| What are Your Internet Connection Solutions? | | | | These certainly are the most cost effective |
| | | | and provide excellent 24/7 support. With the |
| Of primary concern to all internet users is | | | | high speed upgrade options you can approach |
| their actual connection to the internet. | | | | 112 k speeds. If the company has a local or |
| | | | toll free number available in your area, then |
| A user needs to look at all the factors and | | | | this alternative provides the lowest cost isp |
| weigh the benefits and costs | | | | internet connection. |
| | | | |
| 1. Reliability - is the connection available | | | | Cable connection - If cable TV is available |
| 24/7, or do you get a busy signal? | | | | in your area, many firms also provide an |
| | | | internet connection for an additional fee. |
| 2. Speed - at what speeds can a user upload | | | | Requires special cable modem. Speeds are |
| and download files? | | | | anywhere from 512k to 10Mps. |
| | | | |
| 3. Costs - what are the setup and monthly | | | | DSL or digital service line - Many local |
| costs for the internet connection service? | | | | phone companies are providing this service to |
| | | | selected areas. Requires installation of DSL |
| 4. Support - is support available 24/7 and is | | | | modem on your computer and speeds typically |
| it free or is there a cost associated with | | | | are from 512k to 9Mps. The distance from the |
| it? | | | | local hub also affects your speed. You will |
| | | | pay 2 to 3 times the costs of basic dial up. |
| 5. Availability - is the desired service | | | | |
| available at your location? | | | | Broadband - Is a term loosely thrown around |
| | | | that is applied to a DSL, cable, wireless, or |
| Available options with good and bad features | | | | satellite internet connections. Technically |
| include: | | | | broadband is a minimum of 1.5Mbs but is used |
| | | | to market products with bandwidth as low as |
| Local dial up with phone company (local isp) | | | | 512k. When you hear the term broadband used, |
| - While this many times is the simplest, | | | | think like "health food", an undefined |
| often times, they are the most costly and | | | | marketing catch word. |
| support can be an issue. Speeds are typically | | | | |
| the slowestat 26k to 56k connection speeds. | | | | Wireless internet connection - This option is |
| | | | available in limited area's and requires a |
| Software file compression- If you only have | | | | wireless modem on your computer. Speeds |
| 26k dialup isp connections available to you | | | | typically are 2Mbps and this is a flexible |
| or you want to speed up your DSL connections, | | | | approach as you do not need to be hardwired |
| this is an important option you should take a | | | | or plugged in. Available in many metro |
| look at. With this type of software you can | | | | area's. |
| increase your internet connection speeds by | | | | |
| as much as five times for very little money. | | | | Satellite internet connection - This is the |
| Popular software products that accomplish | | | | perfect solution for remote area's if you |
| this are ActiveSpeed, PropelAccelerator, Dr. | | | | require a high speed internet connection. |
| Speed, and SuperSpeeder, Highly recommended | | | | Upload and download speeds are different and |
| solution to increasing your browsing | | | | in some cases you can only download via |
| experience. | | | | satellite and are required to upload via dial |
| | | | up. This is the most expensive alternative, |
| Local dial up with national firm - This is by | | | | but you can get service basically anywhere in |
| far the most popular with companies like AOL, | | | | the world. Speeds starting at 500k are |
| People PC, Juno, EarthLink, and Netzero | | | | available. Contact Directway for dependable |
| providing this service to millions of users. | | | | and fast satellite internet connections. |