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infoman
@insightBB.com
| It is What is IS WOW... 18.5k ft huh.. That is right at the outer limits for the DSL signal to travel. Thought I might post a little something for the people who are not aware of how DSL gets to the end user. Your statement is very true 'it is what it is'. DSL originally was intended for users 12.5k ft from the central office but has been proven to work well at around 18k ft and usually is guaranteed at 17.5k ft(loop distance), or less at this time, from the central office.
When the phone network was placed originally in most areas of the country it was intended for voice only and digital circuits were reserved for business customers only with deep pockets. Today the internet has created a high demand for broadband in the residential market and the telecom industry has to change to meet this demand and DSL is that change.
Here is a link to understanding more about how DSL works for those that would like to learn more in depth in an easy to understand format (»www.howstuffworks.com/dsl.htm), but for others I will give this brief explanation.
There are many variables that come to mind when dealing with DSL and what makes it work or not work and 99% of those problems the customer does not even know about or will ever have to deal with, that is what the phone company does behind the scenes.
DSL speeds can be affected by power induction, radio frequencies, wire gauge, length of wire(distance from the central office), bridge taps, and loading coils just to name a few! The DSL provider sets a MAXIMUM up and down speed (cap) on your line depending on what u subscribe to and that is what u will get unless your distance from the central office will not allow those speeds at which time the speed (cap) will be lowered to ensure a rock solid connection for the end user. Although it is lowered your guaranteed MINIMUM speed will always be achieved.
Different providers have been pushing the limits of DSL and trying to subscribe people well outside the acceptable limits of the technology. Distances greater than 18k ft will work and sometimes it will not but the end user will often become frustrated and confused with all the 'trouble' that they are having just to get DSL to work when they probably should not have been promised it to begin with--this type of thing is giving DSL a bad wrap--again I will mention that there are ALOT of variables in making DSL work and some of them can not be determined until the line is 'turned on' and the service has been subscribed to.
All in all 98% of DSL subscribers seem to be happy with there connection and hopefully have a piece of mind in knowing that they are not sharing bandwidth with the rest of the neighborhood. Only a small percentage of customers have issues as described above. To date I know of one DSL circuit WORKING at approx. 44k ft---consisting of primarily 19 AWG wire the whole distance, this is an exception to the norm and is not likely to be the case in most cities in the U.S.
I bring myself back to the original statement that DSL 'is what it is' and is probably more than what you realize. I highly recommend DSL to anyone considering broadband. SBC is one of the biggest names out there so if anyone can do it right they can. DSL technology is only getting better and the future looks bright---speeds will increase and so will the demand. | |
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