Some DSL Broadband Definitions

Often too many people get confused with all the definitions, here we have explained in easy to understand terms.

ADSL:
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line - asymmetric meaning it's faster downstream than upstream.

ASAM:
Advanced Services Access Manager -Whether you have a DSLAM or ASAM in your exchange doesn't really matter. They do the same thing. See DSLAM's as well.

ATM:
Asynchronous Transfer Mode - a method of encapsulation which is capable of many virtual circuits. With these, providers (ISP's) can split an ATM connection (155Mbit or 622Mbit) up into many connections. ATM isn't just used for DSL but in the case of DSL it's used to provision each customer.

Contention Ratios:
A contention ratio is the number of users to xMbit of bandwidth. For example some providers offer 2Mbit DSL, with a ratio of 50:1, meaning 50 users to 1Mbit of bandwidth.

CPE:
Customer Premises Equipment, the term that describes the equipment used on the customer end of a connection, for example your DSL modem/router or cable modem.

DSL:
Digital Subscriber Line.

DSLAM:
Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer ? They are placed in DSL enabled Telecomm exchanges, when your modem syncs up and the DSL light comes on, it means you are connected. When data travels down your connection, it goes from the CPE -> DSLAM -> RAN -> ISP

ERX:
Edge Routing Exchange. See RAN.

IPNet:
Telecommunications backhaul networks for carrying traffic from the customer to the ISP, i.e. carrying traffic from RAN's to ISP's.

Ping or Latency:
A ping measures the time in milliseconds that it takes for a packet to travel from your computer to a remote computer and back to you again. Just because you can't ping a given host, quite a lot of providers are beginning to filter ICMP (pings come under this protocol) traffic because it is commonly used to attack hosts and wastes a lot of bandwidth. Many providers also give low priority to ping (ICMP) traffic which may mean your ping at a command line isn't very good, but in say a game, things may be fine.

RAN:
Regional Access Node These aggregates many DSLAM's connections and then feed the data to an ISP

RTT
Round Trip Time - the time it takes in milliseconds for a packet to go from A to B and back again. See ping.

SDSL
Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line - symmetrical meaning the same speed up and down.

Units

There is a major difference between UPPER and lowercase

MB = MegaBytes
Mb = Megabits
kB = KiloBytes
kb = Kilobits

MB/s = MegaBytes per second
Mb/s = Megabits per second
kB/s = KiloBytes per second
kb/s = Kilobits per second

There is 8bits to a Byte, 8kb = 1kB

1Meg connections only transfer at 128kB/sec or an 8Mb connection only transfers at 1024kB/sec or 1MB/s

Steve
Private Mail Services
http://www.private-services.com

---

A Cheap Alternative To Broadband?

Are you a dial-up user looking for a faster connection,... Read More

Business Satellite Internet Products Compared - 2005

There are a number of options available for Business Class... Read More

Why You Should Switch To A Fast Internet Connection

With high-speed Internet access becoming available in more and more... Read More

Two Enter Internet Battle

Consumers understand that when there is more competition in... Read More

3 Tips to Fix Unreliable Wireless Connections

Generally speaking, wireless computer connections are reliable. However, nothing is... Read More

Broadband - Will it Affect Your Online Marketing Future?

The coming age of general Broadband use bearing down upon... Read More

Google Brings Millions of Hard-to-Find Library Books to Your Fingertips

Millions of hard-to-find books from five major libraries will soon... Read More

Its On! (Free Internet TV - Watch TV Online)

Get ready because "there's going to be television out the... Read More

What are Your Internet Connection Solutions?

Of primary concern to all internet users is their actual... Read More

Understanding Broadband - Are You Ready To Upgrade?

Are you ready to upgrade your residential service to DSL... Read More

Wanadoo: 17.99 Pounds 1Mbps Service

Wanadoo 17.99 pounds 1 mbps service getting good reviews.Want a... Read More

3G EV-DO or How the Internet Got Its Wings!

The Internet, as most people know it, is history.It just... Read More

Searching for the Right ISP

When searching for the right ISP there are a number... Read More

Cheap Internet Access

For anyone trying to get the cheapest internet available, there... Read More

Dreams Come True With The Help Of Global Consciousness On The Internet

Dreams. There are two types of dreams: 1. When you... Read More

How to Choose Best ISP for Your Needs

Well, the Internet access industry is starting to shake its... Read More

Wifi Hotspot Locations for Sale..is that a Good Thing?

Recent companies have been advertising wifi hotspot locations that are... Read More

How to Secure your DSl / Cable Internet Connection Against Malicious Attacks

Securing your Windows Xp computer is done by achieving two... Read More

Webmail - What are the Benefits?

There are so many different webmail services on the internet,... Read More

What is Broadband?

Defining broadband can get complicatedThere are many different takes on... Read More

Google Talk Reviewed

So you're sick and tired of AOL Instant Messenger. You're... Read More

How to Troubleshoot Your Internet Connection for DSL or Cable Service

One of the common problems among internet users is testing... Read More

Bleeding Edge or Expensive Enterprise Satellite Internet?

The State of Satellite Internet in 2005For those businesses unable... Read More

How Peer to Peer (P2P) Works

Peer to Peer (P2P) Technology- How it works:Ever wondered how... Read More

Some DSL Broadband Definitions

Often too many people get confused with all the definitions,... Read More