T1 Internet Service Do's and Dont's

Written by: Patrick Oborn - Mar 13, 2010

T1 internet service is as ubiquitous as DVD players but the choices are much more varied. Ready to learn the basics and find a connections? In general, T-1 is a member of the T-carrier system. T-carrier is a communications system used for carrying voice and data transmissions in a digital format. T-1 meets the needs of businesses having multiple users on a system requiring fast speed and broad bandwidth. For a fixed monthly rate, businesses with 20 or more users can communicate via both voice and data. A Full T1 can accommodate as many as 24 users working at 64 Kbps.

DS1-T1 is made up of 24 digital channels. This requires a digital connection device (CSU/DSU {customer switching unit/digital switching unit}) to connect to four wires to carry the information. All T1 lines require that a Channel Service Unit (CSU) be connected between your Data Terminal Equipment (DTE), i.e., a personal computer, and the T-1 line. A CSU serves both as a surge protector (to protect your equipment from voltage anomalies such as lightning) and a monitor of the line itself.

As mentioned previously, a T1 connection is capable of delivering 1.5Mbps. DSL connections are also capable of delivering this speed however they are not nearly as reliable as T1 connections and should not be considered as a business connection, unless it's SDSL and even then, you will likely have some downtime. If you have critical information being hosted in your office or have a large number of users accessing the internet on a regular basis, consider getting a T1 connection. Also remember to get a professional's assistance when you search for your provider. Each company will tell you their connection is the best available but a broker, such as RealTimeDS3.com, will act as your agent and help you find what's right for you.