Thursday, December 13, 2012

What is Broadband?

Defining broadband can get complicated
There are many different takes on how to actually define the word: broadband. The first and most obvious way to define it is a transmission medium that allows for multiple pathways and types of data, far exceeding simple voice communication devices. Simply, put it is the ability to access a variety of data through one connection at a reasonable speed.
Where a phone line severely limits the amount of information it can transmit, a broadband line, which has bandwidth greater than 2 mbps, unlike a standard dial-up connection which will only have 56kbps, can allow for a variety of different frequencies and channels to travel down its wide pathway. This makes it optimal for those who play video games on the Internet or are involved in heavy graphics work that they need to import, send and receive along the information superhighway.
The minimum width of a broadband line has become a matter of debate. While initially, the broadband definition was a line that was greater than 2 mbps in width, other experts began asserting that it should be at least 3 mbps wide. Still others complain that at least 20 would be appropriate. But now, broadband services start as low as 1 mbps, for those who are trying out broadband for the first time. So who really knows what the minimum level of bandwidth is needed in order for it to be called broadband? One thing is certain though. DSL service which an range from 256 kbps capacity on the downstream and upstream side up to 1.5mbps, or even higher, is considered a broadband service as well. So are cable television modems, which have similar speeds. So, in reality anything with greater capacity than a narrow line, like a telephone line, which can only hold up to 64 kbps, is technically considered a broadband service.
Broadband services have become all the craze in the past few years. When the Internet started to become more mainstream in the 1990s people were content with simple dial-up Internet services, which used only narrow lines. But as the need for speed became important, especially as files and Web pages became more elaborate, requiring more computer storage space and memory, the need for larger bulks of information being able to be sent and received at a quicker pace became essential. Hence, we have the broadband revolution. Today, hardly anyone uses narrow band service, or dial-up. Broadband Internet access is the name of the game. And if you work in an office it is absolutely essential, as larger chunks of information are frequently sent to and from businesses on a regular basis. Simply put, if you don't have broadband today, you are probably a person who does not need the Internet for a living. With the number of telecommuting jobs available today, the need for broadband services is only likely to expand greatly.
Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.
For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband
[http://www.ukcheapbroadband] © Copyright 2005
Please feel free to copy and paste this article and it's resource information.
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How to Get Broadband

Getting broadband services getting easy, but research still required.
Broadband Internet services have become more the norm today, unlike the dial-up days of the late 1990s. With greater amounts of information needing to travel at faster and faster speeds over the Internet and the greater number of telecommuters every year, the need for broadband Internet has stretched beyond the board room and into the home office. So it is clearly more important than ever for everyone to know how to get broadband.
Getting broadband service, like, for example, DSL, is not difficult. There are many providers, and even many phone companies are getting into the game today as well. But finding a service provider, while not being very difficult, also requires a self-evaluation first. One must ask themselves before seeking out a broadband service provider, just what they'll be needing broadband service for.
For most people who work from home, they may only need reliable and speedy Internet access. They may need to transport documents, maybe some graphics to and from clients and employers. But they will likely not need to transmit video or graphics. But if they do need to transmit the latter, they may need to seek out higher bandwidth. But, again, if they are only sending documents that are not graphic intensive, a smaller bandwidth at a lower cost may be all they need, and then they can spend their savings on other aspects of their business or work.
After doing this necessary self assessment when looking at how to get broadband, it is important to check pricing on at least three broadband providers. Also, ask users of these providers about their experience. All of these broadband providers may boast the same thing, but the people who use their services are the true indicator of how they really perform.
After you match your needs with the best price and testimonial, the decision is yours whether you want to spring for a broadband provider. But chances are pretty good that even if you only spend a few dollars more a month for broadband, after awhile, you will wonder how you ever existed with dial-up service.
Another thing some people must consider when looking into how to get broadband is whether you have providers in your area. In some rare instances, certain providers do not have the infrastructure in place to give you their service yet. So while you may be hearing the raves from a friend across town about a particular provider, you may still have to wait and see if their service is present in your area. This has been the case, particularly, for cable companies getting into broadband Internet services. As they expand their infrastructure, some sections of major metropolitan areas have had to wait longer to get their broadband.
Neil Shevlin is the owner of UK Cheap Broadband which is a great place to find broadband links, resources and articles.
For more information go to: UK Cheap Broadband
[http://www.ukcheapbroadband]
© Copyright 2005
Please feel free to copy and paste this article and it's resource information.
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Wireless Broadband Basics[ By Jeremy Maddock ]

Wireless broadband is a general term used for the technology that is able to gain access to the internet wirelessly, and at high bandwidth speeds. Wireless broadband is available on virtually any digital device, so long as it has the proper connectivity hardware. Such hardware can easily be attached to most PDAs and laptop computers.
One of the most popular and well known wireless technology standards is Wi-Fi [http://glossary.teleclick.ca/wi-fi.php] (Wireless Fidelity), which allows users to access the internet over a wireless Local Area Network. The speed and range of Wi-Fi, however, is severely limited. There is another wireless connectivity standard, called WiMAX [http://glossary.teleclick.ca/wimax.php], which is considerably more advanced.
WiMAX is a protocol by which signals are sent to wireless broadband users. A WiMAX base station can theoretically beam a signal as far as 50km (31 miles), meaning that a single station could potentially cover an entire city (unlike Wi-Fi, which is only available in "hotspots").
Although WiMAX are networks are available in several major metropolitan areas in the US, base stations are very expensive to build, and aren’t cost effective in less densely populated areas. Because of this limitation, WiMAX technology is not yet available in most non-urban regions.
Although WiMAX has been a major technological achievement, wireless broadband certainly doesn’t stop there. There are a number of other cutting edge wireless protocols currently in development. The most notable of these is a new protocol called xMax, which is similar to WiMAX, but a lot more efficient. It can cover a broader range at a lower cost, by piggybacking on radio frequencies. Although xMax is not yet available to the public, it will most likely be launched within the next couple of years.

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A Cheap Alternative To Broadband?[By Richard Prosser ]

Are you a dial-up user looking for a faster connection,
but don't like Broadband prices? If so, you should take a look at a new service called OnSpeed, which has received rave reviews in Internet technology publications.
What OnSpeed does is to re-route web pages and email via
its own servers, compressing the data on the fly prior to sending it onwards to your PC. A small program then decompresses the data, so that you can view it in the normal way via your browser or email client.
In my own dial-up tests, with a modem running at a nominal
49kb/s I appeared to get speeds close to that of my normal
broadband connection of 598 kb/s - very impressive. Image quality is often reduced but the compression for this can be improved, though with an adverse effect on the speed of course.
Some file types like MP3 also cannot yet be compressed. The
company is working on these issues however and expects to
find solutions soon.
Unfortunately I was unable to use email in my tests, due
to a 'port' conflict with a spam filter that I was using. The
standard advice on the OnSpeed site for such cases is to disable the offending program. Not a constructive approach - to say
the least - so I hope that the relevant instructions will be changed soon.
More significantly, the problem persisted even when I
switched off the OnSpeed application on my PC; in the end I had to remove the program to get the spam filter working again. I expect that this fault can be resolved, but clearly there are issues in this area that need to be addressed.
The software is easy to install, and is available for Mac
as well as Windows PCs. On the whole the service is surprisingly
good, and a lot cheaper than broadband. Unlike other 'speed-up'
techniques that tweak your computer's settings but result in
little noticeable improvement, OnSpeed really works.
I can recommend OnSpeed for dial-up users who can't justify the
expense of broadband, or who are not located close enough to a
suitable exchange. OnSpeed is also stated to be great for mobile
or PDA users, as GPRS (wireless) speeds can be boosted by as much
as 8 times. It even helps with broadband if you can only get a
reduced service in your area.
My overall rating is 4/5 - very good, but the email support needs
to be improved.
If you want further details of OnSpeed, please visit http://www.On-Speed.net. There is a 14 day money-back
guarantee, so you can try the service without any risk.
Copyright © Richard Prosser 2004
Richard is a software developer and entrepreneur, and may be contacted via the 'Article Tips' site given below. This article may be published without permission, but only in its entirety.
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DSL Internet is a Simple and Easy Way to Get Fast Internet Service[By David Gonzalez]

DSL - which stands for Digital Subscriber Line - is a great way to get high-speed internet service, without having to get a cable modem, or live in an area that has cable lines. DSL providers have very fast and comparatively cheap internet connectivity.
To explain DSL, it is a way to enjoy high-speed internet using your telephone line, just as you would for dial up. Except that it has so many more advantages than a regular internet service could provide.
Have a look at some of the great ways that DSL internet can benefit your home or business:
- With a DSL installation, you can keep your internet connection open, and still use the same telephone line for phone calls; both incoming and outgoing.
- The internet speed that you can obtain with a quality DSL provider is much greater than that of a regular dial-up modem. To compare, you can get an average of 1.5 Mbps with a DSL modem, as opposed to only 56 Kbps with a dial-up connection (that's 10 times faster!).
- DSL connection doesn't necessarily mean that you'll need any new wiring. As long as you have a phone line with which to connect, then you're already all set.
- Many DSL providers will supply you with the right kind of modem as a part of the DSL installation.
There are a few minor disadvantages to DSL that you might want to note. But it is pretty clear that DSL is far superior than any standard connection to the internet, and if you have the choice, you should most certainly aim for the convenience of high-speed. Some of these disadvantages include:
- DSL connections work best when you are located close to the DSL provider's central location. If you are, indeed, close, then this should not be a concern.
- DSL internet is faster for receiving than for sending. However, the sending is still a great deal faster than standard internet services.
- DSL service is not available universally. You'll need to check your local suppliers to find out if they are DSL providers.
If you want reliable, high-speed internet, then you'll likely be looking into a quality DSL provider to supply you with precisely what you've been looking for.
Dave Gonzalez
http://www.broadband-dsl-directory.com
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International Calling Via Internet - Tips To Remember[By Thomas Galvin]

When you are traveling overseas there are many occasions when you simply want to catch up with your loved ones back at home. Unfortunately, International Calling is far more expensive than making a local call and you are often forced to think twice before you make an international call. At times people buy calling cards but even then they have to constantly monitor how many minutes they have been talking so that they know how long they can talk.
Nevertheless, in today's time Internet has brought a revolution in the telecommunications sector. People now prefer using the Internet to make international calls and interact with their friends and family members living overseas. Here are some of the following methods for making cheap international calls.
Use VOIP Phone Services
This service allows you to make calls through the Internet. In order to make phone calls, VOIP international call services use Internet bandwidth instead of using phone lines. The only difference lies in the cost since those calls made through the Internet are significantly less expensive when compared to those made on landlines. Moreover, you can avail various other services online, such as getting an automatic top-up.
Work With a Reliable Company
Before you opt for the services make sure the company or service provider you have chosen is reliable. Good companies have solid customer support services; therefore, you must check the availability of your service provider in case you need any technical help. Make sure that the company you are working with is a reliable one, anywhere and at anytime.
Purchase a Good-Quality Headset
When you make overseas calls, there are chances that the voice quality may suffer if you do not have a quality headset. Therefore, you must have a good quality headset so that you can hear the other person clearly and also make yourself clear to them. This will enable you to have a healthy conversation with minimum distortions.
Service Should Have Flexibility
With recent developments in technology, companies are now allowing their customers to make Overseas Calls using the Internet through their mobile phone. With this special feature you can make international calls no matter where you are provided that you have your mobile phone and access to high-speed Internet connection.
Thus, international calling is no longer an expensive affair if you avail the right services. Therefore, you should choose a company that can be trusted and which offers services with flexibility so that you never feel that you are far away from your loved ones.
For more information regarding International Calling and Overseas Calls visit our site http://www.gotalk.com.au
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