When you connect to the Internet, you might connect through a regular modem, through a local-area network connection in your office, through a cable modem or through a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection. DSL is a very high-speed connection that uses the same wires as a regular telephone line.
Here are some advantages of DSL:
- You can leave your Internet connection open and still use the phone line for voice calls.
- The speed is much higher than a regular modem
- DSL doesn't necessarily require new wiring; it can use the phone line you already have.
- The company that offers DSL will usually provide the modem as part of the installation.
But there are disadvantages: - A DSL connection works better when you are closer to the provider's central office.
- The connection is faster for receiving data than it is for sending data over the Internet.
- The service is not available everywhere.
In this article, we explain how a DSL connection manages to squeeze more information through a standard phone line -- and lets you make regular telephone calls even when you're online.
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