DSL

A Comparison of DSL Prices

When looking at the cost of having a digital subscriber line, examine different elements. While many DSL providers try to price themselves competitively, finding the one offering the best value is difficult. In addition to pricing, potential customers should also examine the provider's overall customer satisfaction rating, as well as determine equipment costs.

Reliable DSL Providers

Speed of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connection and cost of service are important to broadband customers, but reliability is just as relevant. A high-speed service is only useful if you can reliably connect to it. Before choosing a provider, you should research what each company offers in your area. Quality, reliable DSL is location-dependent.

What Is Needed to Have DSL?

Digital subscriber line, more commonly known as DSL, offers users a high-speed, widely available and low-cost Internet connection. Unlike other broadband connections, such as satellite broadband and fiber-optic cable, DSL does not require a large investment in infrastructure. As long as you live close enough to a DSL provider's central office, you can get high-speed Internet with an always-on connection for a modest monthly fee.

The Average Download Speed for DSL

A digital subscriber line (DSL) was the first alternative to dial-up, and it remains a viable option in the Internet service provider world. DSLs still use phone lines, but enable the data to run through the lines much faster and without causing problems with the traditional phone lines. The average DSL speed is calculated using a variety of factors, including the DSL package and how far away from the server you are.

More DSL Picks

What Is the Difference Between U-verse & DSL?

Since the introduction of the Internet, the need for new delivery systems with more speed has been the driving force behind many subscriber services. Two Internet services provided by AT&T, DSL and the newer U-verse, are examples of technologies that have the same goal: better customer service through faster Internet delivery.

Can DSL Work Without an Active Landline?

Digital subscriber line (DSL) service was developed in 1989 as a means to provide high speed Internet access to customers over existing copper telephone lines. At that time, most Internet users used dial-up services that were extremely slow by comparison. Because of the enormous success of the cellular phone industry, land lines are no longer an ubiquitous feature of every home, but DSL service may still be available in your area even without an active landline.

Can a Westell 327 Be Used Without DSL?

As Internet service options continue to proliferate, many users find themselves changing providers, and even changing types of broadband. Unfortunately, this often means abandoning equipment purchased for use with a prior service. The Westell 327, for instance, cannot be used as a modem with any form of Internet service other than DSL. It can, however, still be used as a router.

Does AOL Offer DSL?

AOL Inc. is an Internet communication company that, among other services, offers instant messaging, email, and a search engine. AOL also provides broadband service, which lets you access the Internet with high-speed connectivity either through cable television or through your phone line, which is known as a digital subscriber line or DSL. AOL's high-speed Internet is provided through a third-party, which offers high-speed DSL or cable service depending on where you live.

Can You Get DSL Through DirecTV?

It should be no surprise that DirecTV's biggest competitor in any given market is cable television. Holding one's own against goliaths like Cox, Comcast and Time Warner is no easy feat---especially once the aforementioned competitors came up with the idea to package cable, Internet and telephone service as part of a discounted bundle. By offering subscribers a monthly savings and the convenience of consolidating three bills into one monthly payment, the bundle provided competition to DirecTV's business. In response, DirecTV began offerinf Internet and phone service in most areas of the country.

A Comparison of DSL Companies

DSL (digital subscriber line) is a form of high-speed Internet technology, along with cable, satellite and various forms of wireless connections. DSL first became accessible to common users in the 1990s as the Internet expanded and higher speeds than standard dial-up became necessary. DSL uses the same phone lines as analog dial-up, but utilizes a digital signal instead. The purely digital connection allows DSL users to connect to the Internet and talk on their phones at the same time, since DSL uses different frequencies and does not need to convert the digital signal to analog, like traditional dial-up modems. The use of multiple frequencies allows considerably faster speeds (more than 50 times faster than a standard modem), a more consistent signal and the ability for multiple users to share the same connection. But, even with such technology, consumers need to decide on which DSL provider they prefer, since they all have a range of pros and cons.

DSL Recommendations

Digital subscriber line, more commonly known as DSL, is an Internet service technology that uses phone-line wiring to deliver high-speed broadband connection speeds. While it is not as fast as cable modem-based Internet service, it can offer more consistent connection speeds. Relative to 56K Internet connections, DSL service can be up to 50 times faster than for a standard modem.

How Do I Change DSL Providers?

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a high-speed Internet connection provided over an existing landline telephone. Customers do not always have to purchase both landline and DSL service from the same company. It is possible to obtain DSL service from another Internet service provider (ISP) if you can find an equal or better service for a better price. Switching DSL providers is an easy task once you have selected your new ISP.

What Is FastAccess DSL Ultra?

AT&T offers its customers a wide range in choices when it comes to Internet service. From basic dial-up to cable Internet and DSL broadband, AT&T customers can choose the package that suits them best. AT&T's FastAccess DSL packages are affordable and powerful, offering speeds up to 6 Mbps. The FastAccess DSL Ultra package is mid-range in both price and power and it provides the average customer with the speed needed to email, surf and shop online.

How Hard Is it to Upgrade to DSL?

Dial-up internet connections are unstable and slow, they tie up phone lines and the wait for a good connection can be frustrating. If you have a dial-up connection, you may want to switch to a higher speed option such as a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection. With the newer equipment available for DSL providers and customers, upgrading to DSL is an easy undertaking.

Does DSL Use My Landline?

The lines that carry voice signals from your telephone can also carry a broadband data signal directly to your computer so you can access the Internet. That's the principle behind DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, technology. Telephone companies have traditionally used existing phone lines to bundle DSL service with regular phone service. They are increasingly offering consumers the option of eliminating the phone service and receiving only DSL. This option is called "naked DSL."

DSL Linux Help

If you want to use the open source operating system Linux, you have many distributions from which to choose. Some are meant to be highly customizable, others are meant to be user friendly. Others, such as Damn Small Linux, also called DSL Linux, are designed to be so small you can carry the entire operating system on a thumb drive. While DSL Linux is advanced and customizable, new users may need some help getting started.

What Is the Best & Most Affordable DSL?

Choosing a DSL Internet service on a budget can be difficult. You want the most speed for your Internet needs, but you don't want to pay a premium for it. Several Internet Service Providers offer DSL-based Internet service at price points you may find attractive.

Information on DSL for Rural Areas

As more and more Americans upgrade to broadband Internet and more and more services require a broadband connection, many residents in rural communities may wonder how they can get DSL, or other forms of broadband Internet. Although some rural areas have attracted a DSL provider, many are still waiting.

DSL Speeds FAQ

Local telephone carriers that choose to extend high-speed Internet service to subscribers tend to use DSL technology for this offering. DSL transmits Internet data over traditional copper telephone wires into the subscriber's household. End users who have a need for speed should become familiarized with the basics of the technology to ensure the best service possible.

DSL Line Features

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a type of broadband service in which packets of data are transmitted over telephone lines. The data are converted to a form that your computer can understand by a special DSL modem that sits between your computer and the telephone line. DSL and the many variants of DSL, such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and SDSL (Synchronous Digital Subscriber Line) offer many features, some of which offer benefits to you, the consumer, and others which you may find disadvantageous. DSL is always on, stable, fast, scalable and often affordable. Speed tends to decrease with distance from the exchange.

What You Need for DSL

DSL, or a digital subscriber line, is a type of broadband Internet service that is transmitted over telephone wires. Its main advantages lie in the fact that no additional cables need to be connected to the building, as with cable Internet, but DSL does not tie up the phone line as dial-up does.

How to Install DSL on Linux

DSL, which is short for Digital Subscriber Line, is a technology for transmitting digital data at very high speeds, usually over a traditional copper wire system common to telephone systems. Since it is a technological set of standards, as opposed to an implementation of technology, it is technically possible to install it to any computer system. However, there are particular steps needed to install DSL with a Linux-based computer system.

The Best Month to Month DSL

Whereas long-term contracts used to be the norm for all types of services from cellphone service to cable television service, the new trend is service free from contracts. DSL is one such service that's now offered on a month-to-month basis, which allows you to cancel at any point if you move or are unhappy with the service. If you're shopping for a month-to-month DSL service plan, be sure you're looking at the right plans as some companies still offer contract services too.

Features of a DSL Line

Digital subscriber line service is a method of connecting your computer to the Internet through your regular phone line. In fact, that's really the whole advantage to DSL: it is much faster than a standard modem. That does raise the question, how can DSL use a phone line and be so much faster than a standard modem that uses the exact same phone line? Understanding the features of DSL makes the difference clear.

Telephone Companies That Offer DSL

Digital subscriber line, or DSL, is a technology that provides you with a continuous high-speed, high-bandwidth Internet connection. This technology uses the ordinary copper telephone lines already installed in millions of homes, allowing telephone companies to provide customers DSL Internet with little or no investment in infrastructure. Six main types of DSL are available in the United States -- asymmetric DSL, symmetric DSL, ISDN DSL, high-bit-rate DSL, very high-bit-rate DSL and rate-adaptive DSL. Each DSL type has its own characteristics and limitations, so check the particular specifications offered by your DSL provider.

How to Choose DSL

If you've decided to sign up for digital subscriber line (DSL) high-speed Internet service, you may be overwhelmed by the number of plans available. Many companies offer several plans, complicating things further. Picking the appropriate plan doesn't have to be difficult, but you should make sure you get the features you need as well as the best price for the service. Pay special attention to the available bandwidth you will receive, the latency of the Internet service and how far away the provider is.

How to Find DSL Options

With many Internet service providers (ISPs) in your area, it can be overwhelming to search online for ones that offer DSL service. If you don't want to search for area availability on each DSL service provider's website, webesites like Broadband National and ISP Guide can help you with your search.