There must be a song out there that uses all the strange terms used when discussing the broadband internet. What normal creature teaches their infant to use speech that includes Megabits, Gigabits, Ethernet and WiFi? Below is a primer of broadband jargon you need to understand in this modern era of techno-geeks.
Megabits {Mb} is the equivalent of 1000 Gigabits {GB}. These are bandwidths measurements of any given file. This measurement is how your ISP decides if you have exceeded your broadband download allowance for the month.
High-speed broadband is the equivalent of between 256K speed for some DSL connections and 8 Mb for fibre-optic internet connections. The 256K speed will allow for regular text pages, emails, and MP3 downloads but will not work for gaming consoles.
Modem is the box that your internet provider connects your tv and computer to on installation. This modem needs to be cleared of all the data trash that accumulates over a period of time. Many computers, such as laptops and Tablets, have an internal modem.
Router is the term that is used when discussing how the data is separated into different locations so that you can view it. Computers have internal routers installed.
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. This is an internet connection that is accessed by using either analog or microwave signals and transmitted over telephone lines. Often this is referred to as “dial-up” broadband internet because the speeds are usually slower than wired or fibre-optic lines.
VOIP means voice over internet protocol. This is the phone line that comes across your computer rather than through a phone line or mobile phone setup. VOIPs have better quality sound than a standard line phone.
Wireless connection or WiFi is the transmission of data across microwaves that or wired connections relay signals to other components that allow you access to the internet.
LAN connection and LAN adapter refers to the method of using your modem to access the internet. Most PCs use a LAN connection where the adapter is a wire that plugs into your hard drive. This is for wired connection vs a wireless connection.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to broadband internet jargon, but hopefully it will help you make sense of some of the instructions that seem mystical.
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