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3 - HOW ISPs DIFFER
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Basics More Basics 1 - Scope of the Internet 2 - Connecting 3 - How ISPs Differ 4 - Definitions 5 - The Browser WORLD WIDE WEB 6 - "Web Page" 7 - Addresses (URLs) 8 - Bookmarks 9 - Known Address 10 - Navigating 11 - Frames 12 - The "Home" Page 13 - Cruising 14 - Searching 15 - Saving Text 16 - Saving Pictures 17 - Security 18 - Plugins 19 - Programs/Settings 20 - E-mail Addresses 21 - Using E-mail 22 - Attachments 23 - Listservs Other 24 -Newsgroups 25 -Netiquette |
The main
difference among ISPs has to do with the availability of local telephone
numbers. Large, national ISPs (like America OnLine and MCI) do
not provide local call numbers to communities in northeastern Nevada.
This means that you must pay long distance charges for your Internet access.
Some outfits offer 800 numbers, but with a pricey hourly surcharge for
access. If your ISP provides a local connect number, you will pay
no additional phone company charges for accessing the Internet.
Given that your ISP has local phone numbers, the next point of concern is the user-to-modem ratio. Small ISPs try to stick to a 10:1 or even 8:1 ratio (the lower the better). That means that ten subscribers compete for the use of each modem on the answering end of the phone line. The higher the ratio, the more people are competing for access and the more likely you are to encounter a busy signal when dialing in. Speed can be a concern once you've gained access. You cannot exceed the maximum speed of your own modem, regardless of how zippy the modem on the ISP end is. And you cannot exceed the speed afforded by the local phone lines, which at this writing is about 53 Kbps. Modem speeds are currently stable at 33.3 Kbps. Recently a faster 56.6 Kbps international standard has been settled. Upgrades according to standard should be available soon. Other differences have to do with the local availability of customer service. . Your ISP, then, makes
a difference in how easily and affordably you can connect to the Internet
and how speedy you'll be once there, but it has little effect (if any)
on the range of resources you can access.
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