MANAGEMENT OF INTERNET INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES (IMC 407)

CHAPTER 2
CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET
Getting Set Up to Use the Internet
• Getting set up to use the Internet typically involves 3
decisions :-

Determining the type of device you will use to access the

Internet

Deciding which type of connection is desired

Selecting the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to be used.

Type of Devices
• Personal Computer
• Most user who have access to a
personal computer (such as
desktop or notebook computer) at
home, work or school will use it to
access the Internet.
• Advantage of using computers us
the large screens for viewing
Internet content and full keyboard
for easier data entry.
• In addition, personal computer
have a large hard drive and are
connected to a printer so anything
on Internet can be print out easily.
 Type of Devices
• Mobile Phone, Mobile Tablets and
Other Mobile Devices
• Mobile phones and other mobile devices
are increasingly being used to view Web
page content, exchange email and other
messages, download music and other
online content.
• In fact, mobile Web use is one of the fastest
growing uses of Internet today.
• While mobile phones are convenient to use
on the go, they typically have a relatively
small display screen, mobile tablets
typically have a larger screen size for
easier viewing.
• Some devices include a built in or sliding
keyboard for easier data entry.
Type of Devices
• Gaming Devices and Televisions
• Gaming device (such as a gaming console or handheld gaming
device) can be use to access web content, in addition to use that
device to play games.
• For instance. The Sony PlayStation 4, Sony PSP and Nintendo Wii
all have the browsers that can be used to access Web content.
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Conventional Dial Up
• Conventional dial up Internet Access uses a conventional dial-up
modem connected of a standard telephone with regular twisted-
pair telephone cabling.
• Conventional dial-up Internet service is most often used with home
computers for uses who don’t need or do not want to pay for,
broadband Internet service.
• Advantages include inexpensive hardware, ease of set up and use,
and widespread availability.
• The primary disadvantage is slow connection speed, since
conventional dial-up modems connect to the Internet at a maximum
of 56Kbps
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Dial-Up
• Dial-up connections usually work over standard telephone lines.
• To connect to the Internet, your computer dials its modem and then
connects to a modem attached to a computer belonging to your
ISP via telephone lines.
• While you are connected to your ISP, your computer can access
Internet resources. To end your Internet session, you disconnect
from your ISP.
Type of Connection and Internet Access

• Advantage of a dial up
connection is security
because you are not
continually connected to
the Internet, it is much less
likely that anyone will gain
access to your computer
via the Internet.

• However dial up
connection are much
slower than other type of
Internet connection
 Type of Connection and Internet Access

• Direct Connections
• Direct connection (such as cable, DSL, satellite or
fixed wireless) allow user to access the Internet
simply by opening a Web browser such as Internet
Explorer, Chrome or Firefox.
• Direct Internet connections are typically broadband
connections are commonly used in homes and
businesses and are often connected to LAN to
share the Internet connection with multiple devices
within the home or business.
• Because direct connections keep your computer
connected to the Internet at all times, it is important
to protect your computer from unauthorized access
or hackers. Consequently, all computers with direct
Internet connection should use a firewall program.
• Firewall programs block access to a computer from
outside computers and enable each user to specify
which program in the computer are allowed to have
access to the Internet
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Cable
• Cable Internet Access uses direct
connection and is the most widely
used type of home broadband
connection, with over half of the home
broadband market.
• Cable connections are very fast and
are available wherever cable TV
access is available, provided the local
cable provider supports Internet
access.
• Consequently, cable Internet is not
widely available in rural areas/
• Cable Internet service requires a
cable modem
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• DSL
• Digital Subscriber Line Internet Access is a type of
direct connection that transmit via standard
telephone lines, but it does not tie up your
telephone line.
• DSL requires a DSL modem and is available only
to users who are relatively close to a telephone
switching station and who have telephone lines
capable of handling DSL.
• DSL speeds are slower than cable speeds and the
speed of the connection degrades as the distance
between the modem and the switching station gets
closer and closer to the three-mile limit.
• Consequently, DSL is usually only available in
urban areas.
• Download speeds are typically between 1 and 15
Mbps
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Satellite
• Satellite Internet access uses a direct
connection, but slower and more
expensive than cable DSL access.
• However it is often the only broadband
option for rural areas.
• In addition to a satellite modem, it requires
a transceiver satellite dish mounted outside
the home or building to receive and
transmit data to and from the satellites
being used.
• Installation requires an unobstructed view
of the southern sky and performance might
degrade or stop altogether during very
heavy rain or snowstorms
Type of Connection and Internet Access

• Fixed wireless
• Fixed wireless Internet access uses a
direct connection and is similar to
satellite Internet in that it uses wireless
signals, but it uses radio transmission
towers instead of satellites.
• Fixed wireless Internet access requires a
modem and sometimes, an outside-
mounted transceiver.
• Fixed wireless companies typically use
Wi-Fi and or WiMAX technology up to
about 6Mbps, though the speed depends
somewhat on the distance between the
tower and the customer, the types and
number of obstacles in the path and the
type and speed of connection between
the wireless transmitter and the Internet.
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Broadband over Fiber (BoF)
• A new type of direct connection available to homes and business in areas
where there is fiber optic cabling available all the way to the building is
generically called broadband over fiber (BoF).
• These fiber optics networks are most installed by telephone companies in
order to upgrade their overall infrastructures and where installed, are used
to deliver telephone and TV service, in addition to Internet service.
• However some cities are creating fiber-optic MANs that include connections
to businesses and homes to provide very fast broadband Internet service.
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Mobile Wireless
• Mobile wireless is the type of direct connection most commonly
used with mobile phones, mobile tablets and other mobile devices.
• Some mobile wireless services can be used with notebook and
netbook computers as well.
• To add Internet access to a mobile devices, typically a data plan is
needed.
• The speed of mobile wireless depends on the cellular standard
being used.
• 3G networks typically have speeds between 600 Kbps and 1.7
Mbps, 4G networks are often between 5 and 12 Mbps.
Type of Connection and Internet Access
• Wi-Fi Hotspots
• While not typically used for primary home Internet access, another
option for Internet access is a WiFi hotspot
• A location with a direct Internet connection and a wireless access
point that allows users to connect wirelessly to the hotspot to use
its Internet connection.
• Public Wi Fi hotspots are widely available today such as
coffeehouse, shopping malls and hotels.
Selecting an ISP and Setting Up Your Computer
• Selecting an ISP
• The type of device used (such as personal computer or mobile),
the type of Internet connection and service desired (such as cable
Internet or mobile wireless), and your geographical location (such
as urban or rural) will likely determine your ISP options.
• The pricing and services available though any two ISPs will
probably differ somewhat, based on the speed of the service, as
well as other service available.
• A growing trend is for ISPs to offer a number of tiers that is different
levels (speeds) of service for different process so users requiring
faster service can get it but at a higher price
Selecting an ISP and Setting Up Your Computer
• Setting up Your Computer
• The specific steps for setting up your computer to use your
selected type of Internet connection depend on the type of device,
the type of connection and the ISP you have chosen.
• Some type of Internet connection such as satellite and fiber optics
need a professional installation. While others user can install
necessary hardware (typically modem or wireless router) by their
own.
• After one computer is successfully connected to the Internet, user
may need to add additional hardware to connect other computers
and devices that you want to be able to access the Internet.
• For instance, to share a broadband, user can connect other
computers directly to the modem (via Ethernet cable or WiFi
connection) if modem contains a built in switch or wireless router.