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Choosing an ISP |
There are a bunch of companies that claim to provide Internet service to Garland County. |
AT&T, offers what is called DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). It is much faster than dial up but the main problem is that it is just not available in many places. |
The best way to overcome the slowness of wire-bound dial-up is by using Wireless, a type of microwave radio signal beamed directly to a tiny receiver/transmitter mounted on your dwelling. |
Some wireless providers use a system where your unit combines all your data together with everyone else before sending it on to the next house. Problem is, you become a critical part of the overall infrastructure. You go down and the neighbors might too. |
Satellite internet is a skinny one-way dirt road from your computer to the rest of the world. The lane coming back is pretty wide. A valid comparison must also include the round trip. That is, the time it takes to send a message - and receive the reply. (ping time) Satellite is poor when it comes to round trip timing (latency) and upload speeds. |
| Wireless ETC, uses broadband microwave to carry really fat internet pipes from the national internet backbone directly to your computer. |
