Internet Service Providers

Internet Service Provider

allows computers to communicate on a larger outside network

What are wired types of connections?

Dial-up/POTS, DSL, Cable, FIber-Optic Internet

What are wireless types of connections?

Satellite and cellular

Dial-up

Slowest connection type, cannot use phone and internet at the same time by using a modem to convert analog to digital and POTS

What are the advantages of dial-up?

The only hardware it requires is a modem and phone card and it is the cheapest online solution

What are the disadvantages of dial-up?

Very slow

Digital Subscriber Line

requires a modem and network card to allow phone and internet use at the same time

What are the advantages of DSL?

Much faster than dial-up, bandwidth is not shared with other users, and very reliable

What are the disadvantages of DSL?

distance is limited to how far away from your phone company’s central office you can be

Broadband/Cable Internet

uses coaxial cable lines to carry internet

What are the advantages of boardband/cable?

Much faster than DSL and dial-up, and does not require a telephone landline

What are the disadvantages of broadband/cable?

It may be unavailable in an area and requires more equipment than dial-up (network card, network cable, cable modem)

Fiber Optic

Uses fiberoptic cable that transmits data via light, mostly used for telecommunications and network backbones

What are the advantages of fiber optic?

Provides the fastest speed

What are the disadvantages of fiber optics?

Requires special NIC/connector and most expensive in most circumstances

Satellite

Uses satellite to relay data for access to the internet

What are the advantages of the satellite internet?

Once was great in rural locations far from ISP, and can be cheaper based on providers

What are the disadvantages of satellite internet?

High amount of latency, weather and satellite alignment can affect quality

Mobile Hotspots- Network Cards

Allows your laptop or other non-cellular device to connect to the cellular network

Mobile Hotspots- Mi-Fi cards

Allows you to connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices as a Mi-Fi cloud for internet access

Tethering

Wired hotspot