I've already got a modem in my computer, why doesn't that work for DSL?
Dial-up Modems use your analog phone line to communicate with another digital device. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a digital signal overtop of your analog phone nd takes a digital signal on . 

Does my computer need any special hardware to work with DSL?
Your computer will connect to the DSL modem via Ethernet. If your computer is already connected to a local area network (LAN), or has an unused network interface connector (NIC) your computer can be connected to DSL. If you don't already have a NIC in your computer, you will have to install one or one can be installed by us provided that your computer passes the minimum requirements.

Does my computer need any special software to work with DSL?
You will have to have software "drivers" to work with the NIC (see above) and the appropriate protocol for your intended use (usually TCP/IP for browsing the Internet) which 9 times out of 10 is installed when the card is added to your computer properly.

I have two computers at home, can I use the same DSL connection for both computers?
In addition to the hardware and software described above for each computer, you will need an Ethernet hub or switch. The hub will be the central connection point for each computer, and the DSL modem. Thus the hub you purchase will need enough ports for all of the computers you want to connect PLUS the DSL modem. See the "LAN" section of our "Networks" page for a visual illustration on how this is setup.

I already have a modem in my computer, why doesn't that work for DSL?
Modems are unique to the underlying frequencies (i.e. dial-up, DSL, cable), medium (i.e. coaxial cable, twisted pairs, etc.), and modulation (i.e. X2, K-Flex, V.90, V.92, etc.). So, much as many of you have changed your dial-up modems to go from 28.8Kbps, to something approaching 56Kbps, you will not be able to use your dial-up modem for DSL.

Why would anyone use T-1 service for Internet access when DSL can be just as fast?
You are correct about the speeds, T-1 is a symmetrical (same speed in both directions) service at 1.544Mbps. Some flavors of DSL could be configured for symmetrical speeds of 1.544Mbps. There are a couple of significant differences between T-1 and DSL, one being that T-1 service is a committed data rate, i.e. the T-1 provider guarantees 1.544Mbps all the time, and monitors the circuit for failures and degradation of service. DSL data rates are "up to" whatever rate you are paying for which means that it may (and probably will) fluctuate. Another difference is that a T-1 is connected all the time. DSL (and cable modems) while physically connected all the time are not necessarily connected to the Internet all the time. DSL (and cable modems) use their extremely fast setup times to give the illusion of being connected all the time. That's the long answer to get to the point that you would probably want to connect servers and mission critical applications with T-1s and use DSL for home and business outgoing inquiries.

Should I be concerned about security with DSL?
You should ALWAYS be concerned about security. The options here range from having network security specialists evaluate your network and supply firewall's, to turning off your computer when not in use. At a minimum, every installation should consider using a firewall, either a firewall appliance or firewall software on each computer. You should analyze your requirements and budget to determine how to proceed in the area of security.

How come I'm paying for DSL at 384Kbps down / 128Kbps up but when I go to www.someplace.com my browser says it's downloading at a lot slower speed?
The DSL (or any service) can only be provided with some degree of certainty from your location to the point of connection to the Internet. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) should have a local speed test site that you can use to confirm the speed of your connection. Your download rate from places on the Internet will vary for a number of reasons, including (but not limited to):