Internet Speeds and Services The Internet is an integral part of our Extension Offices. Its uses are seemingly endless from updating travel, to loading 4-H registration forms on the county website, and using it to research information for an upcoming class in the community. Below, I have created a simplified network map to help visualize the network setup in many offices. In the following pages are definitions contained within this map as well as other terms commonly used when referring to a network. Please note, not all networks are setup exactly the same way. This diagram is depicting a county with their own network for their office and is not sharing with other offices. If your county receives internet from the courthouse or shares with other offices, the network setup is most likely different from this diagram.
Wireless vs. Wired A common question is whether it is better to connect to your network with an Ethernet Cable or use the Wi-Fi. While many of our personal devices (smartphones, tablets) allow us to only connect via Wi-Fi, the standard rule of thumb is that a wired connection is more secure than wireless. In addition, a wired connection is faster than a Wi-Fi connection. IP Address Every computer/device that connects to the internet is given an IP address that identifies the computer/device. ISP Internet Service Provider The company that supplies your internet connection such as AT&T. Services include DSL, Cable, and U-Verse. LAN Local Area Network A small home or office set up usually consisting of a few computers, a modem and router, and printers. A LAN setup allows devices on the same connection to communicate by sharing files and sending print jobs. Hotspot A public Wi-Fi connection that is usually free. As a rule, these are not considered secure connections and proper security precautions should be followed including not sharing any personal information, or using any sites that require credit card numbers and social security numbers. Wireless Network Key A password used to connect to a Wi-Fi connection. Wireless Keys are set up in the network configuration and the password is obtained from the owner of the network.
Internet Speeds and Services Internet Speeds The speed of an internet connection, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps,) plays an integral part in the amount of time it takes for you access a webpage, send and receive email, or watch an online video. In general, faster internet speeds result in pages and downloads finishing in less time than with a slower internet speed. Also the more devices connected to a network will affect the connection speed. Over the past few years, the number of devices that use a network have increased as well as our dependence and use of the internet. What used to be a few computers and laptops have multiplied to include tablets, smartphones and printers. As a result, older internet speeds need to be increased to accommodate an increase in devices, otherwise, you may notice a significant decrease of speed in an office. These are crucial points to consider when looking at internet speeds whether you are changing internet providers or simply changing your internet plan. Dial-Up An out dated connection that involved dialing a phone line similar to placing a phone call. In many home networks, a dial-up connection meant tying up the phone line while connected to the internet. DSL Like dial-up, DSL provides connections using a phone line; however, the technology with DSL allows a single telephone line to provide both phone and internet simultaneously. ADSL A higher speed version of DSL. For offices that use AT&T U-Verse as their ISP, most likely they are using ADSL. Cable A high speed internet option, cable internet is provided through a cable company. Cable internet is an affordable option that provides fast service, however it is not available everywhere. Mobile Hotspot A connection that uses the same signals that your mobile phone uses. As long as there a cellular network, you can access the internet. Mobile hotspots can be added to your existing cellular plan for additional costs and data plans are required. An issue many have run into with mobile hotspots is the limited amount of data that can be used and the speed. Mobile Hotspots are not an ideal option for an office setting but designed for more personal uses such as traveling.
Modem A device used for communicating between your ISP and your router. The modem receives the connection from the outside, whether it s cable, phone line or another service, and then sends the connection to the router. Router A device that plugs into your modem allowing multiple computers to connect to the internet. In most Extension offices, the router provides wireless internet as well. These are called wireless routers. Modem Router In some cases, the modem and router are combined into one device. Combining the modem and router has it s pros and cons. A pro is that it s all in one and maintaining the device is able to be done via one interface. A con is if one component fails, the entire device will have to replaced. Whereas purchasing the modem and router separately aids in troubleshooting and determining where the failure is occurring. Switch This device connects to a router to allow additional devices to connect to the network via a wired connection. They can have a few ports or hundreds depending on the needs of the network.
Wireless USB Network Adapter A device used to connect a computer that does not have wireless capabilities to a wireless network via a USB port. These are most commonly used on desktop computers. DSL Filter A small device used to separate an incoming phone line into DSL thus preventing interference created from the telephone line. If your office is running DSL, you will need a filter on every phone jack that is used. Ethernet Cable Also called network cable, cat5 cable, and patch cable. It is a cable that connects devices (i.e. computers) to the network. The cord looks like a larger phone line cable and usually runs from the back of a computer into a wall jack or directly into the router, switch or gateway device. NIC Network Interface Card Also referred to as a Network Adapter, the NIC is the location the Ethernet cable is plugged into on the computer or laptop thus allowing the computer to receive internet. Below are two examples of NICs. Onboard NIC Expansion Card