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The two most common internet access options are high speed cable internet and DSL access.
Cable
Cable internet access, or just "cable", 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 wiring, lines, and phone jacks.
For cable internet to operate, you must have a cable modem - usually leased from the cable company or purchased by you - which connects to the cable network using special coaxial cables; the same white coaxial cables are used to provide cable television signals. 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.
DSL
In contrast, a DSL (digital subscriber line) connection uses a customer's existing phone line and a DSL modem - either purchased or leased by you - which works by dividing the phone line into two “bands,” with the higher-frequency band carrying the internet data and the lower-frequency band carrying voice data. Usually, the customer installs a filter on their phone jacks which removes the higher-frequencies from the phone line. By removing the higher-frequencies, the telephone line can be used for both regular telephone conversations and internet access simultaneously.
Connection Speeds
Download speeds of cable internet packages vary from up to 15 to 60 Mbps. Both download and upload speeds tend to be greater with Cable as opposed to DSL. Connection speeds for DSL varies depending on the telephone line conditions and the type of DSL technology being used. DSL speeds tend to average about 1.5 Mbps downloading and 768 Kbps uploading. You can test your internet speed here to see how it stacks up against all high speed contention types.
Regardless if you select a cable or DSL connection, both give you the option of going wireless, an easy addition with the purchase of a wireless router or wireless access point. With a wireless network conntect setup, your computer will only need a wireless card to connect to the internet, instead of network cables or wires.
Both cable and DSL internet access provide reliable, high speed internet connections, the one you choose will depend on your needs and what is available in your area.