Accessing the Internet

Whether you are installing a home or office network, you are probably going to want to provide your users with access to the Internet. There are, at this time, several types of connections you can use to connect to the Internet without spending an enormous amount of money for a T1 connection and a dedicated router.

Using Dial-up Connections

The dial-up connection, running at up to 53 Kbps downstream and 33.6 Kbps upstream is the standard Internet access method used by most people, because modems and ISPs are inexpensive and no software other than Windows 98 is required. However, when you have multiple computers, providing a separate phone line for each one can be expensive and inconvenient. Sharing a dial-up connection provides an effective Internet access solution for 2 or 3 users, but no more than that.

Using ISDN Connections

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a service that has been provided by telephone companies for many years that can provide Internet access at up to 128 Kbps. Because ISDN is a dial-up service, you can switch ISPs without involving the phone company, but the service has several drawbacks. In addition to being difficult to get installed and notoriously cranky, you typically pay high rates to both your ISP and the phone company, including a per-minute charge, for 2-3 times the effective bandwidth of a basic dial-up account.

Using DOV (Data Over Voice) ISDN Connections

Data over Voice (or DoV) is a relatively new reasonably low cost, high-speed Internet access method. DoV uses multiples of 56K or 64K ISDN cannels to connect to the Internet, and avoids the normal costly ISDN usage charges by its Data Over Voice trickery, convincing your telphone company that your call is just a local voice call and not the more heavily charged data call. This technology is best suited to someone wanting higher download speeds who can afford the $300 odd install for the OnRamp Home Highway service plus the additonal cost of the ISDN router which can be over $350. Once you are over this initial installation cost though, the ongoing fees are only the local call charge plus our account fee of $44 per month per channel (inc GST).

Using DSL Connections

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the newest technology being used for Internet access. Because it is a dedicated point-to-point connection, it does not have the security and traffic problems that cable networks do, and throughput is often higher than that of cable modems. However, like ISDN, DSL service is limited in the distance that you can be from the provider's point of presence (POP). DSL is also relatively new technology that is just being introduced in many places. DSL take-up in Australia has been well above the world average.