Dial-up
From Bandipedia
Contents |
Overview
Dial-up Access is an inexpensive but slow form of Internet access in which the client uses a modem connected to their computer and a telephone line to dial the ISP's node, a dial-up server type such as the Point-to-Point Protocol and TCP/IP protocols to establish a modem-to-modem link, which is then routed to the Internet. It is currently regarded as legacy technology, given the advent of faster, more dedicated Internet access technologies.
How It Works
Dial-up requires that the client have an account with an ISP, a working telephone line, and dialup software (usually provided by ISP) on the client's PC. The first thing the Client would do is initiate the dial-up software provided to them and choose a local phone number for the computer to call. The client's computer will then dial out to the ISP's network using the PSTN to establish a modem-to-modem connection.
Uses
Since the speed available for dialup connections is slower than other forms of Internet access, dialup is generally used in only a few situations:
- Traveling clients in a corporate environment
- Clients with a fixed or low income
- Clients in rural areas
Pros/Cons
Pros
Dialup service is not without its benefits; the cost savings with dialup available from certain providers (under $10 per month) is very attractive to some and the high availability for the traveling user is also appealing.
Cons
Dial-up modems typically have a maximum theoretical speed of 56 kbps (using the V.92 protocol), although in most cases only up to 53 kbps is possible due to overhead. Also, these speeds are the maximum possible; in almost all cases, transfer speeds will be lower, averaging about 32 kbps. Other factors, such as line noise, further reduce achieved transfer rates.
Dial-up connections usually have high latency that can be as high as 200ms or even more, which can make online gaming or videoconferencing difficult, if not impossible. Some games, such as Star Wars: Galaxies and The Sims Online are capable of running on 56K dial-up. Often times, gamers with dial up are disconnected from game servers due to the lag.
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