Cable Vs. Phone Internet Provider Service

Dial-up Internet uses a telephone line to transmit analogue data signals. You need a computer, a telephone line, a dial-up modem, an account with the service provider, usually with a username and password and an access telephone number to use this service. You need to dial-up to the provider and input your login credentials to access the service. Your modem will convert the analog audio frequency signals into a form your computer can understand and change the computer data into audio signals as needed. Dial-up Internet service is quite slow, with top speeds of about 56 kilobits per second.

DSL Internet service also uses a telephone line to transmit signals. The telephone line is split so that data and voice packets are transmitted over separate channels. This means that you can use the Internet and talk on the telephone at the same time. As the name implies, DSL transmits data digitally so there's no need for the DSL modem to convert signals to and from analogue format. This increases the efficiency of the data transmission and means that DSL is much faster than dial-up Internet.

Cable Internet service is delivered over coaxial or fiber-optic cables. These cables are usually the same ones your cable provider uses to transmit your cable television signals. You'll need a special cable modem to encode and decode the data signals. Cable Internet service doesn't require a telephone line and you don't need to log on or log off as it's always on. Cable Internet service is very fast and its top speeds are much higher than you would get with a dial-up connection.

Cable Internet service is often bundled with a cable television package and you might be able to get a discount on the service if you purchase a bundle. Similarly, DSL might be bundled with a telephone service or other services offered by your provider. Dial-up Internet service is often offered as a backup option when you get DSL Internet service from your telephone company.