Netalliance specializes in bringing RADSL Internet Connectivity to your organization.
We handle everything from the equipment procurement, coordination with telecommunications carriers, to firewalls and bringing your network up live on the Internet.
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RADSL network internet access FAQ
Rate-Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line technology has been around for several years, utilized by the telephone companies to increase the carrying capacity of their installed cabling. There are actually several variants of these techniques, generally referred to as 'xDSL,' each offering a slightly different combination of tradeoffs between upline and downline throughput, cable distance limitations, etc. xDSL signalling rides on top of your existing analog telephone line (POTS - Plain Old Telephone Service), and can be used simultaneously with your regular voice service. The xDSL signalling is all digital, and utilizes the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) protocols that are the worldwide standards for telephony in the 21st century.So I don't need a new line for RADSL?
Unlike ISDN, xDSL is delivered through an existing residential or business analog voice line. There are several issues which can affect availability, however:
- US West Equipment -- The Central Office serving your area must be equipped to offer RADSL.
- Cable Distance -- Your home or office must be within 18,000 'cable feet' of the Central Office providing RADSL services.
- Copper all the way? -- The RADSL signal cannot pass on lines with load coils installed or where digital pair gain systems have been installed. Load coils were commonly used in the past to improve the quality of voice transmission on the lines, and pair gain systems are most common in suburban developments, where many homes are served from a local concentrator device.
What if I have service through Sprint, Frontier, GTE, or another independent telephone company?
xDSL services are not available through any of these local telephone companies today. Frontier has announced plans for a nationwide xDSL offering by the end of 1998, but have not announced which cities will be deployed.
What throughput will I really see using RADSL?
The technology US West is rolling out in our area is marketed at 256kbps, 512kbps, 768kbps, 1mbps, 4mbps, or 7mbps. When we place the order for your service, US West will check the distance and quality of your line, and determine the maximum speed which can be supported on your line. Each of these speeds is actually an 'average', as the upload and download sides of the connection are asymmetrical - they are different. For example, the 256kbps service is really 340kbps download and 272kbps back; after accounting for ATM network overhead and averaging the up- and down-stream speeds, you get about 256kbps. At Netalliance, we're offering 256kbps, 512kbps, 768kbps, and 1mbps connections. If you need 1mbps or higher capacity, we suggest you consider our Frame Relay offerings due to better service reliability and performance guaranteees; see our chart Selecting the Quality of Service Appropriate to your Needs.
Unlike what you may be accustomed to with analog dialup services and modems, RADSL is a dedicated connection - it's 'always on.' There are no hassles with getting bad quality connections that slow or drop transmissions, or busy signals. Your computer becomes a full-time node on the Internet.
What equipment is required for RADSL?
Netalliance RADSL is delivered through an ATM router, the Cisco/Netspeed 675. This unit can connect directly to your LAN, or you will need an ethernet interface card in your PC or Mac even if you are configuring our Personal Internet Access.
Our service supports Windows/95, Windows/NT, or Mac-OS environments. Your PC or Mac will need to have a TCP/IP stack installed and configured; Netalliance will take care of all the configuration details for you during your on-site installation.
Should I be concerned about security?
Yes. As with Frame Relay or any other type of dedicated connection, users from the Internet can potentially gain access to your computer or LAN. We will work with you at installation time to configure a firewall to permit only the services and access you choose.
Phone 651-556-9600; Fax 651-645-7550; info@backpack.net
All rights reserved. All material copyright. Netalliance, Inc. © 1995-2005. Updated: June 12, 2008.
