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What Are My Internet Options?
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Internet: DSL vs. Cable
In today’s world, you would be hard-pressed to find a new home that did not have an Internet connection. Everyone wants the fastest connection they can get. Internet has become one of the essential UTILITIES TO CONNECT when moving into a new place. From CONNECTING ELECTRICITY and heat to buying an Internet plan, you are going to want all the information and savings you can get when settling into your new home.
When moving into your new home you are probably going to want your Internet service all in place and ready for use the very first day. Service providers offer a wide range of Internet types. Each one claims to be the best and the fastest. But when it comes to speed, a lot of it depends on what type of connection you get. There are two widely avaiable options: DSL and cable. Both claim to be faster than the other, but what are the real differences between the two?
The two are actually very similar. Both connect you to the same World Wide Web, and both can be super fast. But there are benefits and drawbacks to each. The information below should help you sort through the pros and cons so you can make the right choice for your new home.
DSL
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Pros:
- With DSL, bandwidth is not shared with other DSL connections. Your connection is unaltered by the other subscribers around you and
its speed will remain constant
- Higher security. Since you are not on a shared connection, DSL is generally considered to be more secure that cable connections.
You are the only one using that connection.
- No installation fees. There are usually no installations fees for a DSL connection, but you will need a modem, which can be purchased
or rented from the provider
- Range of prices. There is a wide range of package deals for DSL. You can pay more for a faster connection, or if your speed needs are
not as great, you can get a lower speed for cheaper.
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Cons:
- DSL is distance-sensitive. The farther you are located from the DSL provider, the slower your connection will be. This is
scarcely a problem in urban areas, but in suburbs and rural areas it can be an issue
- Technically DSL gets less bandwidth than cable. As you will see below, cable can get the same or less bandwidth than DSL in some
circumstances, but on average DSL has less bandwidth.
Cable
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Pros:
- Cable can get up to 30 megabits per second (Mbps), however, the cable user usually gets around 5 Mbps, which is still a lot of
bandwidth.
- Cable is not distance-sensitive. Unlike DSL, you will get the same speed with cable no matter where you are. Even if you are
located far away from your provider, you will still have the same connection as if you lived across the street from it.
- No installation fees. There are usually no installations fees for a cable connection, but you will need a modem, this can be
bought or rented from the provider.
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Cons:
- Shared bandwidth. Cable uses the same connection for everyone in a certain area. This means that you are sharing your speed and
connection with everyone in your area who uses the same provider.
- Less security. Sharing you connection with your neighbors can present a security risk. The connection is not yours alone, so you
have to be sure to protect you computer and your information properly.
- No varying monthly rates. With cable, you pay one rate regardless of the speed of your connection. If you are getting less speed you
don’t pay less, you pay the same as always. (Though this can be a plus if you are getting a high speed for a low price.)
Now that we have covered the basics it is time to start surfing for the best Internet deal!
Be sure to keep all the pros and cons in mind when shopping. If you know that your neighbors all use cable, then DSL may be faster in your area. Or if you like the idea of the 5 Mbps that cable can provide, then cable may be better for you. There are a lot of options out there. The good thing about moving into a new house is that it is up to you what new services you subscribe to. So make sure you get exactly what suits your needs.
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