ADSL is a high-speed internet connection that runs on copper telephone lines. To find the best ADSL ISP, research providers based on your address, compare plans, consider distance from the nearest DSLAM, and read customer feedback. Consider purchasing or renting a modem from the ISP.
Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL or DSL for short) describes a type of high-speed Internet connection that runs on standard copper telephone lines. ADSL can be used to browse the web while the landline remains available to answer calls, making ADSL an extremely popular and affordable choice for the Internet. ADSL is not available in some rural areas, but is common in populated regions. Finding the best ADSL Internet Service Provider (ADSL ISP) will only require a little research and a basic understanding of how ADSL is commonly delivered to neighborhoods.
The first step is to visit a website that will provide a list of ADSL companies based on a service address (e.g. your home). Since these sites don’t always return all providers, you can do an additional Google® search, such as “cheap DSL + (your city, state)”, minus the parentheses.
Make a list of providers that serve your address and compare plans. An ADSL ISP typically offers tiered choices with faster plans being more expensive than slower plans. Note that the slowest DSL plan, typically 768 kilobits per second (kbps), may not be fast enough to stream content smoothly in all cases. Another consideration is whether or not more than one person in the household will be using the connection at the same time, as this will consequently reduce the bandwidth available to each person.
ADSL2 is a second generation type of ADSL that works much faster (12-24 megabits per second) and is also more expensive. If you need those speeds, look for an ADSL ISP that sells ADSL2 service.
Once you’ve narrowed down your ADSL ISP to a few candidates, it can be helpful to know how far your physical address is from the nearest telephone exchange or Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplier (DSLAM) for that provider. A DSLAM is a network device that allows you to extend the reach of DSL, as signals degrade as they travel over copper lines. People who live on the edge of the nearest DSLAM will experience speeds that are at the slower end of their subscribed plan’s range. Those who live very close to a DSLAM will have less lag and experience speeds at the high end of the plane’s range. If multiple companies are in the running and all else is equal, you may want to choose the ADSL ISP with the closest DSLAM.
Customer service is another important area, especially for people who aren’t tech-savvy. DSLReports.com provides a wealth of information and insights on various companies via customer feedback forums. In many cases, representatives of various ISPs also participate.
An ADSL ISP might offer discounted rates for the first year with a one-year contract. Payment is typically made monthly by credit card or electronic funds. Renewing your account after the initial year will result in the commission increasing to the standard price. Changing plans in the middle of an annual contract to another tier could result in fees, and canceling the plan before the end of the contract could also lead to penalties. Make sure you read the fine print.
Most ADSL providers will include a DSL modem in the contract, free or for a fee. At the end of the contract, the DSL modem is usually returned to the provider to avoid a device charge. A non-wireless modem may be included for free or at a lower cost than a wireless model. The benefit of getting your modem from your ADSL ISP is that it will be pre-configured to work with your service.
Others choose to supply their own DSL modem, which can be easily purchased from electronics outlets. One can also get an ADSL2 compatible model. The configuration schemes for the providers can be found in the modem documentation, online or can be obtained from the ADSL ISP itself.
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