Internet connection types:
In order to connect to the internet, a worldwide community of interconnected computers and information, you must pay a service provider for a connection. This is much the same as paying the phone company for connection to the worldwide phone grid. The difference is that the internet is the same price whether you communicate with someone in Japan or your next door neighbor.
There are four main types of internet connections common to the general public:
Dial-up:
This method of connecting to the internet is the oldest and slowest method. It is also the most readily available in all places which also receive phone service. Using this type of connection requires connecting a phone line into your PC and using a modem to communicate through the phone line. While in use by your computer, you may not use your phone line. Many people pay for a second line dedicated directly to their dial-up connection much as business might with fax lines.
DSL:
This method of connection is many times faster than dial-up. Your PC is connected to a separate DSL modem which in turn is connected to your phone line. This type of connection allows the computer to be on the internet while someone is able to use the phone at the same time. In order to use this service you must install filters onto your telephones to reduce the internet signal and only let through telephone information. You also must live within so many feet of a substation or source.
Cable:
This method of connection is also many times faster than dial-up. In this case, your PC is connected to a cable modem which is then connected through your cable TV lines at your house. Since this wire is separate from your phone line, you may watch tv, talk on the phone, and connect to the internet all at the same time.
FiOs (Fiber Optic):
This method of connection is the fastest available to most home users. Fiber optic internet connections work in the same way as DSL or Cable connections do, except that a fiber optic line is run from the telephone pole directly to your location. As with other high speed lines, you may use the phone, tv, and computer all at the same time. The advantage of fiber optics is its speed advantage capabilities over DSL and cable.
Speed and Price:
Prices range from location to location and between companies. Traditionally, the faster your connection, the more it costs. Contact your local providers for more information.
As far as speed is concerned, the connections as ordered above are ordered from slowest to fastest. Although, each type may have many packages and speeds at various prices, Dial-up is always the slowest, and FiOs is roughly the fastest. Dial-up offers 56 kbps download speed, DSL often offers 768 kbps, Cable may offer 6000 kbps and FiOs might offer 10000 kbps or more. These speeds are not available in all areas. Contact your local internet service providers for more information.
Note:
In computers, it takes 8 bits to describe one character, or a Byte. The word bit is abbreviated with a lower case b, while the word Byte is abbreviated by an upper case B. This is important because speeds are often advertised both in bits and Bytes so it is important to know that "1 Bps" (Byte per second) is 8 times faster than "1 bps" (bit per second).