2. Introduction to How High-speed Dial-
up Works
As always, the connection speed of dial-up is
limited by the bandwidth of phone line. but at the
same time, the average file size for Web content is
getting larger and larger.
New technology offers a solution to the slow-down
that doesn't necessitate broadband. Services like
NetZero and EarthLink are now offering "high-
speed dial-up."
High-speed dial-up providers can't do anything
about the modem handshake, but they can speed
up the software handshake.
3. High-speed Dial-up: Acceleration
Servers
High-speed dial-up providers have cut down on
this back-and-forth by creating a system that allows
the conversing machines to remember responses
to questions.
The increase in speed varies by machine, but in
some cases it can reduce the handshake by up to
50 percent. What might take 45 seconds with a
"normal" dial-up service becomes maybe a 30-
second process with a high-speed service.
4. High-speed Dial-up: File
Compression
The key element of high-speed dial-up Internet is
file compression.
Text and other files that need to remain perfectly
intact during the compression process use lossless
compression.
Text and other files that need to remain perfectly
intact during the compression process use lossless
compression.
5. High-speed Dial-up: Filtering and
Caching
High-speed dial-up providers have bundled a pop-
up blocker into the software they send to
subscribers. This pop-up blocker is programmed to
recognize those lines of code that spell out the ad
parameters.
High-speed dial-up uses a similar system for
commonly requested Web pages. Instead of
constantly requesting the same page, the
acceleration server takes note of which Web pages
are being commonly asked for by all subscribers.
6. High-speed Dial-up: The Bottom Line
These advances serve to prolong the life of dial-up
Internet and provide an alternative for those who
are tired of standard dial-up but not quite ready for
the leap to broadband. If these advances continue,
dial-up may be here to stay for quite a while.
We surfed repeatedly to some of the most popular
sites on the Web. The results varied by site, but as
an example, HowStuffWorks came up three times
faster with high-speed dial-up.
7. Lots More Information
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
* How Telephones Work
* How Modems Works
* How WiFi Works
* How DSL Works
* How Routers Work
More Great Links
* High Speed Internet Access Guide
* Propel: How does it work?
Sources
* Propel: How does it work?
* PC World: Propel Accelerator v4.1
* Propel Accelerator Technical Overview
