Types of Internet Access

If you are attending classes online you are going to need Internet access. There are several types of Internet access and some may be more suited to your needs than others. This can depend on the services in your area and whether or not you are looking to be mobile or work at a home office. Discussed below are the most common types of internet access available for student budgets.

Cable Internet

Cable Internet is provided by your local service provider and uses the existing cable infrastructure to deliver Internet access to your home. Cable companies have started providing this along with their traditional television content and sometimes Internet based telephone services. They may also offer all of these services as a bundle that can save money on all three. Cable Internet access has a downstream maximum bit rate of 400 megabits per second. The downstream bit rate refers to the speed at which information can travel into your computer. There is a maximum upstream bit rate of 20 megabits per second. The upstream bit rate refers to the speed at which information can travel from your computer to the Internet. Cable providers may have tiered plans for access speeds.

DSL

DSL, or Digital subscriber line is provided by your local telephone service provider, or by specialized telecommunications companies. DSL uses the existing telephone network to deliver high speed Internet access. The downstream maximum for DSL is 24,000 kilobits per second. There are two types of DSL available for consumer use:

• ADSL, also known as Asynchronous DSL has one speed for downstream information and a lower speed for upstream information transfer.
• SDSL, also known as Synchronous DSL has the same speed for both downstream and upstream information transfer.

Satellite

Some satellite television providers and other specialized Internet access companies have started providing internet access over satellite. This type of Internet access is subject to a number a weather factors and is typically only recommended in rural areas where the infrastructure for cable or telephone access does not exist. Upstream and downstream transfer speeds differ based on satellite and provider.

Mobile Broadband

Wireless telephone service providers offer mobile broadband access for laptop users via either their smart phones or wireless access cards. The speeds for wireless broadband can be equal to those of DSL and Cable Internet. Plans vary in cost from provider to provider. This is a good option for the professional online learner that is constantly on the go, as you have Internet access available anywhere you go.

Wi-fi

Many businesses such as coffee shops and bars have started offering Wireless Internet access to their customers for either free or a subscription fee. Free Wireless access is also becoming popular among municipalities in their downtown areas. Open wireless access networks can have security disadvantages, so be sure that you have your sensitive computer files secure before logging on.

Once you have your internet set up, you should make sure you have everything prepared with a student learning kit.