| ADSL is a new technology that stands for | | | | popular. |
| Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. This is commonly | | | | How do I test the speed of DSL? |
| known as DSL and can provide high speed internet | | | | You can test the speed of your Internet access by |
| access to homes using the standard copper | | | | going to a website that offers this service. By |
| telephone lines. It is different from Internet access | | | | sending your computer an information packet, which |
| that is provided through cable television lines. | | | | your computer will, in turn, send it back to them. The |
| DSL is the primary competition of cable in the | | | | website will then measure the time it took your |
| Internet service provider market. The primary | | | | computer to download and upload the information |
| advantage of cable is that it has faster and more | | | | packet and calculate the speed of your bandwidth. |
| flexible download and upload speeds compared to | | | | This test will measure the ?actual speed? and ?true |
| DSL. While DSL can provide you with a fast | | | | speed? of your internet access. Actual speed is the |
| download speed, it is only one-way. Its upload speed | | | | amount of useful data that your connection can |
| is significantly slower than what cable can provide | | | | transmit or receive per second. On the other hand, |
| you. This is why DSL is primarily marketed to passive | | | | true speed also includes non-significant data along |
| Internet users, meaning those who do not need to | | | | with the useful ones. True speed is not used when |
| upload files frequently. | | | | rating broadband speed rankings. Only actual speed is |
| DSL does have some advantages over cable. Its | | | | used for this purpose. |
| lower cost and wider range of availability might | | | | A typical DSL connection will have download speeds |
| appeal to more prudent consumers. In smaller, | | | | of four mbps and upload speeds of six kbps. Cable |
| lower-market cities, cable Internet access might not | | | | can offer download speeds of up to eight mbps and |
| be available. These are places where DSL is more | | | | upload speeds of 355 kbps. |