CompTIA A+® Certification All-In-One For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

4.7. Ways to Access the Internet

In addition to dialup connections, many other types of connections can connect you to the Internet, and some of these connection types might be available in your area from local Internet service providers (ISPs). Some of these are used for home connections, and others are used primarily for connecting LANs to the Internet:

• Dialup

• Cable

• ADSL

• ISDN

• T1/T3

• Satellite

• Wireless

• Cellular

The following sections take a closer look at each of these methods.

4.7.1. Dialup

Good-old reliable dialup has remained a true friend of remote access and access to the Internet for years. For years, dialup was the method available to most users, and dialup access was much better than no access. Dialup is still a standard way to connect to the Internet in many markets in which faster alternatives do not exist. The listed data rate for dialup connections is 56 Kbps.

4.7.2. Cable

Cable connections implement a cable modem in your home or office that takes a digital network signal from your network card and translates (modulates) it into an analog broadband signal. This signal is then passed on to the cable network. Cable companies usually offer transmission speeds between 4 and 10 Mbps to their customers although actual speeds vary. This signal runs over existing cable, using previously unused signal areas of the medium. When using cable, you are on a shared medium with other users until your connection reaches the cable company's office.

4.7.3. ADSL

Asynchronous Digital Subscriber ...