The Hitchhiker's Guide to Internet Connections

By Dave Donovan

Political mud-slinging is nothing compared to the war between DSL and Cable Broadband Internet. Both allow you fast Internet access, but they each have a different set of benefits. Let’s take a closer look at these relatively new technologies so you can have a better idea of how they work. But first, where it all … bleep blooop weeee weerreee arooooo … began.

You know that sound. Initially, when you got your first computer, that sound was bliss: the dial-up modem. But what a horrendous piece of equipment - dropped connections, achingly slow downloads, ISP's that bumped you off without a notice, and if you could get access at all, you were lucky.

I can still remember "upgrading" to a 56k modem. It really makes you appreciate the broadband technology we have today. Dial-up modems work over your regular phone lines. Information on one end is encrypted to travel through phone lines, and the modem de-crypts the information for viewing on your computer. You cannot use the phone while the modem is in use. As a matter of fact, the modem was a great call informer, because when someone called in, you were no doubt disconnected!

While slugging away on your 56k, you probably remember hearing about T1 connections, or ISDN connections. They were only for businesses or really rich people, I assumed. But DSL wasn't too far from rearing its speedy head.

DSL, which stands for Digital Subscriber Line, far surpassed the modem as the new way to cruise the Internet. It makes using the phone and surfing simultaneously possible because data uses a different frequency than voice to travel the copper lines. A filter is required on the phones in your house for this to work.

DSL offers impressive speeds of between 128 Kbps to 8 Mbps - certainly quick in comparison to a 56k modem's 56Kbps. DSL's speed does depend on just how far away you are from the network hub. Here are some features, both good and bad, of DSL service:

DSL is non-networkable.
DSL does not interfere with phone use.
Older phone lines may not be compatible.
It's not available everywhere.
Bandwidth is dedicated and not shared.

Not long after DSL, Cable Internet began shouting its benefits from the mountaintop. Greater speeds, instant access, and no disconnections, all at the same price! Now we have a decision to make. Further inspection into the Cable Internet frenzy showed these features, both good and bad:

A special modem is required.
Cable Internet is networkable.
Cable bandwidth is shared, not dedicated, which could affect speeds.
In most cases, you must be a cable customer to be eligible for access.

Cable's 512 Kbps to 20Mbps speeds certainly do outperform DSL, but by lowering their prices significantly, DSL has been able to keep and continue to accrue customers.

Today, the major DSL provider is looking to upgrade all of its current copper phone lines to fiber optic lines. DSL speeds will no doubt catch up to Cable's after the job is done, but the enormity of the job could take years and you can bet that you'll be paying the cost with increases to your DSL prices.

With the new advances on the horizons for both Internet access industries, we can at least welcome the fact that the buzzing and whirring dial-up modem will finally find its resting place at the Smithsonian, where it belongs.

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