Unit Four Plug me in, Scotty!

Now we know what the Internet is, and here we sit at our computer. What's the connection?

Today computer users have several different ways of connecting to the Internet. The most common method is using a "dial-up modem." The oldest modems even used real telephones. The user would dial (using a rotary phone) another computer. When he heard the computer "answer" he would put the telephone receiver in a holder (the modem) and his computer would "talk" to the other computer through the telephone. These modems transferred data at about 1800 bps. Today's modems are usually built into the computer, and the computer does all the "dialing" itself. All the user needs to do is plug a telephone cord into the jack on computer. These modems transfer data at up to 56 Kbps. Still, these analog modems use the same principle of having the computer make a telephone call to another computer.

Though these modems are much faster than they were a few years ago, the new ways of connecting to the Internet are much faster. ISDN is a kind of digital phone line popular in Japan. An ISDN line allows you to talk on the phone while using the Internet, but is only slightly faster than a 56 Kbps modem. A much faster method is DSL (digital subscriber line). DSL also uses regular telephone lines, but is up to 100 times faster than a dial-up modem. DSL requires a special kind of modem, but with DSL, there is no "dialing up." You are connected to the Internet 24/7: twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A cable connection is about as fast as DSL. Cable TV companies run an extension from the same cable that feeds your TV its signal to a cable modem and connect this modem to your computer. Like DSL, it's a 24/7 connection.

Regardless of which system you use, the actual connection is very similar. Your computer is connected to a modem. The modem translates the signal and communicates with a computer belonging to your Internet service provider, or ISP. This provider connects you to the Internet

And here you are!

Questions

1. A modem is a kind of Internet computer.
   Select answer: true false
   
   
   Old modems needed a telephone to connect computers to a network.
   Select answer: true false
   

   A DSL connection can be 100 times as fast as a dial-up connection.
   Select answer: true false
   

   With a cable modem, you have a 24/7 connection.
   Select answer: true false
   

   What are the advantages of DSL?
   Select answer: a 24/7 connection a connection much faster than 56 Kbps dial-up talking on the phone while using the Internet all of the above none of the above
   

   Which of these is the slowest kind of Internet connection?
   Select answer: cable 56 Kbps dial-up ISDN all of the above
   

   Which of the following use telephone lines?
   Select answer: ISDN 56 Kbps dial-up DSL all of the above none of the above
   

   Most 56 Kbps modems these days can be found.
   Select answer: at the provider's location inside people's computers inside TVs with cable connections all of the above none of the above
   

   Why is the term "dial-up" used?.
   Select answer: 24/7 connections need special dials computers make a telephone call to the provider connection speeds can be adjusted by the user old computers could dial in the correct speed
   

   A modem is most like a.
   Select answer: telephone calculator toaster cable