About High Speed DSL

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a high speed internet technology utilizing your existing telephone lines which can give you speeds up to 7 times faster than 56K dialup. DSL uses a DSL router and Phone filters which are supplied in the Self Install Kit.

I thought that DSL had an 18,000 foot radius of operation, yours seems to only have 15,000 feet? DSL has an 18,000 (3.4 mile) radius of operation from the central office where the DSLAM is located (theoretically), many say that DSL has a 3 mile range which seems to be a bit misleading because 3 miles is only 15,840 feet. The truth here is that DSL has 18,000 feet of range, but that’s 18,000 feet of “wire run”, distance, not the radio-like “as the crow flies” type of distance most people imagine at first, remember, DSL is not radio, it’s telephone. Telephone lines generally run above and beneath streets, the path from the central office to your home is probably not a straight line. It zig-zags down streets to your home or business, it all depends on how your local phone company wired up your town. If you account for these zig-zags you find that in an average population center, 15,000 feet “as the crow flies” generally guarantees that you will be in DSL range.

I thought that DSL had an 18,000 foot radius of operation, yours seems to only have 15,000 feet? DSL has an 18,000 (3.4 mile) radius of operation from the central office where the DSLAM is located (theoretically), many say that DSL has a 3 mile range which seems to be a bit misleading because 3 miles is only 15,840 feet. The truth here is that DSL has 18,000 feet of range, but that’s 18,000 feet of “wire run”, distance, not the radio-like “as the crow flies” type of distance most people imagine at first, remember, DSL is not radio, it’s telephone. Telephone lines generally run above and beneath streets, the path from the central office to your home is probably not a straight line. It zig-zags down streets to your home or business, it all depends on how your local phone company wired up your town. If you account for these zig-zags you find that in an average population center, 15,000 feet “as the crow flies” generally guarantees that you will be in DSL range.

Downloading a 4 Meg file... 56Kbps download (V90/92) 12.8 Minutes 128Kbps download (ISDN) 6.2 Minutes 384Kbps download (Covad TeleSurfer Class) 1.6 Minutes 1.5Mbps download (Covad TeleSoho Class)25 Seconds 3.0Mbps download (Covad TeleSoho Class)12 Seconds   How DSL Works Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) provides high-speed digital modem technology via a conventional telephone line.   DSL uses signal frequencies above those used by voice or fax, so the DSL signal does not interfere with telephone conversations or faxes. When a DSL filter is connected to your phone jack, its function is to split the data (Internet) traffic from voice (phone) traffic, and route them separately. Voice traffic (talking on the phone and fax signals) goes to the phone or the fax machine, while your data traffic (surfing the Web, downloading large files or photos) goes through the DSL modem and then to your computer, thus allowing you to use both at the same time. The diagram below illustrates the key elements of DSL.   Why Verizon Online If you're looking for high-speed Internet access with benefits like a personalized start page, anytime-anywhere e-mail access, account management tools, online help, and much, much more, you've come to the right place. Verizon Online gives you control over your Internet life.     Verizon Online is one of the nation's largest DSL providers. You can count on us to be there when you need us. We want your online experience to be all you expect - and more!   You'll receive a feature-rich Internet connection that will keep you and your family in the fast lane. Check out all that your DSL account includes.   Because Verizon is a local phone service provider, we can bill your DSL account and phone line all on one bill.   No need to worry about security when you order online. Verizon adheres to a strict corporate privacy policy and has been reviewed and approved by TRUSTe and the Better Business Bureau Online. Order online now and get your first month FREE!     All Verizon Online DSL packages come with a self-install kit. Get online at DSL speed in just 3 steps. Learn what's involved during self-installation. We believe the Internet should make your life easier. Let us help you get to the business of living.     Technology 1. What is DSL? 2. How does DSL work? 3. How does DSL compare to cable modems?   Speed 1. How fast is DSL? 2. What affects my connection speed?   Availability 1. Is Verizon Online DSL available on my phone line? 2. My neighbor has Verizon Online DSL, but my phone line doesn't qualify. Why? 3. Can I change my phone number to get a phone number that qualifies for DSL? 4. If one number doesn't qualify, will another number at the same location qualify for DSL?   Hardware & Software 1. Does Verizon Online support Macintosh? 2. What equipment do I need to get DSL? 3. Can I use any DSL modem with my Verizon Online service? 4. Is Verizon Online DSL compatible with Windows XP?   Installation & Setup 1. What's involved in the DSL self-installation process? 2. How will I know when my DSL service is ready?  3. Once I order DSL online, how can I check the status of my order?   Security 1. How secure is my DSL connection?   What You Can Do With DSL 1. Can I host a Web page? 2. Can I hook up more than one computer with a single DSL connection? 3. Can I access the Internet if I'm traveling?   DSL & Your Phone Line 1. Does DSL require installing an additional phone line? 2. Can I use my fax machine and the Internet at the same time? 3. Will my current phone features work with DSL? 4. If my DSL modem loses power, do I lose phone service?   Your Account 1. How many e-mail accounts come with my DSL service? 2. Are Verizon Online DSL charges in addition to my current monthly phone bill charges? 3. Is there a money-back guarantee? 4. What type of technical support is available?     1. What is DSL? DSL is a modem technology that turns your existing phone line into a three-channel data delivery system. One channel transmits voice services, so normal phone and fax usage continues whether or not you are accessing the Internet. A second channel transmits data downstream at high speeds, and a third bi-directional channel transmits data upstream. The downstream and upstream channels carry information to and from the Internet. Therefore, phone or fax calls occurring on the first channel are not affected by your online activity. There are modems at each end of the phone line. One is at your home; one is at the Verizon Central Office. Working together, these modems provide a dedicated connection that avoids the need to dial-up for access to the Internet. The modem in the Verizon Central Office points your Internet traffic to the DSL network and on to the Internet. With DSL Internet access, you have a fast connection to the Internet.   2. How does DSL work? Check out the inner workings of DSL with our How DSL Works demo.   3. How does DSL compare to cable modems? Cable modems offer service over a shared cable. Multiple users may be connected to the same local cable line. DSL technology provides a dedicated service over an existing local connection to the Verizon Central Office near you. This means that you don't have to share your local access connection with other users.   Back to top   1. How fast is DSL? Verizon Online DSL is a powerful connection that loads data and images at such a rate that you won't want to go back to your old dial-up connection again. Verizon Online DSL speed brings you the convenience you want, making your work (or play) that much easier and more fun. Super High-Speed Internet Access Dial-up vs. Verizon Online DSL: A quick comparison Application Dial-up Verizon Online DSL Download 1MB family reunion photos Over 4 min. About 25 sec. Download 1.5 MB research proposal Over 6 min. About 40 sec. Download 2.5 MB MP3 music Over 10 min. About 60 sec. Download 6 MB sports/news video clip Over 25 min. About 2.5 min. Speed comparisons are based on the following throughput comparisons: 32 Kbps for 56 Kbps modem and 320 Kbps for 768 Kbps DSL. Download speeds are not guaranteed. See question No. 2 below for more information.   2. What affects my connection speed? When you connect to the Internet using a DSL modem, the speeds that you will experience will vary based on a variety of factors, including the following: * Distance of your telephone line from a Verizon Central Office. * Condition of telephone wiring inside and outside your location * Computer configuration * Network or Internet congestion * Server and router speeds of the Web sites you access * Other factors Connection speed is the speed that data is transferred between your computer and the Verizon Central Office during your initial connection to the DSL network. Throughput speed (also called download speed) refers to the rate that information is transferred from the Internet to your computer. It is the speed at which you receive data. Examples of receiving or downloading are reading a Web page, downloading a program, or receiving e-mail. Send speed (also called upload speed) refers to the rate that information is transferred from your computer to the Internet. Examples of sending or uploading are sending e-mail or sending files.   Back to top   1. Is Verizon Online DSL available on my phone line? To find out now, please enter your phone number on the Order DSL page or in any of the boxes throughout the site that say "Can I Get DSL."  This process allows us to tell you if your line is equipped with DSL. If it is, the next step is to see if DSL is available and can be provisioned on your line. Verizon Online representatives do this as part of the order process. Activation of DSL to your location is subject to final confirmation of service availability   2. My neighbor has Verizon Online DSL, but my phone line doesn't qualify. Why? DSL is a distance-sensitive technology that works solely over copper phone lines. Currently, Verizon Online DSL is only available to customers residing within 3 "wire-run" miles (up to 18,000 feet) from their Verizon Central Office. In addition, customers must be served over copper wires. Some wires may be capable of handling DSL and others may not, even in the same area. Verizon Online is working to overcome the distance limitation and make DSL more widely available. So, while you may not qualify for the service today, it is possible that you could be able to receive it in the near future as the technology improves.   3. Can I change my phone number to get a phone number that qualifies for DSL? No, because a telephone number change does not change your physical telephone line.   4. If one number doesn't qualify, will another number at the same location qualify for DSL? Please check the availability for any of your telephone numbers. It is sometimes possible that a customer location could have more than one telephone line, so one telephone line might qualify while another telephone line does not.   Back to top   1. Does Verizon Online support Macintosh? Verizon Online supports Macintosh and Macintosh-compatible computers, including the iMac. View our DSL system requirements.   2. What equipment do I need to get DSL? You will need DSL filters and a DSL modem, both of which are included in your DSL Self-install Kit. You will also need a 10Base-T Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC). A NIC is not included in the Verizon Online Self-install Kit. You can get a NIC at most computer stores, if your computer does not have one.   3. Can I use any DSL modem with my Verizon Online service? No, at this time you need to use a DSL modem that is compatible with Verizon Online DSL. If you want to use a modem from a source other than Verizon, please check with Verizon first to determine compatibility.   4. Is Verizon Online DSL compatible with Windows XP? Yes.   Back to top   1. What's involved in the DSL self-installation process? First check that your computer meets the system requirements. If it does not, then you may need to purchase some hardware. For example some newer computer include a 10Base-T Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC), and some do not. If your computer does not include one, they are available at most computer stores. You will need one to connect your DSL Modem. Verizon Online sends a Self-Install Kit with your DSL order. Once your DSL connection is active, you will need to put DSL filters on all your telephone Jacks and install your DSL Modem before installing the Verizon Online DSL software. Instructions are included in the kit, and Online Help includes additional instructions.   2. How will I know when my DSL service is ready? You will receive an activation date in the mail or via e-mail.   3. Once I order DSL online, how can I check the status of my order? Use our Order Status Tool to check on the progress of your DSL order.   Back to top   1. How secure is my DSL connection? From a security perspective, DSL (and cable modem) networks are not very different from analog modem-based dial-up networks. They connect customers to ISPs and the Internet using IP as their network protocol. However, DSL and cable modems are more attractive than dial-up connections to hackers for the same reasons that make them more attractive to customers. The ease of connection and available bandwidth of these networks often results in customers staying online much longer, making them more vulnerable to attack attempts. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to improve the security of your DSL connection, such as firewall software. We strongly recommend that you install a commercially available firewall (and antivirus) product. To find out more about such products, check with your local computer store. Some firewall products are even available for personal use free of charge.   Back to top   1. Can I host a Web page? Yes, Verizon Online DSL packages include 10 MB of Web space. View our small business products.   2. Can I hook up more than one computer with a single DSL connection? Yes, Verizon Online offers Home Networking Solutions. Please see the Home Networking FAQ section.   3. Can I access the Internet if I'm traveling? Yes, Verizon Online offers Remote Internet Access, so when you are away from your primary connection you can dial-up and access the Internet and your e-mail. Additional charge apply   Back to top   1. Does DSL require installing an additional phone line? No. You will not need an additional phone line. DSL technology allows simultaneous analog (voice or fax) and DSL (data) transmission over the same telephone line. You still use your phone as you do now.   2. Can I use my fax machine and the Internet at the same time? Yes. DSL technology allows simultaneous analog voice or fax and DSL data transmission over the same telephone line.   3. Will my current phone features work with DSL? Yes. Adding Verizon Online DSL to your phone line does not affect your other telephone services and features. DSL will not affect Caller ID, voice mail, call waiting, or other advanced calling features.   4. If my DSL modem loses power, do I lose phone service? No. The DSL modem is designed so that your normal telephone service will operate even if the modem is unplugged or otherwise disabled.   Back to top   1. How many e-mail accounts come with my DSL service? Verizon Online DSL service includes up to nine e-mail accounts. Multiple e-mail accounts allow other household members to have their own private e-mail account or have personal and business e-mail accounts. You can set up your additional e-mailboxes with our account management tool.   2. Are Verizon Online DSL charges in addition to my current monthly phone bill charges? Yes, Verizon Online DSL monthly recurring charges are in addition to your monthly telephone service charges from Verizon.   3. Is there a money-back guarantee? Yes. Our 30-Day Money Back Guarantee provides that if, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with any Verizon Online DSL product, you may cancel your DSL service within 30 days of your service ready date and receive a refund for any charges you have paid to Verizon Online. We only ask that you return the modem and any other equipment we have given you within 30 days of cancellation to avoid the $99 equipment charge.   4. What type of technical support is available? Verizon Online provides live technical support 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Online tutorial, user guides, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and our extensive online help site are also available.   Back to top    ADSL ADSL modems attach to twisted pair copper wiring. ADSL is often provisioned with greater downstream than upstream rates (hence "asymmetric"). These rates are dependent on the distance a user is from the central office and may vary from as high as 9 Mbps to as low as 384 Kbps. DSL A proven technology that takes advantage of standard copper telephone lines to provide secure, reliable, high-speed Internet access. This is a general term for any local network loop that is digital in nature.