DSL Services Review

Homeowners today enjoy many more options for Internet connectivity than ever before.  Olden times saw very basic modems and painful dial-up speeds, but today's broadband options represent a quantum leap forward in convenience.  Major internet service providers (ISPs) have spent years developing the particular combination of infrastructure and services that have made broadband so popular.  Today nearly half of all Americans use some kind of high-speed hookup, and by far the most popular choice is broadband DSL.  If you are looking for a fast and affordable way to get online and do not relish the thought of giving up your phone line for the privilege, you may find high speed DSL a perfect match.

How does it work?  DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, and refers to the fact that DSL technology makes a distinction between analog and digital signals.  DSL Internet piggybacks on your existing phone line and devotes a specific frequency range to the transmission of high-speed data.  The good news is that such signals do not interfere with your existing voice conversations – nearly all DSL providers offer filters that split each jack into separate "data" and "phone" ports.  You can indeed have a phone conversation and download multimedia file at the same time, and it's not unusual to get a nice router from your carrier in the process.

DSL speeds are considered strong but somewhat below cable modem, although these trends remain constantly in flux.  Certainly DSL is more than fast enough to handle heavy online surfing and downloads – often on the order of 1,500 to 3,000 kilobytes per second, or kbs.  Add in upload speeds roughly a fifth of that and you have all the makings of a robust and seamless broadband connection.  Webcams, streaming podcasts and more will generally load with ease, and you can expect Web pages to appear in an instant.

The great advantage to DSL is that you can usually save significantly over other forms of broadband.  Some of the biggest providers in the nation now make DSL available for under $30 a month, and even "pro" DSL upgrades that may double the existing figures can still be found for a song.  If you are already using a landline (some people don't anymore) and you're happy with your cable service, there is simply no reason not to explore such pricing options.  Phone companies are often more than willing to bundle DSL with other landline features, creating the kind of incentivized package deal that inevitably favors the consumer.

DSL is here to stay, and today the technology continues to improve.  If you have been holding out on getting broadband until prices dropped into your comfort range, you may be edified to know that they are about as low as they're going to get.  Look around your area for the best DSL providers and be sure to negotiate with the sales people wherever you end up.  You may be astonished how much you can save on broadband.