With DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, online activities are simply a few keystrokes away. DSL is getting increasing popular because it has a unique set of advantages over conventional internet connections such as cable internet and dial-up. Firstly, its lower latency makes it ideal for online gaming. Secondly, DSL makes common online activities such as banking, shopping and downloading video faster than cable internet. Most importantly, DSL eliminates the need of an additional phone, thus, saving time and money.
Since DSL facilitates internet surfing and phone calls simultaneously, it is important that you check your DSL speed, because a dip in the data transfer rate will equate to a sluggish internet connection and poor call quality. Basically, the two factors which will determine your DSL speed are the download rate and the upload rate, both of which are measured in bits per second.
In essence, a bit is the smallest piece of data that a computer can store. On the other hand, a byte is equal to 8 bits. In addition, a single character takes roughly 1 byte to get stored in a computer. Hence, if the data rate is 10 byte/sec, it means 10 characters are being transferred each second. On the other hand, a kilobyte is equal to 1024 bytes, and it is generally used to measure the amount of storage. One kilobit is equal to 1000 bytes, and kilobits (Kbps) are used to measure data transfer.
In a standard DSL connection, you should expect a DSL speed ranging from 144Kbps to 1500Kbps. When you take a DSL connection, your ISP will definitely provide you a data transfer rate that is specific to your plan. However, to be on the safe side, you should run a DSL connection speed test to find out the exact speed of your DSL connection.