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Making Sense of Your Connectivity Options

Paul Kleeberg, M.D.American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific AssemblyOctober 3rd, 2003New Orleans

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Objectives

Understand the different methods of connecting to the Internet

Know the benefits, limitations and approximate cost of each method

Know how multiple computers can share one connection

Know how these techniques can be applied in your home or office

Know how to set up a secure wireless network in your home or office

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Outline

Connecting to the Internet POTS, ISDN, DSL, cable, satellite and

dedicated leased lines

Sharing an Internet connection Sharing a dial-up, DSL or cable connection Building ethernet networks: wired and

wireless

Comparing the optionsConclusion

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POTS: Plain Old Telephone Service

Uses the standard phone lineUser dials up the ISP to make a

connectionSpeeds said to be 56K but always slowerInternet (IP) address is assigned at the

time of the callRequires minimal hardware and setupCosts about $14 to $20 / month for

unlimited use

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POTS

AdvantagesAvailable from

anyplaceEasy set upEasy to switch ISPUseful when travelingAll new computers

can use it

DisadvantagesSlowDialing-up and

connecting is slowTies up phone line Intermittent

connections

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ISDN: Integrated Service Digital Network

Digital version of dial-up telephoneInstalled by local phone companyRequires an ISDN card in the PC or an

external “modem”A digital call is made at the time of “need”Reliable speeds of 64-128KInternet access (ISP) a separate cost$45 metered, $120 unlimited use / mo.

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ISDN

Advantages Fast dialing (~1.5 sec) Easy to switch ISPs ISP can connect to you

(extra cost) Available in some

locations where alternatives are not

Disadvantages Expensive Intermittent connections Requires add’l hardware Requires new wiring Metered by phone co and

sometimes the ISP Difficult to get installed Works only at the site of

installation Limited availability

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DSL: Digital Subscriber Line

Runs over ordinary telephone wiresDigital signals use high frequencies not

used by analog phonesInstalled by local phone companyReliable download speeds of 128K to 7MAlways onInternet access (ISP) a separate costMonthly cost $22 for 256K to $275 for 7M

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DSL

Advantages Always on Flat fee Reliable Requires no new wiring Does not tie up phone

line Fixed IP available Can be used to host a

web site Dial-up access when

traveling often included

Disadvantages Can be tough to switch

ISPs Requires additional

hardware (DSL Router) Can be difficult to get

installed Works only at the site of

installation Limited availability Fast upload speeds cost

more

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Cable

Runs over cable TV wiring Installed by cable companyDownload speeds of 768K to 3M and higherUpload speeds slower, about 300KAlways onShared bandwidth - the more people on it, the

slower it isUnlimited use with Internet access (ISP)

included in costCosts about $50 per month

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Cable

Advantages Usually quite fast Always on Flat fee Somewhat reliable Broader availability Does not interfere with

TV

Disadvantages Shared bandwidth Requires additional

hardware (cable box) Works only at the site of

installation Upload slower than

download No choice in cable

company or ISP Dial-up access when

traveling not always included

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Satellite

Available from remote locationsTwo providers: Direcway and StarbandDownloads about 1M. Upload via satellite

up-link up to 100K.Costs: Installation ~$200 plus:

Single Win98SE or better machine: unlimited service $70/mo hardware $500

Networked machines (any OS): unlimited service$150/mo hardware $600

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Satellite

AdvantagesAvailable anyplace

that has a view of the southern sky

Always onUnlimited access

DisadvantagesHardware and

installation costsShared bandwidthCan be slow when

using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

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Dedicated Leased Line

Fixed digital connectionBidirectional access at guaranteed speedsSpeeds range from 56K to T1 (1.5M) on

upAlways on, unmeteredISP is a separate chargeFees:

56K $80/mo, with ISP $300/mo 1.5M T1 $250/mo, with ISP $1500/mo

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Dedicated Leased Line

Advantages The most reliable

connection to the Internet Guaranteed bandwidth

and service levels Great for hosting a web

site or for managing your own security and firewalls

56K available anyplace there is a telephone

Disadvantages Expensive T1 and higher access

confined to metro. Extremely expensive in rural areas

Difficult to get installed Not easy to switch ISPs Requires dedicated

hardware

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Sharing an Internet Connection

Use one Internet connection to allow access by several machines

Products available for dial-up (POTs), DSL and cable

Most products also include a firewall increasing security

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Sharing a Dial-up Connection

AdvantagesCheapUses only one phone

lineAny number of

computers can share one line

Can be used with a network

DisadvantagesSlow. Same problem

as POTSSpeed slows as more

attempt to use the line at the same time

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Sharing a DSL or Cable Line

Share a single DSL or cable line with any number of computers

Can be used with a wired, wireless or mixed network.

Can be used to share a single Internet (IP) address on an existing network.

Hardware starts at $80

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Sharing a DSL or Cable Line

Advantages Always on Uses only one DSL or

Cable connection Any number of computers

can access the Internet simultaneously

Computers inside can be invisible to the outside

A computer inside can be a web server for the Internet

Disadvantages Requires extra

hardware Requires a network

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Building Networks

Wired EthernetAdvantages

Very high speed: 10, 100 and 1000M

More secure - requires a physical connection

Disadvantages Running wires Laptop needs a wire

Wireless (WiFi) Advantages

High speed 11M (802.11b) and higher (802.11a & g)

Wiring unnecessary Use with any computer Laptops not tethered Many laptops are wireless-

ready Disadvantages

May require a PC Card Requires extra steps to

increase security

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Wireless Connections to the Internet Networks

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Comparing the Options

Feature POTS ISDN DSL Cable Satellite 56K T-1Download

Speed<56K 128K

<128K-1.5M-7M

<768K-3M

~1M 56K 1.5M

UploadSpeed

<56K 128K<128-384K-1.5M

<256-384K

~100K 56K 1.5M

Metered No Yes-No No No No No No

Cost/mo ~$20 $45-$120$22-

$275-$?$50-$90

$70 single$150 ntwk

$80+ $250

FixedIP No Avail Often Add’l $ Add’l $ Yes Yes

ISP cost $0 $40-$150 $25 $0 $0 $300 $1500

Hardware ~$0 $600 often incl incl $500-600 $1500 $1500

Install ~$0 ~$25 ~$0 ~$0 ~$200 $380 $1750

Availability wide wide growing growing wide wide urban

All costs are approximate

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Useful Links

Handouts from this lecture with additional links: http://fpen.org/aafp/connect.html

Home networking information from Linksys: http://www.linksys.com/edu/

Home networking information from Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/insider/networking/

The owners' manual for the broadband wireless router demonstrated in class: ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/wrt54gv1.1_ug.pdf

Webopedia: An encyclopedia of technology terms http://webopedia.internet.com/