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| DSL FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) | written: 02-08-04 last updated: 02-09-05 |
Green Apple DSL is an always available, high-speed connection for Internet access. DSL is delivered on the same telephone line that is used for regular voice or fax service, and you can use DSL at the same time as you use voice or fax service.
The acronym "DSL" stands for Digital Subscriber Line. There are a number of implementations of DSL. Green Apple uses ADSL, or Asymmetric DSL.
Bearing in mind that many factors affect network performance, our Tier 1 DSL as compared to 56K dialup can reach speeds up to 25+ times faster -- and our Tier 2 DSL can go even higher.
Two key components of measuring network communication performance are latency and bandwidth (a third is channel multiplexing). Latency is a measure of time taken for a data packet to go from one point to another, the delay; bandwidth, a measure of how much data can be carried in a given time from one point to another, the capacity. A common illustration of latency and bandwidth is to think of water running through a pipe. Water pressure is latency; the width of the pipe, bandwidth. Raise the water pressure and water moves through the pipe at a higher rate; widen the pipe and a greater volume may be carried at any one time. In Internet technology, "ping" is commonly used to measure latency and "ftp" to measure bandwidth. Green Apple DSL has low latency and high bandwidth. While many elements influence latency and bandwidth, our Tier 1 DSL has an estimated latency of up to 1/5 to 1/10 of 56K dialup and a bandwidth of up to 25+ times greater.
It is important to mention that in general practice, DSL and other high-speed technologies, like cable, will not likely sustain their maximum theoretical speed differential over dialup. To a large extent, this is due to factors which exist beyond the link connecting the Internet provider to the end-user, such as packet routing and network and server congestion. Moreover, the sophisticated compression technology of modern dialup modems taken together with dialup accelerators can raise the effective throughput of a dialup connection up to 30+ times over uncompressed, non-accelerated dialup, particularly when handling text. Nevertheless, high-speed technologies like DSL do sustain significantly higher performance than dialup.
What is required to get Green Apple DSL?
- Must be within Green Apple's DSL service area.
- Must have regular phone service with SBC.
- Phone line must pre-qualify in terms of line distance and condition.
- Must have a DSL modem or router, an Ethernet interface in pc, and a DSL line
filter on every phone jack.
What is Green Apple's DSL service area?
The following are cities in which we currently provide DSL:
Barnesville, Beallsville, Bellaire, Belpre, Bethesda, Bloomingburg, Canal Winchester, Carroll, Columbus, Corning, Coshocton, Dresden, Dublin, Duffy, Duncan Falls, Fultonham, Gahanna, Gallipolis, Glenford, Gnadenhutten, Grove City, Harrisburg, Hilliard, Ironton, Jeffersonville, Lancaster, Lewisville, London, Marietta, Martins Ferry, Milledgeville, Mingo Junction, Nelsonville, New Albany, Newcomerstown, New Holland, New Lexington, New Matamoras, Newport, New Rome, Norwich, Philo, Reynoldsburg, Roseville, Rushville, Shawnee, Southpoint, Steubenville, St. Clairsville, Thornville, Toronto, Uhrichsville, Upper Arlington, Washington Court House, Westerville, West Jefferson, West Lafayette, Woodsfield, Worthington, Zanesville.
Why do I need regular phone service with SBC?
Green Apple DSL is delivered over the same wires used to provide regular phone service (but at different frequencies). In the telecommunications industry, this arrangement is called line-sharing. It enables a place to receive DSL without requiring additional wiring from the phone company to the place. For Green Apple to utilize line-sharing, so as to provide DSL, we must interconnect with the phone company, as they manage the physical lines. Because SBC is the largest provider of phone service in our coverage area, we interconnect with them. We do not exclude interconnecting with other phone companies, such as Verizon, in the future, but at present we can only provide DSL to those having SBC for regular phone service. Also, should you have Green Apple DSL, changing your phone service from SBC to another provider would terminate your Green Apple DSL.
Will I need a second phone line?
No. Our DSL runs over the same phone lines used for regular phone service.
Can I use DSL and regular phone service at the same time?
Yes. DSL and regular phone service can be used at the same time.
Are there long distance charges for DSL usage?
No.
Is the DSL fee in addition to the fee for dialup?
No. DSL replaces dialup, so there is no dialup fee.
Phone line length on availability and bandwidth.
DSL availability is dependent upon the length of the phone line which connects you to the phone company. Very long line lengths, 16000 feet and greater, may not be able to receive DSL. Line length does not affect latency, but may affect bandwidth. So, for example, two DSL connections, one long and one short, will perform comparably for general Internet use, like email and web surfing, although the shorter line may perform large downloads quicker. Line length is measured as the cable runs.
Other factors affecting availability.
A phone line cannot have load coils or bridge taps on it. A load coil is a device which boosts voice signal quality; a bridge tap, a splice onto the line to serve multiple phone connections. A phone line having load coils or bridge taps cannot receive DSL service until they are removed. This process is called line conditioning and usually results in a delay in DSL installation. A phone line cannot have an intervening fiber section between your place and the line terminating equipment, usually located at the phone company central office. Finally, Green Apple DSL cannot be installed on alarm, health-monitoring or ISDN circuits.
What is phone line pre-qualification?
Because phone line length, load coils, bridge taps and intervening fiber sections affect DSL availability, we require phone line pre-qualification to assess the line. Pre-qualification lets us know the line length and condition. While pre-qualification is an excellent indicator of service availability, it is not a guarantee. To pre-qualify a line we require the phone number and address of the line you wish to use. Pre-qualification is free and takes only a moment. To see if your line pre-qualifies, please call us.
What computer hardware is needed?
You will need
- A DSL modem or router. These devices connect your pc or network to the DSL line and from there to the Internet. A DSL modem is used when you need only one connection. A DSL router is used when you need to connect a network (more than one machine). DSL routers are multi-purpose devices and often provide multiple wired ports, wireless access, and firewall protection.
- An Ethernet interface in the pc. Each pc needing to connect will need an Ethernet interface appropriate for the DSL modem or router used.
- A DSL line filter on every phone jack. Because DSL service uses your existing phone line, there will be interference between DSL and voice/fax services. To remove the interference, DSL filters need to be installed on all phone jacks using voice/fax service. DSL line filters are commonly, but not always, included with DSL modem and router kits. They are available in 'inline' and 'splitter' forms. An 'inline' filter has one outgoing jack for voice/fax; a 'splitter' has two jacks, one for voice/fax and one for DSL.
The equipment can be readily purchased at most computer hardware stores and online. Green Apple also sells everything needed to establish DSL service. If you are interested in the equipment we sell or have questions about equipment you are considering, please call us.
Yes. If you have questions about whether your equipment will work, please call us.
What is the typical installation time on new DSL service?
DSL installation has two stages. In the first, the DSL circuit is turned up, a process which usually takes five business days. In the second stage, the DSL modem or router is installed and configured, a procedure usually scheduled for the day after the DSL circuit turn up.
I already have DSL service. How do I switch to Green Apple?
Please call us. We will initiate and oversee the process to simultaneously cancel your existing service and establish new service with us. If the switch does not involve moving the circuit, there is no fee and the process generally takes five business days with little or no down-time. If the switch does involve moving the circuit, there is a $50 fee and the moving time can be a little longer. You will be informed whether circuits needs moving or not before going ahead with switch. Before switching you should check whether you will incur any cancellation penalties from your current provider.
Should I use a firewall with DSL service?
Yes, absolutely. Firewalls are used to be prevent intrusion of your computer. With a DSL connection your computer is always connected to the Internet, making it constant target for intrusion attacks. For more information on firewall options, please call us.
Other security consideration to keep in mind.
All Internet users should have antivirus and anti-spyware protection in place and know how to use it. The importance of such protection is even greater with a DSL connection as, being high-speed and constantly connected, the computer has greater exposure.
For more information on
viruses and prevention techniques, please see
http://www.greenapple.com/support/library/virus-faq.htm
For information on Spyware, please see
www.greenapple.com/support/library/Spyware-FAQ.htm
For more information about antivirus and anti-spyware solutions, please call us.
Can I run a server using this service?
Server for hire or a high usage server is not permitted, but a server having low traffic is permitted.
For a network with medium or high traffic, such as one with a busy web or email server or supporting many users, we recommend our T-1 service. T-1 service has an even lower latency than DSL, has a high upstream bandwidth, and, most importantly, is full-duplex, that is, it can both send and receive simultaneously, whereas DSL (and cable) is half-duplex, that is, at any one time it can only send or receive.
http://www.dslreports.com/faq
http://www.dslforum.org/
http://www.paradyne.com/sourcebook_offer/index.html
http://cable-dsl.home.att.net/
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/adsl.htm
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