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DSL FAQ

What is DSL?
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a high-speed Internet access product for home and businesses that uses existing copper telephone lines.

What are the benefits of DSL?
DSL allows you to access the Internet up to 18 times faster than a dial-up modem. This means web sites will appear much faster, especially those with a lot of graphics. Your e-mail will arrive and be sent much quicker, and advance business applications are possible, like web hosting and e-commerce. DSL is a secure dedicated service, meaning it is \"always on\" so there is no need to dial-up to connect to the Internet. No more busy signals, and no more dropped connections when trying to connect to your ISP. Now everyone in the business can realize incredibly fast, full-time Internet connectivity by sharing one DSL line among any number of computers in your office. Your critical customer or business partner communications and coordination can now happen instantly. No more waiting for an open phone line, or an available modem at your ISP. Also, DSL can enable studio quality video conferencing, virtual meetings or tradeshows and conferences, distance learning and telecommuting.

How does DSL compare to cable modems?
Although cable can be appealing because of its price, there are some inherent drawbacks to cable modem service. First, the cable network is shared, which means as the number of cable users increases the speed on each individual\'s line decreases. At times of peak Internet usage cable modem speeds fall off dramatically. Second, a shared network is inherently less secure than a dedicated service like DSL, as neighboring cable customers can more easily intercept data or hack into another user\'s computer. Third, the upstream speed on a cable modem generally is no higher than 128 Kbps. Thus, cable modems are unable to provide acceptable levels of speed or security for business purposes, like video streaming, video conferencing, or sending large e-mails.

Why is DSL so important?
DSL is important because it makes high-speed access available at a low price. Until now dial-up access has been the only affordable Internet access option for small and medium sized businesses. But, the fastest analog dial-up modems are not capable of transmitting faster than 56 kbps. If you required faster, more efficient transmission, dedicated high-speed service prior to DSL (such as a T1 line) could cost over $1500 a month. So businesses were left to suffer when downloading graphic intensive web pages or e-mail with large attachments on a 56 kbps modem, dramatically reducing efficiency, effectiveness, and their ability to make money. DSL is the answer to providing high-speed access to the telecommunications underserved. DSL has made it possible for the small business and residential users to purchase high-speed Internet access.

Is DSL only for business customers?
Not at all. DSL is already becomnig hugely popular among home users. DSL eliminates all the frustration of using a traditional dial-up modem, whether you\'re at work or at home. And with so many Internet sites providing broadband content, you will experience the Internet in an entirely new way. For example, using DSL for video streaming and viewing interactive multimedia web pages will make your Internet experience more exciting, more effective, and more compelling.

What is xDSL?
DSL is a family of technologies, each of which is still called DSL, but is slightly different from the others. The \"x\" in xDSL is a variable, representing any of the letters preceding DSL in the different DSL technologies listed below:

SDSL (Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line): 1.5Mbps/1.5 Mbps
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line): 1.5 Mbps/64 Kbps - 384 Kbps
IDSL (ISDN Digital Subscriber Line): 128 Kbps - 144 Kbps
VDSL (Very high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line): 13 Mbps - 52 Mbps/1.5 Mbps - 2.3 Mbps
RADSL (Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line): various speeds
HDSL (High-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line): 1.5 Mbps/1.5 Mbps

What do Kbps and Mbps mean?
Kbps and Mbps are measures of speed. Specifically, they measure how fast data is sent to or received from the Internet. Kbps stands for Kilobits per second (1,000 bits per second). Mbps stands for Megabits per second (1,000,000 bits per second). Any data that is sent or received in a digital format, such as e-mail or web pages, has a specific size measured in bits. The larger the piece of data, the more bits it comprises. Every connection to the Internet is capable of moving a specified amount of data in a specified time frame. For example, a 768 KBps DSL connection is capable of transmitting 768,000 bits per second.

What is meant by upstream and downstream?
Downstream means downloading information from the Internet to your computer. Examples are waiting for a web page to load on your computer screen, or opening e-mail messages that someone sent you. Upstream means sending information from your computer out to the Internet. Examples are sending e-mail messages, hosting a web server, providing video streaming, or video conferencing. If you have ever tried to send an e-mail with a large attachment, like pictures, large spreadsheets, or electronic presentations you understand how a poor upstream connection can really slow down your business.

Does DSL require special equipment?
Yes. DSL requires that the customer use a DSL modem or router. Also, there must be a similar modem located in the Central Office as a part of our DSL equipment. Together, these two pieces of equipment increase the capacity of the copper phone line between them so it is capable of moving data at extremely high speeds. We sell the DSL modem or router you need to get connected to DSL. There are different options available based on the type of service you purchase. Pricing is different for each of the equipment options.

Are the price of DSL and the associated equipment going to decrease?
As with any new product the pricing for DSL has been dropping since it was introduced to the public. Prices at their current level are not expected to change, but it is impossible to predict how market forces and timing will affect prices. Regardless, DSL is an exceptionally low priced dedicated Internet access product.

Does DSL service run on the same line as my telephone service?
Today, we are unable to use the same line as your telephone service. As it stands now, the line you use is the property of your local phone provider and we cannot use the same line to provide DSL. However, the FCC recently ruled that local phone companies must implement line sharing, which means we will be able to share a phone line with your local provider. So, on one phone line you will have voice service from your phone company, and DSL service. Line sharing is only posible with ADSL technology, so SDSL and IDSL will still require that a new copper phone line be connected to your location. The analog phone line is unchanged by adding ADSL to the line, so you can continue to use the phone, fax, or dial-up capabilities of the line at the same time as you are using ADSL to surf the web. You can basically double the capability of your phone line. Additionally, all of the features on your phone line continue to function normally, so you can still use voicemail, caller id, etc. However, until local phone companies make line sharing possible, DSL service will require installing a new copper line.

Does my wiring need to change to support DSL service?
When we are provisioning a new line to your location additional wiring is needed. We provide inside wiring as part of your DSL service activation. When line sharing is implemented ADSL service will not require a new line.

Can I buy my own equipment and install it myself?
Yes, customers are allowed to use their own equipment and install it on their own, but we will not have any responsibility in troubleshooting, fixing, or the warranty of the equipment. In this case we only make sure that the line is working and able to pass traffic.

Will the phone company charge me extra for receiving this service?
No. All fees associated with your new DSL service will come from us.

What if I want to upgrade my DSL connection to a faster speed?
Normally, you will be able to upgrade to a higher speed service without needing to upgrade your equipment. For example, the equipment used for 192 Kbps SDSL is the same equipment used for 1.0 Mbps SDSL. However, typically IDSL, ADSL, and SDSL equipment is not cross funcional (an ADSL router would not work on an SDSL line).

Can everyone get DSL?
No. DSL is only available to customers located in specific areas. There are two reasons for this. First, there must be equipment in our office so we can provide DSL service. Second, even if our office is DSL ready, your telephone line must be qualified to carry the DSL signal. Telephone line with load coils, bridge tap, or pair gain are not able to carry the DSL signal. Also, the DSL signal weakens over long distances, so customers who are too far away from a DSL ready office will not qualify for DSL either. We will perform a loop qualification on each DSL order to determine if the customer\'s phone line will qualify to carry DSL.

What is the distance limit for DSL service?
The distances are measured in cable length, not as the crow flies. Generally the cable connecting a customer to the office does not run in a straight line. Instead, the cable twists and turns underground so the distance measured in cable feet is always longer than the distance measured as the crow flies. The limitations are different for the different flavors of DSL. Customers who are located further from the office than the distances listed below will not qualify for that particular DSL service:
SDSL - 18,000 feet (about 3.5 miles)
ADSL - 17,500 feet (about 3.5 miles)
IDSL - 35,000 feet (about 6.5 miles

How do I know if I qualify for DSL?
Contact Gower.Net at 597-9220. In most cases we can Pre-qualify you right over the phone.

Does DSL work with Windows and Macintosh?
Yes.

Does DSL require a special Internet browser?
No. You can use whatever browser you choose.

Is a custom domain name included with my DSL account?
It depends on the ISP. The ISP handles domain names and IP addressing. If you have any questions about DSL, you can e-mail us at dsl@gower.net.