High-Speed Internet / FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions - We've Got Answers
What is High-Speed Internet?
Where is High-Speed Internet available?
What High-Speed Internet plans are available?
Why are the downstream and upstream speeds different?
How can High-Speed Internet be so much faster than Dial Up Internet access when they both use a phone line to transmit data?
Can I talk on the phone while connected to my High-Speed Internet line?
How does High-Speed Internet provide an "always-on" connection?
Will High-Speed Internet affect my existing telephone service?
Can more than one person user the Internet at the same time with High-Speed Internet?
Will I be assigned a dynamic IP each time I sign on?
Can I run my own mail or Web servers with High-Speed Internet?
Are High-Speed Internet speeds guaranteed?
Will High-Speed Internet constantly connect near the maximum speed, or will it be like my 56K modem that almost never connects at 56K?
Why isn't High-Speed Internet available everywhere?
Will High-Speed Internet work over my existing phone line?
Can I still use existing features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Call Forwarding if I also purchase High-Speed Internet?
Can I be billed for High-Speed Internet on my phone bill?
Is there a charge for professional installation?
High-Speed Internet benefits
- Will this service replace the need for ISDN?
- What advantages does High-Speed Internet have over ISDN LAN?
- What is the difference between Consolidated's High-Speed Internet and Internet service from cable companies?
- Should business customers replace their existing T-1 Internet service with High-Speed Internet?
- Why would customers want Frame Relay service when they could have High-Speed Internet service?
- Why would customers want analog modems when they could have High-Speed Internet service?
Ordering
- Who do I contact if I want to order High-Speed Internet?
- Are there restrictions to getting Consolidated Communications High-Speed Internet service?
Hardware and Software requirements
- Are IP assignments on High-Speed Internet static or dynamic?
- What kind of equipment will I need to subscribe to Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet?
- What are the minimum computer or hardware requirements to obtain Consolidated Communications High-Speed Internet?
ADSL Technology and Industry Standards
- What is DSL?
- What is the difference between ADSL, SDSL, DSL and xDSL?
- How does the Network know whether I am placing a call or transmitting data?
- What does POTS mean and how does it work with ADSL as a newly featured product?
- Are industry standards in place for xDSL?
- The term Permanent Virtual Circuit or PVC is being used a lot around this product. What does it mean?
General
- Will I be able to use services such as extra e-mail and personal home pages?
- Is a custom domain name included with my High-Speed Internet account?
Security Tips
Service and Availability
High-Speed Internet is a technology that provides a dedicated digital circuit between a residence or a business location and a telephone company's central office. This circuit allows high-speed transport of data over existing copper telephone lines.
Where is High-Speed Internet available?
Consolidated offers High-Speed Internet service throughout most of our service area. Please call toll-free or click here to check availability.
What High-Speed Internet plans are available?
Click here for information on High-Speed Internet plans.
Why are the downstream and upstream speeds different?
The term "downstream" refers to the speed or "synch rate" at which data is downloaded to your computer from the Internet or your company's network. "Upstream" refers to the speed at which your computer sends data to the Internet or your company's network. Since most Internet applications require you to download large amounts of data while sending relatively small amounts of data, most of the bandwidth in High-Speed Internet is reserved for downloading information from the Internet or your company's network.
How can High-Speed Internet be so much faster than Dial Up Internet access when they both use a phone line to transmit data?
Dial Up modems send their signals through the public switched telephone network, the same one that connects ordinary telephones. High-Speed Internet modems or routers "piggyback" their signals on top of the voice signal on the same copper wire. On the phone company's premises, the signals get split, with voice calls being sent to the public switched telephone network and High-Speed Internet transmissions being sent to the Internet.
Can I talk on the phone while connected to my High-Speed Internet line?
Yes. High-Speed Internet allows you to use the same phone line to speak and surf simultaneously.
How does High-Speed Internet provide an "always-on" connection?
High-Speed Internet provides a dedicated connection between your computer and your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or company's network. This means that there is no need to wait while your computer dials into a network: the Internet always is just a click away.
Will High-Speed Internet affect my existing telephone service?
No. High-Speed Internet will not affect your existing telephone service.
Can more than one person use the Internet at the same time with High-Speed Internet?
Consolidated Communications provides free home networking equipment to all our residential customers, which allow for multiple users on the same High-Speed Internet connection.
Will I be assigned a dynamic IP address each time I sign on?
Residential High-Speed Internet accounts are set up with dynamically assigned IP addresses. Each time you restart your computer or after your IP lease has expired, you will be assigned a new IP address.
Can I run my own mail or Web servers with High-Speed Internet?
Business High-Speed Internet allows you to set up your own mail or Web servers. This process involves registering a custom domain name and setting up domain name services. If you need help registering your custom domain name, we can help you for a one-time charge of $50 (this does not include InterNic registration charges). If you have Residential High-Speed Internet, this service are not available.
Are High-Speed Internet speeds guaranteed?
The actual download/upload speeds you experience may be impacted by conditions on the Internet. Consolidated makes every attempt to connect the customer's service at the optioned speed. It is important to note that High- Speed Internet service is provided on a best-effort basisand, as such, does not guarantee a specific download/ upload speed. Only minimum download/upload speeds are guaranteed.
Does High-Speed Internet always connect at the maximum speed?
High-Speed Internet download/upload speeds are impacted by the performance of the Internet server you're trying to reach and the amount of traffic on the Internet. The Internet is network of different computers that transmit data by different methods at different speeds. The speed at which you receive data with High-Speed Internet is limited by these factors.
Why isn't High-Speed Internet available everywhere?
High-Speed Internet is available to most Consolidated customers. Because of equipment and network configurations between wire centers and some homes, the service is not available everywhere.
Will High-Speed Internet work over my existing phone line? What about my additional line?
High-Speed Internet and voice service work simultaneously over either your existing phone line or your additional line, so you can surf the Web and talk on the phone or send a fax at the same time.
Can I still use existing features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Call Forwarding if I also purchase High-Speed Internet?
Yes. The addition of High-Speed Internet on your existing phone line does not interfere with these features.
Will I be able to bill High-Speed Internet to my phone bill?
Yes. High-Speed Internet is included on your phone bill.
Is there a charge for professional installation?
Yes, please call for pricing.
High-Speed Internet benefits
Will High-Speed Internet replace the need for ISDN?
The use of ISDN and High-Speed Internet should be carefully evaluated on a customer-by-customer basis. Contact your Consolidated Communications Sales Representative to discuss whether ISDN or High-Speed Internet is right for you.
What advantages does High-Speed Internet have over ISDN LAN?
High-Speed Internet has several advantages when compared to ISDN LAN:
- High-Speed Internet makes use of your existing telephone line. This eliminates the need to install an additional phone line.
- Equipment costs for High-Speed Internet are approximately equal to those needed for ISDN.
What is the difference between High-Speed Internet from Consolidated and Internet
service from cable companies?
High-Speed Internet from Consolidated provides always-on high-speed Internet access over a single dedicated telephone line. Cable modems, on the other hand, offer Internet access over a shared cable television line. While cable modems have greater downstream (from the Internet into the home) bandwidth capabilities, the bandwidth is shared among all users in a neighborhood. Therefore actual speeds will vary, perhaps drastically, as more users in a neighborhood get online at the same time.
Cable modem upstream (from the home to the Internet) traffic in many cases is slower than High-Speed Internet, either because the particular cable modem inherently is slower or because too many people in a neighborhood are trying to send or receive data at the same time.
Additionally, because cable modems work over a shared network, users are exposed to greater security risks.
Should business customers replace their existing T1 Internet service with High-Speed Internet?
High-Speed Internet and T1 Internet service have clear technological differences. First, T1 delivers downstream/upstream speeds of 1.5Mbps. This is important to many business applications, including Web site hosting.
Why would customers want Frame Relay service when they could have High-Speed Internet service?
Frame Relay is an excellent choice for enterprise networking where many points must interconnect with one other. In addition, Frame Relay provides higher-bandwidth options for upstream traffic from a customer's site to the Internet.
Why would customers want analog modems when they could have High-Speed Internet service?
Analog modems are based on switched-access technology that offers the ability to dial many different locations for Internet access or other online services. With High-Speed Internet, the connection provides a permanent connection to the Internet.
Ordering
Who do I contact if I want to order High-Speed Internet?
Simply call Customer Service at , stop by one of our Communication Centers or visit this link.
Are there restrictions to getting Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet service?
Yes, due to existing technology, there are geographic limitations that impact the availability of Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet service. Please contact your local Customer Service office to determine your eligibility.
Hardware and Software requirements:
Are IP assignments on High-Speed Internet static or dynamic?
- Dynamic address: This IP address assigned is to a customer automatically via DHCP or PPP, and the customer is NOT guaranteed the same IP each time. If DHCP used, the IP address is leased for a given period, after which the customer must renew and could possibly get the same IP. If PPP is used, the IP stays the same until the High-Speed Internet line or modem goes down, at which time they must re-authenticate to get a new IP address.
- Static address: This is an IP address the customer keeps permanently. Static IP addresses can be obtained automatically through DHCP (based on MAC address) or through PPP (based on username) or they can be hard-coded into the customer's computers.
- Static network: This is an IP network the customer keeps permanently. This customer does whatever they want with the IP addresses that have been assigned to them which are part of the network.
What kind of equipment will I need to subscribe to Consolidated Communications' High-Speed Internet?
Your High-Speed Internet self-install kit will include everything you need to get up and running. If your computer does not currently have a network interface card, you will be required to purchase and install one before your service will work.
ADSL Technology and Industry Standards
DSL stands for high-speed Digital Subscriber Line. DSL is the general term or family name for all DSL products. DSL technologies use high-end modulation processes to pack data, voice, and video onto copper wires. The difference between the various products is in the rate of information transfer, which is based on your distance from the local central office (also known as the "switch") and line frequencies in use.
What is the difference between ADSL, SDSL, DSL, and xDSL?
ADSL is a transport that allows faster flow of information (data, voice, and video) downstream than upstream. SDSL supports one speed regardless of information flow. DSL, also known as xDSL, encompasses products such as ADSL, SDSL, IDSL, HDSL, VDSL, RADSL and many more. Consolidated Communications will provide DSL service using ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) technology.
How does the Network know whether I am placing a call or transmitting data?
The signal used for voice is different than the signal used for data transmission. A device known as a passive splitter or low-pass/high-pass filter is used to separate the POTS and DSL signals onto different pairs (two wires) that eventually are handled by separate Networks.
What does POTS mean and how does it work with ADSL as a newly featured product?
POTS is an acronym for Plain Old Telephone Service. POTS lines, which generally consist of two to four wires, are what we use every day to place phone calls and make analog connections to the Internet. DSL also uses POTS lines for Internet connectivity but with a different method. The difference in transfer speeds and overall functionality of the analog versus DSL does not reside in the line. Instead, the difference in product performance has to do with the difference in the line frequencies used for analog versus DSL (analog uses 3.4 kHz, while DSL uses up to 1.2 MHz), the equipment (analog modem versus an NIC, bridge, and splitter combination), and the Network configuration (circuit switch network versus cell relay network).
Are industry standards in place for DSL?
Some industry standards have been established, and the DSL Forum is developing technical guidelines for architecture, interfaces, and protocols for telecommunications networks incorporating DSL transceivers. Examples include standards for discrete multi-tones (DMT) and carrier amplitude (CAP).
The term Permanent Virtual Circuit or PVC is being used a lot around this product. What does the term mean?
PVC, or Permanent Virtual Circuit, is a Frame Relay network term used to describe a point-to-point connection from the customer site to Consolidated Communications Internet Services. DSL Internet access includes a point-to- point dedicated, "always on" connection to Consolidated Communications Internet Services and thus, the Internet, much like a PVC in a Frame Relay network.
General
Will I be able to use services such as extra e-mail and personal home pages?
Yes. Currently, the Residential DSL product includes ten (10) e-mail account. A Personal Home Page account including 6 MB of disk space also is included with the Residential DSL accounts.
Is a custom domain name included with my High-Speed Internet account?
Custom domain names are an option service with Consolidated Communications.
Security Tips
What kind of security tips does Consolidated Communications Internet Services recommend for High-Speed Internet?
Consolidated Communications Internet Services filters out all non-IP protocols for High-Speed Internet customers. However, this does not guarantee the security of your computer or LAN. If file and print sharing is not required on your computer or network, we recommend that you turn it off as a minimum-security solution.
