EDUCATION > LEARN
ABOUT DSL
What is DSL?
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is a technology that uses a standard
copper two-wire pair (or line) to transmit high speed (high frequency) Internet
connectivity to areas that will support the service.
How fast is DSL?
DSL can obtain speeds as high as 1.5Mbps and above, but the speed your location
can receive depends on your address, line quality and the distance to your
local phone company's central office (CO). A Central Office is the main
switching station for the phone lines in your area. It is the office where
the ILEC (your local telephone company) connects the phone circuits, and
makes the routes between local and long distance.
Can I get DSL
in my area?
DSL service can only be delivered within a radius from your phone company's
local central office. Typically, our highest speed service is restricted to
a distance of 15,000 feet from the central office it is served from.
What are the
different DSL "Options"?
Speakeasy offers several kinds of DSL service. The speeds and type of DSL available
to you depends on two factors primarily: 1) Your distance from the phone company's
Central Office (CO) and 2) the type of lines used between you and the Central
Office (fiber/copper). Each type of DSL has a different price, and different
important attributes.
ADSL
Asymmetric DSL is available up to 15,000 feet from a CO. Typically the download
speed is faster than the upload speed. While ADSL can generally be installed
up to 15,000 feet, this general rule does not guarantee that we will be
able to install the circuit or that the circuit will perform at a reasonable
level. Our ADSL service is also referred to as RADSL (Rate-Adaptive ADSL).
The term "rate-adaptive" means
the technology adapts to your individual line conditions, e.g., your specific
distance from the CO and the quality of the copper line that serves your
DSL. Speeds expressed with ADSL packages are the maximum speeds your line
may achieve. Although we will do everything within our power to provide
you with the best possible service, due to the nature of the technology,
ADSL services do not come with a service level guarantee. The actual speed
is determined by both distance & copper quality, and installations
resulting in "best business effort" speed (the maximum achievable
speed based on technical conditions prior to install) will be considered
successful. As many businesses require a guaranteed service, ADSL is not
available for business locations. Speakeasy recommends SDSL service for
all eligible businesses.
SDSL
Symmetric DSL, able to be served up to 15,000 feet from a CO. SDSL services
deliver the same rate of download speed as upload speeds. It is a more
robust connection, which is guaranteed at a certain level of connection
speed.
IDSL
IDSL is based on ISDN, an older technology that was designed to work well with
existing ISDN transmission methods. SDSL, and ADSL travel over regular
copper lines and cannot have any electronics on them (such as, for example,
amplifiers or repeaters - commonly used to "boost" the voice
signal on conventional telephone lines). Some ADSL, and SDSL orders cannot
be fulfilled because of electronics or distance issues that are uncovered
during the ordering process. In that case, IDSL may be the best solution.
IDSL has the ability to work over great distances, and through certain
types of electronics. If you are very far away from a Central Office, or
there are electronics on the copper line you are given by your phone company,
you may still be able to get broadband service using IDSL.
