ArticleMap.com

Broadband 101

Broadband is fast and makes searching the internet so much easier. If you don’t use broadband then you should. Take a gander at what it is and how it works.

Broadband commonly refers to a high-speed internet connection. The American Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines a broadband service as “data transmission speeds exceeding 200 kilobits per second (Kbps), or 200,000 bits per second, in at least one direction: downstream or upstream.”

An upstream connection is when content is sent from your computer to the internet whereas a downstream connection is when content is sent from the internet back to your computer.

If you have ever surfed the net using the internet from a dial up service and then moved to broadband, as I have, you will be impressed at the speed difference.

This happens because broadband provides data transmission at a higher speed thus allowing more data to be carried through the pipeline.

Broadband allows you access to the high quality internet services, like streaming media, VoIP phone, other interactive services. most of these new technologies need to move large amounts of data which was unable to happen with dial-up service.

Therefore, a broadband connection will be increasingly necessary to access the full array of services and opportunities that the Internet has on offer.

A great thing about broadband is that it does not tie up your phone line and there is no need to reconnect to network after logging off.

Broadband encompasses several different technologies. These technologiescomprise Wireless; Digital Subscriber Line (DSL); Satellite; Cable Modem; Fiber; Broadband over Powerlines (BPL).

Which broadband technology you select will depend on a number of issues. Including how the broadband service is packaged with other services (such as VoIP and cell phone); availability; whether you live in an urban or rural community; price.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a technology that sends data over your copper telephone lines already installed at your home. It is quicker then a dial-up service but it’s availability and speed will depend on the distance of your home from your phone exchange.

DSL includes Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) which typically provides faster speedin the downstream direction than the upstream direction.

Cable Modem uses the same coaxial cables that delivers pictures and sound to your TV set.

Subscribers can access their cable modem and still watch cable TV while using it. Data speeds vary depending on the traffic load; cable network; type of cable modem but are similar to DSL.

Fiber technology converts electrical signals that carry data into light. It then sends this light through transparent glass fibers about the diameter of a human hair.

Fiber optic technology sends data at ten to one hundred times faster than DSL or cable.

Wireless broadband connects your computer to the internet using a radio link between an external antenna on your homeand the service provider’s facility. Speeds are generally similar to cable modem. Wireless broadband can be mobile or fixed.

Satellite broadband is another variety of wireless broadband. The speed of data transfer is generally slower than cable modem but faster than dial-up.

Broadband over Powerline (BPL) is the transmission of data over your existing low and medium voltage electric power line system. The transmission speeds of BPL are similar to cable modem.

With You in Technology
Adam White

Article Source: http://www.articlemap.com

Adam writes simple to read articles on www.discover-voip.info/voip-basics/how-does-voip-work.html” target=”new”>How Does VoIP Work? and www.discover-voip.info/voip-phones/voip-satellite-phone.html” target=”new”>Satellite Internet Phone at www.Discover-VoIP.info.

Please Rate this Article