Broadband Jargon Buster
ACTIVATION DATE - This normally refers to the date when the Broadband provider will activate ADSL on a phoneline.
ADSL - Stands
for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line". Part of the general
suite of technology known as DSL. This allows fast download speeds
of up to around 8 Meg. A called ADSL2+ allows speeds of
around 24 Mb. The upload speed is typically much slower at
around 256Kbps to 1.3 Meg, hence the term asymmetric, meaning a different
download and upload speed. This is the most common form of Broadband
around at the moment with high availability through a BT phoneline.
AVAILABILITY CHECKER - A service to check
whether you can receive broadband offered on broadband provider websites.
For ADSL broadband through a BT line, this can be done using
BT's ADSL
Checker.
BANDWIDTH - The maximum amount of data you can
receive over your connection at one time, measured in Kilo (thousands)
or Mega (millions) bits (binary digits) per second. Most home users
can get by on speeds above 256Kbps. For serious downloading and online
gaming you should aim for 1Mbps or more.
BIT - Computers process information in the form
of zeroes and ones - known as binary digits or bits. All information
you receive over the internet in letters, documents, sounds and visuals
are held as bits at the most basic level. Bandwidth is measured by
how many thousands or millions of bits per second can be delivered
or received.
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BLUETOOTH - Bluetooth technology is a
wireless form of transmission that lets you connect devices such as
mobile phones, handheld PCs and PDAs over short distances.
BRAS - (BT
Max only) A system in the telephone exchange that handles your line
profile containing details such as your data rate.
BROADBAND - The common term for a high
bandwidth connection to the Internet, normally at speeds over 128Kbps.
The actual term "Broadband" refers to data transmission
through several channels using the same wire.
BYTE - 8 bits are in a byte. A byte is
best thought of as the number of bits a computer requires to represent
a single letter, number or other symbolic character. Documents and
other files are measured (sized) in thousands or millions (mega) of
bytes.
CABLE BROADBAND - Many cable providers
can provide a broadband service using their own Cable network, such
as NTL and Telewest.
CAPPED - Many broadband service providers
have a usage limit or cap on the maximum amount of data you can download
for a cheaper price.
CONTENTION RATIO - The number of computers
that maybe sharing the same connection to the internet from the Broadband
provider. Most standard ADSL Broadband packages have a contention
ratio of 50:1. Meaning that up to 49 other users may be sharing the
connection. Broadband providers can offer varied contention ratios
from 20:1 to 1:1.
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DATE RATE - The real maximum speed at which you can effectively
download.
DSL - Digital Subscriber
Line is the technology for high bandwidth broadband services over a
normal phone line. Types of DSL include ADSL, SDSL, HDSL, SHDSL and
VDSL. The most popular is ADSL.
DYNAMIC LINK MANAGEMENT - (BT Max only) DLM is the system that
analyses the performance of your line, such as errors or disconnections
- and makes changes to your target SNR margin or interleaving status
if required.
ETHERNET - Ethernet is the standard for
connecting computers and devices over a Local Area Network (LAN) in
the home or workplace.
FAULT THRESHOLD RATE (FTR) - The
FTR is the speed below which a fault can be reported to BT Wholesale
via your ISP. It is set to 30% lower than the MSR (see MSR definition
below).
FIREWALL - A program
installed on a computer that stops others having uninvited access to
your computer. Firewalls are also installed on Network hardware on
devices such as routers. Firewall software is available to download
or buy. Some service providers provide firewall services and other
security measures.
INSTANT MESSAGING - With an always on
connection, you can use any of the many commercial messaging systems
available to chat, share information and even see your friends and
family at any time you like, without incurring additional call costs.
INTERLEAVING - A feature
that can be used to help stabilise your internet connection.
IP ADDRESS - Every
computer or device connected to the Internet has its own IP address.
For home users, an IP address is normally dynamic (not always the same)
and vary with each connection. A static IP Address option is available
and useful to create a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
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ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network
lines offer speeds of up to 128Kbps. Not so common now and has been
surpassed by Broadband.
Kbps - The bandwidth (or speed) of a Broadband
connection is measured by the maximum number of bits (binary digits)
per second that can be carried on the line. This can displayed as
Kilobits (thousands of bits) per second. As many services offer a
much larger speed, it can also be displayed as Megabits (millions
of bits).
KB - Stands for Kilobyte, meaning approximately
one thousand bytes. Used to measure the size of files etc.
LAN - Local Area Network. Computers can
be connected together over a short distance to form a Local Area Network.
Many computers can be connected together to allow sharing of files,
internet, etc.
LLU - Local Loop Unbundling. The process of broadband
providers installing their own equipment in a BT exchange, enabling
them to offer their own high speed DSL broadband and control their
prices, rather than using BT Wholesale broadband.
MAXIMUM STABLE RATE - (BT Broadband
MAX term) The MSR is the lowest SYNC rate that your modem has
connected at during the first 10 days of your line being connected
to the ADSL Max service.
Meg / Mbps / Mb - Normally
refers to Megabits per second. The
bandwidth (or speed) of a broadband connection is measured by the maximum
number of bits (binary digits) per second that can be carried on the
line. This can displayed as
Megabits (millions of bits) per second.
MB - Stands for Megabyte, meaning approximately
1 million bytes. Used to measure sizes of files.
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MICROFILTER - Used on ADSL broadband to
separate voice and data channels on your phone line. Microfilters are
also sometimes called 'splitters'. They must be attached to every phone
socket on your line to keep the channels separate.
MODEM - Stands for 'MOdulator-DEModulator'.
Used to allow data transfer over a phone line an is normally fitted
to a computer. A modem that can provide access to more than one computer
is called a router.
NARROWBAND - This is a connection with
a maximum speed of less than 128Kbps. Dial-up is also Narrowband.
ROUTER - A modem that can provide access
to more than one computer.
SATELLITE BROADBAND - Broadband can also
be delivered through a satellite dish. An option if you do not have
a phone line or cable connection.
SDSL - Symmetric DSL (SDSL) allows both
the same download and upload speed. A good choice for businesses that
may transfer and receive large files or data through conferencing etc.
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SHDSL - Single high bit rate DSL is the
technology that underpins Symmetric DSL (SDSL) services.
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE Ratio (SNR) - The SNR is the amount
of signal your line can see as opposed to how much noise it can hear.
SPLITTER - ADSL broadband
requires separate voice and data channels on your phone line at home
or the office. Splitters - more properly called 'microfilters' - are
attached to every phone socket on your line to keep the channels separate.
SYNC Short for synchronise, and can refer
to the process of your modem connecting to the exchange for Internet
access. SYNC rate refers to the speed your modem is connected to the
exchange at. Also referred to as the Line Rate.
USB - Universal Serial
Bus. USB is a technology used to connect different types of devices
such as keyboards, a mouse, other drives to your computer.
VPN - Virtual Private Network. Often used
by businesses to connect different networks together over the internet.
WAN - Wide Area Network. A large network
created by linking Local Area Networks (LANs) together over the Internet
using a Virtual Private Network to form a WAN.
Wi-Fi - Wireless technology for broadband
access that is available at Wi-Fi 'hotspots' several locations across
the UK. A notebook computer with a wireless networking card or wireless
capability is required to access the service
Wireless Access Point - For access to
broadband through Wireless, you must be in the range of a wireless
access point or hotspot.