You might already have an Internet connection established in your home. That is not much different from the Internet connection you could have for your hotspot. Whether or not you have experience with various Internet connections, you need to pay a little more attention to the features and choose a type of connection that will satisfy the needs of your hotspot users.

Choosing the Right Internet Connect Type

Internet connections are of many different types. Table 3-2 shows several that you can use with your hotspot.

Table 3-2. Overview of Internet Connections

Type	Download Speed	Upload Speed	Suggested Hotspot Size	Start-Up Cost	Monthly Cost
ADSL	15008000 kbps	64640 kbps	Small	$0$100	$35$100
SDSL	1281500 kbps	1281500 kbps	Small/medium	$0$300	$80$300
Fixed wireless broadband	7682000 kbps	2562000 kbps	Small/medium	$0$300	$80$200
Cable	4004000 kbps	1284000 kbps	Small/medium	$0$100	$60$150
T1	3841500 kbps	3841500 kbps	Large	$500$2000	$300$2000
Satellite	600 kbps	128 kbps	Small	$800$1000	$125$300

The download and upload speeds are approximate speeds that the particular Internet connections should operate within. The exact speeds, however, differ depending on the Internet service provider (ISP).

When looking for Internet service for your hotspot, keep in mind that the bigger your hotspot is, the bigger and better your Internet connection should be. This is because you will likely have more users actively using the Internet simultaneously with a larger hotspot; thus, you need to be able to support these users with reasonable speeds. Table 3-2 shows hotspot sizes that should work well with each Internet connection type, and Table 3-3 defines the hotspot sizes.

Table 3-3. Defining the Recommend Hotspot Sizes

Suggested Hotspot Size	Estimated Number of Simultaneous Users
Small	110
Medium	1120
Large	2150

Evaluating the hotspot size and figuring out the necessary Internet connection usually depends on the number of concurrent, or simultaneous, users. Of course, you do not know exactly how many users your hotspot will receive and when; however, you should be able to estimate a range, such as those defined in Table 3-3.

The start-up costs include the fees for equipment, such as a modem, and installation services necessary to get your Internet connection up and going. Monthly costs are what you should expect to pay on a continual basis.

“Always-On” Internet Connections

Broadband Internet services, such as digital subscriber line (DSL), cable, and T1 lines, provide an “always-on” connection. Unlike dialup service, the modems for these connections do not need to dial a phone number; you do not have to wait and listen for the connection to be established. You are always connected to the Internet when you need it.

DSL Internet Connections

When looking at DSL Internet service, keep in mind that several versions exist. The most common is Asymmetric DSL (ADSL), which is often found in homes and small businesses. Its bandwidth is devoted mostly to the downstream, giving much faster download speeds than upload speeds. However, the upstream speeds provided are usually adequate for small businesses and hotspot applications. For example, when you are downloading music files, watching a video stream, and browsing websites, the data is moving mostly downstream from the Internet to your computer.

Symmetric DSL (SDSL) is commonly found in small- or medium-sized businesses. This connection can provide the same amount of bandwidth for the up and down streams, thus allowing a much greater upload rate than ADSL. This is beneficial if your Wi-Fi hotspot users need to send e-mails with large attachments.

The quality of DSL service you experience is usually related to how close your location is to the telecom facility. Therefore, not all areas have DSL service, especially in rural areas, or you might get DSL service, but the performance might not be very good.

Fixed Wireless Broadband

Companies called wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) deliver Internet connections to homes and businesses via radio waves instead of physical lines. Therefore, fixed wireless broadband Internet access is typically located where DSL or cable Internet service is absent. WISPs typically use high mounting placessuch as cell phone, radio, and cell towersfor their radios to achieve a widespread coverage area.

The quality and speeds of these Internet connections vary greatly depending on the location of your facility within the WISP coverage area.

Cable Internet Connections

Cable Internet is generally available in residential areas, but you should still check the accessibility at your location. Unlike other Internet services, cable connections are shared among users in your area. Therefore, the speeds you experience will vary, depending on the overall usage at that moment. However, cable Internet connections generally provide overall better performance than DSL. If you have a choice, go with a cable connection.

T1 Internet Connections

T1 lines are dedicated Internet connections commonly found only in large businesses where guaranteed bandwidth, or speed, is required. T1 lines offer good, reliable performance, but they are expensive. A more affordable solution is to lease a fractional T1 line. Large hotspots that need to support loads of concurrent users, such as in larger hotels, should have a T1 line or similar fast and high-quality Internet connection.

Satellite

If your facility is in the “digital darkness,” or in a place devoid of high-speed Internet services, you are most likely a candidate for satellite Internet service.

Satellite Internet service is available in most places; however, because of the delay of the signals transmitting such far distances, certain applications, such as voice over IP (VoIP) or virtual private networks (VPNs), might not work well. Satellite Internet service also usually requires a one- or two-year contract, and it is typically more expensive than the other options, which might be a roadblock.

Questions to Ask ISPs

When searching for an ISP, ask many questions, such as these:

• What package discounts are being offered? The majority of telecom service providers, such as telephone, cellular, and cable companies, offer package discounts when you sign up for multiple services. Keep this in mind when you are looking for your Internet service. For example, some cable companies offer Internet and digital phone service along with their regular services.

• Will you have to sign a contract? Be careful, because some ISPs require you to sign a one- or two-year contract when signing up for Internet service. It is a good idea to look into any money-back guarantees that these ISPs might offer before signing a contract.

• Will you receive a static or dynamic IP address? Residential-class Internet services typically provide you with only a dynamic IP address, which changes periodically. However, most business-class ISPs give you the option of a static IP address. This helps if you will remotely connect, via the Internet, to your hotspot, or network, when you are away from the actual hotspot location.

Note

Your Internet IP address is a series of numbers (such as 66.249.64.14) that identifies and points to your specific Internet connection at your location. IP addresses can easily be logged when visiting websites. This helps identify people who commit fraud and other illegal activities on the Internet.

Tip

If you have a dynamic IP address (which changes frequently), you can use a service such as Dynamic DNS through DynDNS, which gives you a domain name (such as yourname.getmyip.net) to use instead of your Internet IP address. This domain name automatically points to the current IP address of your Internet connection or network. You can sign up for the service at http://www.dyndns.com and then make any required changes on your network.

Linksys wireless routers typically have a special section in their web-based configuration screens to input your DynDNS account information.

• Will you receive free dialup Internet access? Many ISPs offer complimentary dialup Internet access to their high-speed Internet customers so that they can have an Internet connection while they are away from their main location. This can come in handy while traveling if your hotel does not have free Internet access available. In addition, you can use the dialup access during outages of your main Internet connection.

• How many e-mail addresses will you receive? Most ISPs provide you with POP3 e-mail accounts. This can be useful if you do not have a good e-mail account already. Some ISPs also provide a web-based e-mail system; that way, you can easily view your e-mail through a web browser, rather than using a client software program.

Note

POP3 e-mail accounts are different from other e-mail systems used by some ISPs, such as America Online (AOL). When you get a POP3 account, you are given mail server addresses, a username, a password, and other information. You can then input this information into e-mail client programs, such as Microsoft Outlook. After you set up the system, you typically press a button to synchronize, or send and receive, your e-mail. The addressing methods, though, are the same as with other e-mail services. For instance, you will still get an e-mail address similar to yourname@website.com when using a POP3 e-mail account.

• Will you receive website space? Various ISPs might furnish you with web space for your own website. If your business or organization does not already have a presence on the web, this can be useful. Some ISPs give you a virtual domain name, such as yourname.yourisp.com. On the other hand, some even pay for a domain name registration so that you can get your own domain, such as yourname.com.

Sam’s Coffee Shop: Choosing an Internet Connection
Now Sam needs to decide which Internet connection would be best for his situation. He does not think his hotspot will receive many simultaneous users, so he does not think he needs a high-quality Internet connection. He thinks that the ADSL or cable Internet connections would work fine.

After visiting some websites, he finds a few possible scenarios with local companies:

Table 3-4.

Type	Download Speed	Upload Speed	E-Mail Accounts	Free Dialup	Start-Up Cost	Monthly Cost
ADSL	1.53.0 Mbps	38412 kbps	11	Yes	$13	$54.99
Cable	768 kbps	128 kbps	5	No	Free	$69.95

He decides to go with the DSL small-business-class service because it will provide greater speeds, has free dialup access, and costs less than the cable option overall. The only thing Sam does not like is that he has to pay the shipping for the self-installation kit and must install the DSL equipment himself. The cable provider performs a free installation, whereas the DSL company charges $300 for a professional installation.

Usage/Legal Terms of Provider

Make sure that the Internet service you choose allows you to set up a hotspot and share the Internet connection with others. For instance, in homes it is usually illegal to let others outside your home use your network, even when you are not charging them for use. Most business-class Internet services do allow you to share the Internet connection; however, double-check to make sure you are good to go. You certainly want to avoid legal issues and heavy fines!

Getting the Internet Connection

If do not already have an Internet connection at your location that you will try to share or use for your hotspot, you need to set one up. Many ISPs are available. To start the search, you could check with your local cable and telephone providers, because they likely offer some type of Internet service plan. They will either schedule an appointment to come out and do the installation, or they will provide a self-installation kit.

Note

You can refer to the following website when searching for a WISP:

http://www.bbwexchange.com/wisps/

Following are a few websites of satellite Internet providers that you might want to check out:

http://www.hughesnetbiz.com
http://www.starband.com
http://www.skycasters.com

A convenient list of these websites is available at the companion website:

http://www.wifihotspotbook.com/bonus_materials/

Where to Install the Connection

Make sure the Internet connection device, or modem, is installed where you want to put the wireless router or hotspot gateway. During the installation, you have to physically connect these two pieces of equipment. Remember, it is best to put these components as close as possible to the intended coverage area. In some cases, such as in installations for larger hotspots that require more than one access point, you might install this equipment in a back office or utility closet.

Note

If you are installing a larger hotspot, you might want to refer to Chapter 12 before deciding where to install the Internet connection. This will help you better understand how these larger hotspots are set up and where it is ideal to place the Internet modem with each type of approach.

You will probably be limited to where you can hook up the modem, because it will connect to a cable outlet for cable Internet or to a telephone jack when using a DSL Internet connection. If these outlets are not in a good spot, you can have your cable or phone company install a more convenient outlet. The installation of a new outlet will probably cost you $100 or more, however.

Similar Posts:

• Bridging the Gap
• Figuring the Costs
• Configure Additional Settings
• Wi-Fi Hot Zones
• Choose a Hotspot Solution

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