10 Common Questions About High Speed Internet Services
Posted by admin on 03/18/2011 | 0 Comments
When considering high speed internet access for the first time, there are several questions that commonly arise. As the old saying goes, no question, is a dumb question. Below we listed answers to some of those common questions about high speed internet services.
- Do I need to purchase a modem? If you’ve been using a dialup internet service, you probably have a dialup modem in your computer. However, the type of modems used for high speed internet service are completely different from a dialup modem. Your high speed internet provider generally will provide your modem, but they will also allow you to purchase your own, if you prefer. You must purchase a modem that is compatible with their system, so requesting their specifications before purchasing would be essential.
- Do I need a newer computer? Purchasing a new computer is seldom necessary to connect to high speed internet services, particularly if you are already connected via dialup services. However, your operating system on your computer may limit the efficiency of your browsing capabilities.
- What does DSL mean? DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It is the term used to describe accessing high speed internet through a telephone line. This type of high speed internet service is generally provided through a company that also provides local telephone services
- Can I get cable internet without cable TV? Usually, you can, provided that you have access to cable services at your location. However, the charges for cable internet access often has a higher monthly charge than it does when it is bundled with a cable television package.
- Which is faster DSL, cable or satellite? When comparing the three for the highest potential speed, cable internet will always win. Neither DSL nor satellite will reach the top speeds provided by cable internet. However, if you are just looking for normal web surfing, DSL can usually provide you with comparable speeds to the lower cable speeds. Satellite lags behind both these options.
- How can I test the speed of my connection? There are several places on the internet where you can test the speed of your connection. Cnet provides a bandwidth speed check under their Reviews tab. Speedtest.net will test both your download and upload speeds. The Cnet page will inform you that your connection speeds will vary from time to time due to network congestion between you and their servers.
- Can I connect more than one computer? The simple answer is, yes, you can connect more than one computer through your high speed internet connection. It will require you to purchase a router to create that home network which connects the two or more computers to the one internet connection, however.
- Do I need a telephone line? If you are connecting to DSL high speed internet, the answer is, yes, since DSL is delivered over telephone lines. Cable and satellite internet provides will not require you to have a telephone line for their services.
- Do I need to install special software? No, you do not need to install any special software to access the internet over a high speed connection. Many internet providers do provide internet security software to their customers. However, this is usually an optional install. You may use your own virus protection software, if you choose.
- Will it make my computer run faster? A high speed internet connection will not affect the overall performance of your computer. It should not affect the operations of any software other than your browsing software. If you have moved from dialup internet service to a high speed connection, you should see a substantial decrease in the time it takes for web pages to load in your browser.
If you have more specific questions, it is always best to check with the high speed internet providers in your area.
