Cable and DSL

DSL

A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) operates over a telephone line. DSL is not available everywhere. The type of DSL service you can order depends on the distance to the telephone company switching office, local tariffs, and your DSL provider.

DSL generally requires a minimum of a 1 year agreement with a penalty for early termination. Many providers offer a 30 day penalty-free trial period. The price and quality of DSL service varies and you should check with other users and visit our Resources page before buying.

Most residential DSL shares a line with a telephone. The provider will supply a self-install kit that includes filters to isolate the DSL and phone connections and PPPoE software, which allows the line to connect and disconnect as needed. The PPPoE software can tax your computer and the need to re-connect the line can cause problems if you are sharing an Internet connection.

Business and premium-priced residential DSL has a dedicated line with an always-on connection and no special software is required. Business DSL is generally more expensive than residential DSL.

Cable

A Cable Connection runs over the coaxial cable TV system. Cable is blazingly fast when the load on the line is light but it can slow down when too many people are on line. A well-managed cable system generally performs quite well.

Your cable company may install the service for a minimal charge and a long term commitment is not usually required. Some cable companies offer a self-install kit but we prefer to have a technician do the work since they generally test the line for proper operation and replace any failed wiring at no cost.

Your cable company will offer to rent you a cable modem, which is probably a good deal since they have to maintain it. If you do buy your own modem look for a DOCSIS Modem, which is a universal standard.

General Information

• Your broadband provider is usually your ISP although some providers contract with a 3rd party ISP. Your e-mail will be carried by this company.
• Broadband is fast, from 250k up to 1 megabit. Cable can be even faster.
• Shared DSL and cable can slow down as more users come on line.
• Expect to pay $40 and up for broadband, plus modem rental for cable.
• The quality of service varies widely. Check our resources page.

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This information is provided for your convenience. We make no claims for its accuracy, its reliability, or its completeness. Please use your discretion and common sense when making any type of buying decision and when dealing with computer professionals, retailers, and service providers.