The Perfect Combination of Media

The Perfect Combination Of Media

As you all know this is truly an exciting time for our company. The new office should be open and ready for business within the next few weeks. Our next step is to determine the perfect combination of media to utilize. Choosing the perfect combination of media is an important decision and it will directly affect our success as a business. It is essential to find an appropriate means for our connections to get from the office and into the outside world. You have given me the reasonability of selecting this perfect combination of media from the alternatives given by systems integrator, Tom Young. In the following report I will be going over each alternatives, cost, the hardware and software requirements, advantages, disadvantages, and in conclusion my personal verdict as it relates to our company’s needs.

Our first alternative is to go with traditional analog service, with standard voice lines and modems to dial into an Internet Service Provider. This option will cost $40.00 per month for each voice line, and $20.00 per month for each Internet access line. Using this alternative would be relatively straightforward providing analog transmission for our digital data and voice needs. “ Selecting an Interchange circuit (IXC) like AT&T would provide us with a voice and Internet Service Provider package. Using AT&T would give us a data rate of 56 /kbps (56 kilobits per second) which is the maximum bandwidth for dial-up. (www.http://www.download.att.net/index.html)”

When it comes to hardware using these services would require our computers to have modems, which usually come standard inside each computer. Common twisted pair-wires would plug directly into modems connecting them to each Internet access line from a wall mount. Any voice line would simply use the same twisted-pair wires to connect to any phone. As for software besides the basic programs in our operating systems we will need several different programs depending on our selected Internet Service Provider. “According to AT&T we will need to install a dial-up program in each computer that will be connecting to the Internet. Along with this program we will receive a pop up blocker, firewall, parental control, and turbo accelerator that will only be available if we use a windows operating system. (http://www.download.att.net/features/index.html)”

One advantage in using analog service will be the cost, which is cheap compared to other medias. We will not have to spend money on extra hardware because modems come standard in most computers. Security will be good because our transmissions will be going through guided media. Errors rates in connections will also be low due to this. Disadvantages include the fact that our connection speeds will be varied by the capacity of the voice circuit. Dial-up service is sluggish and would prevent our company from using certain features like video streaming or having a static IP. It would also tie up phone lines when dialing into the Internet..

Our second alternative is to go with standard voice lines, using DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) for data. This option will cost $60.00 per line for both services. “Using DSL is a modem technology that turns an existing phone line into a three-channel data delivery system. One channel transmits voice services, so normal phone and fax usage continues whether or not were accessing the internet. A second channel transmits data downstream at high speeds, and a third bi-directional channel sends data upstream. Using DSL will give us speeds varying from 768kbps to 128Kbps depending on what DSL provider we select. (http://biz.verizon.net/pands/DSL/faq.asp)”

When it comes to hardware using these services would require DSL modems that are external to our computers. Common twisted pair-wire would plug directly into the DSL modem from a wall mount. Then CAT5 cable would connect the DSL modem to the computer. Common twisted pair-wire would also be used to connect phones. As for software besides the basic programs in our operating systems we will need several different programs depending on our selected DSL provider. “According to Verizon we will need self-installation kits which provide our business with necessary applications to get the Internet up and running.