Cable, DSL (digital subscriber line) and satellite Internet are three types of broadband (high speed) Internet. How they are set up, function and perform will vary. Which connection is ideal for you will depend on your budget, home layout and location.
Cable
Just as the name implies, cable Internet uses a cable connection to transmit data. While the same line is used, cable TV is not required to have cable Internet. A cable Internet connection uses a cable modem, which acts as the hub between your ISP (Internet service provider) and computer. Cable connections can suffer from slowdown when a lot of people on the same ISP are active at once. Depending on your home layout, minor wall drilling may be required.
DSL
DSL is short for 'Digital Subscriber Line.' DSL uses your phone line to transmit data. Unlike a dial-up connection (e.g., 56K), DSL does not tie up your phone line when in use. The quality of the phone line can impact connection performance. DSL uses a DSL modem, which acts as the hub between your phone line, computer and ISP. DSL is easy to install yourself and is generally cheaper than cable.
Satellite
Depending on the Internet service provider, satellite connections use either a one or two way satellite. Satellite Internet is noticeably slower than any other broadband connections and just as (if not more so) pricey. A satellite connection is also more susceptible to outages caused by weather. While satellite connections are sufficient for the basic web browsing, if you intend to play online multiplayer games or download a lot of large files, you may want to look elsewhere. Satellite connections will work from just about anywhere; however, because of the price to performance ratio, they are usually considered a last resort.
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