annual subscribers that not common with most VoIP services. For starters, you get a free extra phone number to use as you wish. This number can either be a local phone number or an �anywhere� phone number, the choice is yours. Some people use the extra number as a second local number and give it to a child. What kid wouldn�t want his/her own private phone number? Those with home offices can use it as a separate business number. If you like, you can get the extra phone number in a different area code, allowing �local� calling from a different state. This is a great for subscribers who have family in a different area of the country, as they can then call you anytime for free. The number is local to them, so no long distance charges are incurred.

Sunrocket also provides free Enhanced 911 Service (E911) to all subscribers, a service that many VoIP providers charge extra for. E911 is important to have if VoIP is used as your primary residential phone service because internet phone service is by nature not associated with a physical location. E911 technology allows subscribers to enter their current physical address into the system. When an emergency call is made, it is routed to the closest 911 dispatcher, and your address is transmitted as well. Without E911, you would have to tell the emergency services operator your location. E911 provides this information up front, allowing for faster and more efficient response to emergencies.

Other freebies include two free directory assistance calls per month, and $3 per month of free international calling. You might not think that $3 will go very far when making international calls, but with Sunrocket international rates as low as .03 per minute to 41 countries and cities, this works out to 100 free international minutes for calling places like Europe, Japan, China, Malaysia, Monterey, Mexico City and more. If the country you want to call is not included in one of the .03 per minute �sunspots�, Sunrocket�s international rates to most international destinations are still much cheaper than most other providers.

Sunrocket Calling Features

One of the great things about any internet phone service is all the free calling features that come with it. Like most VoIP providers, Sunrocket service includes free caller ID, call waiting, call return, 3-way conference calling, call forwarding and voicemail. There are around 14 free features with Sun Rocket VoIP; not quite as many as companies like Vonage and Packet8 offer, but these providers are more expensive as well.

About Sunrocket

Sunrocket was founded in 2004, and is committed to providing high-quality, low cost residential VoIP service with �no-hassle� pricing. Sunrocket�s top management includes highly experienced people from the internet/information technology industry. CEO Lisa Hook used to be President of AOL Broadband, Premium and Developer Services. Their CIO Robert Kramer formerly served as Senior Vice President, Business Technologies at America Online, Inc.

Sunrocket is probably the fastest growing internet phone service provider in America, and their service area is expanding quickly as well. As of January 2006, Sunrocket service was available to 75% of U.S. households, including 96 of the top 100 United States markets. Sun Rocket offers �unconditional satisfaction� and will provide a reasonable refund to any subscriber who is not completely satisfied with the service.

In addition to the annual service plan, Sunrocket also offers a "limited" monthly plan which includes 200 minutes of local and long distance calling.

To learn more about Sunrocket and other VoIP service providers:

The Best VoIP Providers for the Money

Net Neutrality Act Once Again on the Agenda

By Michael Talbert

On January 9th, Republican Senator Olympia Snowe and Democrat Byron Dorgan reintroduced the Internet Freedom Preservation Act to the Senate. Better known as the Net Neutrality Act, the bill was killed by the Senate last year in a vote split down party lines (Democrats yea, Republicans nay), with the exception of Senator Snowe. With the Democrats having a slight majority in the Senate, the bill certainly has a better chance this time around, but it still needs 60 votes to prevent a Republican filibuster.

The impetus for the bill started back in 2005, when broadband network executives began discussing the possibility of charging companies that use a high percentage of bandwidth. Most notably, in an interview with a Business Week, SBC chairman Ed Whitacre Jr (now AT&T CEO) stated: �How do you think they're going to get to customers? Through a broadband pipe. Cable companies have them. We have them. Now what they would like to do is use my pipes free, but I ain't going to let them do that because we have spent this capital and we have to have a return on it. So there's going to have to be some mechanism for these people who use these pipes to pay for the portion they're using. Why should they be allowed to use my pipes?�

Whitacre went on to say, �The Internet can't be free in that sense, because we and the cable companies have made an investment and for a Google or Yahoo! or Vonage or anybody to expect to use these pipes free is nuts!"

What�s nuts is that he actually said that. What followed was a grass roots uprising from Internet companies, consumer groups, and bloggers, concerned about broadband service providers having the ability to determine what applications and services are provided to the Internet consumer. Conceivably, even searches performed on the Internet could lead directly to a site owned by the provider.

Broadband service providers already charge consumers up to $60 a month for Internet service, and now want to turn around and charge companies like Google, Yahoo, YouTube and Vonage for their bandwidth usage. What you see on the Internet would be totally under the influence of your broadband service provider � the so called Gatekeeper, and a once free and unfettered Internet would evolve into a scripted and censored interactive television network.

And what about up and coming technologies such as Voice over IP telephony? If you don�t pay, you don�t play! The pure play VoIP providers like Vonage, Packet8 and Skype offer some of the lowest rates in the history of the Telecommunications industry. Wouldn�t AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast just love to tax these companies right out of business! These big boys also offer VoIP phone service, but prefer to start at $40 calling plans rather than the pure plays $10-$20 plans. At 3 million and growing, consumers are realizing the value of Internet Telephony. Let the Gatekeepers charge for the pipe, and the little guys are sure to suffer, as will the consumer in the form of higher prices.

The Gatekeepers complain that they built the network, and they should be able to recoup their investment. Fine, but does that mean they should be able to shape the face of the Internet? Companies like AT&T need to find another way. The Internet was and is a place where the little guy has as good a chance as any to make it big. Google, YouTube, Skype and Vonage all started small, and are now leaders in their Internet industry.

The Net Neutrality act would prohibit service providers from blocking or degrading access to Internet content and services. They also could not prevent consumers from connecting external devices to their network, with the exception of devices posing a threat to security. The prioritization of types of content, applications, or services would be allowed under the condition that it is done free of charge, and that it is done for all types of that particular content. For example, the prioritization of packets to insure Quality of Service for Voice over IP must be done for all VoIP providers free of charge to them.

Another interesting proposal in the bill would require that broadband companies offer standalone broadband service, to be enforced by the FCC. A recent ruling by the FCC in Atlanta decried that Bell South (now AT&T), was not obliged to unbundle its DSL broadband service from a traditional telephone line. This would open up the opportunity for consumers to acquire a DSL broadband connection without having to pay for traditional phone service.

Whitacre and company (AT&T) recently agreed to adopt the spirit of net neutrality for a period of 2 years so that they could get approval from the FCC to merge with Bell South. It worked! Bell South and Cingular Wireless will soon be known, once again, as AT&T.

Senator Dorgan maintains that the Internet was a place where anyone with a good idea could create a business. "The marketplace picked winners and losers, not some central gatekeeper," said the Senator. "That freedom--the very core of what makes the Internet what it is today--must be preserved."

With a new sheriff in town, maybe, just maybe it will be.

Author Michael Talbert is a certified systems engineer and web designer with over 7 years experience in the industry. For more information on VoIP Blog for up to date industry news and commentary.

Broadband Internet and Information Problems During Hurricanes

By Lance Winslow

Imagine if you will sitting in Florida and watching some 400 channels on your Direct TV and listening to the Hurricane News as one approaches, but it is still too early to tell where it will actually hit. Then one of the outer bands comes over and disrupts your signal, nothing? Bummer indeed, but you still have broadband Direct PC by satellite and it seems to make it through those clouds and so you can surf the NOAA website and get the latest results or watch video streams of the local TV station right?

Sure until all of a sudden that goes out too because the next rain band is much thicker, more precipitation and thus denser clouds and well you cannot get thru. Meanwhile the wind is picking up and it is getting to be Gale Force or Tropical Stormish, but heck you antenna is good for 55 mph and even the occasional gust of 70 probably will not break it, it is pretty tough and you know this from past experience there. Unfortunately the wind gets even more fierce and you are having trouble with your local radio stations, you now have no TV or Internet and have no clue what to do. But you decide to get on the roof and take down that antenna, knowing once you do, then you are really SOL?

Broadband Internet will have signal and information problems during Hurricanes, but then again once the power goes out, you probably cannot watch TV anyway. Safest thing to do is have some extra batteries, as you will be communication blind for a while during these storms you see. Consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online www.WorldThinkTank.net/

Traveling with VoIP

By Calum Mackinnon

The vast array of features that VoIP has to offer allows the technology to be used in a myriad of ways. One advantage VoIP telephony has over traditional phone service is its ability to travel with you. By this, we mean that with VoIP you can travel locally or internationally and keep the same number, move house and have no break in service or simply go on vacation and have your same number and features. Cell phones can potentially fill this niche, however it is expensive to have a service that will work internationally and when moving house or going on vacation there is no guarantee that there will be coverage at your new location.

VoIP offers a number of features that not only allow you to travel but will make it an advantage to take your VoIP phone with you rather than say a cell phone or pay those expensive hotel rates. Below we will introduce a few of these features.

First, you must find a plan that that has the travel global feature. Use our to see all the Service Providers that support this feature. This feature, allows you to take your IP ready phone or ATA and plug it into any broadband connection around the world and you will have the same service and features you are accustomed to at home. This can be extremely useful to you when visiting family abroad as I do. I take my VoIP phone with me and stay in touch for free. Having the same phone number also means that you can easily be reached and there are no surprise phone charges for the people who call you. Not something you are likely to see with a cell phone plan.

For business users Call transfer is an extremely beneficial feature. This allows you to transfer a call you have already answered to another number. Effectively you are taking your office network with you. Again this feature is not available with your standard Cell phone but does came as standard with most VoIP plans.

PC to Phone or sometimes referred to as softphone can be a cheaper alternative or more convenient than traveling with an ATA or an IP ready phone. A simple software download and you can turn your PC into your telephone. You will still have all the features of VoIP but you will use your laptop to make and receive calls. For business travelers you are almost guaranteed a phone service from anywhere in the world, excellent value for money at $10 a month.

The above features are network features in that they depend upon the Service Provider you choose. However, the introduction in recent years of the IP ready phone, which has the ATA built in, offers consumers a whole host of new features and applications. The Video Phone is one such application that is becoming more and more common place. Video over cellular networks such as TDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE or even 3G networks have proved problematic. Only when using 3G networks is it realistically possible and that then depends on the number of people sharing your wireless bandwidth. If you take into account the size of 3G cell phones, video becomes impractical. With VoIP, as you are using a broadband internet connection, you are guaranteed the bandwidth to have good resolution video.

VoIP is expanding at an exponential rate and with its protocol well defined, it promises the integration that has been promised but has never been realized with the cell phone industry. New standards like WI-MAX are well suited to VoIP and several service providers have been testing their service using this new standard. The future of VoIP is well assured, and perhaps it won�t be long before you are carrying your IP ready phone rather than a cell phone and battery charger.

This article highlights some of the many benefits of having a VoIP broadband phone service. Use our free to select the best VoIP phone plan for your families needs, and start saving today.

is based in Seattle, WA. The company is run by experts in the VoIP and telecommunications field, who utilize their knowledge to ensure consumers understand VoIP and, choose the best VoIP solution available to them.

VoIP and Your Broadband Selection

By Michael Weaver

Why is the regional bell operating companies dropping the rates on their DSL residential service? Easy, to gain more customers. Ok, makes sense. But let's look a little closer.

First off, VoIP is making a major push into our homes. I for one have 2 lines in my home. One for business and one for home use. I use VoIP on my business line and my local provider on the other. I also use cable broadband access. Not only is it faster, but when the time comes I can switch my home phone to VoIP and not effect my broadband connection. Yes, the government is mandating the use of 'naked' DSL or DSL without phone service. Expect that in a few years (maybe).

There's the first gotcha. Choose the local telco for DSL access and eliminate the possibility of using VoIP as your primary phone line. Yes you can get VoIP as long as you continue your local telephone service as well. Remember, DSL comes into your home on your phone line. Deactivate your phone line and without naked DSL you disconnect your internet as well.

Remember deregulation of the 80's? Now the RBOC's (regional bell operating companies) need to open their territories up to competition. Ok. I was putting together a quote for local/long distance for a small business. Luckily they had no need or want for internet access. I ran the numbers for both our local RBOC as well as a competitor. The competitors� prices beat the RBOC's hands down. But guess what? The competitor is unable to run DSL (even if my customer wanted it). Gotcha again. RBOC's carry a mighty sword :)

So, if I stick with my RBOC, I can't use VoIP as my primary phone service. If I switch to a competitor, I may not be able to get DSL access. Hmmmm conflict or gotcha?

In all fairness, I've sold DSL service from RBOC's as well as other ISP's. The service is fine. Many of my family members use DSL and are very happy with it. It's really not the DSL service itself that gets me frustrated at times, but rather the lack of choices. Why not use the lower cost DSL access and VoIP as a primary phone line? Because the large RBOC's don't want you to, that's why. Oh sure the government is getting involved, but we'll have to wait a few more years. (Maybe longer)

This short article is not intended solely for the informed. Many people are aware of the conflicts, FCC mandates and issues. The lines between phone usage/internet access/television are becoming more and more blurred. Keep a open mind; don't fall into the marketing traps of the major players. Understand the impact of your technology buying decisions. One just may effect the other. Go DSL, possibly loose VoIP. Switch to an RBOC competitor and quite possibly loose your existing DSL (or ANY DSL for that matter)

Go for cable internet access? I for one would really like to see the cable companies begin to drop their rates. They offer a good service at faster speeds. Unfortunately with the push for DSL (from come on offers starting at around $17 per month) to standard monthly rates around $21-30 per month, it's certainly cheaper than cable internet, which is about $42-47 per month.

What I usually tell my customers is to look at the big picture. Not long ago customers wanted high speed internet at the lowest possible cost. Now what I usually tell my customers, friends and family is to also evaluate their phone usage as well.

One purchase can affect the other. If there is no pressure or need or want to convert to VoIP, then broadband DSL should be just fine. Then there's the people with teenage kids or kids in college. Their phone bills tend to be higher. In some cases the cost may be much higher. If VoIP is going to be on their horizon, then I would recommend staying away from DSL. Do the math. Yes, you may pay a higher per month cost for cable internet service (say $20 a month more) but what would you save on your phone bill by using VoIP? If your phone bill is $40 a month, which you cut to $20 a month using VoIP, it's a wash. The extra savings on the phone bill offsets the higher cost of internet access. If your phone bill is higher, then you start to save more money.

Look at the big picture when deciding your broadband access needs.

This article provided by Try Right Technology, Inc. Visit us at http://www.trightrates.com

Internet Phone Service Results in Big Cost Savings and Many Added Benefits

By Debbie Jacobsen

While discussing money saving tips with some colleagues today, all were amazed at the incredible savings and benefits that are achieved by making a simple switch to broadband phone service. For people like me who have cable internet service (I use Roadrunner), it makes good economical sense to leverage this high speed internet connection and also use it as a replacement for land-line telephone service.

Cost Savings with VoIP

Before switching to Packet8 VoIP service, I paid around $40 a month for local telephone service and an average of $50 a month for long distance calls. Meanwhile I pay $40 a month for cable internet. My total monthly cost for internet plus telephone averaged $130, or $1560 per year. Now I use Packet 8 for unlimited local and long distance calling over my cable connection for only $24 per month (which includes all taxes, fees, and enhanced 911 service). Combined with my $40 per month cable internet cost, my total annual expenditure for phone plus high speed internet is $888. Switching to internet phone service resulted in an instant savings of $672 per year for me.

Additional Benefits of VoIP

In addition to the financial benefits of VoIP internet phone service, there are a lot of extra �perks� that you get when you use broadband phone. All of the top VoIP providers include a rich package of free telephone features with every internet phone service subscription. Although features vary from provider to provider, you can expect to get the following features for free with just about any good VoIP provider: Voice mail, call waiting, caller id, call blocking, call forwarding, voicemail to email, call return, three way conference calling, and online account management/feature management (you can turn on/off any features you want to totally customize your telephone service).

Unlimited Local and Long Distance

Although most VoIP carriers offer a limited as well as an unlimited calling plan, most people get the unlimited local and long distance calling plan, which normally includes calls to Canada. It is generally only a few dollars more a month to get totally unlimited calling, which allows you to talk as long as you want for absolutely no additional charge. This is a nice feature to have, especially when you have a lot of long distance friends and relatives.

Cheap International Calling

All VoIP carriers offer extremely cheap international rates, making internet phone service the most economical way to talk to loved ones in other countries. Some VoIP providers like Packet8 and Lingo offer unlimited international calling plans as well.

Portability of VoIP

Another great benefit of broadband phone service is its portability. You can take your VoIP phone with you wherever you move to, and can even keep the same number. All that�s required on your part is a broadband connection. You can also have several �virtual phone numbers�, allowing you to have a main number in your local area code and another number in a totally different area code. This is really handy if you live far away from family, but want to make it easy for them to stay in touch by providing them with a �local number to use. For businesses that want to have a local presence in different states, virtual numbers are the cheap way to do it. Most carriers charge around $5 a month for each additional phone number.

VoIP Quality

As for quality of service, I can personally vouch for Packet8 as this is the VoIP carrier I use. I have used Packet8 as my one and only internet phone service for more than a year now, and have never had any serious quality issues with the service. Occasional issues such as �echo� or �fast busy� can quickly be corrected by unplugging the voip router for a minute. This �resets� the connection and has always cured any issue I have had. If all else fails, Packet 8�s technical support staff is fast and efficient.

Judging from comments left on various VoIP user forums, it seems that the larger VoIP providers like Packet8, Sunrocket and Vonage are having fewer and fewer issues with quality of service as time goes by. Internet phone service is still a relatively new technology, and quickly becoming the telephony method of choice for everyone. Millions of people around the world use broadband phone and hundreds of new subscribers are added every day. VoIP providers (particularly the big ones) are continually making improvements and enhancements to service in order to be your �VoIP carrier of choice�.

Debbie Jacobsen is an IT professional and author of SaveOnPhoneService.com � an informative website about Broadband Phone Service. For more information on VoIP, visit her blog: savewith8.

Broadband Modem: How Important is it to You?

By James Dyson

A standard modem's job is to convert data from its digital form to analog form, which are then transferred over a phone line and reverse done while receiving data from the telephone line to your computer. By doing both modulating and demodulating the data signals, it is called to be a Modem.

A broadband modem is quite different from those of dial-up modems. You need it when you take a broadband service for the first time. Usually providers offer modem along with you package or may ask you to have a modem at extra cost. Anyhow, getting the modem from your broadband provider should be safe being supported by your provider and should work fine with the setup.

In case your provider does not offer a modem then you can get a modem of your choice. There are wide types of modem out there and it is good before to check with your provider for a suitable modem. If you are in preparation to set up a network to share your internet connection then you require a router modem.

Broadband modems are still limited to utilize analog/digital conversion. But most recent advanced modems are capable of modulating/demodulating hundreds of channels simultaneously. Also many broadband modems together include the firewall features and functionality of a router.

The propagation of cable broadband, along with ADSL, has steered well the broadband Internet access in the developed world. However, modem for a cable broadband much differs from an ADSL modem. Cable broadband primarily uses the unused bandwidth on a cable television network to deliver speeder broadband Internet access. A cable modem so is a different type of modem that is designed to carry on the data signals over network designed for cable television.

ADSL and Cable modems differ little by the way it works and both are superior alternatives to dial-up internet. Both offer a snappy pace to transfer data packets to the servers. But, there is wide different in bandwidth between ADSL and Cable internet. Speeds at which data are send and received vary between cable and of ADSL modems.

Cable modems mostly run at a speed of 3-6 Mbps in downstream and in upstream 0.3-0.4 Mbps. Comparing to Cable modem, DSL modem offers less speed and varies between service packages. Service quality also depends on your location from your local exchange. A dial-up modem can run at a speed of 56 Kbps. Irrespective of broadbands having their own advantages and disadvantages, modems take the central most part in it to provide you the high-speed internet.

You can find a free wireless broadband routers to help you go wire free. If you can get a wireless router or a modem, it is even better as you can use your laptop anywhere in the house.

Virtual Private Network and ISP Connection

By Aaron Adams

VPN Broadband Access (Cable and DSL)

What Is Broadband?

Broadband technologies provide high-speed access to the Internet. These technologies are an alternative to dial-up methods that use a traditional analog modem.

The major broadband technologies are:

• Cable Modem Service

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Service

Cable modem services use the same coaxial cable or fiber optic line that brings cable television into your home. A cable modem connects users to the Internet by means of the cable company's network. Because of its superior bandwidth capacity, cable modem delivers greatly enhanced speed to users.

DSL services provide a high-bandwidth connection over the same wires that provide your telephone service. Since DSL uses a different frequency than the phone service, you can use the same line to make phone calls while your PC is connected to the Internet. With both of these broadband technologies, your PC is always connected to the Internet.

Should I Use Broadband?

The high-speed, �always-on� Internet access provided by broadband technologies offers obvious advantages. And broadband might particularly benefit you if:

• You need to be connected to the network for many hours a day from a fixed location.

• You have large downloads/uploads to process on a regular basis.

• You are a virtual worker who cannot get a reliable phone connection with a decent speed.

However, there are number of issues to consider when deciding if broadband is right for you:

Availability Cable modem or DSL services are not available in all locations.

Cost Broadband access is generally more expense than dial-up service. Prices typically range from $40 to $80 monthly depending on your area, your provider, and the specific type of service you need.

Security With a cable modem or DSL line, your PC is always connected to the Internet with a persistent IP address. Since this makes you a potential target for hackers, your PC should be secured by a firewall.

Portability Cable modem and DSL services are not portable. For example, you do not take them with you when you travel. If you need to access your network while traveling, you might need a separate dial-up ISP.

Comparing Cable Modem and DSL

Which is better, Cable modem or DSL? There is no simple answer to this question as each technology has its advantages. Indeed, local availability of these technologies will often determine which service you choose.

The following compares the two technologies on some key characteristics.

Cable Modem

• Requires a cable connection.

• Generally faster speed than DSL, but throughput can vary.

• Cost relative to DSL varies based on location.

DSL

• Requires a telephone line connection.

• Generally slower speed than cable, but provides a more constant throughput with lower latency.

• Cost relative to cable varies based on location.

More About Cable Modem Service

Cable modem service can be a particularly attractive option if you already have cable TV service or if you use only cellular phone service at your home.

Finding Cable Modem Service Providers

To find out if cable modem service is available in your area, start by calling your local cable TV company. Be aware, however, that some areas have more than one cable TV company. One provider might offer cable modem service, while the other does not.

Installation Issues

Typically, you will need to deal with only one vendor (the cable company) when installing cable modem service.

Some providers require that a service technician come to your home to install the service and setup your computer with appropriate software. Other providers give you the option of installing the software and setting up the cable modem yourself.

In either event, you should be aware that:

• Not all cable modems work with every service provider. Before you purchase a modem, check with your provider to see which modems they support.

• Even if cable TV functions in your home, you might not be eligible for Internet cable access if the line quality of your coaxial cable is too weak.

If you decide to install the cable modem yourself, be sure to:

Ask your cable company what kind of splitter to use. (In many cases, the cable company will provide you with a splitter.) When purchasing a splitter, ensure that it provides EMI isolation, and that it has sufficient frequency range (approximately 5-1000 MHz). The range should be printed on the splitter.

Place only one splitter between the point where the cable TV line enters the house and the cable modem/PC. If you have multiple TVs, split the line between the first splitter and the TV�not the line between the splitter and the modem.

Do not use amplifiers in the line leading to your cable modem as they are likely to distort the cable modem signals.

More About DSL Service

DSL is provided in a variety of specific service types. Some examples include ADSL, IDSL and HDSL. Sometimes the generic abbreviation DSL is used to collectively represent the various types. DSL is an "always on" direct connection to the Internet usually made through a router, bridge, or DSL modem.

Finding DSL Service Providers

A good place to check for DSL availability in your location is the broadbandreports.com web site. Go to the Find Service function and be sure to pre-qualify the area in which you live. This site can give you an idea of what vendors support your area, how far you are from the provider, what types of DSL and options are available and approximate prices.

You should be aware, however, that a provider might choose not to support an area due to issues other than distance. This can be the case even if you successfully pre-qualify your area for DSL service. Also, not all providers are listed on this web site. Therefore, you might want to check the other links listed in this topic as well.

Installation Issues

Typically, you will need to deal with three vendors (the phone company, the DSL provider, and the ISP) when installing DSL service. Even if your phone company is serving all three roles, they are usually separate divisions and communications between them can sometimes get confusing. Generally, the ISP is the designated point of contact.

As previously stated, the DSL service typically shares the copper phone line that you already have installed in your home. However with some types of xDSL (such as some IDSL implementations) do not always offer concurrent phone services on the DSL line. You should check with the ISP or phone company providing the service. In any event, DSL service can be configured to run on its own separately installed line.

Your DSL provider will set up a time for the phone company to change or install the line for DSL support. Sometime after the phone company completes this task, the DSL provider will install and test the inside wiring and equipment. Then your ISP should contact you to setup the mail and other special requirements that you may have.

When installing DSL service, you should be aware that:

Your DSL provider might need an IP address supplied by your ISP to properly test the line. Be sure the required IP address is obtained prior to installation time.

DSL installations do not always go smoothly, and delays in installation are not uncommon.

Installation problems can sometimes only be resolved effectively by getting all the parties involved together (such as through a conference call).

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Satellite Broadband: High-Speed Internet for All

By James Dyson

If you want to cover up and connect the breath and width of the globe, then that technology must be using satellite somewhere within. The condition is same for the internet. Broadband via satellite is only feasible option today for localities where DSL or Cable is not penetrable due to technological constraints.

How it works? Satellite broadband facilitates high quality digital internet access via satellite. You need to have a satellite dish, similar to that of a satellite TV and a box inside similar to a receiver. This satellite dish transfers your digital signals up and down from to the hub dish, which is located in VSAT operator and ISP provider premises. In turn, the hub dish, functioning as a high-speed digital backbone connects you to the rest of the World through satellite.

Satellite and ADSL Broadband Satellite broadband is independent of huge cabling, does not require a telephone connection, and keeps you always connected to the internet with stable speed. While in ADSL broadband, the speed may not remain steady and whenever there occur a fault in wire lines your internet stops going further.

It is anywhere, anytime internet with satellite broadband. The much astonishing thing is it is a complete portable broadband, which facilitates moving you the setup to wherever you move. ADSL internet restricts itself to run only in the place of installation.

In ADSL broadband, speed suffers if you are away in a remote area but satellite broadband speed remain constant irrespective of your location.

Satellite Broadband - the advantages: Speeder web surfing, faster downloads, quick emails and high-pace audio/video streaming are highly accomplished with the speed of several hundred kbps. Satellite broadband capacities are shared all over the Europe. Services for home and small office users are shared in higher proportions, but are of lower cost and services for business users are dedicated or have low sharing proportion. People requiring huge uploading of data or real time two-way video communication or VoIP are provided with higher end options.

Downside However, as every technology have some drawback, satellite broadband too have it own hindrance. The delay in access, due to the signal travel from earth station to the satellite and back to the user again is that one. This problem may aggravate because of few atmospheric conditions like rain and storm. Still, one can sense such delays in condition like while playing online games and are not at all noticeable while doing usual internet activities.

However, besides this one small hitch, it serves you in an exceptional way, the speed with it amazes everyone who had on, and well you will be a happy chap with it. For this one reason, it must be your first choice.

There are many cashback from your broadband supplier.

Ten Tips On Switching Broadband

By James Bergin

You wouldn�t think twice about shopping around for the best value gas and electricity, so why pay over the odds for your broadband? The Office of National Statistics estimates that more than 13 million people in the UK have access to the internet at home, with 73 per cent of those choosing broadband.

Whether you�ve had poor service, an unreliable connection or are just tired of paying too much for your ISP, switching broadband provider can save you money and get you a better service. Simply follow our 10 tips to get the most out of your broadband.

1. Ask for a better deal

It may seem obvious, but simply asking your current provider for a better deal could be the answer. As the market continues to become more competitive, companies have to work harder to keep their customers.

The average 1Mb connection cost ฃ50 in 2003; by the end of 2005 it was only ฃ16. So if you�ve had your contract for some time, chances are that you could get the same thing for a lot less just by asking for it. You never know, so try your luck and ask for the latest deal.

2. Your rights

Check: Is your supplier signed up to the Migration Code of Practice? This voluntary agreement between providers works to fairly facilitate the �migration� of customers from one supplier to another. Your current provider will issue you with a Migration Authorisation Code (MAC), which you then pass on to your new provider, allowing them to set up your service without a break in your connection.

Your new provider must also be signed up for the MAC code to work. The code is not applicable to services delivered by cable, such as ntl or Telewest. See Ofcom�s website for more information on the Migration Code.

If your provider isn�t signed up to the Migration Code you will have to cancel your current contract before you can set up a new one. This means that you will have a break in your service and will either have to go without, or return to dial-up until broadband has been reinstalled in your home.

Check: Are you free of your contract obligations? If you have signed a contract you have to see it out or incur a cancellation fee, even if your current provider is signed up to the Migration Code of Practice. If you�re unsure of your contractual duties, contact us and we will check for you (note that this is not legal advice).

Check: Read the details of your warranty � has your supplier made a service agreement they may have breached? If so, you might be able to terminate your contract with them on these grounds, but make sure you read the small print.

3. Keep a log

If you�ve been having trouble with your broadband connection, make sure that you keep a record each time you experience a problem. Take a screen grab of your error message, or keep a detailed written log.

Keep a diary of calls made to customer services; who you spoke to and how long you had to wait. Calls to premium or 0870 numbers can be expensive � for example, 10 calls for 10 minutes at 15p per minute is ฃ15. Call costs to customer service centres can range from free, up to ฃ1 a minute, so check first and keep your phone bills as a record of the total call charges.

This information may be crucial evidence if you want to cancel when you still within your minimum contract period.

4. Otelo and Ofcom

If you are having service problems and want to switch provider but are having trouble doing so, you can write an open letter to Otelo, the office of the telecommunications ombudsman. 33 per cent of ISP providers are members of the body, which was set up to investigate complaints made by telecommunications customers. While the service is free for members of the public, it will actually cost your supplier money to be investigated, so you will be taken more seriously if Otelo get involved.

If your supplier isn�t a member of Otelo, you can still write to Ofcom, the independent regulator for the UK, for help.

It�s always a good idea to send a copy to the head of customer services at your supplier.

5. Keep the pressure on

Being on hold for long periods of time and then getting nowhere can be disheartening, but don�t give up. Ring regularly, stay cool and don�t be abusive.

Make sure that you are well organised and have your facts to hand � you could also offer to post factual evidence of your problems.

For ฃ12.75 a quarter, you can get easily accessible, reliable legal advice from the Which? Legal Service, so you can make sure you know your rights before relaying them clearly to your service provider.

6. Make yourself heard

If none of this works get in touch with the papers. But make sure you have your facts straight before you get the media involved.

7. Complications

The type of broadband you currently have could limit your choices. If you are currently with ntl, Telewest or Kingston, then you have a cable connection and will need a mobile or landline if you want to switch to 3G or ADSL MAX.

If you want to do an LLU to LLU swap you will find that there is no migration procedure in place and that, having invested heavily in LLU technology, your supplier will try to hold on to you.

8. When is free really free?

Before you switch, make sure you have checked out any hidden costs in your chosen package. If you are considering a cheap or �free� broadband deal, take into account the quality of service you will be getting. Your new contract might also have a download limit which could mean that you to end up paying more than your monthly rate for big downloads.

9. Think about service

There is more to broadband than a cheap monthly charge. Consider the opening hours and costs of the call centre on our calculator.

For example, Talk Talk have recently come clean about over-stretching their customer service operation, so make sure you do your research and read customer reviews before committing to a contract.

For advice on choosing a switch broadband article.