DSLvsCable < OLT

r7 - 17 Dec 2005 - 06:32:24 - RobRiitanoYou are here: TWiki >

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Comparison between DSL and Cable Internet Access

Both services offer great Internet access; however, there are pros and con for both of them:

DLS Internet Access

CONS	The farther you are from the central office, the slower your connection is. As you move away from the central office, more distortion enters the line and the signal deteriorates. To counter this, the phone company slows down transmission rates, from an average of 1.5 Mbps to 384 Kbps, for example. But slowing the speed only works up to a certain point; in other words, if you live too far from the nearest central office, you can't get DSL at all.
	The reputation of the customer support of some DSL providers is not very good, in spite of the fact that in general they are more knowledgeable.
	DSL is a little more expensive than cable. The average monthly cost of this service without a contract is US$43.00.

PROS	The speed of the connection does not depend on the number of customers logged to the network at a certain time; therefore, it is always the same. In other words, it is constant.
	Since this technology uses the telephone wires, it is possible to connect simultaneously more than one computer all over a residence in every room that has a phone jack. The main computer is connected to the DSL modem and all the other computers are connected to the phone jack through a special USB Port Phoneline Adapter.
	A DSL connection is point-to-point, not broadcast, so your bandwidth is precisely that: yours - in terms of how much data you can send and receive, and in terms of who sees it.
	As with cable Internet access, with DSL you can use the Internet and the phone at the same time. That means that you can use the Internet without tying up your phone line.

Cable Internet Access

CONS	This service line is shared with several customers in a neighborhood; in other words, it is not a dedicated line; therefore, speeds vary. The more users long on to the cable network at certain time, the slower the connection gets.
	As opposed to DSL, that allows to connect simultaneously more than one computer all over a residence in every room that has a phone jack, the cable technology needs to have a modem installed in every computer connected to the network; therefore, if a customer wants to connect more than one computer to the Internet via cable in another room, away from the main computer, he/she needs to buy another modem or create a wireless home network.
	Because cable modems utilize what is essentially a broadcast technology, packets destined for your computer are also sent to every nearby subscriber's home or office. A cable modem system opens the network users to complete vulnerability.

PROS	Cable Internet is a little cheaper than DSL. The average monthly cost of this service without a contract is US$35.00, and in some cases, the service provider offers a price cut if the customer gets cable TV as well.
	Cable Internet service providers generally offer better customer support and they generally respond to customer requests faster.
	Cable Internet is more widespread than DSL.
	As with DSL , with cable Internet access you can use the Internet and the phone at the same time. That means that you can use the Internet without tying up your phone line.

-- RobRiitano - 15 Dec 2005

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