Get ADSL in Wisconsin

Is ADSL better than DSL?  That's a good question, but they really refer to the same thing.  DSL stands for digital subscriber line and is a broad topic that includes many types of DSL.  ADSL is one of those types.  It stands for asymmetric digital subscriber line.  If you are looking to get DSL for your residential home, then most likely it is going to be ADSL.  So for all intent these can be treated as the same, unless you are looking for symmetrical digital subscriber line, SDSL, but that is another post.

Asymmetric digital subscriber line means that the transmission rates are uneven, or asymmetrical.  The download speeds and the upload speeds are different.  Why are the speeds different?  The thought is that when you use the  Internet you download more than upload.  For those that are unsure what the difference is, download is data that comes to your computer and upload is data leaving your computer.  Examples of uploading would be sending a picture to someone else, a document to a website or email, or just requesting a webpage by clicking on a link.  This isn't very often, so upload speeds for ADSL are usually 384 Kbps, 512 Kbps, or 768 Kbps.  Download speeds are faster at speeds of 512 Kbps, 768 Kbps, 1.5 Mbps, or 3 Mbps.

What kind of factors determine your upload and download speeds?  First its the kind of plan that you want, or how much you are willing to spend.  Faster speeds cost more.  Another factor on speed is how far you live from the point of presence, which is where the equipment is.  The farther the distance the slower the speed, so all speeds may not be available in your neighborhood.

Where can you order ADSL?  The list is short because only telephone companies offer DSL, so your choices are going to be either AT&T or another telephone company like CenturyLink.  You can compare Wisconsin ADSL prices to other kinds of high speed internet by using our side by side internet engine.