Sunday, May 18, 2008

Cable Vs. DSL - Which is Better?

As broadband Internet becomes more mainstream, one of the most common questions we get is: which is better, cable or dsl?

The answer to that question is not so definite. Many factors come into play when deciding which high-speed connection to choose. Regardless of which you choose (DSL, Cable, or even Satellite) its going to be a ton better (and faster) than that ancient dialup modem youve been using. Not to mention, your Internet experience will be much more enjoyable.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

Just like your existing dialup modem, DSL uses your existing copper wire phone line to deliver data at high speed. To qualify for DSL, you need the following:

- a phone line

- a DSL modem (which normally comes with the service)

- an Ethernet card or an available USB port ( most DSL modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended).

- a phone company (ISP) that is offering DSL service (e.g., Verizon)

One important factor that will influence your DSL connection is the distance between your home or office and the phone companys central office. The farther away you are from the central office, the signal becomes weaker, thus a slower connection. With that said, DSL is not as available widespread compared to cable. Youll need to contact your local phone provider to check availability.

Speed wise, depending on the package you choose, DSL can range from 128 kbps to 3 Mbps. Generally, the faster your connection the more expensive your service will be. You can expect to pay around $25-$30 a month for a 768 kbps connection, which is roughly 13 times faster than a 56k dialup modem.

::Pros::
- Relatively cheaper than cable
- Dedicated line, so speeds are almost guaranteed
- You can talk on the phone at the same time while surfing the net

::Cons::
- Slower speeds compared to cable
- Speeds drop the farther away your home/office is from the central office
- Not available in all areas

Cable Internet

Cable Internet gets our recommendation. Cable, which you can probably already tell, uses the coaxial cable that your television uses. To qualify for cable internet, you need the following:

- a cable modem ( which normally comes with the service)

- an Ethernet card or an available USB port (most cable modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended)

- a cable company offering cable Internet (e.g., Adelphia)

Unlike DSL, cable Internet does not depend on the distance between your home or office and the central office. However, unlike DSL, cable connections are typically shared among your neighbors. Although, most cable companies provide pipelines with huge bandwidth that this rarely becomes an issue.

Speed wise, cable Internet typically ranges from 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps, up to 3-4 times faster than DSL. However, expect to pay more for the service - $40-$50 per month.

::Pros::
- Faster speeds than DSL
- More widespread than DSL
- Distance does not affect speed

::Cons::
- More expensive than DSL
- Line is shared with other users

With all that said, you need to think about what type of user you are. If you are a heavy Internet user and downloader, you would highly benefit from a broadband connection. For the light users who use the Internet just to check emails, are probably better off with a dialup. However, if you are willing to splurge some cash on a broadband connection, then by all means, upgrade!

Mark Pascua is the webmaster of PersonalConfuser.net, a computer how-to and tips website.

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Broadband - Stay Safe While Being Social

Wireless broadband has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with over 80% of UK homes now having access to a broadband connection, according to some statistics. We can now choose from a wide variety of broadband deals, offering fast connection at an affordable price.

As a result, social networking sites have seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years. There are believed to be more than 10.8 million UK users registered on sites such as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook.

Coupled with broadband internet becoming more readily available to all, it has never been easier to keep in contact with old friends from work, school, and travel abroad.

But while we now have a variety of cheap broadband services to choose from, the same survey also showed that many of us are, unknowingly, leaving our wireless broadband connections open to hackers and other malicious individuals who may seek to use our personal data for fraudulent purposes.

A survey suggests that over 30% of individuals and their family and friends have been victims of computer viruses, with a further 9% having had their computers hacked into.

Seemingly innocent data such as e-mail addresses, phone numbers, even your date of birth, posted on a page designed to attract friends, may be attracting more malicious visitors. Personal details could be seen, used, and exploited by fraudsters. And at a time when the increasing risk of identity theft is documented in the media, broadband providers constantly have to devise new methods for tackling this rapidly-increasing crime.

There are steps we can take to ensure that our data is safe and to ensure that our broadband connections are more difficult to hack:

  • Use complex passwords with at least eight characters and include some numbers and/or symbols

  • Avoid using the same password for a variety of accounts

  • Back up important files regularly using removable USB pen-drives

  • Use a combination of anti-virus and anti-spyware software and run regular scans on your system

  • Use firewalls to guard your system against hackers

  • Don't give out personal information to any unknown sources, and do not reply to any e-mails that you believe to be suspicious

Broadband providers now offer a range of products and services such as firewalls and anti-virus software built into their browsers to make surfing the web safer, helping to not only put the minds of their customers at ease, but to help keep their personal details safe from fraudsters.

Compare a range of broadband providers to find a cheap broadband deal that suits you.

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