Part I of II

The days of waking to our house wrapped in toilet paper or washing eggs from the garage door seem to be a thing of the past. What used to be considered severe acts of vandalism are merely child's play. Today we are plagued by vandals that no longer destroy property but lives.

We all enjoy the benefits that super-fast Internet connections provide but few of us stop to ask the question, am I adequately protected from modern day vandals? As we roam freely looking for the latest news, finding the best deals on products and services or even locating and buying movie tickets to entertain us, we transmit pieces of ourselves thousands of miles across multiple networks &mdash leaving us vulnerable to losing our identities without even knowing what has taken place.

Our financial institutions have recognized this threat and accessing our personal information requires secure logins to highly protected servers. Unfortunately, traveling to our financial institutions is a small percentage of our overall Internet usage, and questions surround the securities that other institutions enforce to protect us as consumers. We really need to ask ourselves what should we do to protect ourselves. We should be able to turn to our Internet service providers (ISP's) for the answer but the majority provide very little security, if any at all. As we demand faster and faster speeds and choose providers based on price, we place the burden of data security on ourselves. We are forced to turn to software based solutions by digging through the piles of advertising slogans and gimmicks to make a highly influenced decision that may or may not successfully protect us. Who can we trust and how do we find them? Look for part II of my blog next week for the solution.

When determining which type of Internet service is best for you, it's essential to first consider where you live and whether DSL or Cable Internet can be installed in your area. So let's turn this mother out, and help you maximize your Internet experience.

DSL Availability
DSL is very much dependent on distance. The further away your residence is from the provider's central office, the less likely that DSL will be available. Contacting your local telephone company will determine if your lines are qualified to sufficiently transport DSL data. Not every telephone line is capable of carrying both phone and Internet data, so this step is essential before contacting a DSL provider. Of course, the benefit of having a dedicated line is that you do not share bandwidth with your entire neighborhood, so the guy next door downloading 120 hours of Abba concert videos won't interrupt your ability to download and surf.

Cable Internet Availability
Cable takes a much more "neighborly approach" to offering it's service in particular areas. Basically, cable companies generally offer Internet service in any area that they already have a cable TV footprint. However, cable is an RF newtwork—meaning that interference in cable TV will affect your Internet's performance. Cable Internet is also a shared media, meaning that several people in your immediate area may share TV lines, carrying a possible decline in performance as more people plug in.

In reality, the differences between cable and DSL are more prominent depending on where you live. Which service is best for you really depends on your downloading needs, whether you are running a business from home, etc. Companies offer different packages and prices in different areas, so you may find that researching companies that are available in your area first is the quickest way to determine your Internet needs.

Access the Internet on Every Street Corner

I remember earlier this year reading online that Buckeye Cable in Ohio was considering offering Wi-Fi services in the Toledo area. Recently, I read another article on the Web where the plan is still in the discussion phase but that got me thinking. It would be nice to be able to log on to the Internet around the city and not just in certain local bookstores or coffee shops. To think, we could check e-mails, locate post offices, restaurants, etc. or just conduct business out of the car. Wow, technology sure has come along way.

With many business transactions happening outside of the office, I think having Wi-Fi available throughout a city, would be very beneficial. The service could be offered free or at a discounted price as an added value to current subscribers. This would lessen the need to be in the office eight hours a day and allow people to be out visiting with customers, where business is really done.

I ran across an Earthlink press release where they are offering Wi-Fi throughout the city of Philadelphia. It definitely would be great if other Internet providers would get in gear and set up this type of service in cities nationwide.

Race through the information super highway to the high-speed Internet portal that has all the information you crave. You can get the latest on Internet news, tips on how to make your connection faster and more! There is always something new you can learn and use to make your Web surfing the best experience possible, so take advantage and visit your high-speed Internet corner.

Who wants to be the tortoise when you can have the hare. High-speed Internet isn't a technology that's built for crawling, so "DSL vs. Cable - Part Two" will help you determine whether DSL or cable Internet is a better fit for your need for speed.

Raw Speed
Just based on potential alone, cable's bandwidth is generally capable of reaching speeds up to 30 Mbps, while the most common form of DSL—ADSL—usually peaks at about 6 Mbps. Fiber optic technology helps VDSL reach similar speeds as cable Internet, but is not as widely available in residential areas as ADSL.

Factors that affect actual speed

• The same cable line connects to many households, so bandwidth can fluctuate depending on how many users are online simultaneously.
• DSL speeds vary depending on your distance from the central office. The closer you are the better.
• Package price is your best bet for determining speed. The faster DSL and Cable Internet packages usually range from $40-$50.
• Most DSL and cable Internet services are asymmetrical, meaning that downloading and uploading speeds are different. Basically, activities such as receiving emails and browsing websites are generally faster than sending emails and uploading files.
• Most companies will provide a range of download and upload speeds specifically detailing a max bandwidth.

Not sure what comes in your high speed bag of tricks? "DSL vs. Cable: Part Three: Equipment and Availability" will outline the installation fees, required equipment and general availability of DSL and cable Internet.

Promos, Specials, Offers—Do you Buy Them or Not?

Call them what you want but the concept is pretty simple. Internally, companies get together, and create the HOT new special pricing. Which of course is great news, who doesn't want to receive products at the best price possible? But, now, keep in mind, not all specials are created equal. The factors that go into creating these deals can be something simple and straight forward as one month FREE with any package; installation half off; required equipment at full price unless you send in the rebate or two months FREE with the right package with the purchase five of 12 additional features. It's up to you, the consumer, to shop around and determine what makes the most sense for your needs.

Sometimes sales tactics are proactive, X company is focusing on high-speed Internet, so they create an incentive for you to "buy now." Other times, it's reactive, Y company feels the pressure and heavily promotes their new speed and six month locked in price, but you better hurry because the offer ends in three days. Clearly this works in many directions, and, honestly, it's no secret competition is getting pretty aggressive between all communications providers.

You can now get television service from what was traditionally your phone company and vice versa. Both have been in the world of high-speed, but it's an ever changing fun game of my speed is faster than yours. Oh, but have no fear &mdash competition is a consumer's friend. It's finding the time to make sense of it all that can be difficult, especially if you are planning a cross-country move or you work all day. Really, who has the time to call each communications company, get the breakdown of cost by packaging, premium channels and features, tally them all up side by side, then actually take the time to call each company back to set up service? It can be a bit overwhelming and sometimes you just go with what seems to be the easiest, but in the long run it may not make sense at all for you or your family.

As confusing as it may all seem, make sure you take a little time to visit comparison sites such as ConnectMyHighspeed.com. In just a few minutes you can view providers in your area, compare their rates and order your service all for free. Understanding what the actual offer is and getting the best deal after all is said and done is definitely worth checking out that site.

The lesson here friends, is shop around and compare. There are everyday low pricing and specials, promotions and offers to be had &mdash plus it's your given right as a consumer.

You've probably read millions of reasons why one type of Internet service is better, faster and all other types of bells and whistles that makes each stand out from the rest. It's nearly mind boggling trying to wade through the technical language that reads like a vintage episode of "Battlestar Galactica." Understanding Internet service doesn't have to feel like learning a foreign language. In part one of your guide to DSL and cable high-speed Internet, you'll find simple details that will help you determine which of these two types of Internet service are best for you.

DSL: Your telephone line's biggest fan
DSL connects your computer to a telephone line either using an existing line or new wiring to send a signal from your provider to your home. An external DSL modem (varies in size and look) connects your computer to the DSL line that runs data from your Internet provider. Think of a modem as the middle man in the Internet relationship with your provider. Modems are generally provided with service, either free depending on your contract, or available for rent with a low monthly charge.

Most types of DSL use what they call a dedicated line, which generally means you can use your telephone and Internet at the same time, and not worry about sharing service with everyone on your block. It gets a little tricky here though. Your bandwidth (the amount of data that can be carried from one point to another) is shared between you and the central office of your Internet provider, not everyone on your block.

Advantages:

• Talk on the phone and surf the Internet simultaneously.
• Faster than dial up
• Bandwidth is not shared among several users

Cable Internet: Internet meet TV, TV meet Internet. Now shake hands...
Cable Internet is unique in the sense that it really requires little installation for you to be Internet ready. A cable modem is similar to a DSL modem, with both featuring an Ethernet or USB port to connect your computer to the modem. Instead of connecting the modem to a telephone jack, cable modems simply connect to the same input used for your television, with coaxial cable bridging the gap between the cable line and your modem.

Cable Internet is shared among neighbors, but cable companies generally have a large amount of bandwidth to share, so your Internet speeds will vary depending on which company you use. Distance does not affect speed.

• Available in a variety of areas
• Distance does not affect speed
• Easy installation with no additional wiring, hole digging or headaches

Want to know how fast DSL and cable Internet are? Stay tuned next week for Part Two of the DSL vs. Cable skirmish, outlining what features/aspects affects the overall speed of your Internet.