There are two remote access methods:

  • Methods that establish a direct point-to-point connection
  • Methods that use public networks (e.g., telephone networks for accessing the internet) as a transport medium

The following access networks can be used for the remote access:

  • Telephone network
  • TV cable network
  • Other cable-based networks, such as metro ethernet
  • Mobile networks
  • Other RF-based access networks

Telephone network-based technologies

DSL variants

Characteristics of DSL variants:

  • There are different ADSL and VDSL variants. The DSL variants are country-specific.
  • The uplink (that is, the data flows from your private home or project to the internet) and downlink (that is, the opposite direction) bandwidth are different. Take this into account when you select a suitable internet access.
  • The DSL line in parallel can be used for telephone calls.
  • If you want to use telephony on the same line, you need a splitter in addition to the DSL modem.

TV cable-based access

  • This access is similar to DSL. You can access the system remotely via a cable modem provided by the cable network operator.

Other cable-based networks, such as metro ethernet

Characteristics of other cable-based networks, such as metro ethernet:

  • Connections with very high bandwidth are available.
  • A metro ethernet connection is usually not implemented as part of a BACS project.

Use of mobile telephone networks

The available bandwidth is shared by an unknown number of users with an unknown usage profile. The maximum data transfer rates that are advertised by the mobile network operators deviate substantially from the actual data transfer rates.

The access via a mobile network is less stable than via a cable-based network in terms of availability and data throughput.

If you have to establish a remote access in a remote area, check the service availability and stability. You can use the distance from the base station of the network operator as a criterion. You can also check if there are any large obstacles (mountains, etc.) between the base station and the building.

LTE & UMTS

Characteristics of LTE & UMTS:

  • Can be fast

GPRS

Characteristics of GPRS:

  • The speed suffices merely for tasks requiring a low bandwidth, e.g., for the system to send an email with a small attachment.

Other RF-based access networks

Characteristics of such RF-based technologies:

  • Suited for remote locations, when no DSL is available.
  • There are various technologies used by the different providers. Find out what is available at your location.
  • Depending on the used frequency, transmission problems can occur during rain or snowfall, even over short distances.