Issue 29.11
As we talked about last time, dial-up networking is fading from the scene because it can not handle the increasing complexity and size of files that are now usually downloaded or sent to each other by most users. I have had a number of customers whose email has stopped working simply because one or more of the files waiting to be downloaded was so large that the dial-up would “time out” or shut down because of the length of time required. All of their emails after that one were blocked from arriving by the earlier, large file that was in the way. It’s kind of like having a hair clog in your drain. It has to be removed before the water can run through it again.
I have been asked to give a better picture of the comparative speeds as a frame of reference. This is not comprehensive, but for most users, broadband internet service comes either from DSL (digital service line) from the phone company, cable from your TV Company, or wireless through an antenna or satellite dish on your roof. There are a few other small providers that create internet access in other ways, but they are all related to these systems.
Dial-up bandwidth is typically 52 kbps (52,000 bits per second). A bit is 1/8th of a byte, so the actual speed is around 7,000 bytes per second. A short email or text file can easily be downloaded to your computer in less than a second. However, if you add a digital photo, a powerpoint presentation or especially a video of the grandkids, it could easily take many minutes or even hours to download with a dial-up modem. This can lead to your system either locking up from the complexity of the process or literally “hanging up” as the provider sees no new input from you while you wait and so their machines automatically disconnect you.
By comparison, the slowest broadband internet speed is 512 kbps (10 times as fast as dial-up) and speeds go as high as 50 mbps (megabits per second – 1000 times as fast) or more if you pay a premium. Downloading video content from netflix or other live on-line video systems requires 4 mbps speed for good results and the faster the better. You can ask your provider what speed you are receiving or go to www.speedtest.net and run a test there. Be careful to just run the test – they want you to try all kinds of other tests for registry errors, etc. that are designed to sell you programs you probably don’t need.
All of these approaches support compression schemes that “squish” large files into smaller files for easier transfer. They do this by removing some of the data, then reinterpret the data when it arrives and try to restore much of what has been lost. The compression/expansion of files is fairly impressive in its accuracy, but you will notice occasional loss of picture quality, color depth or pixelation (when a picture or video looks like a bunch of colored squares instead of a smooth picture). That usually means that your download speed is not keeping up with the sending at the source.
As far as internet is concerned, faster is always better, but you generally get what you pay for. As always, remember to make sure you have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 30 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him through his website at www.bitsnbytescomputers.com or at 668-7118.