1. Be Wired! (Which Wire?) Internet Connection Options and Comparisons Eric Hawley Utah State University Extension

2. Step 1 Locate providers –Telephone (Quest, etc…) –Cellular Phone (Verizon, AT&T, etc…) –Cable (Comcast, etc…) –Satellite (Starband, etc…) –Independents (???)

3. Step 2 Determine product availability, bandwidth, & pricing options. –“Telephone Providers” – Dial-Up, ISDN, DSL –“Cellular Providers” – CDMA (V), GPRS (A,S) –“Cable Providers” – Cable Internet Svc. –“Sat. Providers” – Sat. Internet Svc. –“Independent Providers” – Wireless, ?

4. Step 3 Select the product that represents the best balance between bandwidth, services, and price to meet your needs. (Simple, huh?) 

5. Meet Your Needs… How many computers? Percentage of time downloading vs. uploading for each? Does any computer/server you are connecting to the internet need to be seen from the OUTSIDE? (Web server?) How fast is “fast-enough?”

6. Bandwidth “Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station-wagon full of mag tapes.” 6250bpi, 2500 feet, ~25MB, 200 in a wagon, ~4.7G (1dvd), 79mph, 10mbps…

7. Bandwidth (k,m,g,b,B) (Watch Your Bs, or do I mean bs?) (Metric, we love it: k,m,g) “Typically” in mbps or kbps. (8b) in (1B) (1000k or K) in (1m or 1M) Dial up 40k.. (really 40kbps) Compare to 1.5m… (really 1.5mbps)

8. Bandwidth “Bewares” There may be separate speed limits for: UPLINK and DOWNLINK UPLINK and DOWNLINK May pay more for: GUARANTEED BANDWIDTH GUARANTEED BANDWIDTH Marketers like to use: “THEORETICAL” BW RATINGS “THEORETICAL” BW RATINGS

9. Price Not always related directly to Bandwidth… Also linked to services and market… Typically there are TWO things to buy: The “LINE” and the ISP.

10. Services Are you really buying JUST internet service (through an ISP) and a line? IP Addresses… –Static? -Dynamic? –Public? (routable)-Private? (non-r) –One?-Many? Domain Names… Web Hosting…

11. Main Technologies Dial-up (analog) ISDN Cellular CDMA/GPRS DSLCableWirelessSatellite “Considered” Broadband

12. Dial-Up Bandwidth 56k? HA! (Try 14-50kbps) “Aggregate”Price Phone line ($20-30) + ISP ($10) Services No “static” IP’s, ever

13. ISDN Bandwidth 128k Aggregate or Split Price Line ($70) + ISP ($30) Services OK, not typically used for basic internet… used for video conferencing, etc.

14. Cellular Bandwidth GPRS (AT&T, SPRINT): 14-23k (20k avg) CDMA (Verizon): 20-120k (55k avg) CDMA 1xEVDO: 200-500k (300k avg) Price AT&T: $50ish Verizon: $50-70ish Services Mobile users, never any static IPs. Check COVERAGE! (Verizon/CDMA much greater in the West.)

15. DSL Bandwidth Always Split. 256/256, 1.5/896, etc. Price See qwest.com Services Notice the “Up to…” Notice little mention of static IPs… (ISP dependent) Equipment DSL Modem. (typ. lease) (additional router?)

16. Cable Bandwidth Always Split. Very Variable. (Max: 3M/256k) (Typ: 1-1.5/?) Price See comcast.com or provider Services Always includes ISP Notice the “Up to…” Static IPs? Equipment Cable modem (own or lease)

18. Wireless Bandwidth Always Split. Very Variable. (Max: 6M/???k) (Typ: 2-4/1) Price Have to find local provider… ($30) Services Always includes ISP Interference/Line-of-Sight issues Equipment Pricey ($200 min, typ.)

19. Satellite Bandwidth Always Split. HIGH LATENCY. (Max: 200- 1M/20-100k) Price(y) See starband.com Services Always includes ISP No static IP Equipment Pricey ($400 min)