Broadband Basics

for Public Libraries

January 15, 2013

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FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Broadband Basics
for Public Libraries
With Kieran Hixon

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici on

FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Presenters

Brenda Hough
TechSoup
Facilitator

Kieran Hixon
CO State
Library
Presenter

Assisting with chat: Stephanie Gerding and

Sarah Washburn

Todays Agenda:
Quick intro to TechSoup

Broadband Basics:
What is the difference between the various
connections?

types of broadband

Mbps and Kbps really mean?

How much speed does my library need?
What's the difference between download and upload speeds?
How can I learn more about broadband?
How can I talk to others about the need for broadband at the

What do

library?

Plus, lots of time for questions from participants!

Who Is TechSoup?
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working towards the day when every
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Todays Agenda:
Quick intro to TechSoup

Broadband Basics:
What is the difference between the various
connections?

types of broadband

Mbps and Kbps really mean?

How much speed does my library need?
What's the difference between download and upload speeds?
How can I learn more about broadband?
How can I talk to others about the need for broadband at the

What do

library?

Plus, lots of time for questions from participants!

Poll:
On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate
the speed of your library network?
1.Way too slow
2.
3.Normally fine
4.
5.Very fast

definition: broadband

definition: bandwidth
band-width
volume of information per unit of
time that an Internet connection
can handle

Types of connections:
Dial-up
DSL (uses the copper telephone lines already
installed)

Cable (uses the same coaxial cables used to

deliver cable TV)

Fiber (light sent via transparent glass fibers)

Wireless (radio link between ISP and your
location)

Satellite (another wireless form of connection)

Broadband over powerline
http://www.broadband.gov/broadband_typ
es.html

Did you run a speed test?

Mbps and Kbps

Kbps: One kilobit per second equals
1000 bits per second (bps).

Mbps: One megabit per second

equals 1000 Kbps or one million bps.

So, 1 Mbps is 1000 times faster than

1 Kbps.

The more computers per connection,

the
slower that connection becomes:

How much speed is enough

speed?

Download vs Upload
Download Speed: The speed at
which data is sent from the testing
server to your computer.
Upload Speed: The speed at which
data is sent from your computer to
the testing server.

Learning more about

bandwidth

Monitoring performance
Managing bandwidth
Troubleshooting your connection
Ultra-high-speed Internet
And more!

Talking to others about

bandwidth
"Managers will want to see the
quantitative case made and some
cost-benefit analysis:
How much more does it cost us to
go from x to y and with what
benefits?"

Q&A
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your questions
in the chat
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Basic PC Troubleshooting
Tuesday, February 12 at 11 a.m. (Pacific time zone)

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