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