Comparing DSL and Cable High-Speed Internet
Remember, when comparing DSL and cable, both offer an enormous improvement from standard dial-up. You will notice a difference no matter what you choose, but which is best for you? Several issues can differentiate DSL and cable: ease of installation, speed and price.
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Cable
According to an article in CNET, roughly 80 to 85 percent of America's 68 million cable TV subscribers, which is approximately 55 million people, can get high-speed access |
DSL
According to that same article, only 50 million consumers can get DSL, putting DSL a bit behind cable Internet in availability. |
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Cable
If you choose a self-installation, your cable company will provide a self-installation kit. To install your cable high-speed Internet, you will need a cable jack. You will also need a cable modem, which should be included in the kit.
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DSL
If you choose a self-installation, your phone company will provide a self-installation kit. DSL requires phone jacks to work. You will need a modem, which should be included in the kit. |
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Cable
Cable modem Internet services on average promise higher levels of bandwidth than DSL Internet services, and this bandwidth roughly translates to raw speed; however, while cable Internet will theoretically run faster than DSL, several technical and business reasons can reduce or even eliminate this advantage. |
DSL
DSL is fast, but its performance depends on the consumers distance from the central office. As you get further away from a central office, your DSL service will slow down. |
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| After you’ve compared all these aspects of DSL and cable high-speed Internet, it is time to compare price. When considering price for high-speed Internet, you need to shop around. Though DSL is generally thought to be cheaper, different areas of the country offer different deals, so it pays you to look for the best price. You can enter your address on this page to compare prices for cable and DSL Internet in Houston. |
