14.) What is this I have heard about some home or business security systems(alarm systems) not working with DSL?

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is the most popular form of DSL technology. The key to ADSL is that the upstream and downstream bandwidth is asymmetric, or uneven. In practice, the bandwidth from the provider to the user (downstream) will be the higher speed path. This is in part due to the limitation of the telephone cabling system and the desire to accommodate the typical Internet usage pattern where the majority of data is being sent to the user (programs, graphics, audio, and video) with minimal upload capacity required (keystrokes and mouse clicks). Downstream speeds typically range from 1.5 Mbps to 8 Mbps. Upstream speeds typically range from 64 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps.

Full Rate ADSL and G-Lite:

A lower data rate version of Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) has also been proposed as an extension to ANSI standard T1.413 by the UAWG (Universal ADSL Working Group) led by Microsoft, Intel, and Compaq. This is known as G-Lite in the ITU standards committee. The ADSL signal is carried over all of the house wiring, which results in lower available bandwidth due to greater noise impairments.

DSL also offers a private, secure channel of communication between you and the service provider. Your phone lines are dedicated to your home or business and not shared with anyone. Your data travels along your own line, unlike cable modem services, where the line is shared with others. Because this is your own dedicated line, other users going online do not affect transmission speeds. With cable modems, transmission speeds do drop significantly as more users go online.

With DSL, home and business users can access high-bandwidth information on demand, with improved opportunities to experience streaming video, online gaming, multimedia applications, and telecommuting.

Basically, a splitter assigns voice and data transmissions to different frequencies. Digital information, or bits, travels on the inaudible frequencies of your phone line. That keeps them separate, and that's why all the signals, voice and data, can work in parallel without interfering with each another. A DSL modem spreads signals over many frequencies on the line.

A DSL end user must be equipped with a DSL modem, network interface card (NIC) or a USB port and a USB modem, along with a personal computer for proper DSL operation. The DSL modem must be compatible with your service provider's equipment. As you sign up for DSL service, equipment discussions will begin. In addition, the end user's computer must meet the recommended minimum system requirements:
- Pentium-class CPU
- 32 MB of RAM
- Microsoft Windows 95 (or greater)

Analog modems were designed to work on regular telephone lines and usually operate at speeds ranging from 28.8 Kbps and 56 Kbps. The main difference between analog and DSL modems is that an analog modem works on voice frequencies. It isn't able to handle the higher and faster digital frequencies. DSL shares the copper wire and moves at speeds between 20 kHz and 1 MHz plus. It shares the wire but operates in parts that have not been previously used. DSL actually takes a load off the voice channels by using higher non-voice frequencies.

Several factors will affect the use of DSL, such as the way the phone line is routed to your home or office, the condition of the telephone cable that provides service to your area, and the presence of cross-talk or interference on the same line. DSL isn't available from any provider if:
Your location is too far from the CO (it must be within 18,000 feet).
You have fiber optic wiring to your phone, rather than the copper wires required by DSL.

Not at all. You can make calls or send faxes while surfing the Web, and your phone reception is as crisp and clear as ever.

No. Your e-mail, Web pages, and much more are all provided by your new DSL ISP.

No. Even though your DSL service travels over a phone line, the phone company will continue to bill you only for voice and fax calls, just as usual. You'll be billed for your DSL line separately.

No. Even though your separate ADSL line is a regular copper phone wire, it has special equipment on it that transmits high speed Internet data only, so you can't use it as a second phone line. You'll need to make phone calls over your original line, just as you did prior to having DSL.

- The amount of time you spend online
- The activities you perform on the Internet
- Your need to support multiple-users through a single connection
- The overall cost of basic dial-up service versus faster, less cumbersome access methods

Can I view online video clearly with DSL?

Video works exceptionally well on DSL, depending on the speed of your DSL connection. Most movie trailers and high bandwidth videos are designed for 80-128 Kbps speeds. These are well within the capacity of DSL, which is up to 12 times faster than 128 Kbps. For example, CNN's news footage is clear in real-time, even while you're downloading email and running other PC applications.

If you have an alarm system installed on the same line as your DSL service, you may have special wiring needs and require a professional installation.

MobileTel Internet does not have the capability to perform tests on your alarm system. Thus, we recommend that you contact your home security provider to identify the source of the problem. If it is determined you require a special wiring solution, MobileTel Internet strongly recommends you obtain help from a qualified professional. Please contact your security company to perform professional installation.