A wide area network connects LANs that are typically separated by great distances. The best-known example of a WAN is the Internet itself. A smaller-scale example is a network that connects a company's corporate headquarters with branch offices in other cities. What the Internets greatest achievements for me is; being able to communicate with people from all over the world, share knowledge and to have escapism from everyday life.
In many homes today people have Internet access. Dial-up modems are able to give the average person with a home computer access to the largest library in the world, something that was mainly for companies or the rich. Now as it becomes common technology, it has also become commonplace in peoples homes and very affordable.
For dialup Internet access, your modem is a crucial link in connecting to the Internet, but with so many types and speeds, choosing one can be difficult. The 28.8 and 33.6 Kbps modem standards push your analogue voice phone line to its limits. Transmitting voice communications over phone lines isn't all that demanding, the odd hiss, crackle, or bit of line noise doesn't have a serious effect on the quality of a phone conversation. Not so with data communications, however. When you connect to the Internet you are making a data connection between your modem and the receiving modem of the Business Internet service. The slightest bit of interference can have a significant impact on the quality of your connection. .
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Data connections at 14.4 Kbps are no problem; even older phone lines can usually handle it. Connections at 28.8 Kbps and 33.6 Kbps are much trickier, however and both count on there being some more advanced, digital telephone technology in place on the circuit between the two connecting modems. If the telephone circuit between your modem and the Business Internet service relies heavily on older technology, or if there is some kind of noise or interference on the line, your modem will downshift to a slower connect speed.
