Cable Modems

Residential DSL and Cable combined account for 90 percent of the broadband market in the U.S. There is a trend in the US of cable modem subscribers being consistently slightly higher in number than DSL subscribers. Although, in a survey of residential customers conducted by JD Power and Associates in 2004, participants rated DSL higher than cable.



Factors such as security, installation and price, are all taken into consideration when assessing customer satisfaction but speed and performance are the most important qualities hands down.

Security is a concern for subscribers due to the fact that you maintain an internet connection at all times with either high-speed option. The buzz over the past few years was that cable is less secure due to cable modem service using a shared cable line for an entire neighborhood. Basic network firewall capabilities prevent this problem by blocking files from being viewed or downloaded. And providers systematically bundle security features in the cable modem hardware. Hence, neither option is more or less secure than the other. Furthermore, the solution for both is identical. Limiting printer and file sharing when possible along with installing firewall anti-virus software is sufficient protection for most.

Installation may be a bit easier with DSL. Most computers have an existing phone line in close proximity and it is widely known that DSL is fairly easy to self install. It is also possible to self install cable, however, it is not as widely known and it is less likely that an extra cable line is readily available. This leaves the customer at the mercy of the cable company to run the line and install the modem.

Prices are fairly close. One sample showed DSL being slightly less expensive and later that same year a sample produced the opposite results. This is the result of competition being fierce and different promotional packages, for example, free installation or promotional introductory rates which yield similar net results.

Speed and performance is ultimately going to determine the victor especially with the other variables being so close. Cable modem theoretically offers higher levels of bandwidth which roughly translates to raw speed. There are a number of factors that reduce this speed. A number of people accessing the internet from the same neighborhood simultaneously can reduce the speed. The home network may not be able to match the speed of the internet connection. Also, cable providers often set “speed caps” that limit the bandwidth of their service.

Technology and upgrades in network infrastructure have enabled DSL to work on closing the gap, however, DSL is offered in lower bandwidth than cable. Like cable, the maximum bandwidth of DSL often will not be reached. Furthermore, depending on location, speed may vary between households. DSL providers also set speed caps. Speed caps are set for a number of reasons such as to ensure that the provider can accommodate more customers or as an attempt to create equal distributions of bandwidth.

Generally speaking, cable’s theoretical bandwidths are higher and its speed is more consistent amongst users. In contrast to DSL in which you may experience greater speeds depending on the quality of the phone line at your residence and the proximity of your home to the phone company! Even with the speed caps set by providers of both types of service cable maintains the advantage of being faster than DSL.

In the US cable modem subscribers are consistently slightly higher in number than DSL subscribers. Factors such as security, installation and price, are all taken into consideration when assessing customer satisfaction but speed and performance are the most important qualities as evidenced within the high-speed internet market.



By: Allison Merlino

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Wireless modem is a device that gives your desktop computer to access the internet in your home or office.

There are numerous wireless modems for your desktops. It is not that easy to choose the right kind for your desktop. This article will give steps for you to choose the right kind, so read on.

You could ask your internet provider if they can offer you the option of purchasing a compatible wireless modem for your desktop. The compatibility with your internet service provided can save you time and it can be easily confirmed.

Otherwise, you can purchase wireless modem as soon as you compare prices in different online and even offline. Typically, there are websites that offers such with lower prices. Just search these websites by using the search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN. You can look for online stores such as CompUSA, BestBuy and CircuitCity and so on.

By referring to online buyer’s guides and tips, you could learn more about the various prices and features of wireless modems for your desktop. The best thing you should do is compare the prices and features of different wireless modems. You better read and reviews of the wireless modems and compare the prices of various brands. NexTag, Windows Marketplace, MySimon, are few of the popular buyers’ guides.

If in case, you are still not satisfied with the deals given online, you can go to stores and look for the best deals. Several companies who offer internet access include wireless modem for free, but of course, you have to subscribe and commit to this wireless internet service provider for few months.

USB and Ethernet cable connectivity, backward compatibility equipment, enhanced security, PC and Mac compatibility, depth, width, port connection and slot type are the features that the wireless modem should have, so you have to make sure that the wireless modem has all these features.

External and internal are the two types of modems. You have to make sure that your computer is compatible with the type of modem you select and purchase.

The three types of networks which are widely used are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service). So you have to check out the type of network that your ISP can access, and then purchase the wireless modem that is compatible with your network of your ISP.

In order to make sure of its compatibility with your desktop wireless modem, you have to confirm the date transfer speed of your network. Like for instance, if you have a GPRS wireless internet network service, you have to make sure that your desktop wireless modem can hold speeds up to 56 kbps.

You have to choose wireless modem that can give you sufficient coverage. Like for instance, if you have GPRS wireless internet service network that gives internet access at international locations, then you should purchase a wireless modem that has international coverage.

You have to select a wireless modem that gives a compatible interface with your desktop computer.

This article gave few steps that can help you on how to choose the right wireless modem for your desktop.

Eliza Maledevic



By: Eliza Maledevic Ayson

About the Author:

You’ve mastered windows, got to grips with games and put paid to your word processor problems. The next challenge is the internet. It’s one giant leap for mankind, one small step for you.

How Does it Work?

The internet is a massive world wide collection of computers, connected together in a huge network. Any type of computer can be connected to the network, as long as it speaks the universal internet language, TCP/IP.

Using a home computer like an Apple Mac or a PC, you can become a temporary part of this network by signing up with an internet service provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that has fast, direct internet connections, and which can act as a gateway for you. In return for a monthly or yearly fee, the ISP enables you to use a modem attached to your computer to dial up and connect to its computers, which in turn connect you to the internet. As a result you can access the world wide web, send messages to newsgroups, and get an email address that enables you to exchange email with other users.

Choosing an Internet Service Provider

There are more than 150 internet service providers (ISP’s) to choose between, from local one man band outfits to global services run by the likes of UUnet. It’s probably best not to opt for a small, local ISP. Internet access is a cut throat business and the pundits are saying that the small guys are going to have their work cut out to avoid going under.

You’re also more likely to get better software, better services and better technical support from a large service provider. The major ISP’s have massive connections to the internet, which means they can support a very large number of simultaneous users without grinding to a halt. Smaller ISP’s may be cheaper, but they actually have to lease space from the big providers themselves, and don’t have nearly as much capacity to share around. This means they’re more likely to have problems during busy periods, and they’ll almost certainly have fewer modems, meaning more engaged signals when you dial in at peak times: a low user-to-modem ratio is vital.

The large service providers can also afford to maintain bigger, faster computers to handle email, usenet discussion groups, and so on, while small firms might have problems in this area. Finally, there’s support. A good ISP will supply you with all the necessary software to get online. This software should be easy to setup and use, backed up by 24 hour help lines if you have a problem. Again, some smaller ISP’s just can’t afford this sort of overhead. Setup software might be scarce or non-existent and there’s unlikely to be any sort of dedicated support line. And if an ISP doesn’t offer internet access on a local phone number, forget it. In addition to all this, a decent ISP might offer free web space, multiple email addresses, and other goodies like automatic filtering of junk email. On the whole, you get what you pay for.

Modems Explained.

There used to be a time when buying a modem was fraught with worry and technical difficulty. Nowadays, it’s hard to buy a PC, without a modem already fitted. What a modem does is enable your PC to exchange data with other computers – whether it’s your mate’s down the road or a machine on the internet – over the phone line. But as we all know, the data your PC produces is digital bits and bytes, and only analogue signals can be transmitted over the phone line. This means that for the data to get out of your machine and onto the internet, it needs to be converted from digital to analogue and then back again. And that’s what a modem does. It modulates the outgoing digital signals produced by your PC, turning them into analogue ones, then demodulates the incoming analogue signals to turn them back into a digital one.

Now you know, roughly, how a modem works, you can forget about it, just as you probably don’t care how your AWE 64 sound card produces that 3D surround sound effect. Same deal with modems. They plug in, they work, they let you connect to the internet, play multi player games, and run up a phone bill the size of Oliver Reed’s drinks tab.

Buying a Modem

There are still a few decisions to make when you get to your local modem store. The fastest modems on the market for home users promise download speeds of up to 56Kbps. Did you notice the ‘up to’ because that’s the speed achieved by these modems under impossible-to-achieve-in-the-real-world laboratory conditions. In reality, when line noise, signal quality and the phase of the lunar cycle all take their toll, the maximum realistic download speed you can expect to achieve is 41-44Kbps. Oh, and the other thing is that because of the smart way they work, 56Kbps modems can only download data at the faster speed, they still have to upload at the slower, but respectable speed of 33Kbps.

If you don’t know which brand name to choose, just toss a coin, or go for the cheapest, or the one that offers the best after sales support, or the longest lead, or the prettiest plug, or the best advert.



By: Sandra Prior

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DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a high speed Internet service that uses existing phone lines to connect to special DSL modems and your computer. There are many DSL Internet providers, but because this technology keeps changing, companies have a tendency to come and go quickly. However, DSL service is still a competitive force in the market due to many of the advantages of this type of high speed Internet service.

DSL service generally provides speeds from 1.544 Mbps to 512 Kbps downstream, and 128 Kbps upstream. DSL can reach these high speeds because DSL providers have access to the full spectrum of broadband through normal telephone lines. Regular dial-up modems and voice transference only take up a small portion of the broadband available.

There are some negative aspects of DSL service, one of which is the fact that you must be near a central telephone hub to achieve a usable DSL data signal. If you live in an area accessible to the service, providers in your neighborhood shouldn’t be too hard to find. A DSL service provider will set up the service within a reasonable amount of time, so you can be surfing the Internet soon after signing up.

There is more than one reputable DSL service provider from which to choose - three of the largest are SBC, AT&T, and BellSouth. Many people choose a company such as SBC because of the many services it provides to consumers, which smaller providers may not be able to offer. The same is true for providers such as AT&T, and BellSouth.

AT&T is a popular choice out of the many DSL Internet providers currently operating. AT&T is a reputable service provider that provides everything you need at set up time, and is known for good service. You don’t have to worry about setting up DSL modems on your computer, or anything else that needs installation from the start. AT&T is a reliable service you may want to consider signing up for.

The advantage of a DSL service is that you can continue to use your phone line for voice calls without interrupting your Internet connection. Compared to regular dial-up service, the modems offer significantly higher speeds, and because you can use the phone lines already in place, signing up with providers is quite simple.

Also, when you sign up with a DSL service provider, the company usually includes a modem as part of the installation.

What are the disadvantages? Not everyone has DSL providers available in their local area because you have to be located near a central service provider center. DSL modems can’t pick up signals that are too far away, and the farther away you are from a central telephone hub, the weaker the signals become. In addition, with providers, receiving data is faster than sending it.

No matter what high speed Internet service you end up choosing, know that DSL Internet is still a viable option. With high speeds and a wide coverage area, Digital Subscriber Lines allows you to get broadband Internet at home for an affordable price.



By: Garry Neale

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