a) What is ISP?
An Internet Service Provider (also known as an ISP or even as an IAP, internet access provider) is a firm that offers subscribers access to the internet. This internet service provider maintains large runs of cabling and maintains network services in order to transfer and deliver web content to those paying the subscription fee. Typically, these internet service providers focus on DSL, Cable modem, wireless, and more recently, dedicated high-speed interconnects such as T1 or fiber optic service (typically abbreviated Fios). While far less common, ISPs still offer dial up internet service, which is gradually become a phased out. All in all, there are many different types of Internet Service Providers, and within each and every internet service provider there are often varying levels of service, coverage, as well as personal customer service that comes attached with it.
b) Connecting using ISP and how to choose an ISP: Dialup, broadband or mobile?
An ISP, or Internet Service Provider, is a company that provides you with a point of access to the Internet. When you connect to your ISP, your computer (or your own network) becomes an extension of the Internet itself whilst you remain connected.
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to find out about how much bandwidth you are using to determine if your ISP is charging you fairly, if your net connection is a bottleneck or simply because you are like me and love statistics.
The Internet grew as a collaborative network of researchers keen to share their discoveries in a simple, accessible way. Because of this, there was no real need to regulate or control the Internet; the information was already free and was of interest only to other researchers, so it didn't need protection. But as the Internet has grown, it has become a more commercial, public entity, and some who use it now wish it to be governed and policed to prevent certain types of abuse.
However, there are various bodies that govern parts of the Internet, which we'll look at in the next few paragraphs.
c) Choosing a broadband provider
- Beginner's broadband. If you are just starting out, it's likely that you're looking for a package that's easy to set up, not too expensive and offers good customer support.
- Heavy-use broadband. You know you're a heavy-user if you enjoy downloading oodles of songs and movies using peer-to-peer software, or you're a big fan of online gaming. If that sounds like you, then our heavy-use packages are the ones to look out for.
- Business broadband. These packages differ from consumer deals by including extras like static/fixed-IPs, webspace and email addresses that include the name of your business as well as business-grade security.
- Mobile broadband. If you access the Internet primarily from your laptop, then mobile broadband is an option worth considering - whether to be used at home or on the go.
Mobile broadband is usually delivered through a 'dongle' (modem) that you plug into the USB slot on your laptop to access the Internet, at broadband speeds, wherever there's mobile phone coverage.
More recently MiFi dongles have arrived too, which allow you to share a single mobile broadband connection between multiple web enabled devices simultaneously.
- Family broadband. With more and more devices like laptops, tablets, TVs, set-top boxes and gaming consoles connecting to the Internet, families have specific needs that are best catered for by certain providers. Because many family members are likely to be using the same connection, the best family broadband products are often those with unlimited download allowances.
d)Measuring Bandwidth
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to find out about how much bandwidth you are using to determine if your ISP is charging you fairly, if your net connection is a bottleneck or simply because you are like me and love statistics.
Well we can use this simple bandwidth monitoring tool called Networx. If you are paying for your internet per KB or MB than you can use this application to measure bandwidth usage and shut down your network when you reach a certain level.
So in addition to all the pretty graphs and charts we also get better control over our connection. You can use Networx to see how fast your connection actually is or see how much bandwidth your kids are using downloading MP3′s.
Networx has a installer and a portable edition. I used the portable 767kb file and ran it.
You will see a system tray icon appear like the one in the above picture. You can hover over the icon to get quick statistics also like you see in the picture.
Upon right clicking the icon you will get this context menu:
All of the options are pretty self explanatory but we will run through them anyway. By clicking on the first item Show Graph you will get a screen that looks like this:
e) Who govern/regulates/controls the Internet?
The Internet grew as a collaborative network of researchers keen to share their discoveries in a simple, accessible way. Because of this, there was no real need to regulate or control the Internet; the information was already free and was of interest only to other researchers, so it didn't need protection. But as the Internet has grown, it has become a more commercial, public entity, and some who use it now wish it to be governed and policed to prevent certain types of abuse.
However, there are various bodies that govern parts of the Internet, which we'll look at in the next few paragraphs.
No comments:
Post a Comment