|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
Overview
|
| What is
DSL/Broadband? |
 |
| DSL stands for "Digital Subscriber Line" and is a technology
that lets you use an ordinary copper phone line for your high-speed
Internet connection. In your area, Residential DSL uses a type of
DSL called ADSL, which travels over its own phone line to the
Internet. Because your phone and Internet service reside on totally
separate lines, you can surf the Web and talk on the phone at the
same time. The 'A' in ADSL stands for Asymmetric. This normally
means that uploading to the Internet (which you do when you send
email, for instance) is the same speed as downloading, which is what
you do when you surf. With a ADSL connection, however, they optimize
your download speed because that's what you do most
often. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Exactly how
fast is a DSL connection? |
|
| In your area, downloads can be as fast as 768 Kbps, or up to
26 times faster than a 28K modem dial-up connection. Most pages will
appear in a flash, and a large file that used to take minutes to
download over dial-up will arrive in seconds. Upload speed, which is
what you do when you send email, is as fast as 408 Kbps. The exact
speed depends on the distance from your home to the DSL equipment in
your phone company's central office; shorter distances yield a
faster connection. The state of phone line wires (their age, gauge,
or the presence of devices that boosts voice signals), and the
quality of wiring in your home can affect speed, too.Back to
Top | |
Back To
Top
|
| Is DSL
available to all homes? |
|
| Chances are, service is available to your home. If you
haven't already, you can check for availability
now. If service isn't available, it's either because service hasn’t
been rolled out to your area, or your phone system doesn't support
DSL. In particular, DSL isn't available from any provider if:
- Your phone company hasn't installed DSL equipment in the local
facility that serves your home (also called the CO or central
office).
- Your home is too far from the central office. It must be
within 15,000 to 18,000 feet or roughly 3 miles, traveling not a
straight line, but along the length of the wire.
- Your phone company has installed equipment such as load coils
on your line that boost voice signals but distort the DSL signal.
- You have fiber optic wiring to your phone, rather than the
copper wires required by DSL.
If your home doesn't qualify now, don't worry, there's hope!
Phone companies are quickly working to install new equipment and
increase the range limit, and new zones are rolling out every week,
so you could get service sooner than you think. You can also check
out high-speed Internet via satellite at http://www.directpc.com/.
| |
Back To
Top
|
Ordering Residential
DSL
|
| How do I order
residential DSL/Broadband service? |
|
| First, check for availability to make sure service is
available for your home. This happens when your phone system
supports DSL and DSL service is available in your area. Once you're
cleared for service, click Order Now on any page of this site to
sign up! If you prefer you can call to order service by calling the
number provided and refer to promotional code URGR8 Customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Who will I
contact for questions and support? |
|
| Your DSL provider will set up a DSL connection to your home.
You'll need a new phone line inside your home installed at your
convenience for no extra charge. The phone company will come around
to make a few adjustments to your outside connection, but you don't
have to be home for this. How long all this takes depends largely on
your phone company's schedule, but you will be able to check your
orders status via a member login site established when you order
service. A typical installation can take from 4 to 6
weeks. | |
Back To
Top
|
| How long will
it take to get installed? |
|
| Your DSL provider will
become your ISP and you will contact them for support. |
Back To
Top
|
| How much does
DSL cost? |
|
| Residential DSL service is available for as low as $49.99 per
month for unlimited service no matter how long you surf. In the rare
event you need new wiring inside your home to support DSL,
additional charges may apply, which your provider will discuss with
you before installation. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Will I have to
sign a contract? |
|
| There is no annual contract for your DSL service through
Verizon Online DSL (one of our providers), however you will be asked to sign
a monthly service agreement which explains your relationship with
DIRECTVDSL in more detail. You will also be required to adhere to
Verizon's Acceptable Use Policy. | |
Back To
Top |
After I'm
Connected
|
| Does DSL affect
the quality of my phone service? |
|
| Not at all. Your phone and DSL service reside on the same
telephone line but, line filters seperate the high tones from the
low tones DSL uses, so you can make calls or send faxes while surfing
the Web, and your phone reception is crisp and clear as ever. And of
course the phone still works when the DSL Modem is unplugged or loses
power. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Will my phone
bill be affected? |
|
| Yes and 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. If you order from your telephone company, they
will more than likely include your service on your bill for
you. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I use my
new DSL line to make phone calls? |
|
| Yes DSL/Broadband line is a regular copper
phone wire or cable, it has special equipment on it that transmits high-speed
Internet data, only, so you can't use it as a second phone line, but
there is new technology being developed using VOIP or (Voice Over
IP) That enables you to call your friends or family sometimes
FREE of charge. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Do I still need
my dial-up ISP? |
|
| No. Your email, Web pages, and much more are all provided by
your DSL provider. But if you want to keep your old service active,
that's OK, too. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I access
the Net remotely when I travel? |
|
| Yes. Most DSL providers provide use of a toll-free number to
access the Internet anytime and anywhere over a dial-up connection.
Use a laptop, for example, to surf the Web and get email from any
location that has a phone jack. (Of course, you'll be using your
laptop's analog dial-up modem, so you won't get the same fast DSL
connection you enjoy at home.) | |
Back To
Top
|
| What happens to
my service if I move? |
|
| If you move to an area where service is available, and your
new home doesn't need new wiring, they will try to transfer service
free of charge. If you move to an area where DSL service is not
available, contact your DSL provider to determine your
options. | |
Back To
Top |
Email and
Web
|
| Do I get
email? |
|
| Absolutely. With service, you get at least 5 email accounts.
This means that five people in your household can receive email at
their own address, which will be YourName@YourDSLProvider.com (where
YourName, of course, identifies each person and, YourDSLProvider,
identifies with your DSLProvider). If you currently have a different
email address with your dial-up service, you can quit using that
address and begin using your new one. To notify friends, family, and
colleagues of your new address, just send a group message to
everyone in your address book.
| |
Back To
Top
|
| Do I get
personal Web pages? |
|
| Yes. Each customer account comes with up to five Web
addresses (also called URL’s). If you would like to register a
personal domain for a custom Web address, please see below. You can
register your personalized web address. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I use my
own domain name? |
|
| Yes. You can use your own domain name for custom Web pages.
For example: or as the web
address for your web page. You can even host your site on your
computer if you have the expertise, although you will need to
support this yourself. First, register your domain name with The cost to
register a name is $35 per year. You can search the database to
determine if the domain name you are interested in is available.
Once you become a DSL customer, your DSL provider will provide you
the procedure that's needed to point your URL to the proper
servers. | |
Back To
Top
|
| What's the
difference between a Web host and a domain name host? |
|
| Your DSL provider can host your personal Web pages, which
means their server holds your pages, picture files, and other
content. This makes them your Web host. To register a dot-com,
dot-net, dot-edu, or similar domain, who becomes
your domain name host. You will pay an annual fee to maintain the
name, and you will tell them how to associate the name with your DSL
account. Once you become a DSL customer, your DSL provider will
provide you the procedure that's needed to point your URL to the
proper servers. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can my Web
pages use Microsoft FrontPage extensions or CGI? |
|
| Maybe. Depending on your DSL provider, they may support
Microsoft FrontPage extensions currently or have plans for it in the
future. | |
Back To
Top |
Configuration
|
| Is there
anything I should change about my computer? |
|
| Probably not. Here are the guidelines to follow for your
computer:
Windows 95/98
- Pentium processor or newer
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, USB (Windows 98 only), or parallel port
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator version 4 browser, or
later
Windows NT/2000
- Pentium processor or newer
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, or USB (Windows 2000 only)
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator version 4 browser, or
later
Macintosh
- Mac OS 7.5.3 or later
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- Ethernet, or USB (Windows 2000 only)
- Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator version 4 browser, or
later
Unix or Linux
- Any UNIX operating system, including Linux
- Minimum 32 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space
- CD-ROM drive for software installation
- TCP/IP connectivity
- Ethernet port and card
| |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I connect
more than one computer to the Modem? |
|
| Yes, you can share your DSL connection among computers in a
small home network using any of several DSL router products. The
product should be capable of IP masking and NAT (Network Address
Translation), and include an Ethernet hub (10Base-T or
10/100Base-T). Follow the router's installation instructions to
connect your home network to the router and the router to the
gateway. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I use my
firewall with Service? |
|
| Yes. You can use any off-the-shelf firewall programs with
your DSL connection. Just pick one up and install it as the
manufacturer instructs. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I still use
my fax software if I get service? |
|
| Probably. If your fax software uses an analog modem that's
already installed in your computer (and most fax software does),
just keep using it the way it is, with the modem connected to your
phone jack. Faxing should continue to work as usual. Another option
is to sign up for any of several online services that allow faxing
via the Internet. | |
Back To
Top |
Advanced Configuration
|
| What does a
static IP address let me do? |
|
DSL providers often connect your computer to a different
physical location (IP address) each time you connect to the
Internet, using whatever address is currently available. With DSL,
you're instead assigned a static address, which is always the same.
This lets you do several things that wouldn't be possible if your
computer's physical address were always changing, such as:
- Host Web pages on your own computer, rather than having us
store them for you.
- Host your own FTP site or email server.
- Use third-party software to work with people remotely over a
virtual private network (VPN)
Just pick up the appropriate server software and install it
according to its specifications. A static IP address also lets you
use your own domain name to have a address for
your personal Web pages. | |
Back To
Top
|
| How many static
IP addresses can I get? |
|
| Most DSL providers only provide one static IP address with
your service, however, some providers will provide extra IP
addresses for an extra cost. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I host a
Virtual Private Network (VPN)? |
|
| Yes, using your static IP address and any off-the-shelf VPN
software that you set up and manage
yourself. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I run my
own Web, FTP, DNS, SMTP, POP3, or other email server? |
|
| Yes, using your static IP address and any appropriate server
software that you set up and manage
yourself. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Is my
connection a dial-up or LAN? |
|
| It's a LAN connection. The Modem is a router and doesn't
perform any type of
modulation/demodulation. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Does DSL
support X-Windows, TELNET, and FTP? |
|
| Yes, these protocols can all be used over a DSL line, as can
any Internet addressable traffic that can be carried over
TCP/IP. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Does the
gateway act as a DHCP host or client? |
|
| When you first install the gateway, it acts as a DHCP client
to receive an IP address from your DSL provider's server. It retains
that address permanently as your static IP address. Each time you
connect to the Internet thereafter, the gateway acts as a DHCP host
assigning an additional IP address to your computer (or to each
computer in your home network, if you're using
NAT). | |
Back To
Top |
Advanced Internet
Abilities
|
| Can I
participate in online gaming with my connection? |
|
| The electronic games industry generated just over $6 billion
in sales during 2000, and according to the IDSA, analysts forecast
that that figure could soon surpass $10 billion. DSL connectivity
provides you the ability to download games and play interactive
games online via many different gaming portals. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Can I download
music with my connection? |
|
| Your DSL connections will give you access to full-service,
music web sites providing the most comprehensive array of genres,
interactive services, and music related information. What would have
taken minutes and possibly hours to download with a 56K modem will
now only take seconds. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Will I be able
to view live broadcasts? |
|
| Broadcasting has become an excellent tool for businesses
& content providers to deliver rich audio and video content and
services through a digital distribution network. With your DSL
connection, you will have access to a large and comprehensive
selection of streaming media programming, including: radio stations,
game broadcasts, corporate announcements, live music, and much more.
Examples of broadcast events can be found. | |
Back To
Top
|
| Will I be able
to download and view videos with my connection? |
|
| Your DSL connection will allow you to connect to many
different music video websites that emphasizing fun through
interactivity. These sites will highlight the latest in music,
trends, movies, campus gossip, and much
more. | |
Back To
Top
|
| How quickly
will I be able to search using the Internet? |
|
| With your DSL connections you will find searching the
Internet a hassle-free experience. Pages will download quickly and a
vast amount of information will be right at your
fingertips. | |
Back To
Top
|
