Hi guys i come up with this simple tutorial, some may know, while others may not, so while the Internet is catching up on everybody, let me do a simple tutorial between Cable and DSL, so that when choosing a internet service, you people make informed choices.

Introduction

Cable and phone companies have been battling to provide high-speed internet services for years. But recently, cable is currently winning.
In 2005, there are more then 19 milloon cable service subscribers and around 14 million DSL subscribers across the US. Although they are touted as high speed alternatives, they don't work the same way.

Real Speed Difference

A Cable connection offers a maximum potential data transfer rate of 30Mbps, Real world speed however, are generally much slower, at about 1.5 to 3 mbps.

DSL doesn't use cable wiring to supply the internet access, instead DSL flows through the copper telephone lines already installed in the home.
For DSL, optimal data rate as less then 6mbps, but most people find that their top speed is around 1.5mbps.

Factors that affect the speed

For DSL, Distance affects the speed. For example, if you are very near to the telephone company, the faster your connection will be. But DSL speed is more cinsistent than cable becuase you have your own direct line that provides a constant data rate.

Cable have speed limits too, but for different reasons. If you connect to a cable line, you are plugging into a network that includes your neighbour who use a cable connection. As more people flip on their cable modem and surf web, you will encouter slower speed as your are sharing bandwidth. So therefore you see many cable service providers does not advertise data transfer speed as a selling point.


Network and Security

Cable works through LAN but the cable modem integrates hardware based security that can protect the PC from attacks.

DSL provides a slightly more secure setup, but you need to use your own software like firewall to keep the data safe.


Costs and Service

Cable modem service typically costs more than DSL. Research shows that in late 2005, cable service was up to 75 percent more expensive than DSL.

When choosing between DSL and cable, remember to talk to your neighbours about their experiences. If they have nagging problems with a specific service e.g. Always DC , heed their warnings.


Hope you people like this tutorial


Matt

I feel proud that I'm using Comcast Cable, one of the largest networks of zombie computers in the USA.

Also, Cable is a must if like me, you don't like telephones.:cheesy:

Another thing to remember with any connection, you are only ever going to recieve data as fast as it's being sent so with either, slow speeds are possible.

so very true. im in uk and have a 2meg connection, which means i can download most of the time between 220kbps to 250kbps, but only is the sender can send data this fast, also cable in uk have a lot slower upload speeds than dsl (dont know if same in USA?) im on cable and can upload at around 20 - 30 k/bytes ps on a 2meg connection 2000k/bit ps DL 250k/bit ps UP, my friend has a 512k/bit ps dsl connection and can upload just as fast i can

Yeah uploads are almost always a fraction of download speeds. Unless you're on ISDN or sattelite i believe.

One other important thing when subscribing for internet service. A provider will usually tell you they're speeds in terms of bits per second (or kilo/megabits). The reason they do that is most people think in terms of bytes and they can inflate their speeds by 8 times by using bits instead of bytes. For example a dial-up connection can only transfer up to 7 kilobytes per second (KB) and 7x8 is 56 so that makes 56 kilobits per second. And that sounds a lot better than 7.

In australia, cable is only available in some areas of the biggest cities, and then there is only ADSL. The only wholesaler only allows a max of 1.5mbps. This same company wants to build a fibre optic network to get faster speeds but, in true telstra fashion, want to lock everyone else out.

:laughing4

I hear you. Bell Canada, our phone company would kill MS at Monopoly with all the Oranges and the Green Properties.

Only problem I'm having with cable is my jerkoff neighbours keep trying to jack it on me...happened last week and then I caught them at the box just earlier tonight.