Internet Access Wired Networks PDF

Internet Access Wired Networks: Public Switched Telephone Network ¾ Dial-up Internet Access ¾ Digital Subscriber Line Integrated Services Digital Network TV-Cable Networks 1. Public Switched Telephone Network Historically, most telephone conn...

Internet Access Wired Networks: Public Switched Telephone Network ¾ Dial-up Internet Access ¾ Digital Subscriber Line Integrated Services Digital Network TV-Cable Networks 1. Public Switched Telephone Network Historically, most telephone connections in the world have been made through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Most PSTN calls are transmitted digitally except while in the local loop, the part of the telephone network between the telephone and the telephone company’s central switching office. Within this loop, speech from a telephone is usually transmitted in analog format. Digital data from a computer must first be converted to analog by a modem. The modem is installed in the computer, connected to the computer by the serial port, or by a Universal Serial Bus connection. The data is converted at the receiving end by another modem, which changes the data from audio to its original data form. A. Dial-up Internet Access Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet access that uses the facilities of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to establish a dialed connection to an Internet service provider (ISP) via telephone lines. To achieve that, a modem is required. The dial-up speed is 56Kbps.  B. Digital Subscriber Line Digital subscriber line (DSL; originally digital subscriber loop) is a family of technologies that provide internet access by transmitting digital data using a local telephone network which uses the public switched telephone network. 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. In telecommunications marketing, the term DSL is widely understood to mean asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL), the most commonly installed DSL technology. DSL service is delivered simultaneously with wired telephone service on the same telephone line. This is possible because DSL uses higher frequency bands for data. The bit rate of consumer DSL services typically ranges from 256 kbit/s to over 100 Mbit/s in the direction to the customer (downstream), depending on DSL technology, line conditions, and service-level implementation. Bit rates of 1 Gbit/s have been reached in trials. In ADSL, the data throughput in the upstream direction, (the direction to the service provider) is lower, hence the designation of asymmetric service. In symmetric digital subscriber line (SDSL) services, the downstream and upstream data rates are equal. Disadvantages: A DSL connection works better when you are closer to the provider's central office. The farther away you get from the central office, the weaker the signal becomes. The connection is faster for receiving data than it is for sending data over the Internet. The service is not available everywhere.  2. Integrated Services Digital Network The need for high-speed telecommunications support within the existing telecommunications infrastructure has led to the development of new technologies, such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). ISDN is a digital phone service that is provided by regional and national phone companies, using existing copper telephone cabling. ISDN in concept is the integration of both analog or voice data together with digital data over the same network. There are two levels of service: the Basic Rate Interface (BRI), intended for the home and small enterprise, and the Primary Rate Interface (PRI), for larger users. Both rates include a number of B-channels and a D-channels. Each B-channel carries data, voice, and other services. Each D-channel carries control and signaling information. In many areas where DSL and cable modem service are now offered, ISDN is no longer as popular an option as it was formerly. To use ISDN, you need either an ISDN modem or an ISDN adapter. In other words, ISDN requires adapters at both ends of the transmission so your access provider also needs an ISDN adapter.  ISDN modems are available in internal and external configurations. Internal ISDN modems, the more common of the two, are installed in the same manner as a network adapter card. External ISDN modems hook up to your computer through a serial port, just as regular modems do. Thus, because a serial port cannot exceed 115 kilobits per second (Kbps) (which is lower than the total effective bandwidth of the ISDN line), some throughput is lost if you are using the maximum ISDN bandwidth. ISDN is typically supplied by the same company that supports the public switched telephone network. However, ISDN differs from analog telephone service in several ways, including: 9 Data transfer rate 9 Available channels per call 9 Availability of service 9 Cost of service 9 Quality of connection Data Transfer Rate: ¾ The Basic Rate Interface consists of two 64 Kbps B-channels and one 16 Kbps D- channel. Thus, a Basic Rate user can have up to 128 Kbps service. The Primary Rate consists of 23 B-channels and one 64 Kbps D-channel in the United States or 30 B- channels and 1 D-channel in Europe. ¾ These speeds are slower than those of local area networks (LANs) supported by high- speed data communications technology, but faster than those of analog telephone lines. ¾ In addition to the difference in data transfer rates, ISDN calls can be established much faster than analog phone calls. While an analog modem can take up to a minute to set up a connection, you usually can start transmitting data in about two seconds with ISDN. ¾ Because ISDN is fully digital, the lengthy process of analog modems is not required. Channels: ¾ ISDN service is available in several configurations of multiple channels, each of which can support voice or digital communications. ¾ In addition to increasing data throughput, multiple channels eliminate the need for separate voice and data telephone lines. Availability: ¾ ISDN and PSTN are available throughout the United States. Cost: ¾ The cost of ISDN hardware and service is higher than for PSTN modems and service. Connection Quality: ¾ ISDN transmits data digitally and, as a result, is less susceptible to static and noise than analog transmissions. Analog modem connections must dedicate some bandwidth to error correction and retransmission. This overhead reduces the actual throughput. In contrast, an ISDN line can dedicate all its bandwidth to data transmission. 3. TV-Cable Networks A cable modem is a device that enables you to hook up your PC to a local cable TV line and receive data at about 1.5 Mbps (start service rate). This data rate far exceeds that of 56 Kbps telephone modems and the up to 128 Kbps of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and is about the data rate available to subscribers of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) telephone service. A cable modem has two connections: one to the cable wall outlet and the other to a PC.  Many people who have cable TV can now get a high-speed connection to the Internet from their cable provider. Cable modems compete with technologies like asymmetrical digital subscriber lines (ADSL). Cable internet access is generally offered by the same companies that provide cable TV. It works on the same coaxial cable that the TV signal comes in on, but doesn't effect your TV signal. Therefore you can use the internet and watch TV at the same time. Typically, cable internet access provides a maximum of 1.5 - 150Mbps of bandwidth on the system. However, everyone on your network segment is sharing that bandwidth, so performance can be much lower, especially if a lot of people in your neighborhood use the service. They may also limit your individual bandwidth, so that you will never see the peak bandwidth even when your network segment is clear. Since you are sharing the network segment with other users, there can be security risks with cable modems. Since few office buildings are wired for cable TV, it's not a practical option for most businesses. As more cable providers reach out to the business market, however, cable Internet access will be a good alternative to DSL service.