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Making Sense of Your Connectivity Options

Making Sense of Your Connectivity Options. Paul Kleeberg, M.D. American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly October 3rd, 2003 New Orleans. Objectives. Understand the different methods of connecting to the Internet

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Making Sense of Your Connectivity Options

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  1. Making Sense of Your Connectivity Options Paul Kleeberg, M.D. American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly October 3rd, 2003 New Orleans

  2. 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

  3. 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 options • Conclusion

  4. POTS: Plain Old Telephone Service • Uses the standard phone line • User dials up the ISP to make a connection • Speeds said to be 56K but always slower • Internet (IP) address is assigned at the time of the call • Requires minimal hardware and setup • Costs about $14 to $20 / month for unlimited use

  5. Disadvantages Slow Dialing-up and connecting is slow Ties up phone line Intermittent connections POTS Advantages • Available from anyplace • Easy set up • Easy to switch ISP • Useful when traveling • All new computers can use it

  6. ISDN: Integrated Service Digital Network • Digital version of dial-up telephone • Installed by local phone company • Requires an ISDN card in the PC or an external “modem” • A digital call is made at the time of “need” • Reliable speeds of 64-128K • Internet access (ISP) a separate cost • $45 metered, $120 unlimited use / mo.

  7. 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 ISDN

  8. DSL: Digital Subscriber Line • Runs over ordinary telephone wires • Digital signals use high frequencies not used by analog phones • Installed by local phone company • Reliable download speeds of 128K to 7M • Always on • Internet access (ISP) a separate cost • Monthly cost $22 for 256K to $275 for 7M

  9. 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 DSL

  10. Cable • Runs over cable TV wiring • Installed by cable company • Download speeds of 768K to 3M and higher • Upload speeds slower, about 300K • Always on • Shared bandwidth - the more people on it, the slower it is • Unlimited use with Internet access (ISP) included in cost • Costs about $50 per month

  11. 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 Cable

  12. Satellite • Available from remote locations • Two providers: Direcway and Starband • Downloads 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

  13. Advantages Available anyplace that has a view of the southern sky Always on Unlimited access Disadvantages Hardware and installation costs Shared bandwidth Can be slow when using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) Satellite

  14. Dedicated Leased Line • Fixed digital connection • Bidirectional access at guaranteed speeds • Speeds range from 56K to T1 (1.5M) on up • Always on, unmetered • ISP is a separate charge • Fees: • 56K $80/mo, with ISP $300/mo • 1.5M T1 $250/mo, with ISP $1500/mo

  15. 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 Dedicated Leased Line

  16. 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

  17. Advantages Cheap Uses only one phone line Any number of computers can share one line Can be used with a network Disadvantages Slow. Same problem as POTS Speed slows as more attempt to use the line at the same time Sharing a Dial-up Connection

  18. 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

  19. 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 Sharing a DSL or Cable Line

  20. Wired Ethernet Advantages 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 Building Networks

  21. Wireless Connections to the Internet Networks

  22. Comparing the Options

  23. 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/

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