Can’t decide what internet service to get? I don’t blame you! With all the different kinds out there these days, how on earth are you expected to know how they all work? What all the differences and similarities are? Which one is best for your situation? And of course, which is the best value for your dollar?
Hopefully we’ll be able to answer some or all of your questions, and help you figure out what your best option will be. The different types of service covered in this article are dial-up, DSL, cable, wireless, satellite, and cellular. The final type, fiber optic, will be covered in a following article, so stay tuned!
Starting us off, we have the age-old service, dial-up. Invented in the 1980s, it was one of the earliest methods of internet communication, using landlines to send and receive the analog signal. After the computer actually dials a phone number, an indoor or outdoor modem receives the signal. From there, that signal is converted from analog to digital through the modem, and you now have whatever information you were searching for.
Some of the pros of dial up are:
It is inexpensive. On average, it will cost $10-$15 per month.
It is available anywhere there are landlines.
It is convenient, there is no special equipment or hardware required.
Of course, there are also cons:
Speeds are very very slow. On average, they range from 28 kbps to 56 kbps – that is too slow for streaming video, and could take hours just downloading a picture or a song.
It does require a manual connection when dialing the phone number, which can be inconvenient.
Dial up is prone to dropouts, it is not the most reliable option available.
It uses the phone lines, so you can not use the phone and the internet at the same time.
Next, we have DSL, or “Digital Subscriber Line”. With this service, you are still using the landline, but it is separate from the phone, so your phone isn’t tied up like it would be with dial-up. Also, since you don’t have to dial a phone number every time, it is “always on”, meaning you don’t need to manually connect each time you use the internet.
Some pros of DSL include:
It is available everywhere there are landlines.
It is affordable, on average it will cost $30-$45 per month.
It is secure; it is more difficult to hack a landline than an open wireless service.
It is fairly reliable.
On the other hand, here are some of the cons:
The speeds are lower than some other options.
This is a shared connection, and you typically will only be getting a percentage of the advertised speeds.
Some performance issues may arise.
It is only available where there are landlines, so it is not available to everyone.
Distance from the access point can affect service as well. The farther away from the access point you are, the weaker and slower the connection will be.
Cable internet is a fairly popular option, with its own strengths and weaknesses. It works through a cable modem and operates over cable TV lines. It typically offers greater bandwidth than dial-up and DSL, and is often an alternative where DSL isn’t available.
Some other benefits would include:
There is no phone line required, which opens up availability.
It is substantially faster and ‘beefier’ than the aforementioned options
It is more reliable and less likely to drop out and have service issues.
However, there are a few downsides:
It is still not the fastest available, although it is much better than some other options
Initial fees can be very expensive
It is not available everywhere
This is a shared connection as well.
Some may require a bundle with tv or phone in order to qualify.
However, bundles and/or discounts typically expire after a certain amount of time, hiking the price up.
Another popular choice is a wireless connection. With this type of service, no landlines or cables are required, making it convenient for the locations where those aren’t available. A dish or radio is mounted up high to allow a clear line of sight to the access point, then microwaves on a radio frequency are sent between the two, delivering the internet to the home over the air. The average speeds with a wireless connection range from 5 mbps to 20 mbps.
Pros:
It offers ease of access, particularly for people who do not have cable or landlines available
This option easily allows for multiple users at a time, using a wireless router for Wi-Fi
Wireless service also brings flexibility, users can be virtually anywhere in the home and still be connected to the internet on wireless devices.
Cons:
Speeds may be slower than some other options depending on location
Not as secure as a wired connection
Physical obstructions (trees, hills, buildings, etc.) can interrupt the signal
Satellite internet is a type of connection that requires a dish on the home, which would then communicate with a satellite in the atmosphere. Due to the large travel distance for the signal, speeds tend to be slower than those of broadband or cable. The average speed with a satellite connection is 5 Mbps to 10 Mbps of download speed, depending on availability.
Pros:
It is widely available to people who cannot get other options.
It is significantly faster than dial-up
Cons:
Satellite internet can be very expensive, particularly installation charges and equipment purchases.
This connection tends to be much slower than the majority of the previously discussed services
Satellite internet is unreliable, it is very easily disturbed.
Most satellite internet providers inflict data limits, and some overage fees may be charged as a result.
The final internet connection that we will go over is cellular internet. With smart phones dominating the cellular world, you most likely hear a lot about your provider’s 3G or 4G network. With the 3G network, the average download speed is about 7 Mbps, while the average 4G speed is about 12 Mbps. In addition, with the 4G network, you have the option to use it for devices other than your cell phone, like a laptop or tablet.
Pros:
This option offers mobility and ease of use, since you can use it anywhere you have 3G or 4G connection.
Convenience, there is no large cabling required, you just need a small USB modem that you can plug into the desired device, and you will be connected.
If you are only using your landline for your internet connection, then you can cancel your subscription and save money by using your 4G connection instead.
Cons:
Your connection and speeds may suffer depending on your location and whether or not you are getting reception.
Most mobile networks have data limits, which not only constricts your usage, but also can cost you a lot of money from overage charges.
A mobile broadband connection tends to fluctuate throughout the day, depending on your location and the volume of users connecting to the same network at any given time.
In our day and age, the internet is a huge factor of our lives, both at work and at home. Don’t play the guessing game when it comes to what will be best for you and your family; now you can be sure you’re making an educated decision.
Remember, we will have an article addressing fiber optics, how it works, and what goes into that connection – and it’s coming soon, don’t miss out!
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Sources:
www.comstar.info/different-types-of-internet-connections.html
www.enlightenme.com
www.computer.howstuffworks.com
www.acicable.com
www.techin.ourlifeeveryday.com
www.techwalla.com
www.broadband.gov/broadband_types.html