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:: HOME :: CREDIT CARDS :: LONG DISTANCE :: INTERNET SERVICE · Main Page · Search by State · Dial-Up Service · High-Speed Dial-Up · High-Speed DSL/Cable · ISPs for Business · Antivirus & Security · Satellite Broadband · T1 Service Providers · Tips & Advice - New! · Internet Service FAQ · ISP Glossary · Web Hosting · Info & Resources :: LOANS :: CELL PHONES :: INSURANCE :: ONLINE BANKING :: KNOWLEDGE :: MORE |
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Here you will find answers to commonly asked questions about internet access and different types of internet service providers. See also: Internet Access Tips & Advice
 Question ListCan you briefly explain the different types of Internet access? There are many different ways to connect to the Interenet, so here are brief explanations of the most common types of Internet access. Note: The terms "Internet access" and "Internet service" are interchangeable. The acronym ISP refers to Internet Service Providers. Please visit the ISP Glossary for definitions of any unknown terms. Dial-Up Internet Access: This type of Internet service utilizes your telephone line and a modem to connect to the Internet. In order to connect, you must dial-in with a modem over your telephone line. Thus, this type of Internet access is not "always on" - you must connect when you want to be online. The main downfall of dial-up Internet service is slow overall speed. Also, while you are online, the modem can tie up your phone line. In many cases, you won't be able to use the telephone and be online at the same time. DSL Internet Access: DSl stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL Internet access is a type of internet connection that utilizes telephone (copper) wires to transmit data at high speeds. DSL is a broadband, or high-speed, type of internet connection, and is an "always on" connection. This means that you don't have to dial in and connect like dial-up plans. Also, unlike dial-up Internet service, DSL does not usually "tie up" your phone line. You can normally be online and using the telephone at the same time. Cable Internet Access: This is a type of broadband (high-speed) Internet access that utilizes cable TV lines and cable modems and has a much higher maximum speed than traditional dial-up access. Cable Internet runs through your cable line and is not associated with your telephone service. Also, cable Internet service is an "always on" connection, meaning that you don't have to dial in and connect anywhere like dial-up plans. Overall, dial-up Internet service is generally cheaper than both DSL and cable. However, dial-up service generally has slower connection speeds and can tie up your telephone line. See other FAQs for information about DSL vs. Cable. ^ Back to the Question List Do I really need a broadband ISP like cable or DSL or can I survive with a dial-up ISP? Broadband vs. Dial-Up If you choose a broadband service like cable or DSL, you can expect Web pages to load at least two or three times faster than with a standard dial-up service. Depending on different factors, the page-loading speed can be five times faster or more. So, if you surf the Web a couple of hours a day, the increased page-loading speed can save you a lot of time (and frustration). Broadband internet service will also allow you to download large files much faster than a dial-up connection. However, if downloading large files faster is not much of a concern but you do want to be able to surf the Web faster, high speed dial-up internet service might be the way to go. See the next question for more information on high speed dial-up service vs. broadband service. All in all, broadband internet access like cable or DSL will give you an always-on connection and allow you to surf the Web much faster and download large files much easier. However, installation of broadband internet service is often more costly and time consuming, and broadband service overall is considerably more expensive than traditional dial-up service. If you can accept the higher cost and are online a lot (frequent emailing, downloading music, etc.), then a broadband connection might be right for you. If you are online infrequently and/or only use your ISP for occasional email, a dial-up internet access plan might be the way to go. ^ Back to the Question List What is the difference between high speed dial-up internet service and broadband internet service like cable or DSL? High Speed Dial-up vs. Broadband High-speed dial-up internet service can allow you to surf the Web at near-broadband speeds but will not help speed up your large file downloads. Broadband service brings the convenience of an always-on connection, while high speed dial-up plans do not. With any dial-up plan, you must tie up a phone line in order to be online. High speed dial-up service can be considerably less expensive than broadband service and the set up process for high speed dial-up is generally less expensive and takes less time. In fact, some high speed dial-up ISP's allow free trials of their service. Free trials are tough to come by with broadband providers, although some broadband providers do offer initial discounts. All in all, high speed dial-up service provides a faster and less-frustrating surfing experience than traditional dial-up service but lacks some of the perks that broadband service can provide. See the next question for more information on how high speed dial-up service works. ^ Back to the Question List What exactly is high speed dial-up internet service and how does it work? The technology behind high speed dial-up services varies from company to company. With that in mind, most high speed dial-up ISP's use some form of data compression to provide a faster Web surfing experience. Most high speed dial-up ISP's optimize Web pages by compressing images and other page components, which speeds up the download these pages. Most also utilize some sort of caching technology to speed things up. Caching involves the storage of commonly viewed Web pages (or parts of Web pages), which allows for faster downloads of these pages in the future. Because high speed dial-up services don't speed up your actual Internet connection, they will not help speed up your large file downloads. The benefits of a high speed dial-up service come mainly in the form of faster Web browsing, especially of commonly viewed pages - including Web-based email accounts. ^ Back to the Question List Which broadband service is better - Cable or DSL? Cable vs. DSL This is a tough question to answer, as the two services are very similar. The best way to answer is: Sometimes DSL and sometimes cable. One thing is certain in most cases - both cable and DSL provide a much-improved overall experience when compared to standard dial-up internet service. Cable is known to have both more consistent speeds and faster maximum speeds, but this is not always the case. Why? Because DSL speeds can depend on your physical distance from the ISP's central location. If you live closer to the central location, your speed can be faster and vice versa. DSL is known to be slightly cheaper overall, but this, too, is not always the case. The cost of broadband Internet service varies widely from location to location. Cable internet service is known to be slightly more accessible right now, but (you guessed it) this is not always the case. This, too, depends on your location. If you are choosing between a local DSL company and a local cable company, try to find out the word on the street. Ask around. Cable and DSL performance and service can vary from location to location. See what you can find out about each ISP's reliabilty and customer service -- these factors may end up being more important than anything else. ^ Back to the Question List I need a broadband connection for a business -- should I go with Cable, DSL or a T1 connection? A T1 connection is a dedicated line, meaning that you are connected directly to your ISP. Because it is not shared, a T1 line will provide greater and more consistent bandwidth. This means that dozens or even hundreds of employees can often be connected to the same T1 line without issue. A T1 line is private and can support many users. So, the answer to the above question depends on the number of people that need to be online and how integral a steady connection is to your business. If your business is small and/or is not dependent on the presence of a consitent internet connection, Cable or DSL might fit your needs. If your business is larger and/or is dependent on the presence of a consistent internet connection, a T1 line might be the wisest choice. ^ Back to the Question List If I sign up for a dial-up internet service plan, how do I know that I won't incur any additional expenses, like long distance or other phone charges? Whether or not you will incur any additional phone charges (like long distance charges) depends on the access numbers that you choose. ISP's do not benefit from additional phone charges -- your phone company does. Before signing up with an ISP, peruse their list of access numbers and hopefully you will find a couple of local numbers. The best way to avoid the probability of incurring any additional phone charges is to sign up with an ISP that owns a lot of access numbers. If you want to be extra careful, write down some of the possible numbers before signing up and contact your local phone company. They should be able to tell you if you will incur any additional charges by accessing those particular numbers. ^ Back to the Question List What are my options if DSL and cable are not offered in my area and I need internet service? As long as you have a phone line, you should be able to sign up for a dial-up internet access plan. However, if you live far away from any metropolitan areas, be sure to check out an ISP's access numbers before signing up. If a local access number is not available, you may incur additional phone charges, such as long distance charges, from your local phone company as a result. If you need a high speed internet connection, your only real option at this point is satellite internet service. Satellite internet access plans can be quite expensive and installation can be costly as well. Be sure to look over the terms and conditions of a specific plan before signing up. ^ Back to the Question List Is unlimited internet access really unlimited? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Most broadband plans do, in fact, allow unlimited internet access. However, some dial-up companies can set limits on hourly usage in certain circumstances. Most dial-up internet service plans are not made to be used as an "always on" internet connection like DSL or cable, so most dial-up ISP's reserve the right to impose a time restriction if they feel that it is necessary. Be sure to look over the terms and conditions of a specific plan before signing up. ^ Back to the Question List How do I cancel my current ISP? In most cases, signing up with a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) does not automatically cancel your service with your current ISP. The best way to cancel your current ISP is to call that ISP's customer service number. You most likely received contact information, including a customer service number, when you signed up. A customer service phone number should also be easily found on that ISP's main Web site. ^ Back to the Question List
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