zNET: Choices in Internet Access for Home and Home Office Use

Choices in Internet Access for Home and Home Office Use:
Dialup, DSL, Cable Modem, or Wireless?

Type of Home Office Use: Bandwidth
Needed Solutions Avg. Mon.Costs
in the City Avg. Mon.Costs
in Rural Area Disadvantages

Light User. Email family/friends/staff 3x/wk. Online travel reservations 3x/yr. Online banking 2x/mon. Online research 1x/mon. Has 1 email account. One computer. 28K - 56K 28K - 56K dialup analog modem $15 - $17 $20 Disadvantages:Limited speed. Takes time to make the connection. Dropped connections due to old phone lines can occur.

Moderate User. Email family/friends/staff most evenings. Online shopping, banking and financial mgmt 2x/wk. Subscriptions to business and hobby mailing lists, 10 msgs/day. Sends/receives family photos via email. Weekly online research. Personal home page under construction. Kids or spouse use internet occasionally. Has 2 email accounts, 1-2 computers at home. 56K-128K Cable Modem, bonded dual-56K analog modems Dual 56K $25; Cable $40-$50; Dual 56K $25; Cable likely n/a Disadvantages: Cable not available everywhere, and the line is shared, so your bankdwidth can fluctuate

Intensive User. Email mornings and evenings. Daily online travel, shopping, research, banking, and financial mgmt. Advertises online for goods, services, and personals. Subscriptions to business, hobby and personal mailing lists, 20+msgs/day. Sends/receives photos and docs by email. Home page done, updated regularly. Family members use the internet, have their own email addresses. Has 3+ email accounts. 2+ computers. 128K Business DSL or fixed wireless Business DSL $99 and up; Fixed wireless $70-$99 DSL and fixed wireless probably n/a. Try cable or mobile wireless Disadvantages: DSL - not available in many places; 30+ days for installation, sometimes frustrating setup and customer service. Fixed wireless - requires line of sight, not available in all areas.

Type of Home Office Use:	Bandwidth Needed	Solutions	Avg. Mon.Costs in the City	Avg. Mon.Costs in Rural Area	Disadvantages
Light User. Email family/friends/staff 3x/wk. Online travel reservations 3x/yr. Online banking 2x/mon. Online research 1x/mon. Has 1 email account. One computer.	28K - 56K	28K - 56K dialup analog modem	$15 - $17	$20	Disadvantages:Limited speed. Takes time to make the connection. Dropped connections due to old phone lines can occur.
Moderate User. Email family/friends/staff most evenings. Online shopping, banking and financial mgmt 2x/wk. Subscriptions to business and hobby mailing lists, 10 msgs/day. Sends/receives family photos via email. Weekly online research. Personal home page under construction. Kids or spouse use internet occasionally. Has 2 email accounts, 1-2 computers at home.	56K-128K	Cable Modem, bonded dual-56K analog modems	Dual 56K $25; Cable $40-$50;	Dual 56K $25; Cable likely n/a	Disadvantages: Cable not available everywhere, and the line is shared, so your bankdwidth can fluctuate
Intensive User. Email mornings and evenings. Daily online travel, shopping, research, banking, and financial mgmt. Advertises online for goods, services, and personals. Subscriptions to business, hobby and personal mailing lists, 20+msgs/day. Sends/receives photos and docs by email. Home page done, updated regularly. Family members use the internet, have their own email addresses. Has 3+ email accounts. 2+ computers.	128K	Business DSL or fixed wireless	Business DSL $99 and up; Fixed wireless $70-$99	DSL and fixed wireless probably n/a. Try cable or mobile wireless	Disadvantages: DSL - not available in many places; 30+ days for installation, sometimes frustrating setup and customer service. Fixed wireless - requires line of sight, not available in all areas.