Not so many years ago,
accessing the Internet
was a ‘one size fits
all’ technology. When
you wanted to surf the
web, send and receive
emails, post files to a
web site, or just play
around on AOL, you
accessed it all through
your telephone line
using a modem and a
standard dial-up
account. Most of us
didn’t mind because we
realized that the slow
speeds we endured were
shared by everyone else.
The notion of Internet
‘speed envy’ had yet to
emerge.
Well, those
days are long gone!
Nowadays, in
ever-increasing numbers,
people are dumping their
old dial-up modems and
those slow connections
for a much faster
Internet experience
through DSL, cable, and
satellite technologies.
In 2002, only 21% of
Internet users had
broadband connections at
home. As of late 2005,
that number had risen to
53% [Source: Pew
Internet & American Life
Project].
For the remaining 47%
still using dial-up
access, it’s often
because they live where
DSL (Digital Subscriber
Line) and cable
technologies are not
available. Yes, there
are still lots of rural
areas that do not have
access to either. Among
those who do have access
to broadband
connections, it is most
often older and poorer
Americans who choose to
keep dial-up access.
Which Internet Access
Option is Best for You?
You may be wondering
which broadband solution
is the best option.
While much depends on
what’s available in your
area, for many users it
comes down to a personal
choice, centered on
convenience, speed, and
cost. Let’s examine the
various technologies and
the relative advantages
of each.
Cable Internet Access
Using your home’s
existing cable
television lines, you
can get Internet access
included for an
additional fee. Expect a
large speed increase
versus dial-up access.
In fact, in many cases
cable Internet access is
the fastest alternative.
Installation is usually
completed quickly with
just one visit from your
cable company’s
technicians. You will
also need a cable modem
(supplied by the cable
company in virtually
every instance, but can
be purchased separately
as well).
Clearly, the biggest
advantage of going with
cable access is speed.
All things being equal,
it is the fastest of the
three broadband
alternatives, with a top
speed of 10 Mbps
(Megabits per second).
Having said that, cable
speeds can be
substantially reduced if
you share a local
network with a lot of
other subscribers.
People living in densely
packed areas, or
locations where the
cable company has a lot
of users on the same
network, will only
realize a fraction of
that top speed. It’s a
good idea to call your
cable provider and ask
some pointed questions
about these issues
before you order. Better
yet, ask neighbors who
have cable Internet what
kind of speed they get.
DSL Internet Access
Digital Subscriber
Line access utilizes
your existing telephone
line in an innovative
way to greatly increase
your Internet speeds.
While cable is usually
faster, DSL is
substantially speedier
than traditional dial-up
access and offers a
much-improved experience
for a modest increase in
cost. Installation is
quick, usually only
requiring a simple
change at your home’s
phone box outside of the
house by a phone company
technician. You will
need a DSL modem, which
is included at no extra
charge by most providers
when you sign an
extended service
contract.
If you live where DSL
is not currently
available, be patient.
Major providers like
Sprint, Verizon, and
AT&T are spreading their
coverage areas quickly.
Even many rural areas
can expect to have DSL
access in the coming
months.
The two big
advantages of choosing
DSL are cost and speed.
You will only need to
get the modem and follow
some simple instructions
to configure it. If you
agree to a one-year
contract with your phone
service provider (most
major carriers), the
modem will cost you
nothing. And the service
itself is generally in
the $15-$40 per month
range, making it a good
bargain.
Speed is a bit
trickier with DSL. It is
slower than cable (top
speed is about 6 Mbps),
and the major providers
offer different packages
that limit speeds based
on the price you pay per
month. To further muddy
the waters, DSL is
what’s known as a
‘distance limited’
technology. This means
that how far you live
from the nearest
telephone company
switching station
determines your actual
speed. Those living
within a few yards will
experience the highest
speeds, while those at
the other end of your
street or block may only
get half that speed. As
with cable, call your
local phone provider and
ask questions about the
various services and
what kind of actual
speed you can expect
based on your exact
physical location in
relation to the
switching station for
your street or
neighborhood. If you
have a next-door
neighbor with DSL, ask
what his or her
experience has been, as
yours will probably be
very similar.
Satellite Internet
Access
Satellite Internet
access uses a small
mounted dish and group
of electronics to send
and receive data through
satellites orbiting the
Earth over the equator.
Users must have a clear
view of the Southern sky
(in the U.S.) from the
face of the dish,
unobstructed by trees,
buildings, and other
obstacles. Coaxial
cabling connects the
outdoor equipment to
indoor send-and-receive
equipment that then
connects to your
computer through a
standard USB connector
or network card.
The major advantage
with satellite Internet
access is faster
connection speeds for
people who live where
cable and DSL are not
available. Users can
expect to download data
at a rate that is about
10 to 30 times faster
than dial-up access.
While satellite Internet
connections are
significantly faster
than dial-ups, they are
slower than cable and
DSL, and should not be
the first choice for
those who do have cable
or DSL available to
them. Satellite access
is also more expensive
than DSL or cable and
can suffer outages when
the weather turns ugly.
Clearly, the other two
are better options
unless you live where
they are not available.
The Bottom Line
Overall, cable and
DSL are terrific
broadband Internet
access solutions for the
majority of people who
live in urban or
suburban locations.
Satellite access adds a
much-needed alternative
for folks living in
rural areas, completing
the coverage area for
the vast majority of
America and Canada.
While proponents of both
cable and DSL have
legitimate arguments in
favor of their services,
deciding between them
should be made on an
individual basis,
determined by the actual
speeds and costs for
each in your location.
If speed is your top
priority and you live
where there are not a
lot of other users
sharing the local cable
network, go with cable
(especially if your
neighbors report high
speeds and good
service). If not, look
into DSL. If cost is
your main consideration
and speed isn’t as
important, a lower-end
DSL service will
probably be a better
fit, as long as you
don’t live too far from
the nearest telephone
switching station.
Finally, if you live in
a rural area, satellite
Internet access may be
right up your alley,
especially if you long
for faster downloads and
web site surfing.
If you do live in a
rural area where cable
or DSL are not an option
then your best bet would
be to go with the new
WildBlue Satellite
System.
Article Source:
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