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Chances are you already know how you're connected to the Internet. In most cases it has to be one of these 3, Dial-up, DSL or Cable listed in order of slowest to fastest (wireless is not an internet connection, it's a local area network unless your using a Cell Phone which comes out to a rather expensive option). Now there are a few ways that you can check your connection speed if you don't know it.

1-Dial up connection:
Dial up uses what's called a PPP (point to point protocol) system.
Dial up would be a telephone wire (RJ-11) connected from the Modem port on the computer to your telephone jack (without filters) and you would have to setup the computer to dial out using the Phone number provided by your ISP (Internet service provider). Even connecting with dial up is slow and depending on your setup you may even hear the connecting process. If you ever heard a fax machine then you know what the connection sounds like. This is the slowest and most unreliable connection I have experienced. Every time you connect you will have a different IP address and YOU CANNOT USE YOUR TELEPHONE WHEN USING DIALUP. If you're on Dial up then you will most likely only be connected when absolutely needed.

2-DSL (Digital Subscriber Line))
DSL also uses a PPP system but over Ethernet so PPPoe
DSL connects via your telephone system as well but uses filters and an external DSL modem. So your computer connects to the modem with an Ethernet cable (RJ-45, looks like a bigger phone plug) and the modem connects to your telephone line through a filter. You setup the computer to connect using TCP/IP via PPPoe inputting your user name and password. Connecting usually takes a few seconds and you can leave it connected all the time if you like since you can still use your telephones. I have been using DSL for about 8 years now and find it to be extremely reliable. Every time you connect you will have a different IP address and will usually only be connected when needed.

3-Cable (a connection using your local cable TV company)
Cable uses more of a local network connection setup where you have to set up DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) on your computer. The computer connects to a cable modem via an Ethernet cable (RJ-45) and the cable modem connects to your Cable TV connection. This is one of the fastest connections you can get for the home and is also very reliable. With cable you will have the same IP address and technically will always be connected.

Wireless home networks are not Internet connections. They are Local area networks.
Your wireless router is the one connecting to the Internet in the same manor that your computer would do so in either of the cases mentioned above. Your computer then accesses the router via a wireless adaptor of some sort (PCI Card, PCMCIA Card, USB, Access point and so on). Therefore giving you wireless freedom within your local area network. But once you're out of range your connection is lost

Cell Phones can also be used to access the Internet in various ways. Some of these methods are a USB cable to your phone and Bluetooth equipped phones. Bluetooth phones communicate with your Bluetooth enabled computer wirelessly as well as give you a wireless connection to the Internet. So you would actually be making two wireless jumps in the case of a Bluetooth Cell phone Internet connection.

Any other type of connections out there would be uncommon therefore if you had one you would most likely know what it was.

If you would like to test your connections for speed ratings there are many sites out there that can help you. Just do a Google search. And for those of you that are not at home and don't know your connection method or speed, just ask your host.

Thank you for reading.

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