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Cable vs DSL

While the computer industry continues to grow, the need for higher speed internet access increases. Games and digital media both have the capability to be played over the internet. To perform decently, a higher speed internet connection is needed. Two types of high speed internet connections available to home users are cable modems and a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). Cable modems run off of the pre-existing coaxial cable that is already wired in most homes for TV. DSL transfers data through existing phone lines and does not tie up the telephone line used for talking. They both are a lot faster than normal phone lines, but there are many variables to each that determine which may be better. These consist of the speed and reliability, the price for the setup and service, and the availability of the service.

Cable modem service is a reasonable choice for a high speed internet connection. This service is usually controlled by the local cable company that runs the cable TV service. In Frederick, Adelphia is the company that distributes this service. The speed of an internet service is measured by how many bits per second it can transfer over the connection to the provider. Normal measurements are

The other type of high speed internet service available to home users is DSL. There are a couple types of DSL which all have different speeds. There is ADSL which has anywhere from 384 kbps to nine Mbps download rates and a 128 kbps upload rate. This is the most common and least expensive type of DSL. It is the best choice for home users where downloading files is more important than sending files. There is also SDSL which holds a 1.5 Mbps download and upload data transfer rate. This is ideal for businesses that will have users sharing the internet connection. DSL speeds cannot be affected by other customers in the area because it is a direct line to the central office. The line is not being shared with other nearby customers. The main issue that affects the speed of DSL is the distance from the central office switches. The speed of the connection will be really fast if the computer is only a short distance from the central office. Unfortunately, the transfer rates can degrade over longer distances. Line interference called Electromagnetic Noise or “crosstalk” generated from other electronic devices interferes with DSL lines. This causes DSL to be incredibly slow over longer distances. DSL can also be pretty expensive. The service can cost from $40.00 to $80.00 per month for home users and $80.00 to $320.00 per month for businesses. There is also usually an expensive setup fee which can be $100.00 or more. A DSL modem and network card is also required which is an additional $200.00. The main disadvantage to DSL i