Cable VS. DSL

The two most common high speed internet options are cable connections and digital subscriber line (DSL) access.

High Speed Cable Internet Access

Cable internet access, more commonly referred to as cable internet, is a means of providing broadband access to the internet through cable television communication infrastructure. DSL, in contrast, provides high speed internet access via existing telephone lines and phone jacks.

For cable internet, the customer must have a cable modem – usually leased from the cable company or purchased by the subscriber – which connects to the cable network using special coaxial cables (the same ones that are used to provide cable television access). The cable modem provides the user with the ability to download and upload information to the internet via the radio frequency channels in the cable system.

High Speed DSL Internet Access

In contrast, a high speed DSL internet connection uses a customer’s existing phone line and a special DSL modem – again either purchased or leased by the customer – which works by dividing the phone line into two “bands,” with the higher-frequency band conveying the internet information and the lower-frequency band carrying voice data. Usually, the customer installs a special filter on their phone jacks, which removes the higher-frequencies from the phone line. By removing the higher-frequencies, the same telephone line can be used for both regular telephone conversations and internet access at the same time, without interfering with either process.

Connection Speeds

For most residential users, broadband cable internet access is about 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) for downloading and ranges up to 20 Mbps for uploading data. Both rates are usually greater for high speed business connections. Connection speeds for DSL internet users varies depending on the telephone line conditions (which can be interfered with during weather events) and the type of DSL technology being used. In general, though, DSL connections are considerably faster than dial-up internet access, and cable connections are faster than DSL connections. Test your internet speed to see how it stacks up.

Regardless if you select a cable internet or DSL internet connection, with both you have the option of going wireless, that is connecting a special wireless “hub” to your cable or DSL modem and then broadcasting a connection through a local area network (LAN). With a wireless internet set-up, your computer will only need a wireless card in order to connect to the internet, instead of needing to be hard-wired or physically connected to the modem.

Both cable internet access and DSL internet access provide reliable, high speed internet connections. Which you choose will depend on your needs and what options are available in your area.