About DSL
DSL is a family of "digital subscriber line" data transport services. DSL is an "always on" Internet connection with service options that provide download speeds ranging from up to 384 Kbps up to 7.1 Mbps. LavaNet specializes in the higher speed levels favored by business clients and customers.
Higher upload speeds deliver better performance for running your own servers. Higher download speeds mean faster web browsing and better performance for Local Area Networks (LANs) where computers share bandwidth.
DSL lets you be on the Internet without tying up your phone line for traditional uses (voice, fax, etc). In fact, many people who are paying for an additional phone line as an "Internet" line find they can save money by canceling the extra line once DSL is installed. Certain non-standard types of phone lines (like PBX's) cannot support DSL. Please contact LavaNet for details. A regular phone or fax machine will work simultaneously with the DSL Internet connection. Microfilters are provided in order to prevent minor interference with other devices. DSL was engineered to enable high speed Internet to homes and businesses at a fraction of what traditional high speed connections cost. Because of the nature of this technology and the price, DSL speeds through the telephone network are delivered on a "best effort" basis and are not guaranteed data rates.
Service Levels
DSL levels currently available are:
| Download | Upload | |
| up to 768 Kbps | up to 128 Kbps | (popular entry-level DSL service) |
| up to 384 Kbps |
up to 384 Kbps | (often chosen by users needing outbound speed for servers, etc.) |
| up to 768 Kbps | up to 768 Kbps | (the fastest outbound speed level available. Favored by server hosts.) |
| up to 1544 Kbps | up to 128 Kbps | (up to "T1" download speed with modest outbound speed, favored by LAN customers) |
| up to 1544 Kbps | up to 384 Kbps | (Up to "T1" download speed with relatively high outbound speed as well.) |
| up to 3000 Kbps | up to 768 Kbps | (Two "T1" capacity, for large LAN's) |
| up to 7100 Kbps | up to 768 Kbps | (Good for enterprise level solutions) |
Service rates are available on our site.
LavaNet DSL Features
Super fast surfing
DSL comes in different speed packages, so you can right size your connection. Compared to a typical modem connection of 40 to 53 Kbps, DSL really kicks up your line speed!
Use the phone & be online at the same time
Using the same copper wires delivering your phone service, DSL operates on a different line frequency than your phone signal. The result? You can talk on the phone and use the Internet at the same time. Did you buy a second phone line for your dialup connection? Cancel it! DSL does it all.
Bye, bye dialup hassles
DSL is an always on connection. Modem dialup difficulties are a thing of the past. People share (sometimes with great annoyance) a dialup account and a phone line among two or more computers. There's a better way! LavaNetworking will wire them up to share a single DSL connection! Fees start at just $120 per station, complete with hardware and labor.
Faster connection, same great LavaNet
- Network reliability
- Technical support
- Privacy and ethics
There's much more to delivering a great high speed Internet connection than you might think. Quiet and effective LavaNet operates one of Hawaii's leading Internet Data Centers, featuring redundant national backbone connections, local peering via the Hawaii Internet Exchange, 24/7 network monitoring, telco grade Juniper and Cisco routers, a LavaNet owned & dedicated rooftop generator for emergency power, high performance RAID systems, and more. Our network is on par with our largest competitors, but that's also only the beginning of the LavaNet difference. Add to this our business ethics and commitment to your privacy, our expert friendly service, and our consumer advocacy advantage as an independent ISP, and you'll find that there truly is very little congestion on the "extra mile".
Excellence delivered daily
DSL is easy to install and to use. Usually, it can be activated remotely, without anyone needing to come out to your home or office. New accounts can generally be activated within about 5 business days! If you (or someone you know) has another ISP's DSL or cable Internet and is unhappy with the speeds or service, please let us give a call! We specialize in smooth transitions for people changing ISPs, planning for minimal downtime or disruptions.
Why pay more?
LavaNet is one of few ISPs that does not charge an extra monthly fee for static IP addresses which are useful or required for many business hardware compontnts. Other ISPs may charge anywhere from $10 to $70 a month *per* IP address or additional computer - or may not offer static IPs at all! Many Internet providers cannot or will not assign large blocks of IPs to customers. LavaNet can assign up to a full "class C" (256 IP addresses) for qualified customers. LavaNet DSL is ideal for businesses and home networks. It offers speed and extra features for single computers and multi-computer Local Area Networks (LANs). LavaNet DSL lets you do things with the Internet you may have always wanted to do but were not sure would be affordable or allowed - like running your own mail or web server, networking multiple computers and more.
Which DSL service level is right for you?
LavaNet will guide you in your selection. You can experiment with different speeds if you wish. Hawaii Telecom fees and possibly modem fees can apply if you change the service type.
DSL Cautionary Notes and Disclaimers
Important! As great as LavaNet DSL service is, and as happy as our customers are, there are limitations to DSL as a technology that you should be aware of. These limitations affect all DSL ISPs, not just LavaNet.
- DSL makes no guarantee of speed. For example a DSL line which has the *potential* to download at 768 Kbps may not always have the capacity to do so. In fact, most sites on the internet will not be able to send data to you as fast as your connection can receive it. This is especially true of higher speed DSL lines. If there is congestion on the telephone network or the Internet, DSL or cable Internet speeds may be reduced to a 56K modem equivalent or slower. Like cable Internet (RoadRunner), DSL fits into the marketplace as a low cost, highspeed method to connect to the Internet. Neither technology offers guaranteed highspeed connectivity. To use an analogy, if your Internet packets were flying an airline through the telephone network, if they were using traditional Frame Relay or ISDN, they'd be in the equivalent of "First Class." DSL and cable Internet packets basically fly "standby" through the telephone or cable network (and get first-class treatment to and from the Internet through LavaNet's Network Operations Center).
Regardless of the type of DSL connection you choose, bear in mind that no ISP can claim to have perfect performance or 100% uptime. There are many types of activity where a dedicated connection with guaranteed data rate is a better selection. If your Internet connectivity needs call for a high level of uninterruptability, "guaranteed" throughput and less variable latency, please let us know, and we can offer some initial thoughts about how to achieve those more ambitious requirements. For all customers with networking needs, LavaNet recommends seeking the assistance of a networking professional (like LavaNet's consulting service) to define and meet those special needs.
- DSL Service availability is limited. Call LavaNet sales (808.545.5282, 888.545.5282 from the neighbor islands), supply your phone number and allow us to conduct a free, no-obligation prequalification of your line for DSL service.
NOTE: Though there are DSL qualification testing services available on the
Internet (even through the phone company), these should *not* be considered definitive. They often generate false positive and false negatives. The test LavaNet performs with our internal telco representatives uses a different database and is much more accurate.
- DSL service has two parts, both of which are ordered directly through LavaNet: (a) the "circuit" portion of the DSL from the phone company (b) the Internet transport portion delivered by an ISP (LavaNet).
The circuit: Connects your home or office to the nearest available phone company Central Office. DSL installation requires a pre-existing "plain old telephone service" (POTS) line. Note that the fees for your phone line remain the same. The DSL line is an additional monthly fee on your phone bill.
The ISP: Allows your DSL connection to access the Internet. LavaNet fees are billed separately from phone company fees.
- DSL links to your computer through a 10Base-T ethernet connection. You will need an ethernet card installed in your computer.
- LavaNet DSL connects you to the Internet with a static IP address. Where traditional dialup Internet service assigns you a temporary IP (Internet Protocol) number each time you log in, a static IP means your computer's address on the Internet is public knowledge and generally unchanging. A good analogy: a temporary IP is like moving your house every few days. Your actual place of residence is constantly changing. Having a static IP is like living in a big house and putting your address in the phone book.
Static IPs are desirable for many things, and should also make you more aware of security issues. Static IPs make the connected systems more of a stationary target. Users are urged take precautions (such as a software or hardware firewall) against the enhanced likelihood of external attack on your computers, and to consult a network specialist. LavaNet also sells network consulting, including LAN installation (with firewalls), troubleshooting existing LANs and upgrading computers.
All customer computer activities (including network security) are ultimately the responsibility of the customer, and we do urge prudence and care when using any dedicated Internet connection. Please contact LavaNet for information on our consulting services.
- DSL requires a special modem. Your normal dialup modem will not work with the service. The modem is supplied for a fee when you sign up. Though many third party DSL modems are available at computer supply houses, please know that only a small number are actually approved to work with the phone company system! Generally it is best to acquire this via the phone company as part of your LavaNet order. Further, DSL in Hawaii is provisioned using two networks: frame relay and ATM (asynchronous transfer mode). Some phone company locations support both, some support just one. A different modem is required for each type. Therefore, if you should change location or type of DSL it maybe necessary to change the modem type as well.
