Archive for the ‘ISP’ Category

Internet T1 vs. Cable vs. ADSL

Here’s a quick comparison:

  1. Internet T1 connection – 1.5MBps
  2. Cable Internet – 3MBps
  3. ADSL over Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) – 1.5MBps

Small businesses and home users typically find a cable connection the most appealing because it offers a high amount of bandwidth for the lowest cost. However, it is important to remember that while it can be the most inexpensive option, cable provides minimal or no Service Level Agreement (SLA). SLAs ensure your provider promises what is possible to deliver, and deliver what is promised.

Cable connections also have a limit on bandwidth, so the 3MBps speed they claim to offer is more likely than not the burstable speed, and might not reveal the actual transmission speed. This can cause issues, especially if you consistently use up the 3Mb speed because your provider will likely charge you with additional fees or decrease your transmission speed without consent.

Compared to cable, ADSL has no such penalty and provides constant connection speeds. In addition, some providers offer fail over mechanisms or load balancing for your connection when you employ both an ADSL and T1 connection from them. That being said, your ADSL connection speed is dependent upon the distance between your ISP and your location. The closer you are located to your ISP, the higher your speed and the greater your bandwidth will be.

Internet T1 lines are the preferred connection for the majority of today’s businesses. In addition to it being a more robust, dedicated circuit, T1 connections provide comprehensive SLAs which can offer compensation in the event your contract is not held up to its expectations.

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Choosing an Internet Service Provider and Connection

When searching for an Internet Service Provider (ISP), it is crucial to select one that offers a trustworthy connection to the network backbone. In order to determine how reliable your ISP’s connection to the network backbone is, you must know:

  • The type of circuit the ISP has connected to the backbone
  • The number of transit providers the ISP connects to (3 is considered standard)
  • Who the transit providers are and their Tier class (for example, Tier 1 or Tier-3 class)

Connection to ISP

The following are the most frequently employed circuit connections for home and small businesses:

  • T1, Point-To-Point (Dedicated Leased Line), or Frame Relay
  • ISDN
  • Wireless
  • Broadband: Cable Internet, DSL

Internet T1, point-to-point, frame relay, and ISDN are considered “top of the line” circuit connections. Standard Service Level Agreements (SLAs) provide customers with prompt, specified response times as well as other benefits not offered by most broadband connections. However, while they do provide a more reliable, trustworthy connection to the Internet and all the benefits of SLAs, these connection types often cost more than broadband service.

It is important to assess how vital your Internet and Internet applications are. If you require a consistent, dependable, 24/7 connection, one of the first two connection types would be ideal. If, on the other hand, you can endure occasional down times (meaning no Internet connection), then wireless or broadband connections could be the more cost-efficient.

Whether or not your wireless connection is equal to a T1 connection depends on your area. Line of Sight (LOS) and distance are significant in regards to your wireless solution. The clearer the LOS is between your location and your ISP, the more cost-effective and robust the solution.

Posted in Internet T1, Internet T3, ISP, Tier-1 Carrier Networks | No Comments »

Top 10 Things to look for when choosing an Internet Service Provider

When it comes to choosing an Internet service provider there are a multitude of options – both for the provider you choose, as well as the type of service. Before signing up with an ISP, take a close look at what each one has to offer, in order to be sure you get the services you need at a price you can afford.

10 Steps to Follow:

  1. Determine your budget. The faster your internet speeds, the higher the cost. Those on a tight budget have the more economical options of dial up or even a light version of DSL. Also, phone companies often give discounts for bundled internet and phone services.
  2. Look for ISPs with good ratings in your specific area. A number of ISPs may have great ratings in one area of the country but fail miserably in yours. A good idea is to talk with your neighbors or local businesses to find out how they feel about their ISP.
  3. Once you’ve begun narrowing your list down to the ISPs within your budget and with positive reviews in your area, check to see which of those offer special deals on bundled services. Most cable and phone companies offer bundled deals when you purchase phone, TV, and Internet services together, and give incentives for signing up for specific times, or contract lengths. But, as always, buyer beware – typically once that year is up you’ll find yourself paying regular price, which can be almost double.
  4. Next, take a look at customer support. Is it offered 24/7; how are they rated? Remember that a computer isn’t limited to breaking down from 9am to 5pm, and even the best and most expensive connections can experience technical issues or downtime. Know whether you will receive live support and/or email, and if they charge a fee.
  5. Decide the speed you need. Most ISPs offer plans with prices based on download speeds. Slower DSL (also known as DSL light) or cable speeds are the most cost-efficient for those only wanting to browse the web and utilize email. That being said, if you’re looking to play online games, transmit data or stream movies and TV, you’ll definitely want a faster Internet.
  6. Subsequently, see if they offer a free email account. Most ISPs offer at least one free email address. Others may provide more or charge a small fee for additional email addresses.
  7. Then, see which ISPs provide anti-virus email protection. Many viruses sneak onto a computer via email, and having it scanned before reaching your inbox offers an added level of security.
  8. Don’t automatically omit dial-up. With all the new advances in Internet services, dial-up has been given a bad reputation for quite some time. The truth is, there are still many parts of the country where dial-up is the only option, particularly rural areas. Aside from dial-up, satellite is a good – but expensive – alternative.
  9. Avoid usage caps. Occasionally ISPs will limit the amount of time you can use the Internet. Although not all ISPs have this, make sure to read each policy carefully to avoid any inconveniences.
  10. Look for a company that has an online bill payment option. Most large Internet providers do, while smaller providers, especially dial-up services, do not. Paying online is quick, saves paper, and just makes life a lot simpler.

Posted in Checklist, Dedicated, DIA, Internet T1, Internet T3, ISP, Local, MPLS, Private Line, Tips, voip, VPN | No Comments »

10 Things to Consider When Choosing an Internet Service Provider

Having a small remote or home office can be a great productivity enhancer. That being said, it can quickly become an island without establishing a connection to your company’s main network. Although choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) might sound easy, there are many important yet often overlooked topics to consider in order for you to find your ideal ISP match.

Determine your needs

With the abundance of ISPs today, it may be tempting to just go with the quickest or cheapest option. While that could save you money in the short term, doing so could wind up causing you a lot more headaches—and lost productivity—over the long term. These are the 10 main points to consider when choosing your ISP:

  1. Price: Price is important, however, it should not be the single determining factor.
  2. Connection options: A dial-up connection is no longer your only option. There are many different speeds to choose from to meet your connection requirements, such as ISDN, cable, DSL and satellite.
  3. Features: Just like other vendors, ISPs vary in the options their packages include. For example, some ISPs offer static IP addresses, while others use only DHCP-assigned ones.
  4. Customer/technical support: Even the best connections experience problems, and chances are you will have a question or problem you need to address, which is why it is vital to have a professionally trained and dedicated staff capable of solving any problem at any time. BroadbandReports.com is a good place to go to find out about an ISP’s reputation for support, as well as performance.
  5. Performance: Whether you’re paying for a high-speed connection or just using dial-up, you should check the ISP’s track record for such things as uptime and overall throughput. For example, even when using 56-Kbps dial-up modems, you can often only connect at 28.8 Kbps or 33.3 Kbps because of the modems used at the ISP. Likewise, one ISP may provide three e-mail addresses for a single account, while another may offer five.
  6. Local access numbers: In most major cities, you won’t have a problem finding local dial-up numbers for an ISP. However, if you travel or if your remote office is located in a rural location, you may face long-distance charges.
  7. Viability: When selecting your ISP, do some checking to see how long the company has been around, their track record, and whether or not they received any awards. You might find a good ISP now, only to have it go out of business, forcing you to not only restart your search but modify configurations and transfer your Website and/or domain name.
  8. PC and MAC compatibility: It goes without saying that everything is PC compatible, but not all services are compatible with the Mac OS. If you know how to configure your remote access (dialer), you can make any of these services work, but few offer the accelerated service for Macs. If you are a Mac user, look for a service that gives good instructions on how to set-up your Mac for using their service.
  9. Email or Web Browser Advertising: Does the service include advertising at the bottom of your e-mails? Does the ISP insert any advertising or solicitation material on your web browser? Services that require you to download their software (other than a dialer configuration) will often alter your browser to be able to serve ads to you as you surf.
  10. Cancellation Policy: We seldom think of how to cancel when signing up for a new service, but it is something you should consider. Do they tell you on their web site how to cancel? Is there a penalty for early cancellation? Do they offer a 30 day money back guarantee? Some services are set as 12 month contracts and there is an early cancellation penalty. Make sure you know the policy and also the procedure to cancel before you sign up.

Make a list of all of your requirements and prioritize them. Then, compare those requirements with several ISPs that can meet those needs. Keep the list simple—don’t overwhelm yourself with too many choices and you’ll be sure to find the ISP that meets all of your unique requirements.

Posted in Checklist, DIA, Internet T1, Internet T3, ISP, Tips | 1 Comment »