The Friendliest Computer Club in Ventura County Since 1986
Verizon DSL High Speed Internet
This is a reprint from the August 2006 issue of TOE (The Outer Edge)
By Jim Thornton
I recently upgraded a family member's Internet service from a dial-up telephone line modem to DSL (Digital Subscriber Line). The member was overjoyed, for now the family can download their e-mail messages over 20 times faster than before. Their original telephone modem was rated at 56 kbps (k = kilo or one thousand and bps = bits per second; a bit is the smallest measurement of data) but, in the real world, they never reached speeds greater than 33 kbps. Their new residential DSL modem is rated at 768 kbps when downloading and 128 when uploading, and again, in the real world, their typical speeds are now 751 and 116 kbps. Imagine, downloading a file that always takes more than 10 minutes before DSL now takes 30 seconds or less. But speed was not their only reason to upgrade - with their telephone modem whenever they were downloading an e-mail message with several large family photographs as an attachment, which at times would exceed an hour, their telephone couldn't be used to receive or make calls. But now with DSL service, their telephone is always available, as the DSL doesn't tie-up the telephone line. How easy was the upgrade?
I used the current Verizon residential DSL offering that prices out at $14.95 per month with a $59 initial one-time setup fee and the first month is free. The user must be a Verizon telephone customer - this is a common requirement for most DSL providers. Plus, if for any reason, the customer is dissatisfied with their DSL service during the first 30 days, their money will be refunded after they return the DSL equipment. When I ordered the DSL service over the Internet, Verizon's online computer first verified that their telephone line could be served with DSL service and that their computer met the minimum requirements. Once both items were met, Verizon sent its self-installation kit from Pennsylvania by ground UPS.
The kit consisted of five DSL in-line filters, including one for a wall-mounted telephone; a two-telephone-jack-to-one-plug adapter; a Westall model 6100 DSL modem with power transformer; three cords - a telephone, USB, and Ethernet (RJ45); and one installation CD-ROM. The first thing to be done was to install the telephone line filters, then connect the cables to the DSL modem, and finally run the installation software from the CD-ROM. The total process took less than 30 minutes.
The DSL in-line filters are designed so that the existing telephone line cord is unplugged from the wall jack, the filter is plugged into the jack, and the telephone cord is plugged into filter. The purpose of the filter is to stop the high frequency DSL signals from reaching the telephone so the telephone user doesn't hear signals, and it also improves the transmission levels of the DSL signals. Every telephone needs one of these filters, including answering and fax machines.
The two-telephone-jack-to-one-plug adapter permits the user to have one telephone jack serve two devices - for example, to serve a telephone with the filter and the DSL modem.
The DSL modem converts the DSL signals into the proper digital format for the computer. There are four jacks on the modem - an Ethernet, USB, power supply, and telephone. There are also an on-and-off switch, reset button, and four LED (light emitting diodes) lights - DSL, Ethernet, power, and USB.
The user has the choice of a USB or Ethernet connection from the computer to the modem. Verizon recommends the Ethernet, and this means that the computer needs a Network Interface Card, commonly called a NIC. I've seen them priced as low as $10. Here's where the cords go - the Ethernet or USB cord from the computer to the modem, the telephone cord from the wall telephone jack to the modem, and the power cord from the power transformer to the modem.
Finally, I ran the CD-ROM and answered a few minor questions (like identifying the e-mail accounts, etc.), and the DSL was up and running.
The computer must meet these minimum requirements: operating system - Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 (Professional with Service Pack 2), or XP (Home or Professional); processor - Intel or equivalent 133 MHz (98 and Me), 233 MHz (2000), or 300 MHz (XP); RAM - 84 MB (98 and Me) or 128 MB (2000 and XP); a CD-ROM or DVD drive; and a USB port or 10Base-1 Ethernet NIC.
A nice feature that comes with the DSL modem is that it's, also a hardware firewall and is better than the software ones in blocking unauthorized outside access to your computer. Other features that you get are nine e-mail accounts and 10 MB of web space for the storage of your backed-up files or personal Web site. Plus, Verizon provides the blocking of pop-up ads, viruses, junk mail, and spam. Also, there is a parental control feature available. Live technical and/or customer support is always available 24/7. There is a choice between selecting either Microsoft MSN Premium or Yahoo Internet services at no additional cost; this is another common feature offered by most DSL providers.
The single DSL connection may be easily expanded to serve up to four computers at the same time by the use of a regular or wireless router. A router is looks very similar to a modem, but its purpose is totally different - to share the DSL line with the computers and to share files and printers between the computers.
The $14.95 per month Verizon DSL service is cheaper than Verizon's and other companies' regular dial-up Internet service. Other companies are offering similar DSL service at monthly rates ranging from $12.99 to $21.99, but the thing to look for is how long the low monthly rate will last. For example, the lower offer of $19.95 is only good for the first six months, and then the rate jumps to $39.95 per month. With Verizon, at the end of the 12th month, the user has the option to request another 12 months at the $14.95 monthly rate.
