There are many connections that can be used for internet access. All the connections have their own speed range that can be used for different purposes like for home, or for personal use.
In this article, we will discuss different types of internet connections.
A dial-up connection is established between your computer and the ISP server using a modem.
A dial-Up Connection is a cheap and traditional connection that is not preferred these days as this type of connection is very slow.
To access the internet connection in the dial-up connection we need to dial a phone number on the computer and that’s why it requires a telephone connection. It requires a modem to set up a dial-up connection, which works as interference between your computer and the telephone line. In this connection, we can use either an internet connection or telephone at a time.
Broadband Connection
Broadband refers to high-speed internet access that is faster than traditional dial-up access. It is provided through either cable or telephone composition. It does not require any telephone connection that’s why here we can use telephone and internet connection simultaneously. In this connection, more than one person can access the internet connection simultaneously.
It is a wide bandwidth data transmission that transports several signals and traffic types. In this connection, the medium used is coaxial cable, optical fiber cable, radio, or twisted pair cable.
DSL
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It provides an internet connection through the telephone line(network). DSL is a form of broadband communication that is always on, there is no need to dial a phone number to connect. DSL connection uses a router to transport data and the speed of this connection range between 128k to 8Mbps depending on the service offered. A DSL connection can translate data at 5 million bytes per second, or 5mbps.
DSL service can be delivered simultaneously with wired telephone service on the same telephone line due to high-frequency bands for data.
Cable
It is a form of broadband access cable modem that can provide extremely fast access to the internet. The speed of this connection varies which can be different for uploading data transmission or downloading.
It uses a cable modem to provide an internet connection and operates over cable TV lines. The speed of cable connection ranges from 512k to 20Mbps.h
Satellite Connection
This type of connection is provided mainly in rural areas where a broadband connection is not yet offered. It accesses the internet via a satellite that is in Earth’s orbit.
The signal travels from a long distance that is from earth to satellite and back again which provides a delayed connection. Satellite connection speeds range from 512k to 2.0Mbps.
Wireless Connection
As the name suggests wireless connection does not use telephone lines or cables to connect to the internet. The wireless connection uses a radio frequency band to connect to the internet. It is also an always-on connection and this connection can be accessed from anywhere and speed may vary for different locations. It ranges from 5Mbps to 20Mbps.
Cellular
Cellular technology provides wireless Internet access through cell phones. Speed may vary depending on the service provider. The most common are 3G and 4G which means from 3rd generation and 4th generation respectively. The speed of the 3G cellular network is around 2.0Mbps and the 4G cellular network is around 21Mbps the goal of the 4G network is to achieve peak mobile speeds of 100Mbps but the current speed of the 4G network is about 21Mbps.
ISDN
ISDN stands for Integrated Service Digital Network and it is a circuit-switched telephone network system, but it also provides access to packet-switched networks that transmits both voice and data over a digital line. It provides a packet-switched connection for data in increments of 64 kilobit/s.
ISDN connection provides better speeds and higher quality than traditional connections. It provided a maximum of 128kbit/s bandwidth in both upstream and downstream directions.
Article Tags :
/en/computerbasics/getting-to-know-the-os/content/
How do I connect to the Internet?
Once you've set up your computer, you may want to purchase home Internet access so you can send and receive email, browse the Web, stream videos, and more. You may even want to set up a home wireless network, commonly known as Wi-Fi, so you can connect multiple devices to the Internet at the same time.
Watch the video below to learn about connecting to the Internet.
Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.
The type of Internet service you choose will largely depend on which Internet service providers (ISPs) serve your area, along with the types of service they offer. Here are some common types of Internet service.
- Dial-up: This is generally the slowest type of Internet connection, and you should probably avoid it unless it is the only service available in your area. Dial-up Internet uses your phone line, so unless you have multiple phone lines you will not be able to use your landline and the Internet at the same time.
- DSL: DSL service uses a broadband connection, which makes it much faster than dial-up. DSL connects to the Internet via a phone line but does not require you to have a landline at home. And unlike dial-up, you'll be able to use the Internet and your phone line at the same time.
- Cable: Cable service connects to the Internet via cable TV, although you do not necessarily need to have cable TV in order to get it. It uses a broadband connection and can be faster than both dial-up and DSL service; however, it is only available where cable TV is available.
- Satellite: A satellite connection uses broadband but does not require cable or phone lines; it connects to the Internet through satellites orbiting the Earth. As a result, it can be used almost anywhere in the world, but the connection may be affected by weather patterns. Satellite connections are also usually slower than DSL or cable.
- 3G and 4G: 3G and 4G service is most commonly used with mobile phones, and it connects wirelessly through your ISP's network. However, these types of connections aren't always as fast as DSL or cable. They will also limit the amount of data you can use each month, which isn't the case with most broadband plans.
Choosing an Internet service provider
Now that you know about the different types of Internet service, you can do some research to find out what ISPs are available in your area. If you're having trouble getting started, we recommend talking to friends, family members, and neighbors about the ISPs they use. This will usually give you a good idea of the types of Internet service available in your area.
Most ISPs offer several tiers of service with different Internet speeds, usually measured in Mbps (short for megabits per second). If you mainly want to use the Internet for email and social networking, a slower connection (around 2 to 5 Mbps) might be all you need. However, if you want to download music or stream videos, you'll want a faster connection (at least 5 Mbps or higher).
You'll also want to consider the cost of the service, including installation charges and monthly fees. Generally speaking, the faster the connection, the more expensive it will be per month.
Although dial-up has traditionally been the least expensive option, many ISPs have raised dial-up prices to be the same as broadband. This is intended to encourage people to switch to broadband. We do not recommend dial-up Internet unless it's your only option.
Hardware needed
Modem
Once you have your computer, you really don't need much additional hardware to connect to the Internet. The primary piece of hardware you need is a modem.
The type of Internet access you choose will determine the type of modem you need. Dial-up access uses a telephone modem, DSL service uses a DSL modem, cable access uses a cable modem, and satellite service uses a satellite adapter. Your ISP may give you a modem—often for a fee—when you sign a contract, which helps ensure that you have the right type of modem. However, if you would prefer to shop for a better or less expensive modem, you can choose to buy one separately.
Router
A router is a hardware device that allows you to connect several computers and other devices to a single Internet connection, which is known as a home network. Many routers are wireless, which allows you to create a home wireless network, commonly known as a Wi-Fi network.
You don't necessarily need to buy a router to connect to the Internet. It's possible to connect your computer directly to your modem using an Ethernet cable. Also, many modems include a built-in router, so you have the option of creating a Wi-Fi network without buying extra hardware.
Setting up your Internet connection
Once you've chosen an ISP, most providers will send a technician to your house to turn on the connection. If not, you should be able to use the instructions provided by your ISP—or included with the modem—to set up your Internet connection.
After you have everything set up, you can open your web browser and begin using the Internet. If you have any problems with your Internet connection, you can call your ISP's technical support number.
Home networking
If you have multiple computers at home and want to use all of them to access the Internet, you may want to create a home network, also known as a Wi-Fi network. In a home network, all of your devices connect to your router, which is connected to the modem. This means everyone in your family can use the Internet at the same time.
Your ISP technician may be able to set up a home Wi-Fi network when installing your Internet service. If not, you can review our lesson on How to Set Up a Wi-Fi Network to learn more.
If you want to connect a computer that does not have built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, you can purchase a Wi-Fi adapter that plugs into your computer's USB port.
/en/computerbasics/getting-started-with-the-internet/content/