Internet Connections Defined
Ethernet
The standard individual connection for Ohio University offices, classrooms, labs, residence hall rooms and some close-to-campus apartment complexes, Ethernet operates at speeds up to 10 megabits per second, is available 24 hours a day, and does not require a phone line.
Fast Ethernet connections that operate at 100 megabits per second can be ordered in most campus buildings for server applications.
Modem
The lowest-common-denominator method of connecting to the Internet at home or on the road, modem access requires a telephone line, a modem, and a DialNet or other Internet Service Provider (ISP) account. The fastest modems currently available operate at 56 kilobytes per second--over 150 times slower than Ethernet. Because of poor quality phone lines in much of Southeastern Ohio, actual speeds often are much slower than this.
Broadband
Faster than modems but slower than Ethernet, several different forms of broadband access are available from local ISPs, phone companies, and cable providers. The most common forms of broadband are DSL, ISDN, and cable modems. DSL and ISDN use special adapters to send data over your telephone line without tying it up. Cable modems send data over your cable TV connection. DSL and ISDN availability is limited based on geographic location and telephone line quality. Cable modem availability varies with each cable company.
Wireless
Ohio University's wireless network currently operates at speeds up to 11 megabits per second in selected indoor and outdoor locations around campus. A great convenience for mobile computer users, wireless does have some drawbacks. Because it uses radio waves to transmit data, wireless networking is inherently insecure. Also, the bandwidth within each coverage area is shared between all users on that "cell".
Office of Information Technology
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
Service Desk: (740) 593-1222 or servicedesk@ohio.edu
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