ADSL Frequently Asked Questions
What does ADSL stand for?
How does it work?
How fast is ADSL?
Why is ADSL better than ISDN?
Common problems associated with installation
of ADSL?
Does ADSL support Linux?
Do you provide a static IP?
Can I connect to an office network from home
using VPN?
Is there a minimum contract period?
Is this service movable, should I need to change
location?
Is the connection speed constant or does it
fluctuate?
Are there any limitations on ports either way?
Is it difficult to change from a leased line
to ADSL?
Which areas will have this service available
to them?
What will ADSL do that ISDN can't?
Is it possible to network the Standard Connect
option?
Do products like ICQ operate over ADSL?
What does ADSL stand for?
Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is a new technology
that uses ordinary phone lines but enables them to become
high-speed digital lines for extremely fast Internet access
and file downloading.
How does it work?
ADSL modems use digital coding. Therefore you are getting
more capacity out of your phone line without interference
to your regular phone usage. In effect, you can talk on the
phone, send fax and surf the web simultaneously.
How fast is ADSL?
Depending on the product you have installed,. ADSL provides
download speeds of 512 kbps, 1024 kbps and 2048 kbps and 256
kbps upstream.
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Why is ADSL better than ISDN?
It is faster, permanently connected, the costs are set and
not dependent on usage and you can use an existing BT phone
line where as ISDN needs installation of an additional line.
Common problems associated with installation
of ADSL?
The availability of ADSL services at a specific location is
subject to technical limitations and survey. Service availability
in an area is constrained geographically. Another common problem
is the absence of customers at their premises when BT call
to install the line. (In the BT trial this accounted for over
two thirds of late lines) Equally there is a charge of £300.00
to the customer of each time this occurs.
Does ADSL support Linux?
The Freshwebhosting.com Standard Connect offers a USB modem
which has the drivers to support MacOS and Windows. It presently
does not support Linux systems. BT have no immediate plans
to introduce a Linux platform. As a consequence we will not
guarantee any service for drives written for the Linux platform.
The Business Connect ADSL services supports any TCP/IP capable
machine that works on 10 BaseT Ethernet including Linux.
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Do you provide a static IP?
Yes with all ADSL services.
Can I connect to an office network from
home by using VPN?
This depends on the VPN technology used and it's particular
requirements. There are some VPNS that will work but check
the particular VPN technology.
Is there a minimum contract period?
Yes 1 year for all the Business Connect Services.
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Is this service movable, should I need
to change location?
Yes in a fashion. If you move to another ADSL capable location
you should be able to continue the original contract at the
new location although you will have to pay an additional setup
charge. If, however, you move to a non ADSL capable area you
are still liable for the whole years rental even if you are
not using the line. Bear in mind that the above applies more
to the Business Connect Services as they are 1 year contracts.
With the Standard Connect Service, you give one month's notice
and just wait until the month expires.
Is the connection speed constant or
does it fluctuate?
It will fluctuate according to the contention BT have imposed
on each service.
Are there any limitations on ports either
way?
Yes the Freshwebhosting.com 500 Connect Service has all port
open in both directions although as NAT is not an option,
port forwarding is irrelevant. Business Connect with Static
IP Addresses has ports open both ways. Using NAT, there are
no port forwarding as such but the ports are open for outbound
traffic only.
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Is it difficult to change form a leased
line to ADSL?
ADSL is not a replacement for a leased line. They are considered
two separate products.
Which areas will have this service available
to them?
Check your local exchange is ADSL compatible by visiting
Availability
Checker
What will ADSL do that ISDN can't?
Much greater bandwidth speeds and NO CALL CHARGES. It is like
upgrading from a Mercedes to a Ferrari without having to pay
for the fuel.
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Is it possible to network the Standard
Connect option?
Yes it is possible through the addition of a third party solutions
such as Vicom Internet Gateway. But we must stress that the
customer is responsible for supporting such software themselves.
Do products like ICQ operate over ADSL?
Not with Network Address Translation but it will with a static
IP.
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