What's Broadband?
Broadband is high-speed Internet access such as through a Cable or DSL modem. It gives you a continuous connection to the Internet at speeds much faster than dial-up. You need a broadband connection to use Vonage because we insist on consistent high quality audio for all your calls. As a general rule, if you're getting speeds of 90 Kbps or better, you probably have a broadband connection.
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How can I check my Internet connection?
Have an Internet connection and you're not sure how fast it is? There are many online sites (such as www.dslreports.com/stest) that let you check your Internet connection for free. You can check both your upload and download speeds. Or you can check your connection rates with your local Internet Provider.
How much faster is faster?
Internet connections have both upload and download speeds. These speeds show how much data can be passed back and forth from your connection to the Internet. For instance, a 128 Kbps (kilobits per second) upload speed says that you can send up to 128 kilobits of data each second to the Internet. An average email size might be 5 kilobits. A download speed of, for example, 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) says that you can receive up to 1,500 Kilobits of data each second from the Internet.
A phone conversation using an Internet connection (like Vonage) needs to have both sufficient upload and download speeds so that you can hear the person speaking to you, and the person on the other end can hear you. For our highest quality audio option, we suggest having a minimum of 90 Kbps of both upload and download speeds. A dial-up connection might have up to 56 Kbps available of upload and download speeds. A Cable or DSL Internet connection might have a minimum of 128 Kbps available of upload speed, and much more download speed.
About Cable Internet
Cable Internet uses a Cable modem and connects through your existing Cable TV line. Typically your local Cable TV company would provide your Cable Internet service. This service does not interfere with your TV connection. This Cable modem lets your computer and any other equipment connect to the Internet faster than a dial-up modem. A typical Cable Internet connection might have 128 Kbps of upload and 1.5 Mbps of download speeds. Your speeds can vary depending on what your Cable provider offers, and how many other people in your area are using the same service.
About DSL Internet
DSL Internet uses a DSL modem and connects through your standard phone line at speeds much faster than dial-up. Typically your local phone company would provide your DSL Internet connection. A DSL connection does not interfere with your telephone conversations as dial-up does and does not generally require any additional wiring. A typical DSL Internet connection might have 128 Kbps of upload and 1.5 Mbps of download speeds. Your speeds will be higher or lower depending on how close you are to the Internet Provider's office. |
