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What exactly are the differences between CableService Comparison.
and DSL Internet services?One of the advantages of DSL over cable
First let's define our terms.modems is that the line to the exchange or
Bandwidth vs. Latency:"switch" is not shared. Though ISPs trying to sell
Bandwidth & ThroughputDSL services will tout this as a major advantage,
Digital bandwidth or throughput is a measurementslow cable modem speeds have very little to do
of the amount of data that can be transferredwith this and have much more to do with the
over a digital line over a specific amount of time.fact that cable service is shared among many
Latencyusers and services.
Latency is the time it takes to deliver a packet ofISPs tend to enforce a bandwidth cap on both
data from one place to another. This includes theDSL and cable modem services.
time it takes for an electrical or optical signal toThe first cap is on data transferred per service
travel a certain physical distance (propagationperiod (usually per month). From my experience,
delay) and the time it takes to process theseDSL data transfer caps are more rigidly controlled
signals along the way (processing delay).than cable services. Your data cap may be as
So bandwidth is a measure of frequency or alittle as 1 gigabyte per month or, in the case of
rate of service delivery while latency is amost cable modem services, unlimited.
measure of time or signal delay.Both cable and DSL services have a cap on
Technology Comparision.bandwidth. Your service provider may promise
Cable service uses signals transmitted through theyou a certain downstream limit and a certain
same coax cable that cable television uses. DSLupstream limit. This means that you will generally
uses normal phone lines to send digital signals to abe able to sustain a certain bit rate while
DSL modem.downloading or receiving data and a different bit
Coaxial cable has a far greater capacity thanrate while uploading information.
RJ-11 phone cable. But, the coaxial cable comingIn general, because of the far greater capacity of
into your home is shared with many peoplecoaxial cable and the fact that only a certain
outside your house and provides many services.number of lines exist connecting you to your
Cable modems have higher bandwidth though theswitch, cable modems, if uncapped would provide
connection is shared among cable users in youradvantages in bandwidth over DSL modems. In
service area and even with your digital cable box.the real world, this is not the case. Both DSL and
As a result the performance is quite similar toCable companies limit bandwidths at both the
DSL.modem level and at the service provider.
Generally, cable modems can achieve better peakShop Around.
throughput, but this high bandwidth is notIf you are shopping around for a service or
consistant and depends, again, on load, affectedthinking of changing services, the best advice I
by time of day and other factors.have for you is to ask other users about their
DSL service usually provides a more constant,service. One of the best web sites I've seen for
consistant feed, with lower latency. The distancesharing this data is
to your exchange or "switch" is the main factorThis site provides user-submitted reviews of their
that determines DSL quality of service. Look forbroadband service and charts day-to-day service
the green (in Toronto) phone exchange box influctuations. Speed tests and other tools for
your neighbourhood and note how far your homeoptimizing your connection are available as well.
is from that box.