Cable+vs.+DSL+‐+Which+is+Better

Cable vs. DSL ‐ Which is Better

As more and more people elect to use broadband Internet, one of the most common questions asked is: which is better, Cable Or Dsl ?

The answer to the question is not so easily defined.

There are a great many factors coming into play when deciding which high‐speed connection to choose.

Regardless of which you choose (DSL, Cable, or even Satellite) it’s going to be a lot better (and faster) than that ancient dialup modem that people in the past used.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

Just like a dialup modem, DSL uses your existing copper wire phone line to deliver data at high speed.

To qualify for DSL, you need the following:

A phone line

A DSL modem (which fortunately usually comes with the service)

An Ethernet card or an available USB port

( Most DSL modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended).

A phone company (ISP) that is offering DSL service

The most important factor that will influence your DSL connection is the distance between your home or office and the phone company’s sub station.

The farther away you are from this, the signal becomes weaker, thus a slower connection.

With that said, DSL is not as available widespread compared to cable. However service is improving daily

You need to contact your phone provider to check availability.

Speed wise, depending on the package you choose, DSL can range from 128 kbps to 3 Mbps.

Generally, the faster your connection the more expensive your service will be.


 * Pros:‐**

Relatively cheaper than cable

Dedicated line, so speeds are almost guaranteed

You can talk on the phone at the same time while surfing the net


 * Cons:‐**

Slower speeds compared to cable

Speeds drop the farther away your home/office is from the Sub station

Not available in all areas


 * Cable Internet**

Cable, is virtually self explanatory i.e. it uses the coaxial cable that your television uses.

To qualify for cable internet, you need the following:

A cable modem ( Which usually comes with the service)

An Ethernet card or an available USB port

(Most cable modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended)

A cable company offering cable Internet

Unlike DSL, Cable Internet does not depend on the distance between your home or office and a sub station.

However, unlike DSL, cable connections are typically shared among your neighbours.

Although, most cable companies provide pipelines with huge bandwidth that this rarely becomes an issue.

Speed wise, Cable Internet typically ranges from 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps, up to 3‐4 times faster than DSL.


 * Pros:‐**

Faster speeds than DSL

Usually more widespread than DSL

Distance does not affect speed


 * Cons:‐**

More expensive than DSL

Line is shared with other users

Taking into account the above you need to think about what type of user you are.

If you are a heavy Internet user, and downloader, you will benefit from a broadband connection.

For the light users who use the Internet just to check emails, you are probably better off ( Monetary wise ) with a dialup.

However, if you want to be up‐to‐date, and enjoy the Net to it’s full capacity then a broadband connection is really the answer.