How ASPs Work

One of the most unique business models spawned by the Web is the Application Service Provider. Learn all about this innovative Internet-based software-publishing model.

How Broadband Over Powerlines Works

Imagine plugging your computer into any electrical outlet in your home and having high-speed Internet access instantly. Power line broadband is offered in a few U.S. cities, but there are groups and government agencies fighting to block further development. What's the controversy about?

How did the Internet start?

The Internet is an integral part of our daily lives. But what does Sputnik have to do with it? And where did it start?

How do large Web sites handle the load of millions of visitors a day?

How do large Web sites handle the load of millions of visitors a day? Learn about Domain Name Servers and load balancing switches.

How does a T1 line work?

What's so special about a T1 line? It means the phone company has brought a fiber optic line into your office that can carry data at a rate of 1.544 megabits per second!

How does satellite Internet operate?

How do you access the Internet other than dial-up if you live too far from a phone company office for DSL and there is no cable TV on your street? Satellite Internet access may be worth considering.

How High-speed Dial-up Works

Under the impression that dial-up modems are out of style? Actually, tons of folks still use dial-up Internet access. Find out how high-speed dial-up makes the most of the original connection method.

How Internet Radio Works

A college student in Wisconsin hears a dj in Jamaica play the latest calypso tune. An advocacy group unites members across the country via a private broadcast. It's made possible by Internet radio, the latest innovation in radio broadcasting since the business began in the early 1920s.

How Interplanetary Internet Will Work

How far will the Internet go? The next phase of the Internet will take us to far reaches of our solar system and lay the groundwork for a communications system for manned missions to Mars and planets beyond.

How Municipal WiFi Works

Learn about the amazing things that these networks can do and how they may provide free or cheap Internet access. We'll walk you through the technology behind "Municipal WiFi" and tell you why this term can be a misnomer.

How Routing Algorithms Work

Think you know how routers work? These devices use intricate formulas to figure out exactly where to send a packet and how to get it there. Learn all about routing algorithms.

How WiMAX Works

WiMAX has hit technology news in a big way. This networking system can blanket a 30-mile radius with broadband access, compared to WiFi's 300-foot range.

Net Neutrality Primer

Net neutrality can be summed up by a familiar saying: If it's not broken, don't fix it. But how you define "broken" determines in where you stand. Find out why telecom providers are duking it out with content providers like Google and Amazon.

Which is better to use for a cable modem -- a USB connection or an Ethernet card?

There are too many variables to make a generalization about whether Ethernet or USB is the better way to connect your home computer. Read this article to learn how to pick the right one for your system.

Why the difference in speed with my cable modem?

It can be truly frustrating -- one minute you're zipping along just fine, the next, you can't get one page to load. What's causing the backup? Cable modems are part of a loop that begins at the cable company's central office, goes through a certain neighborhood or area, and comes back to the central office.