Comparing Cable and DSL

You can connect to the internet using a modem. Two most widely used broadband modems that transmit analog information and convert it to digital for these purposes are DSL and cable, each with different benefits. Most notably, both are faster than dial-up. Therefore, they’re often referred to as high-speed internet access.

What is DSL?
A DSL modem connects your computer to a phone line in order to transmit digital data. If your computer already has an internal modem (called a voiceband modem), you can “dial-in” through your telephone landline. Otherwise, you’d need to purchase an external modem. Provider companies sometimes offer these at no charge with your subscription. Those usually connect to your USB port.
The speed at which a DSL modem sends and receives data varies from hundreds of Kilobits per second to many Megabits. Examples of DSL technologies include Asymmetric DSL (ASDL) and ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL).
ADVANTAGE

• You can access both the internet and your phone line at the same time
• Faster speed than dial-up
• Ability to choose between different connection speeds and pricing from various providers

DISADVANTAGE

• Receives data faster than it sends it
• Sometimes not available in remote areas
• The farther you are from the provider’s central location, the slower the transmission

What is Cable?
A cable modem transmits digital data over existing cable television lines. They can either be internal or external. The speed at which it sends and receives data varies from just a few Megabits per second to many Megabits.
ADVANTAGE

• Performance isn’t based on distance from the provider’s central location
• Faster speed than dial-up and most often DSL

DISADVANTAGE

• You share the available bandwidth of a single cable line with others in your neighborhood. The more people using it at the same time, the slower the performance.
• Could be more costly than DSL
• Sometimes not available in remote areas