Whats a Modem Got to Do with It?

Whats a Modem Got to Do with It?

If your computer doesn�t already have one, you�ll need to get a modem to connect to the Internet. The modem allows your computer to use the telephone line to call another computer. Basically, this small piece of hardware is your ticket to Internet land or bust.

When purchasing a modem at a local hardware vendor or through a mail order company, look for some basic features. First, you can choose between an external and internal modem. External modems are easy to connect to your computer and sit on your desk. They are slightly more expensive, and older computers may not support the faster external modems.

Most users opt for internal modems. They cost less and tuck inside your computer. Many new computers come with a modem intact, but if your computer didn�t, you�ll have to open your computer case and wrestle a bit with installing the hardware.

The next consideration is speed. Viewing the heavy graphics on the World Wide Web with less than 14,400 bits per second (bps), V.32bis/V.42bis-compliant modem would be like trying to drive across the country without shifting above second gear. If you want to put some turbo behind your Web browsing, a V.34 with 28,800 bps is even better�and best yet are the new V.42bis 33,6000 bps modems.

Don�t Let SLIP Slide You Out of the Internet

If you�re trying to get the most for the minimum, you can connect to the Internet with slower modems. But beware of modems without V.42 error correction and V.42bis data compression. Many users connect to the Internet through PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). Some Internet Services Providers, though, still use the older method, called Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP). Because SLIP doesn�t include any error correction, the least bit of line noise can knock the network connection for a loop. Without a modem that smoothes the lines, connecting to the Internet would be like calling your friend and getting disconnected each time you dialed.

Data compression is another helper for SLIP. Because SLIP has high latency, meaning SLIP transfers information at a turtle�s pace, the compression can make the information a lighter load to transfer. You�ll save time because data compression will get you connected in a jiffy.

Before you shop for a modem, check with your Internet Service Provider to see what brand and type of modem the company uses. Most modem brands work well together, but a buying a speedy 33,600 bps modem won�t do you a bit of good if your service provider supports only speeds up to 14,400 bps. Think back to your teacher�s lessons in class. The teacher spoke at the highest speed at which each student could listen. That way, every student understood the teacher�s lesson and the teacher wasted no time. Modems do the same thing. If you have a 14,400 bps modem and your service provider has a 28,800 bps modem, the service provider modem will talk to your modem at 14,400 bps. That way, the modems make stable and solid connections.

Geek Speak: Get a Grip on Jargon

Baud Rate	The measure of how fast a modem can transmit and receive the electrical �pulses� that carry data across a phone line.
Bits Per Second	The measure of how fast a modem can transmit data in one second. (Abbreviated: bps)
Error Correction	Checks to make sure that data received on one end matches data sent on the other. Without error correction, phone line noise can bump you offline.
Data Compression	Data compression speeds the transmission of data by sending repetitive patterns in data as codes. The codes take less space and time to send, so the transmission runs quicker than with modems without data compression.