ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. These connections, like the conventional dial up connections use copper telephone wires for transmitting signals. However the frequencies used for Internet communications are higher than those used in regular telephony. A splitter, apart from an ASDL modem, is required for setting up the connection. Main role of splitter here is to distinguish and segregate the signals in the two frequency bands so that they do not interfere. Modem helps in converting the digital signals into analog high frequency voltages carried by the telephone lines and vice versa. One basic advantage of using separate frequencies in the telephone lines is that the telephone can be freely used when Internet is connected.
Some of the features of ADSL Broadband connection are:
• High connection speeds ranging from 128 Kbps to 8 Mbps
• An always on connection
• Setting up takes minimum intervention like digging roads etc. since telephone lines are used
• Bandwidth is not shared as the connection is over a dedicated telephone line
• Available only to a limited distance from telephone exchange usually up to 4kms
• The bandwidth and hence data transfer rate decreases with increase in distance
• Asymmetric connection, meaning upload and download speeds differ to a large extent
• Some ISPs impose a maximum download limit and any further downloads require extra charges