FREE ESSAY ON XDSL

XDSL

Digital Subscriber Lines
Fast and affordable Internet access has become a big issue for private users and small
businesses. Today users have many different options concerning Internet access. One can
use a 56k/28k modem, cable modem, wireless, Ethernet, an ISDN connection, a T1 or T3
connection, or a DSL connection. Each method of connection has advantages and
disadvantages concerning security, cost, and speed. A newer technology for users is DSL
or a Digital Subscriber Line. DSL uses existing phone lines to send info. Unlike a dial
up analog modem, a DSL connection allows voice and data to be sent at the same time on
the same phone line, the bit rate is faster and the connection is continuous (no need to
dial up).
DSL Technology
DSL is a technology for pushing high bit rates through last mile telephone connections
(small gage copper less that 18,000 ft.). For most people, point A will be their home and
point B will be the substation of the local phone company. 
DSL modems, unlike conventional modems, establish a connection from one end of a copper
wire to the other end of that copper wire: the signal does not pass into the telephone
switching system. DSL modems are not limited to using only the voice frequencies passed
by the standard telephone system (usually 0-4kHz), DSL modems typically use more than
100kHhz. (Day 1999)
When the local loop carrying the voice/data reaches the local phone company the loop
first goes to a splitter which separates the voice from the data. The voice frequencies
are sent to the traditional telephone switching network used for voice transfer. The data
frequencies are wired into a DSL modem at the central office (CO) end. The resulting
high-speed digital data stream coming from (or going to) the consumer is handled as
digital data (not analog voice) and may be hooked into a number of networks connection to
the data's destination. The data never enters the standard telephone switching system.
(Day 1999) 
When you connect to the ISP (Internet Service Provider) you are not connecting to the ISP
over its standard modem bank, instead you are coming in over some sort of LAN/WAN
(Local/Wide Area Network) data connection that the ISP has arranged with your local phone
company. This is the only way an ISP can provide DSL-connected ISP service for customers.
Because of the connection to the area network the DSL connection is always on, there is
no need to dial up and connect to a modem. (Day 1999)
This is a good graphic network map from dslreports.com
DSL Protocols
There are many different protocols and sub protocols that fall under DSL. Some of the
main protocols for DSL are: 
-ADSL-Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (1.5 Mbps-9Mbps) (DNAI 1999)
-RADSL-Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line (test and adapts for fastest speed) (DNAI
1999)
-HDSL-High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (T1 Speeds, currently requires 2 lines) (DNAI
1999)
-VDSL-Very-high-bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line (ten times as fast as ADSL, not on
market yet) (Clarke 1999)
DSL networks have modems at both ends of the connection, the customer's modem and the
ISP's modem. Because different protocols use different hardware (modem) the ISP chooses
what protocol will be used.
Hardware
Although it depends on your ISP and the equipment they use, typically you will need a
10Base-T adapter with which to connect to the external DSL modem, and a personal
computer. Keep in mind that with different protocols you will need different DSL modems.
If you are putting together a LAN you will also need a hub or preferably a switch.
Usually the customer DSL device is implemented as a bridge, router or both. (Kristoff
1999)
Splitters and Filters
Because the same line is used to send voice and data frequencies it is possible for
interference to occur. Sometimes a phone will go above the 4kHZ frequency and cause
interference with the DSL data stream. Another problem is the high frequencies used by
the DSL modem can be picked up by the phone resulting in static on the headset. 
The original solution to 4kHZ interference problems was to use a POTS splitter. A
splitter takes the phone line and forks it. One line goes to the telephones and the other
goes to the DSL modem. Besides splitting the line the splitter acts as a low-pass filter
allowing only 0-4kHZ frequencies to pass to the phone thus eliminating interference. (Day
1999)
(Image from Day 1999)
Another solution to the interference problem is to install a micro-filtering device
between the telephone/ telephone system and the wall jack. The DSL modem does not require
a filter.
(Info from Day 1999, image from dslreports.com)
Security
A DSL Internet connection has a greater security risk than a regular dialup analog modem
connection. For one, the bandwidth is greater, which allows the possibility of more
cracking to be done in the same period of time. More importantly, the connection is
usually always on, which makes the host computer a much easier target to find. (Day
1999)
Different LAN configurations (i.e. selecting a different IP address for each computer),
software, and firewalls can be used to make a DSL connection more secure. (Ullrich 1999)
The image above is an example of a dual-homed gateway between the ISP and the local LAN.
By using this configuration the LAN traffic is isolated from the ISP, thus creating a
more secure connection for the computers in the LAN. The recommended operating system for
this configuration is Windows NT because of its advanced security capabilities. (Image
and info from Day 1999)
Speed
The speed of you internet connection depends on many different factors: what gage of wire
is used to connect, how far the computer is from the local CO, the DSL service subscribed
to, the numbers and configuration of the LAN, the hardware and protocol the ISP uses,
etc. Under ideal conditions it is claimed that connection speeds can be up to 50 times
the rate of a traditional analog 28.8k modem. Currently VDSL technology is being
developed which is supposed to be 10 times as fast as ADSL (which operates at 1.5
Mbps-9Mbps). This technology is said to be available sometime in 2001. (VNI 1999)(Clarke
1999)
Local Availability and Cost
According to dslreports.com Menomonie does have access to DSL service through Wisconsin
Bell Inc. My house is 1937ft from the local CO, which means that Internet speed would be
almost as fast as possible. I could not find any prices for this area but the price for a
DSL connection runs anywhere from $50 to $80 per month depending on which speed you
choose and how many computers are connected. Start up fees and service agreements also
apply.
The Future of DSL
The future will probably see the elimination of the POTS, particularly in the local loop.
The high-speed line into the home will be capable of carrying both data and voice. One
example of this is the Sprint ION plan.
The Sprint ION plan gives you unlimited local and long distance telephone service through
VoDSL, and a high speed Internet connection (up to 8mbit down, 1 mbit up, depending on
line quality). The service is currently offered only in Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City
and costs $160 per month. At this price it would be cheaper for most people to run one
DSL and pay for telephone service separately, however, if you make a lot of long distance
calls this service may be a good deal. (Day 1999)
The growth in subscribers has been pretty impressive in the past year. The following
graphs from xDSL.com show the past and current growth as well as projections for the
future.
Projection
If these trends continue to grow as they have and the projections are accurate then now
would be a great time to invest in DSL technology and service.