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We've all heard about the Internet, and now you're actually using it – after all, you've made it to this web site! But do you fully understand how the network works?

The Internet

The Internet, very simply, is a network of communications lines similar to phone lines. These communications lines let computers exchange information between each other. When you loaded up the West Australian Networks site, your computer exchanged information with one of our computers. The result is that you can read this page of words. The Internet has become amazingly popular because it reduces communications times to the blink of an eye.

ISP

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. West Australian Networks is an ISP. We provide access to the lines or links for companies and individuals.

Modems

It all started with old faithful modems. They've improved enormously over time, from the early days of 2400 bps (bits per second) to present day 56K (56 kilobits per second) speeds. But modem technology has hit a wall.

Modems convert your computer's digital information into analogue signals that can then be sent over standard copper wire telephone lines. Your modem dials into your Internet Service Provider's modems (or access servers) and negotiates a connection speed, which is determined by the type of modems involved at both ends and the quality of the telephone wires in between. "Line noise" (the overflow of voice and other data being carried along the lines) often reduces the speed at which the two modems can communicate. This explains why your 56K modem often connects at sub-56K speeds.

More options

The clamour for faster connections brought about the introduction of ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). By purchasing special ISDN adapters in place of standard modems, home users could connect at an optimal speed of 128k.

The real limit faced by modems has always been the fact that digital information had to be converted into analogue signals for transmission and then converted back to digital for use by your PC. However, a way was found to bypass this process and simply send the digital data back and forth over existing copper wires without the bottleneck of conversion.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) technology opens up your phone line for fast transmission of data. A special DSL modem is needed, and you must be within a certain radius from a major DSL connection point (DSL enabled telephone exchange).