Choosing the Best Internet Connection

Today an Internet connection is essential not only for surfing the Internet but for email, music and video downloads and also for uploading content to your website. Here we will look at how to choose an Internet connection that's right for your needs.

An Internet connection is provided by an ISP (Internet service provider). There are many ISPs to choose from and a number of different connection methods. When choosing your internet connection you need to take into account:

Access speed
Access type
Dial-up - per minute usage
Dial-up - unlimited usage
Always on - broadband, cable and wireless

Access Speed

This varies from 28kbits/sec (dial up) to 4000 kbits/sec (cable/broadband)
If you are just viewing web pages then 28k is acceptable for downloading or uploading large files like video, music or pictures then it will be very slow and you need to consider alternatives.

Access Types: Dial-Up and "Always On"

Dial up is the most common and the easiest to configure. There are two types of dial up available analogue dial up (standard) with access speeds of 28kbps -56kbps(common) and dial up ISDN with access speeds of 64kbps (most common) to 128kbps.

If you are using a flat rate option were you pay a monthly fee and you have unlimited access then you can leave your dial up modem permanently connected to the Internet at no extra cost. You will however find that if left unused for a time it will automatically disconnect and will only reconnect when you try to access the Internet.

With an always on connection (broadband/cable) the connection is always established and it never disconnects. This means that an email sent to you arrives straight in your inbox without you having to connect to the Internet and check.

Not only does such a connection provide instant access, it is also faster and easier to share with a large group of users. I does however mean that your computer/network is permanently exposed to the Internet and you need to take extra precautions.

My new site Steve's Internet Guide Provides detailed guides for connecting to and using the Internet. UK users might be interested in my review of BT Total broadband.

Dial-Up Analogue Connection -56K

Monthly Cost: Varies from 1p per minute to Ł13 per month (unlimited access)
Speed: Up to 56Kbps
Hardware Requirements: 56k modem included in most modern PCs (approx. Ł25-Ł50 )

Advantages

Inexpensive
Wide availability

Disadvantages

Using a modem ties up a phone line
Connection is not "always on"
Slowest access method

Suitability

Basic Internet browsing and email. Not suitable if regularly downloading or uploading large files like music, video or pictures. If your web site is mainly text based then this type of connection is ok. If you have a music Website or similar and need to make music files available then you first need to upload them to the Internet, then this type of connection is not suitable.

ISDN

Similar to dial-up, ISDN establishes a connection to your service provider when you access the Internet. However, ISDN circuits are 64-128K and fully digital.
ISDN is not easy to install and troubleshoot and requires you to have an ISDN box installed by your telephone company.

It is frequently used by small businesses as in addition to the ISDN line you can also use a normal telephone line at the same time . This means you can access the Internet as well as talking on the telephone.
Monthly Cost: As Analogue dial up
Speed: 64Kbps - 128Kbps
Hardware Requirements: ISDN card (ú30-$60)or router ( ú200-ú300)

Advantages

Lets you talk and surf simultaneously.
Faster than 56kbps analogue
Suitable for attaching more than 1 PC to the Internet ( 2-6 light users)

Disadvantages

difficult to setup
Available only in limited areas
Requires special termination equipment to be fitted by the telecom company at both ends of the telephone line
Outdated being replaced by DSL
Not practical for more than 6 computers (depending on usage)

Suitability

Basic Internet browsing and email and connection sharing. Not suitable if regularly downloading or uploading very large files like music, video or pictures. If your web site is mainly text based then this type of connection is ok. If you have a music Website and need to make many music files available then you first need to upload them to the Internet, then this type of connection is not suitable.

Broadband

There are currently two common broadband type services cable and DSL (Digital subscriber line). Although cable and DSL are broadband technologies DSL is the more common, as it is carried over the standard telephone lines, and this is more commonly known simply as broadband.

Cable

Cable connects you to the Internet through a coaxial cable usually using the same line as your TV service. Cable connections offer very high connection speeds, 1 to 4 Mbps, but the connection may be shared with other users. This means that you can experience much slower speeds due to congestion.

Monthly Cost: Ł14-Ł50 per month
Speed: 500 Kbps to 2 Mbps
Hardware Requirements: Cable Modem (Usually included). If you have multiple computers then you might need cable router to share connection.

Advantages

Wide availability
Relatively inexpensive

Disadvantages

Sharing with neighbours poses some unique security risks and congestion problems
Router required for more than one computer
Primarily for home users

Suitability

For very heavy Internet users and multiple computers (small office or home network). If you regularly download or upload large files like music, video or pictures then this type of connection is the one you need.

DSL or Broadband

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)/Broadband is a relatively new technology, which brings high connection speeds to normal analogue telephone users. It is basically the telecom answer to cable .
DSL comes in two forms:

Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), - provides different upload and download speeds (most common)
Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)- provides the same speed in both directions

Monthly Cost: Starts at approx. Ł13-Ł30 for ADSL per month
Speed: 128Kbps - 1Mbps
Hardware Requirements: DSL modem (often included). If you want to connect multiple computers: one DSL router (approx. Ł50-Ł200)

Advantages

Always on connection
Can use a telephone and Internet simultaneously
Wide variety of speeds and prices.
Large choice of service providers (ISPs)

Disadvantages

Available only in limited areas
Speed vary widely
Some providers have monthly download limits. ( 1GB per month is typical)
Requires special termination equipment to be fitted by the telecom company at both ends of the telephone line.
Exposes computer to Internet so you need to install firewall software. (Windows XP has a built in firewall).

Suitability

Broadband is suitable for very heavy Internet users and multiple computers (small office or home network). If you regularly download or upload large files like music, video or pictures then this type of connection is the one you need.