DSL BASICS DSL BASICS

NETWORK SERVICE PROVIDER CUSTOMER PREMISES

WHAT IS DSL? VOICE, DATA, VIDEO

DSL is an acronym referring to the family of digital subscriber DSL can provide simultaneous high-speed digital data access
Data line technologies, such as ADSL, HDSL and RADSL. A wide array of and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) over traditional twisted-pair
Data HDSL HDSL
HDSL (High Bit Rate DSL) wiring. With HDSL electronics at both the CO and the customer's
• Two pair/four wire • Symmetric transmission • Data rates of T1 and E1 DSL technologies and products are rapidly emerging and bringing

SYMMETRIC
both opportunity and confusion. DSL is the technology that makes it premises, it's now possible to extend a full-duplex 1.544 Mbps signal
Data Data
SDSL SDSL (Symmetric DSL) SDSL possible to provide high-bandwidth connectivity to homes and small of voice, data and video applications over two pairs of copper wire
• One wire pair • Symmetric transmission • Multiple data rates up to T1 and E1
businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. across private or leased copper facilities to distances of 12,000 feet
Data Data with 24-gauge wire.
MSDSL MSDSL (Multirate SDSL) MSDSL
• One wire pair Eight variable line rates (operating distances)
•
• Autorate plug-n-play configuration • All Nx64 data rates
WHY DSL?
HOW DOES DSL WORK?
High-speed connectivity. Connection speeds for DSL typically
Data ADSL ADSL Data Ordinary telephone service only makes use of the 0–3400 Hz
Splitter ADSL (Asymmetric DSL) Splitter
range from 1.544 Mbps to 512 kbps downstream (towards the
• One wire pair • Asymmetric transmission • Data rates from 1.5 Mbps/64 kbps users) and roughly 128 kbps upstream (towards the Central Office). frequency range, which accounts for the 56 kbps speed limit on
POTS to 6 Mbps/640 kbps with POTS

ASYMMETRIC
POTS In addition, a DSL line allows for one line to carry both voice and standard analog modems. DSL eliminates the 3400 Hz boundary,
data signals, and for the data portion of the line to be continuously bypassing the digital-to-analog conversion that modems perform, and
Data RADSL RADSL Data
Splitter RADSL (Rate Adaptive DSL) Splitter connected. It extends megabit bandwidth capacity from a service connecting both ends digitally. This makes more bandwidth available
• One wire pair • Supports asymmetric and • Adaptive data rates from 1 Mbps to 12 Mbps
POTS symmetric applications downstream and from 128 kbps to 1 Mbps provider's Central Office (CO) to customer premises over their and allows high transfer rates.
upstream with POTS POTS
existing copper cables. The technology is extremely appealing
because it uses the existing copper wire infrastructure, making it
less expensive to install than other services, which require additional
Comparison of DSL Technologies: There are several varieties of DSL technologies to choose from. This diagram describes the characteristics of the primary DSL types.
cable to be laid.
MSDSL: Multi-rate Digital Subscriber Lines support
WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF DSL? changing operating line rates of the transceiver. They support eight
basic rates allowing 64 kbps/128 kbps service to reach 29,000 feet
on 24-gauge cable.
We have an alphabet soup of acronyms to choose from: CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES
SDSL: Symmetric Digital Subscriber Lines provide high-
ADSL: Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines transmit at bandwidth, bi-directional transmission over one copper wire pair for
speeds up to 7 Mbps in one direction over a single copper telephone T1 or E1 services. PC
line, with up to 640 kbps in the other direction. RADSL: Rate-Adaptive Digital Subscriber Lines support
HDSL: High Bit-Rate Digital Subscriber Lines deliver DS1 both asymmetric and symmetric applications on a single twisted-pair switch or MDF NID
Line speeds (1.544 Mbps) over unconditioned copper cable. multiplexer DSL Modem repeater DSL Modem
telephone line. Allows adaptive data rates up to 7 Mbps.
HDSL2: Second-generation High Bit-Rate Digital IDSL: ISDN Digital Subscriber Lines are also commonly
Suscriber Lines use one pair of wires for 1.544 Mbps symmetric used for applications that require ISDN BRI signaling in a dedicated
transmission. mode. IDSL can be extended up to 18,000 feet and can transmit
VDSL: Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Lines use fiber digital data at rates up to 144 kbps. local loop
optics to transmit to the customer’s neighborhood (fiber to the curb,
or FTTC) and twisted-pair copper wire over the last 1,000–3,000 DSL Model
feet to the customer’s premises; support higher data rates in one
CO Central Office Local Loop Telephone wire connecting the CO to the Customer Premises NID Network Interface Device
direction than the other.
MDF Main Distribution Frame Repeater Regenerates the signal transmission on long loops POTS Plain Old Telephone Service
PC Personal Computer
Worldwide Distribution • Technical Expertise • Best-in-Class Partnerships • Market Specialization
Worldwide Headquarters: Anixter Inc., 4711 Golf Road, Skokie, IL 60076-1278 • 847/677-2600

#214861 2.5K 01/00–JT Printed in U.S.A. on Recycled Paper 9D0028X0 © 2000 Anixter Inc. CONTINUED ➤
DSL BASICS
high-bandwidth line to an Internet service provider for service.
INTERNET ACCESS Because at home, users usually receive more information than they MODEM-LIKE TECHNOLOGY ANALOG VS. DIGITAL
generate, data flow in this application is usually asymmetric, with the
dominant information flowing “downstream” towards the users.
With the dynamic growth of digital data networks, the race is on DSL is a modem-like technology that requires a DSL terminating Analog Transmission
to provide high-bandwidth, “always-on” connectivity. There no device at each end of the cable pair. It accepts a data stream, in The voice-band modem is designed to operate over the
longer is a question about whether there is a market and need for TRANSMISSION MODES digital format, and overlays it onto a high-speed analog signal. The combined limitations of the local loops at both ends of the network.
this type of connectivity. As the number of “on-line” households three modulating techniques currently in common use for DSL divide The Central Office contains PCM CODECs (Coder Decoders), that
grow—and more and more professionals work from home—the the signal frequency range into three basic elements to carry POTS convert the analog signals on the local loop to a 64 kbps digital
There are many types of transmission modes—their use
question is: how do we satisfy the demands for increased bandwidth as well as the upstream and downstream high-bandwidth signals. signal (called a DSO) for transport via trunks. (see Figure 1)
depends on the application requirements and channel
cost-effectively? These three modulating schemes are 2-Binary 1-Quaternary line Digital Transmission
characteristics. The two transmission modes you will hear about with
Today, the growth of data applications, such as IP Internet code (2B1Q), carrier-less amplitude phase modulation (CAP) and DSL is designed to operate over the limitations posed by only
DSL are Symmetric and Asymmetric. These terms refer to the
traffic, drive the push to bring megabit data rates out into the local discrete multi-tone modulation (DMT). one local loop. A typical local loop has a bandwidth of hundreds of
direction of transmission.
loop. DSL technologies are one solution to this problem. kilohertz. Thus, the potential performance of the DSL can exceed
Initially, DSL has been used for T1 leased-line access. However, modems by a factor of 100 or more. (see Figure 2)
Full Duplex Symmetric sends information continuously
DSL technologies are also finding use in high-speed Internet access
in both directions on the same wire pair. HDSL is an example of
networks. This application brings broadband rates to the home. In a
symmetric transmission.
DSL Internet access network, subscribers are connected to a
telephone company’s Central Office via DSL modems, with one at
Asymmetric Full Duplex is used by ADSL. Information is
each end. This is similar to the HDSL transmission units at the end of
sent in both directions simultaneously, but the data rate downstream CUSTOMER PREMISES CENTRAL OFFICE CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES
the T1 line. On the network side, the telephone company
(towards the customer) is much greater than the upstream (towards
concentrates the traffic and transports the data connections via a
the network) data rate.
PC PC
Modem CODEC CODEC Modem

CUSTOMER PREMISES
local loop trunk local loop

THE INTERNET
Analog Transmission (Figure 1)
Companies

CUSTOMER PREMISES CENTRAL OFFICE CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES

PC PC
NETWORK DSL Modem DSL Modem DSL Modem DSL Modem
ACCESS PROVIDER
(Telephone Company)

local loop trunk local loop

Private homes

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER DSL/Digital Line Subscriber Transmission (Figure 2)

DSL Applications

CONTINUED ➤
DSL BASICS
high-bandwidth line to an Internet service provider for service.
INTERNET ACCESS Because at home, users usually receive more information than they MODEM-LIKE TECHNOLOGY ANALOG VS. DIGITAL
generate, data flow in this application is usually asymmetric, with the
dominant information flowing “downstream” towards the users.
With the dynamic growth of digital data networks, the race is on DSL is a modem-like technology that requires a DSL terminating Analog Transmission
to provide high-bandwidth, “always-on” connectivity. There no device at each end of the cable pair. It accepts a data stream, in The voice-band modem is designed to operate over the
longer is a question about whether there is a market and need for TRANSMISSION MODES digital format, and overlays it onto a high-speed analog signal. The combined limitations of the local loops at both ends of the network.
this type of connectivity. As the number of “on-line” households three modulating techniques currently in common use for DSL divide The Central Office contains PCM CODECs (Coder Decoders), that
grow—and more and more professionals work from home—the the signal frequency range into three basic elements to carry POTS convert the analog signals on the local loop to a 64 kbps digital
There are many types of transmission modes—their use
question is: how do we satisfy the demands for increased bandwidth as well as the upstream and downstream high-bandwidth signals. signal (called a DSO) for transport via trunks. (see Figure 1)
depends on the application requirements and channel
cost-effectively? These three modulating schemes are 2-Binary 1-Quaternary line Digital Transmission
characteristics. The two transmission modes you will hear about with
Today, the growth of data applications, such as IP Internet code (2B1Q), carrier-less amplitude phase modulation (CAP) and DSL is designed to operate over the limitations posed by only
DSL are Symmetric and Asymmetric. These terms refer to the
traffic, drive the push to bring megabit data rates out into the local discrete multi-tone modulation (DMT). one local loop. A typical local loop has a bandwidth of hundreds of
direction of transmission.
loop. DSL technologies are one solution to this problem. kilohertz. Thus, the potential performance of the DSL can exceed
Initially, DSL has been used for T1 leased-line access. However, modems by a factor of 100 or more. (see Figure 2)
Full Duplex Symmetric sends information continuously
DSL technologies are also finding use in high-speed Internet access
in both directions on the same wire pair. HDSL is an example of
networks. This application brings broadband rates to the home. In a
symmetric transmission.
DSL Internet access network, subscribers are connected to a
telephone company’s Central Office via DSL modems, with one at
Asymmetric Full Duplex is used by ADSL. Information is
each end. This is similar to the HDSL transmission units at the end of
sent in both directions simultaneously, but the data rate downstream CUSTOMER PREMISES CENTRAL OFFICE CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES
the T1 line. On the network side, the telephone company
(towards the customer) is much greater than the upstream (towards
concentrates the traffic and transports the data connections via a
the network) data rate.
PC PC
Modem CODEC CODEC Modem

CUSTOMER PREMISES
local loop trunk local loop

THE INTERNET
Analog Transmission (Figure 1)
Companies

CUSTOMER PREMISES CENTRAL OFFICE CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES

PC PC
NETWORK DSL Modem DSL Modem DSL Modem DSL Modem
ACCESS PROVIDER
(Telephone Company)

local loop trunk local loop

Private homes

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER DSL/Digital Line Subscriber Transmission (Figure 2)

DSL Applications

CONTINUED ➤
DSL BASICS DSL BASICS
NETWORK SERVICE PROVIDER CUSTOMER PREMISES
WHAT IS DSL? VOICE, DATA, VIDEO

DSL is an acronym referring to the family of digital subscriber DSL can provide simultaneous high-speed digital data access
Data line technologies, such as ADSL, HDSL and RADSL. A wide array of and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) over traditional twisted-pair
Data HDSL HDSL
HDSL (High Bit Rate DSL) wiring. With HDSL electronics at both the CO and the customer's
• Two pair/four wire • Symmetric transmission • Data rates of T1 and E1 DSL technologies and products are rapidly emerging and bringing

SYMMETRIC
both opportunity and confusion. DSL is the technology that makes it premises, it's now possible to extend a full-duplex 1.544 Mbps signal
Data Data
SDSL SDSL (Symmetric DSL) SDSL possible to provide high-bandwidth connectivity to homes and small of voice, data and video applications over two pairs of copper wire
• One wire pair • Symmetric transmission • Multiple data rates up to T1 and E1
businesses over ordinary copper telephone lines. across private or leased copper facilities to distances of 12,000 feet
Data Data with 24-gauge wire.
MSDSL MSDSL (Multirate SDSL) MSDSL
• One wire pair Eight variable line rates (operating distances)
•
• Autorate plug-n-play configuration • All Nx64 data rates
WHY DSL?
HOW DOES DSL WORK?
High-speed connectivity. Connection speeds for DSL typically
Data ADSL ADSL Data Ordinary telephone service only makes use of the 0–3400 Hz
Splitter ADSL (Asymmetric DSL) Splitter
range from 1.544 Mbps to 512 kbps downstream (towards the
• One wire pair • Asymmetric transmission • Data rates from 1.5 Mbps/64 kbps users) and roughly 128 kbps upstream (towards the Central Office). frequency range, which accounts for the 56 kbps speed limit on
POTS to 6 Mbps/640 kbps with POTS

ASYMMETRIC
POTS In addition, a DSL line allows for one line to carry both voice and standard analog modems. DSL eliminates the 3400 Hz boundary,
data signals, and for the data portion of the line to be continuously bypassing the digital-to-analog conversion that modems perform, and
Data RADSL RADSL Data
Splitter RADSL (Rate Adaptive DSL) Splitter connected. It extends megabit bandwidth capacity from a service connecting both ends digitally. This makes more bandwidth available
• One wire pair • Supports asymmetric and • Adaptive data rates from 1 Mbps to 12 Mbps
POTS symmetric applications downstream and from 128 kbps to 1 Mbps provider's Central Office (CO) to customer premises over their and allows high transfer rates.
upstream with POTS POTS
existing copper cables. The technology is extremely appealing
because it uses the existing copper wire infrastructure, making it
less expensive to install than other services, which require additional
Comparison of DSL Technologies: There are several varieties of DSL technologies to choose from. This diagram describes the characteristics of the primary DSL types.
cable to be laid.
MSDSL: Multi-rate Digital Subscriber Lines support
WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF DSL? changing operating line rates of the transceiver. They support eight
basic rates allowing 64 kbps/128 kbps service to reach 29,000 feet
on 24-gauge cable.
We have an alphabet soup of acronyms to choose from: CENTRAL OFFICE CUSTOMER PREMISES
SDSL: Symmetric Digital Subscriber Lines provide high-
ADSL: Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Lines transmit at bandwidth, bi-directional transmission over one copper wire pair for
speeds up to 7 Mbps in one direction over a single copper telephone T1 or E1 services. PC
line, with up to 640 kbps in the other direction. RADSL: Rate-Adaptive Digital Subscriber Lines support
HDSL: High Bit-Rate Digital Subscriber Lines deliver DS1 both asymmetric and symmetric applications on a single twisted-pair switch or MDF NID
Line speeds (1.544 Mbps) over unconditioned copper cable. multiplexer DSL Modem repeater DSL Modem
telephone line. Allows adaptive data rates up to 7 Mbps.
HDSL2: Second-generation High Bit-Rate Digital IDSL: ISDN Digital Subscriber Lines are also commonly
Suscriber Lines use one pair of wires for 1.544 Mbps symmetric used for applications that require ISDN BRI signaling in a dedicated
transmission. mode. IDSL can be extended up to 18,000 feet and can transmit
VDSL: Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Lines use fiber digital data at rates up to 144 kbps. local loop
optics to transmit to the customer’s neighborhood (fiber to the curb,
or FTTC) and twisted-pair copper wire over the last 1,000–3,000 DSL Model
feet to the customer’s premises; support higher data rates in one
CO Central Office Local Loop Telephone wire connecting the CO to the Customer Premises NID Network Interface Device
direction than the other.
MDF Main Distribution Frame Repeater Regenerates the signal transmission on long loops POTS Plain Old Telephone Service
PC Personal Computer
Worldwide Distribution • Technical Expertise • Best-in-Class Partnerships • Market Specialization
Worldwide Headquarters: Anixter Inc., 4711 Golf Road, Skokie, IL 60076-1278 • 847/677-2600

#214861 2.5K 01/00–JT Printed in U.S.A. on Recycled Paper 9D0028X0 © 2000 Anixter Inc. CONTINUED ➤