Shared, Naked and Dry...What's the Difference when it comes to DSL?

DSL (digital subscriber line) is a technology that uses the existing copper wires of the phone system.  That and it's low cost along with reliability are the big reasons it is so popular among businesses.

The most popular DSL is ADSL (asymmetrical digital subscriber line) which has faster download speed than upload speeds.  However ADSL comes in a couple of...well, I call them flavors.

Shared Line ADSL - This means that the DSL is utilizing and existing line (from the local phone company), such as a phone or fax line to bring you the internet.  Your phone and fax uses an analog frequency where DSL uses a digital frequency.  Therefore they can both travel on the same copper line and not interfere with each other.

Gee Scott...neato! but how does my phone/fax and computer separate those signals?  Great Question, I'm glad you asked.  Your internet provider will generally give you what's called a splitter that plugs into the phone jack.  On one side of that splitter you plug in the phone and on the other side you plug in your Ethernet Cable for your modem.

Naked / Dry ADSL - This simply means that no active phone line is required.  What happens is your internet provider provisions an empty line from the local phone company and only puts DSL on it.  No phone number is required. This type of DSL usually has stronger upload speeds than the shared.

I like the idea of this type of DSL, but I don't want to pay the phone company to run more copper to my place.  Ahhhh....well, when the phone company originally ran copper to you building they brought in a bundle of copper...chances are very good that there are plenty of copper lines that are not being used.

 Well that ends our lesson for now...got any questions or need to get you some DSL...call me up!

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scott bridwell: (e)scott@scottbridwell.com | (d)360.216.1762 | (f)206.350.4398