Technological evolution of the telecommunications world
are introducing to the
Virtual Campus a whole range of new connection
possibilities. The aim of the following sections is
to throw light on the new concepts in order to help
you to choose the configuration that will best suit
your needs.
Connection from home to the Virtual Campus can be effected
by means of the following networks: BTN, ISDN, ADSL
and CABLE. Tests have also been conducted to search
for new ways linked to mobile telephony such as the
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) system. Even though
from a technological standpoint this is a valid option,
it is not an effective one for the UOC's educational
system, owing to the costs involved. In the near future,
new ways will appear, which will be linked to satellite.
The following possibilities are currently available.
Cable
Cable was conceived of from the beginning as a network
for the distribution of the television signal. Later
on, coaxial
cable* networks have been used to offer many more
services, such as telephony, electronic press, digital
radio … and the Internet.
Cable offers a wide-band connection service to the
Internet by which the PC is always connected to the
network and has a fixed identification (IP*).
With cable Internet access speeds of up to 2 Mbps (megabyts
per second*) can be achieved.
Even so, this telecommunications system needs an infrastructure
based on optical fibre cabling (and the subsequent connection
of coaxial cable to the house). For this reason, the
system is not yet fully implemented in the territory
of the Spanish state. In addition, another problem that
use of cable may suppose is the risk of packet sniffing
(espionage), as the user's PC is always connected to
the network.
Advantages:
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Higher speed and connection capacity. With cable
it is possible to reach up to two million bits
per second (most users currently make a connection
at 56,000 bits per second).
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Permanent connection to the network, without
jams.
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New integrated services.
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Interactivity.
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Disadvantages:
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Lack of development of required infrastructure,
which will require a huge investment of time and
money.
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Cable is not for individual use; it is communal,
as it goes through the homes of all the neighbours
in the community where it is installed.
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It is a technology conceived of for television.
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There is little security in the equipment of
the user at the end of the line.
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