How is ADSL different from a dial-up modem?

 

ADSL is a digital connection from your computer, to the Internet. Your old modem used to take digital signals, convert them into analogue sound waves, send them over the phone lines, and our modems would then convert the data back to digital format. This is a very inefficient and outdated method for sending data. ADSL is pure digital data the entire time with no conversion.

Analodue modtems take 30-45 seconds to connect and perform the handshake before they can start sending data. As ADSL is always on, the connection is always there. There are no busy signals, no modem tones, no waiting to get online. You can leave the computer connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you wish and have access at your fingertips. While we don't recommend this for security reasons, you can make that decision for yourself.

The optimum speed a dial-up modem can achieve is 56,000 bits per second (56kbps), whereas the optimum speed of ADSL (depending upon which configuration is ordered) is currently 8Mbps. In real terms, ADSL is between 10 and 40 times faster than a conventional modem.