Internet

Internet is a global system to interconnect computers and other devices around the world. It is a
complex setup of network. Popular Internet applications are E-Mail, World Wide Web (www) and
many more.
Internet Speed Specifications
Download and Upload Speeds
Most of the time, when we are applying for an internet connection or we are checking speed connection
we are just focusing on its download speed e.g. 2Mbps or 1MBps. While the upload speed doesn't catch
our attention at all. In this training we will learn about the importance download and upload speed and
determine if what is the effect of a very low upload speed since almost of us is not familiar with the
upload speed. We must not expect that we can have an stable 2Mbps internet speed if we applied on the
plan that advertises 2Mbps, this only means that the internet plan we avail can have a maximum speed
up just to 2Mbps.
Download Speed
It is the rate measured on how fast we can get an information (e.g. songs and movies) in the internet
down to our computer or to our device. Unit use is either bits per second or bps or bytes per second or
Bps. Note 2Mbps is not same with 2MBps, why, because the first one is expressed in bits per second
and the later is expressed in bytes per second. We must know that an 8 bits is just into 1 byte at all.
Upload Speed
It is the rate measured on how fast we can give or send an information (e.g. send emails) in the internet
from our computer or device. Upload speed uses the same unit as to download speed. In commercial
Internet Service Provider, its really configured that the upload speed would just be a fraction of the
download speed or in other words the download speed is always greater than the upload speed.
In rare cases, there are some companies that needs an equal speed of download and upload to meet their
local needs. In the church, we must be aware that upload speed must also be considered when
conducting an speed test. When we are working in the church software MLS, remember that we are not
just waiting for the information that we can receive but we are also sending an information to the
Church Headquarters through internet. Some other units encountered slow send/receive process and
they end up in concluding that the internet connection is slow, but the real thing is they just have an
slow upload speed that's why sending information to the church headquarters really taking time. But in
this case we really don't need a symmetrical rate of download and upload, symmetrical means equal.
Other Important Internet Specifications
Wireless and Wired Internet Connection
Example of wireless internet connection here in the Philippines is the SmartBro, you can identify it as a
wireless internet if you see an antenna not the satellite dish antenna that is installed on the Pump House
of the Building. Example of wired Internet connection here in the Philippines is the HomeDSL, unlike

wireless this connection type doesn't need an antenna because its data is coming from a telephone wire
almost of the time, and can be extracted to data again before entering the computer to a DSL Modem.
But we must not consider that voice call and internet connection is dependent to each other. This means
that if there's no internet access doesn't mean that voice call service of the telephone is not available
also. There are times that both internet and telephone services is not available at the same time but
internet and telephone service is not dependent to each other. There is also another kind of wired
internet connection that TV Cable company offers wherein Internet and Cable TV signals flows in the
same wire and came from one source too. In this setup both internet and cable service is dependent to
each other, that once there is no reception on Cable TV you can expect that there's no internet access
too. A modem is needed to this setup for you to get the internet signal from the single line where the
internet and cable signal is coming from.
In Church, it is ideal to have a wired internet connection to expect faster internet access. Wireless
Internet Access is not given an attention on this because of its small number of bandwith, this means
that in wireless internet connection you just have an specific amount of data to consume in a given
time. Once this amount is consumed, you need to wait again to the cycle in order for you to have a
good connection again. In some units they are still using wireless internet connection because
accesspoints of wired internet connection to that area are not still available.
Attenuation, Signal to Noise Ratio, Signal-to-Noise Margin
Line Attenuation
This is one characteristic to be considered, we must get the lowest Line Attenuation value that is
possible when Identifying available ISP in our areas. Line attenuation is normal but it must be
minimized, Line attenuation is the one that cause the data losses in a line, the line itself cause it. We
must ask the Internet Service Provider their standard when it comes to the distance of their accesspoint
to the place where they will install the internet connection. When we think that they did not follow it or
they exceed the maximum distance between the accesspoint to the place of installation, this can cause
line attenuation.
Line Attenuation Description Value
20dB and below is outstanding
20dB-30dB is excellent
30dB-40dB is very good
40dB-50dB is good
50dB-60dB is poor and may experience connectivity issues
60dB or above is bad and will experience connectivity issues

Signal to Noise and Signal to Noise Margin

This specification should also be considered, its unit is db or decibel. The higher the value the better the
performance is. This variable is telling us about the amount of the good signal and the effect of the
noise in its background. To better understand, when you are talking in the market where there is a great
amount of background noise you must make your voice louder in order for you to understand each

other. Let say for example you have the background noise 5 you must exceed that level in order for you
to hear each other.
Internet cables must be ideally away from the AC power line to avoid low signal to noise ratio value.
SNR= signal / noise
6dB or belowSNRis bad, you will experience no sync, or intermittent sync problems
7dB-10dB is fair but does not leave much room for variation in conditions
11dB-20dB is good with little or no sync problems (if no large variation)
20dB-28dB is excellent
29dB or above is outstanding

Signal to Noise Margin gives you the more accurate value because it is the difference of the actual
signal to noise ratio to the minimum signal to noise ratio. The higher the value the better the
performance.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
http://www.speedguide.net/faq/what-is-considered-good-dsl-noise-margin-snr-355
http://www.speedguide.net/faq/what-is-considered-good-dsl-line-attenuation-371
Electronic Communication Systems by Blake