Glossary of Terms - Internet Service Provider Information

Bandwidth- How much stuff you can send through a connection. Usually measured in bits-per-second. A full page of English text is about 16,000 bits. A fast modem can move about 15,000 bits in one second. Full-motion full-screen video would require roughly 10,000,000 bits-per-second, depending on compression.

Cox- One cable television provider in Arizona, which also offers Internet service through its cable wiring to your house. upstream data transfer speeds of approximately 256 kilobits per second ("Kbps")* and downstream speeds (how fast you can receive data to your computer from somewhere else on the Internet) of approximately 3 megabits per second ("Mbps"), up to 100 times faster than a 28.8 Kbps modem.

Connection speed- The rate at which your computer is connected to the Internet. If you are connected to the Internet via a modem, you have a slower connection speed than if you were connected via a DSL or Cable line, for example. See the various means of connection for approximate connection speeds.

Dial-Up-- A method of connecting your computer to the Internet, most often using a modem and a phone line plugged in to the wall.

DSL- (Digital Subscriber Line) -- A method for moving data over regular phone lines. A DSL circuit is much faster than a regular phone connection, and the wires coming into the subscriber’s premises are the same (copper) wires used for regular phone service. A DSL circuit must be configured to connect two specific locations. Often, there are geographic constraints on whether you can receive DSL service - you must live within 15,000 feet (approximately 3 miles) of a Qwest substation in order to be eligible for service. This distance is not the physical distance, but the "loop length" of the wires which provide you telephone service. A commonly discussed configuration of DSL allows downloads at speeds of up to 1.544 megabits (not megabytes) per second, and uploads at speeds of 128 kilobits per second.

ECAT- Educational Communications and Technologies -- the department within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona responsible for network communications, publications, distance learning and video for the college.

ISDN- (Integrated Services Digital Network) -- Basically a way to move more data over existing regular phone lines. ISDN is rapidly becoming available to much of the USA and in most markets it is priced very comparably to standard analog phone circuits. It can provide speeds of roughly 128,000 bits-per-second over regular phone lines. In practice, most people will be limited to 56,000 or 64,000 bits-per-second.

ISP- (Internet Service Provider) -- An institution that provides access to the Internet in some form, usually for money.

Network- Any time you connect 2 or more computers together so that they can share resources, you have a computer network. Connect 2 or more networks together and you have an internet.

Provider- A company or organization that allows you to connect to the Internet. If that company charges you, they are also called a vendor. If you receive Internet connection through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through a SLiRP connection, the college is your provider.

Qwest- The company that provides local telephone service and internet service using dial-up, ISDN, and DSL. Qwest is the major supporter of DSL service, meaning that if get DSL, you will be using Qwest lines to carry the service.

Slip (or SLiRp)- (Serial Line Internet Protocol) -- A standard for using a regular telephone line (a serial line) and a modem to connect a computer to the Internet.

Sprint- The company that offers regional and long distance calling, as well as wireless, broadband internet service. Sprint Broadband service is made up of installing a mini-receiver (similar in look to a satellite dish) and a special modem which is then connected to your computer. Sprint Broadband Direct is "always on," meaning that if your PC is on, it's online. The service supports upstream data rates (how fast you can send data from your computer to somewhere else on the Internet) of 256 kilobits per second.

Support- In general, the type of assistance you receive when you have a problem. This can vary between calling a person on the telephone, getting instructions over the telephone from an automated system, sending an email to the provider, or looking up information on the company's website.

Vendor- A company that sells you a service. In this case, the company that will sell you their Internet service (Qwest, MSN, AOL).

Web Space- Storage area on a server hosted by the vendor or provider, where you can put files and directories to create web sites. If you have an Internet Service Provider that allows you to connect to the Internet, and also gives you 5 MegaBytes of web space, that means that in addition to being able to connect to the internet, you can create your own personal homepage or website.