The first part of this article gave a quick overview as to what equipment you may need to use to surf the internet and the most common way of establishing an internet connection in the home. However there are other ways to connect your computer to the internet, each with its own pros and cons.
Choose a Connection - Part 2
Cable - If you already have, or you want to sign up to, cable TV and phone services you can get your internet connection though your cable too. Your cable provider will usually help you set the internet connection up at the same time as installing the TV and phone, either through a modem/router or through your TV box. At the very least they will supply you with a modem/router which will need to be connected to the cable socket just as it would the phone socket if your were using ADSL. Again the wireless routers (with built in modems) are now standard for this purpose. If your house has never had cable before the provider will need to install wires which connect you to the main network (most likely in the pavement outside your house).
Satellite - Alternatively if you are already subscribing to a satellite TV service, or want to, you can add broadband internet to your package here as well. The first and perhaps, most obvious bit of equipment you will need is a satellite, and this will need to be connected up to a modem, or in this case a special satellite modem (otherwise known as a DVB modem), before connecting to your computer. Your service provider will install the satellite and modem for you or convert your existing equipment if you have any.
It is worth being ware that there are two types of satellite broadband that you can consider signing up for. The first, 'one-way', is more affordable but only uses the satellite to (rapidly) receive/download information and any information you send/upload will go through your phone line and will therefore be a lot slower. A 'two-way' service will use the satellite for both and is therefore a lot quicker but, unfortunately, a lot more expensive too.
If you are living in a more remote location it may be the case that the phone network where you live isn't able to support broadband internet and you may not be near the main cable network so satellite may be your only option if you want to get online.
Mobile/3G - The internet is also now available on the go through a mobile phone signal known as 3G. This wireless signal is provided by mobile phone operators and can carry data/information (and therefore the internet) as well as normal phone calls. It is typically used for mobile phones, particularly smartphones, which are designed with the internet in mind, but can also be used for computers, such as tablets and laptops. To connect a computer to the a 3G connection you would need to use what is called a 'dongle' which plugs into your computer and then sign up with a mobile network to use their service. The mobile network will often supply you with the dongle when you do sign up.
If you buy a smartphone, the connection would be set up for you when you buy it and the use of the connection would be part of your phone tariff, however it is important to remember that there may be a limit to how much data/information you can download per month.
As you can see there are a good number of options from which you can choose to get yourself online but don't be put off by the jargon. Once you have worked out which option is right for you (most likely which is the best value) your provider should supply you with everything you need to get online and, in the case of cable and satellite particularly, they will usually install it all for you anyway. Once you are connected there is plenty of internet help out there to help you take the next step and get the most out of your online experiences.
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