Monday, March 26, 2012

What You Need To Know About Broadband Before You Choose Your Broadband Internet Provider

Instant, speed is the change in advancement, which humanity has experienced so far
in this age of rapid development.

Whether it is in the field of transportation, or in rapid diffusion of information, speed
decides everything. The internet has made tremendous contributions in transmitting
data, the innovation of broadband has also made a mark to carry out the given task in
a fraction of seconds. Sometimes people working long hours and having less free time
to think, forget what instant access broadband can do to change their lives over
night.

This site gives you all the information about various services and their related
technology, its providers, cost and everything you'll need to know. Run through the
site now, and learn more about broadband and more importantly.... why you should
have it!

What is Broadband?

Generally, it is defined as a high-speed, high-capacity transmission medium that helps in
transmitting large amounts of data in the form of signals from multiple independent
network carriers. Furthermore, in network engineering the term is used to mention
the method that allows two or more signals to share a medium simultaneously. This
transmission is normally done on a single coaxial or fiber - optic cable by establishing
different bandwidth channels. Broadband service can support a wide range of
frequencies and helps in transmitting data, voice and video over long distances. It not
only helps in their transmission but also aims to have a high speed, high quality, low
cost and an easy to use Internet connection at home.

Types:

Broadband services are delivered mainly through telephone lines, cable connections, via
one or two way satellite systems and even by radio. Based on its mode of
transmission, broadband is classified further into four main types:

The Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)

cable broadband Service

satellite broadband Service

wireless broadband Service

Adsl is unique with its typical characteristic style to transmit data in one direction than
the other. It primarily uses an analogue modulation scheme, unlike others using band
technology based modulation. With Cable Broadband the transmission is basically
carried with the help of an Ethernet modem for accessing internet services through
the cable. It also provides a lot of broadband solutions to everyone. Satellite
broadband on the other hand is very reliable, since it can be used from almost
anywhere. They also come in two different types namely the ?one-way? and ?two-
way? connections. Similarly, Wireless Broadband uses an arrangement of fixed
antennas that allows the user to have access with high speed Internet connections
over the air. They deliver fast Internet access by means of radio waves as a
replacement for cables or wires.

Benefits:

There are good many reasons to consider having broadband. They provide a great
help both in your home as well as in your office. Being at least 10 times faster than
conventional dial-up connections, they assist in your business, giving broadband service
reports, increased sales, greater cost savings, better productivity, improved employee
satisfaction and by providing a overall healthier bottom line result. Moreover, they help
in going global with your own interactive website, and multiple email addresses
provided for a more efficient web service.

Similarly, in your home it helps by allowing you to have permanent connection to the
web through an Always-on facility that avoids the need to dial up every time you want
to surf the web or send an e-mail. With broadband in your home, you don?t need a
second line to make and take phone calls even when you are online. In addition, they
have fixed monthly charges to lessen the burden of extras and may offer other
options, including the pay-as-you-go scheme.

Believe it or not! Broadband is and always, going to be the cheapest online option for
the coming generations and also the tool for the future!!!


Configuring Wireless Networks

Configuring a wireless network involves setting up a wireless router or access point and installing wireless adapters on the networked computers. The wireless router must be placed in a central location because the computers closer to the router or access point obtain faster network speeds. The wireless router needs to be connected to a power source and a source of Internet connectivity so that all computers on the network are provided Internet access.

A wireless router is not mandatory for setting up a wireless network. Almost any computer with a wireless adapter and a wired connection to the Internet can be used as an access point. Next, the wireless network must be provided a name. This is usually referred to as SSID. All the computers on a WLAN must share the same SSID.

Each computer connected to the wireless network should have a wireless LAN card (also know as Wi-Fi adapter) installed. Wi-Fi adapters can be configured after installation of TCP/IP based networking on the individual computers. On computers using Microsoft Windows operating system, adapters usually have their own graphic user interface accessible from the taskbar after the wireless networking hardware is installed. This allows a user to enter the SSID and enable the WEP. For a WLAN to function accurately, all the adapters must use same parameter settings.

One can also opt for automatic wireless configuration that supports the IEEE-802.11 standard for wireless networks. This minimizes the configuration that is required to access the wireless network. Once you enable automatic wireless network configuration on your computer, you can move across various networks without reconfiguring your network connection settings. As you move from one place to another, automatic wireless networking searches for a network that is available and notifies you about the same. You can select the network that you want to connect to and the network configuration wizard updates your wireless network adapter to match the setting of the access point of the new network.

VPN - Overview of Virtual Private Networks

Virtual Private Network is a network within a network. This is very popular with businesses that have people working remotely. Basically what we have here is a utilization of the network already provided by the internet. The internet infrastructure can be used as the network for remote employees to access their corporate systems.

Corporate environments have a far greater need for tight security. This is achieved by creating a VPN (virtual private
network) on top of the normal internet connection. This type of connection allows for greater security and encryption. Only authenticated users can access the corporate network and the data being transferred cannot be intercepted.

So this VPN (virtual private network) connection is being run through the internet public network.

Two components are needed to make this scenario work. First, there needs to be a corporate server setup which has the server
VPN software installed (and a good router with a firewall). The next would be to have the client VPN software installed on the remote employees machines. Once the client machine is on the internet, they would use the VPN client software to communicate to the corporate server VPN where authentication occurs. Once the server identifies the connecting client as a valid machine, access to the network is granted. From then on all information to/from the client to the server is traveling along this virtual private network and is protected by the additional layer of encryption and security provided.

Finally, there can be a cost savings if determining whether a leased line or VPN is for you. Leased lines can increase in price based on the geographic distance between sites. A virtual private network does not and in fact is more scalable. (This is a general statement ONLY. It's best to consult with your communications broker prior to making this decision. A broker
will be able to provide much more information when compared to speaking with a specific vendor)

VPN is definitely a viable option for businesses small and large that have remote employees, need site-to-site access with remote offices or secure dial-up connections.

This article is just a very general overview. You should use this only as a starting point to even determine whether or not this type of technology is for you. During your evaluation of this technology, you should consider what type of implementation your looking to do; remote access, site-to-site, secure dial-up. Additional areas to research would be security, firewalls, encryption, server type and IPSec (internet protocol security protocol).


Evaluating Bandwidth Choices - ADSL vs SDSL

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 ADSL vs SDSL. Factors covered include Technology, Speed, Description, Application, Pros, Cons, and Costs.

Technology: ADSL

Speed: 768Kbps to 6.1 Mbps downstream. Upstream speeds range from 64Kbps-1Mbps.

Description: The most common type of DSL. Deployed over a copper wire pair in conjunction with an analog phone line.

Application: Commercial and consumer Internet service. Popular with consumers because of low-cost, short provisioning times and high download speeds.

Pros: High-speed access at a relatively low-cost. Availability is approaching 70% in most major metropolitan areas. Installation times are often less than 30days.

Cons: Not available in all areas. Slow upload speed. Bandwidth is aggregated at the Central Office and is subject to oversubscription. Not ideal for businesses or heavy users.

Costs: Consumer services starts at around $30-50. But....the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier and location of service. For example...it's likely to be more costly in rural areas and some local/regional providers may offer better rates than Tier 1 carriers.

Technology: SDSL

Speed: Up to 2.3Mbps both ways.

Description: A form of HDSL, provisioned over a single twisted-pair of copper wire at distances up to 12,000 feet.

Application: Ideal for businesses due to symmetrical data transmission speeds and advanced features such as multiple IP addresses.

Pros: High-speed access at a low-cost when compared to T-1. Often provides more features than ADSL.

Cons: Not available in all areas. Bandwidth is aggregated at the Central Office and is subject to oversubscription. More costly and longer install times than ADSL.

Costs: Business service starts at around $50-80 and can be as high as a few $100 monthly. But....the pricing for these connections varies widely depending on the carrier, location of service, and the application for which the connection is being used. For example...it's likely to be much more costly in rural areas. While some local/regional providers may offer better rates than Tier 1 carriers...you'll have to consider possible tradeoffs in stability and reliabilty.


Different Internet Options

How many ads have you seen just today for different internet companies? It can be a staggering amount. Think about this as well. For every commercial, every billboard ad, and every internet ad that you see there are hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting it. That is quite a huge amount of money being used to get your attention and get you to switch from one company to the next. The real question is though, who has what you need and the right price.

It is often hard to choose one from the next because they all claim to have the best rates out there. Sure, when you compare one company's dial up rate to another company's cable rate, there is a large difference. The first order of business for you, then, is to choose the type of method you want to use fnr your internet access. You can choose dial up which uses your phone line. You can be charged by the minutes, hours, or a flat rate here. But, remember, being online means to access to the phone.

Another option is the cable modem or DSL. In each of these cases, you are accessing the internet in a different manner, but the process is basically the same. DSL runs through your phone line, but does not clog up the lines. A cable modem is used to access the internet through your cable company. This type of internet access costs much more than dial up but allows you the flexibility to be online and on the phone for a flat rate every month.

When you compare apples to apples, you'll be able to see what the differences in internet companies are. When it comes time to choose, you'll have a different way of choosing. Compare prices, yes, but do not forget to compare other factors like abilities, speed, features, and the ease of use. Some internet companies offer spam blockers, virus scans, and even firewall protection. Others are a basic internet hook up that offers fewer frills at a better rate.

One of the best ways to know which company has a good history with its members is to look for testimonials. But, stop, don't get them from the companies, get them from people you know. Did you get an email from a friend? What is his ISP, or internet service provider? Ask him how he likes the company. First hand knowledge of the ISP will allow you to make a fair choice in one company to the next. They are all competing for your business so give them a run for your money!


Get Internet On The Go

Always wanted to tour the US in an RV but afraid to leave your internet business? Well now you can with satellite internet!

Yes, you can now have satellite internet hooked right up to your RV, car, boat or any other moving vechicle so while you are camping in Nevada, you can be emailing your friends back in Maine to tell them how nice it is! If you need to stay in contact with business associates, then this is your ticket to freedom.

While you are enjoying life on the road, you can be shopping, getting the latest news and even viewing satellite weather to help you plan your trip.

When you have your RV outfitted with satellite internet, you will have a state of the art internet connection.
In fact, it will be one of the fastest internet connections you've ever used. The satellite feed to your RV comes from a satellite orbiting the earth and directly into the satellite dish mounted on your RV. With this connection you can surf the internet at amazing speeds.

But satellite internet isn't just for RV's. You can have it in your car, your boat and even on your house. If you have a catering service or sell products at fairs or shows, this type of internet service is perfect for you. Even in an emergency, you can get internet fast with a flexible and convenient satellite dish.

If you are traveling, your satellite internet can also give you phone service and a whole network of information. With a satellite, you can enjoy voice over ip which is technologically better than regular phone and costs less too! And the best part is that to use the phone via your satellite connection you won't need to buy any special hardware or software and the voice quality is as good as that on your cell phone.

If you plan to do business son the go, you can get a VPN or Virtual Private Network with your satellite service. This effectively creates a private network between your satellite dish and the home office - a network that no one else can tap into so that your business communications remain secure even if you are thousands of miles from the office.

New advances in satellite technology open up new worlds for internet users. No longer are we tied to our desk, but we are free to move about the country and still be able to perform our daily work tasks.

What a Broadband Phone Really Is

You may have heard the terms broadband phones,internet phones, or even voice over internet protocol, but do you really know what they mean or how they work? With the gaining popularity of these on line communication tools, you should understand exactly what these things really are and how they do what they do.

Broadband phone actually uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to carry phone calls through the internet. This is an alternative way to transmit the call to the traditional telephony network. To say it another way, the calls go through the internet instead of traveling through traditional phone lines.

How does it work, though? The VoIP, when you place a broadband phone call, converst your voice into what can be best described as tiny digital packages. These packages are fired over the internet and then changed back to the signals necessary for the receiver to transmit them in language that you understand as the voice on the other end.

To get a broadband phone, you do have some options. A hardware broadband telephone uses an adapter. You connect this hardware to the router on your network or to your PC directly. Another option is software. The broadband software is a program that makes broadband calls.

This technology is being called the future of communications. Such hype is sending communications companies into a frenzy as they race to offer it so as not to get left in the dust as more and more of the public drops traditional phone service for broadband phones. Companies that fail to get in on the broadband call business risk going the way of the dodo. With that in mind, many of the companies are already offering VoIP technology, and every day more are joining in.

The reason the broadbad phone companies are so popular is that they can be done cheaper than traditional phone services. You see, because the calls bypass regulary Telco tolls, the companies using broadband can offer much lower rates. This is particularly true on long distance calls, making them similar to cell phones in that sense. While currently the broadband phone services may not offer quite as much reliability and quality as traditional phone lines, the technology is improving almost constantly and wont be far behind. For the money, though, the internet is already showing itself as the way to go to save on phone service.

If you decide that going with one of the many broadband phone companies [http://www.orlandodailytimes.com/category/technology-reviews] is the way you want to go, then you will need to make sure you have a couple of things so that your transition to cheaper phone calls will be smooth. First, you will need to make sure you have a good reliable broadband internet service in your home. You will next need a telephony adapter installed. You will be plugging your home phone into the telephony adapter which will then plug into your cable or DSL modem with a network cable. Since internet connections are reliant on the modem which is powered by electricity, you will lose your phone service if you lose power. One thing you may want to consider, since you wont lose your cable’s function with an electricity loss, is to get some sort of power source you can plug into the modem in case of a power outage. Get all of that together, call the company of your chose, and you will be using the internet to make your phone calls before you know it.