Today is our final look at the basics of Internet Access, and we?re going to continue our look at conventional methods of accessing it, and then ask: ?Where next will Internet access go??

Last time we concluded by looking at the first, oldest and slowest of the conventional internet access methods ? ?dial-up?. Today we?re going to look at the second most common ? ?DSL? or ?Broadband?. Firstly, Broadband is probably a bit of a misnomer ? it was coined when the average network connection speed, even for a business, was 64 kilobits per second ? so 256 kilobits must have appeared blisteringly fast. However, today, its not really considered fast at all, and what was considered broadband is now fast becoming the new narrowband (the new ?dial-up? in terms of how it is considered).

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, and implements some clever technology that utilises existing cabling to provide capability of nearly ten times the speed of someone?s existing dial-up connection, without any costly cable or equipment upgrades. It does this by using compression methods to squeeze your data down to the smallest possible amount to be transmitted, and cut-through (or pass-through) technology that allows your information to be routed through networking hardware, without having to be read on an incoming cable and re-written (wasting time and effort) on the outgoing cable by the hardware itself. It is complex, and extremely clever, and allows for connection technology to keep abreast of customer demands without the need for costly cabling upgrades, which could cost telecommunications companies billions of dollars.

In order to use DSL, you will require an SIP that has DSL capabilities, and get your telephone line activated to accept DSL communications, by your telecommunications provider. Once that is done, you will need to ?screen-out? harmful ?noise? on the telephone line so that your computer can obtain stable access. You screen-out the harmful noise by attaching a DSL filter to your telephone socket, and plugging both your phone and your DSL line into it.

Next you require a DSL ?Modem?, and although this too is a misnomer, it is ? for once ? a misnomer to help us earthlings out as it relates directly back to the dial-up technology and allows us to consider the job that it does, in relation to the job a modem does in a dial-up situation. When you switch a DSL modem on, the first thing it will do is test the line to which it is connected to ensure that it can communicate using DSL protocols.

Once established, it will attempt to synchronise with your ISP?s internet connection server. This handshake might take a few minutes, and is characterised by the ?DSL? light on your modem flashing, rhythmically away, for approximately 30 to 40 beats. Once synchronised and connected, the modem will forward your user account and password which should allow you to access the internet. Apart from the obvious performance improvements with DSL versus dial-up, there are a couple of other cool items too: you are instantly connected when you want to be, and you will rarely have to wait for your DSL to come online; and unlike dial-up, DSL works alongside your voice technology so that even when you are connected to the Internet, you won?t tie-up your actual telephone line, and you will be able to dial out and receive calls without any fuss.

So where to next? wireless connection is becoming more and more common, with hotels, airports, cafes and some condos providing wireless connection to the Internet. All you need is a wireless card in your PC or laptop in order to get online, and someone else is dealing with the mechanics and maintenance on your behalf. There are also cards that can now be purchased that use your cell phone network in order to provide access to the Internet. Though there have recently been legal issues about this ? especially in Bermuda ? I believe they are now passed.

Next time, its time for another ?Ask an earthling question?? column, where I will answer some of the many questions that have been sent to me.