What once was a loop is now a line. DSL the ever popular computer accessory item which none of us, in this modern American continent is able to live without for too long has swept the world up in its loop…err…line and is laying to waste all other alternatives which linger in its wake. But what is DSL? Where did it come from? What happened to the loop? And where can I get my DSL cheap?

For starters, DSL is a technology which allows data transmission digitally through telephone wires. DSL in the home typically ranges in speed from 256kb to 24K depending on where you are, what service you’re using, and how strong the service that’s been tapped is. Believe it or not, DSL was first discussed in a paper written in 1948; however it took the powers that be forty years to develop the first ADSL.

Fast foreword to today and we’re still enamored with the DSL service. Today more than ever the prices have leveled off and cheap DSL internet service is in direct competition with the feed from cable modems, leaving the consumer with far greater options. If you’re looking for a DSL internet service provider there are a few things you need. The first, of course, is a computer; any model made in the last 7 or 8 years should probably be equipped to handle the connection (but who’s got a computer that’s that old these days anyway?) If you’ve got any reason to question whether or not it may work, you should query with the provider before they arrive on their contractually billable hours.

The other thing you need is a phone line; the DSL modem is hooked up yonder. If you live in a large home you’ve got to be sure that your computer is set up nearby the modem due to attenuation, which is data loss from electrical resistance.

If you’re interested in getting hooked up to some cheap DSL service, you can certainly contact any DSL internet provider. They have a number of plans to fit virtually any budget. Probably the only thing you’ll pay for in the end is the connection speed; if you go for a slower speed you could be sunk. But if you pay for the more expensive speed you may end up with a bigger bill than you’d anticipated. As for the loop and the line, well, you people out there in consumer land determine what sells; why don’t you tell me?