Broadband technology: Its a tough choice.

Choosing a broadband Internet service provider can be a daunting task.  If you are not familiar with the terminology involved then even just choosing a technology is tough.  The two major services out there are Cable Internet and DSL.

Cable companies bring you broadband Internet access using the same coaxial cables that deliver your television signal.

Most cable modems are an extra box you plug into both your computer and your cable outlet.  This lets a user watch TV and surf the Internet at the same time.  And, like with DSL service, you have instant Internet access just by turning on your PC.

Regular cable Internet services have download speeds between four to six Mbps.  That is about 70 times faster the dial-up connections.  Because cable Internet is delivered from your local cable company you can choose to package Internet access, digital TV, and digital phone service in order to save some additional money every month.

DSL service uses regular phone lines to also transmit high-speed data. This allows your phone company to also provided Internet, TV, and phone services.  DSL is one of the fastest growing broadband technologies for both personal use and businesses.

A typical DSL connection lets customers download data at up to 1.5 Mbps and an upload at 256 Kbps.

Like Cable broadband, DSL offers an always-on connection.  But, it dose have a large downside.  The further from the provider’s central office the lower the connection speeds will be.  For many customers this is not an issue because DSL commonly has lower monthly fees.

So, to summarize, DSL is a good choice if  you want an always-on connection and a minimal monthly fee.  But Cable broadband is the better choice if you want to maximize your connection speeds.