DSL
Stands for "Digital Subscriber Line." It is medium for transferring data over regular phone lines
and can be used to connect to the Internet. However, like a cable modem, a DSL circuit is much
faster than a regular phone connection, even though the wires it uses are copper like a typical
phone line.
‘An asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connection allows download speeds of up to about 1.5 megabits (not
megabytes) per second, and upload speeds of 128 kilobits per second. That is why it is called
ADSL and not just DSL (because of the asymmetric speeds). There is also a "Symmetric Digital
Subscriber Line" (SDSL) which is similar to ADSL, but allows data transfer speeds of 384 Kilobits
per second in both directions. Theoretically, this type of connection allows download speeds of
up to 9 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 640 kilobits per second. The difficult
part in establishing an DSL circuit is that it must be configured to connect two specific locations,
unlike a regular phone line or cable modem. DSL is often seen as the new, better alternative to
the older ISDN standard.ADSL
Stands for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line." ADSL is a type of DSL, which is a method of
transferring data over copper telephone lines. While symmetrical DSL (SDSL) uploads and
downloads data at the same speed, ADSL has different maximum data transfer rates for
uploading and downloading data.
For example, an ADSL connection may allow download rates of 1.5Mbps, while upload speeds
may only reach 256Kbps. Since most users download much more data than they upload, this
difference usually does not make a noticeable impact on Internet access speeds. However, for
Web servers or other computers that send a lot of data upstream, ADSL would be an inefficient
choice.ISP
Stands for "Internet Service Provider." In order to connect to the Internet, you need an ISP. It is
the company that you (or your parents) pay a monthly fee to in order to use the Internet. If you
use a dial-up modem to connect to your ISP, a point-to-point protoco! (PPP) connection is
established with another modem on the ISP's end. That modem connects to one of the ISP's
routers, which routes you to the Internet "backbone." From there, you can access information
from anywhere around the world. DSL and cable modems work the same way, except after you
connect the first time, you are always connected.Router
This is a hardware device that routes data (hence the name) from a local area network (LAN) to
another network connection. A router acts like a coin sorting machine, allowing only authorized
machines to connect to other computer systems. Most routers also keep log files about the local
network activity.Modem
The word modem is actually short for Modulator/Demodulator. (There's something you can
really impress your friends with). A modem is a communications device that can be either
internal or external to your computer. It allows one computer to connect another computer and
transfer data over telephone lines. The original dial-up modems are becoming obsolete because
of their slow speeds and are being replaced by the much faster cable and DSL modems.What is the
ifference between a router and a modem?
Answer: Routers and modems are two of the most common computer peripherals, yet many
people don't know the function of each one. While the two devices may look similar, they each
serve a difference purpose. Fortunately, the functions of the two devices are pretty easy to
understand.
A router is a small box that allows multiple computers to join the same network (see below).
While early routers provided several Ethernet ports for wired connections, most modern routers
offer wireless connectivity as well. These "wireless routers" often have one or two moveable
antennas on the sides, though some models house the antennas inside the enclosure. Wireless
routers allow multiple computers and other devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to join
the same network.While connecting to a router provides access to a local network (LAN), it does not necessarily
provide access to the Internet. In order for devices on the network to connect to the Internet, the
router must be connected to a modem. Therefore, most routers have a specific Ethernet port
that is designed to connect to the Ethernet port of a cable or DSL modem.
A modem is a device that provides access to the Internet (see below).
ME A
The modem connects to your ISP, which typically provides either cable or DSL Internet service.
Cable modems have a coaxial (or "coax") connection, which is the same type of connector found
on a TV or cable box. This connects to a cable port on the wall. DSL modems have a telephone
connector, also called an RJ-11 jack, which connects to a telephone socket on the wall.
By connecting your modem to your router (instead of directly to a computer), all devices
connected to the router can access the modem, and therefore, the Internet. The router provides
a local IP address to each connected device, but they will all have the same external IP address,
which is assigned by your ISP.