Connecting via Cable or Satellites: Which is the better option

In terms of connectivity Cable Internet and Satellite Internet services is growing in popularity every day. Traditional ways of connecting your home PC by the use of dial-up connections have been shunned for these modern services. Both services offer greatly enhanced speeds over dial-up connections which run at 56kbps. There are many factors to consider in making the decision of whether what type of connection is best suited for your needs. Cable and Satellite Internet services have their own unique features which make them stand out from the other. Before choosing either one of them a simple understanding of the basic advantages and disadvantages that each type presents should be considered.

There is only one definite answer to this question; it depends on how and why you need internet services. Below is a simple guide on choosing which particular service meets your needs.

Cost of Services

Price of satellite services for every day consumer use has significantly dropped today. Satellite service in the past has been out of the reach of ordinary households and limited to high scale consumers. In terms of service costs, the difference between cable and satellite service is dropping. This has made satellite service available for average homeowners and small businesses. But in terms of cost to service ratio, cable internet prices are still significantly lower than satellite internet. Satellite services are more expensive because they use orbiting satellites to transmit and receive data. Cable internet however uses ordinary cable connections for data transfer.

RESULT: ADVANTAGE CABLE

Data Transfer

Cables can carry large amounts of data at great distances without significant signal losses. Satellite internet services on the other hand carry larger amounts of data at even greater distances. Bandwidths which determine the amount of data that could be transferred is significantly higher in satellite connections. Available transfer rates for both cable and satellite internet are limited due to caps internet services provide to their customers. Data transfer is affected by the number of users connected. Network and Internet services put caps in order to provide their customers an equal online experience.

RESULT: TIE

Dependability

Satellite and Cable internet connections are always on; access to your internet service is as easy as powering up your computer and launching your web browser. In terms of availability of the connection or breakdowns in service satellite and cable internet have different factors which should be considered. Outages (total loss of internet connections) and intermittent (sudden decrease in speeds) connections are the most common complaints for internet subscribers.

Satellites are prone to signal interruptions. Data is transferred over the air and signals are subject to interference from exposure to the elements. In extreme weather conditions like electrical storms, signals get disrupted and this could be seen with intermittent internet connections. Cable Internet however runs on simple cable lines which are protected from the elements. The main problem for cable connections are due to breaks in the continuity of the lines. These types of problems could be easily fixed by simple technicians dispatched to restore connections.

RESULT: ADVANTAGE CABLE

Availability of Service

Cable internet is a great way of integrating your local cable TV services with going online. This is more economical than getting a cable TV service and a separate internet service. Cable services however are limited to areas which cable service is available. This does not hold true for satellite internet service, internet through a satellite connection is not limited to location. Satellite internet services could be provided to even the remote locations which telephone or cable services are absent. The main reason why companies have been offering satellite communication applications is that its services are available in almost any part of the world.

RESULT: ADVANTAGE SATELLITE

Making the choice

Cable internet connections offer greater speeds and convenience. It is also a more cost effective option than satellite internet services. A summary of the services and features gives Cable internet connections advantage over satellite internet services. Satellite internet services provide one feature no other type of internet connection can offer, the flexibility of setting up an internet connection without conventional infrastructure like cables or wires.

Strength and Consistency of Signals

Satellite Internet Access is done by exchanging information between your computer and the network provider servers. Information is sent by using waves which are bounced back from orbiting satellites. These signals are sometimes disrupted when exposed to extreme environmental conditions such as electrical storms. Signal strength largely depends on weather conditions; clear weathers provide better transmission and reception of signals from geo stationary satellites located at the equator.

Changing the satellite dish location also affects the strength of signals. Technicians are usually sent for first time installations to properly align the satellite dish to orbiting satellites.

Cost of Services

Equipments which are used for Satellite Internet Access are still more expensive compared to DSL and Cable internet connections. Satellite dish prices has certainly gone down over the years but still are out of reach of many consumers.

Technical Support

Unlike DSL and Cable internet connections troubleshooting Satellite Internet Access is quite complicated. Interruption of internet services with DSL and Cable internet can easily be traced and repaired by regular technicians. Satellite Internet subscribers also find themselves with connectivity problems. This are largely due to malfunctioning satellite dishes which could not be easily replaced.

Satellite Internet Access is a developing technology, internet access is only limited by bandwidths and the true speed and potential of satellite internet connections could easily dwarf those of DSL and cable internet. For many people who find themselves with no other option of internet access, Satellite Internet maybe the best or the only option for them to go online.

Connecting via Cable Internet: How does Cable Internet Work?

Cable internet is a type of High Speed Broadband connection which is provided by your local TV cable services. Signals for your internet connection run along the same cable your favorite TV channels pass along.  Your cables are like information Super hi-ways which directs the different signals.

Cable Internet Equipment

Setting up a cable internet connection is fairly simple. Getting a good Cable Internet provider is essential for better service and support. Equipment for setting up your Cable Internet comes bundled with the subscriber plan. Unlike DSL connections, connecting through Cable internet is sometimes tricky. Technicians are often rolled out by the company to provide installation support for new subscribers.

Cable Modems

Similar in function with DSL modems, these electronic devices translate signals from your network servers to signals which your computer can understand. The main difference between a DSL modem and a Cable modem is what type of cable connects with them. For Cable Internet subscribers a coaxial cable similar to that for your cable TV subscription is connected directly to your modem.

Cable Internet connections are always on. This means that subscribers have a steady and available access to the internet. Upon visual inspection of cable modems, a series of lights are noticed on the modem. These lights provide instant information regarding the status of your connection. Trouble shooting your cable connection is made simpler by information provided by these lights.

Cable

The quality of cables used plays a major role in determining the speed of your internet connection. High end cables which offer bigger bandwidths for signals are the most ideal to use. These are quite expensive and supplying them to every customer is too costly. Cable Internet providers utilize standard cables thus the true potential of Cable Internet speed is not reached.

Network Providers sometimes put a cap on how much bandwidth a customer gets. This is to provide equal surfing experience for all their customers. Signal loss through cable is also minimal, even allowing customers farthest from the company’s central office to enjoy the same speeds to subscribers located near their offices.

DSL connection speeds are limited by customers distance from the central office. This however does not hold true for Cable Internet subscribers. Cable Internet subscribers are offered 1.5 Mbps as standard connection speeds. The main reason behind this is the limited bandwidths offered by network providers. Online experience through Cable Internet varies from time to time. The number of subscribers who are currently online eats a lot of the cables bandwidth thus speed is significantly decreased.

Special Equipments

Cable Routers

Routers are electronic devices which you directly connect to your cable modem. These allow multiple computers to access the internet with just a single internet subscription.  This is a very cost-effective option for subscribers who want to needs more than one computer connection.

Wireless Cable Modems

These are special types of modems which connects your computer wirelessly. Signals from your modem are broadcast over the air allowing a properly equipped electronic device to go online. Going online or surfing the web is not limited to laptops or computers. Phones equipped with Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) capability may also use this connection to go online. Wi-Fi is fast becoming popular these days because of their convenience. Wireless Cable Modems provide easy access for going online anywhere within range.

How does Cable Internet work?

Cable Internet or TV providers supplies signals through cables which run from their central office to your home. Like the different channels you see in your TV, internet signals are given a specific bandwidth. Cables containing these signals finally reach you home and the terminal end of the cable is attached to a cable modem. The cable modem separates the internet from TV signals. Cable modems also act as a modulator translating signals from the cable provider to those which your computer can understand. A standard way for your computer to communicate or connect with your modem is by the use of an Ethernet cable. This cable is inserted to the computers Ethernet port where the signal finally reaches your PC.

Connectivity Options:  Cable Internet

With want far outreaching its availability, internet connection is fast becoming an integral part of everyday life. Internet services provide a convenient means of communication and sharing information with each other. It has surpassed traditional sources of information such as books. Communicating has also been enhanced with better service, offering both audio and video as a tool for communication. Conventional means of messaging such as sending mail through postal services has even decreased with the introduction of email services.

What is a Cable Internet?

Cable internet is simply an Internet connection that runs through your TV’s local cable connection. Cable companies have introduced this as a means of providing a more diverse range of services with their product. Speeds are similar to those offered by DSL connections with speeds rated at 1.5 Mbps. This represents a huge improvement over dial-up and ISDN connections.

Internet service is available by connecting your standard cable connection to a cable modem. The cable modem acts as a translator between your computer and signals travelling through the cable. On paper, cable internet provides up to 27 Mbps download and 2.5 Mbps upload speeds. A T-carrier system however is often used for cable connections. This system only allows 1.5 Mbps thus the true potential of a cable internet connection is not realized.

Advantages of Cable Internet

Cable Internet is a great way of integrating different digital service in your home. Cable TV allows you access to your favorite channels and now with the addition of Cable Internet makes getting the latest information through your PC a cinch.

Greater Speeds

Cable Internet connections offer some of the fastest speeds available for High speed Broadband services. Connection speeds however depends largely on the number of people using the bandwidth. Type of cables used also affects bandwidth capacity and limits internet speed.

In terms of raw speed, Cable clearly has an advantage over DSL and satellite connections. Cable speeds are rated at 30 Mbps and standard DSL comes at 10 Mbps. Cable internet services however put limits to the maximum speed a customer uses. This allows for more subscribers that can be accommodated.

The obvious advantages of enhanced speeds are faster downloads and uploads. With a faster connection, large files and documents could be downloaded in a couple of seconds. Listening to streaming music is smooth as buffer times are almost non-existent. Running multiple browsers simultaneously is also not a problem with downtimes limited to your PC setup.

Cable Internet Availability

Access to your favorite website is 24/7 with a Cable internet connection. Cable Internet connections are standalone systems and don’t need other equipments such as a phone connection to function. Pulling up a website is as easy as clicking your web browser and launching the application.

Price

Cable Internet services are competitively priced with regards to other internet connections such as DSL. In terms of speed to cost ratio, Cable Internet comes on top of DSL. Cable Internet connections offer greater speeds at similarly priced DSL packages.

Dependability

Cable Internet services provide the same dedicated support they offer their ordinary cable customers. Dedicated toll free numbers are on standby for consumer concerns and a technician could be dispatched for complicated problems. Unlike other types of internet connections, Cable connections are simple and trouble shooting is simpler. Down times are limited to a few hours at the most unlike other types of internet services.

Disadvantages of Cable Internet

Potential speeds for cable internet is its greatest advantage over other types of internet connections. However speeds maybe limited to quality of cable used and number of people who use the service.

Cost of Cable Internet  installation

Installing a Cable Internet connection might prove expensive during installation. In order to realize the potential speed of a Cable Internet connection, high bandwidth cables must be utilized.

Cable Internet Access

Unlike DSL connections which run through POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines, cable services are not available in all areas. Customers who wish to avail of Cable Internet must check their area for availability.

Cable Internet provides consumers with a fast and cost effective way of going online. These types of connection provide you with excellent connectivity speeds but may vary depending on the number of users online. For consumers who are currently subscribed to a cable provider, a Cable Internet connection provides a great way of integrating online and viewing services.