What Is the Difference Between DSL and Cable?

Knowing how to answer the question of what is the difference between DSL and cable is important for anyone who wants to make an informed choice about his data service. There are a few different ways to experience the Internet for the common user. Cable and DSL—otherwise known as the Digital Subscriber Line—are two of the most recent and popular.  Both Internet sources come through a modem, but DSL is made available through a phone line, while cable comes through a television cable line.  Each can be easily purchased in a bundle with your cable provider or phone service provider depending on which route you choose to go.

There are several differences between DSL and cable. Some of the key differences include:

• User sustainability
• Availability
• Speed capacity and performance

Each of these differences should be considered in greater detail before you can determine exactly the difference between DSL and cable.

User Sustainability

• An excellent benefit of using DSL Internet is that the system is never affected by how many users are tapping into the server at once.  So if an entire neighborhood is keyed into the same network, no user will be affected by how much service space another user is taking up. 
• With a cable Internet connection, the user’s web browsing experience is directly affected by the amount of people using it at a time, and could be slowed or interrupted by neighborhood usage.

Availability

• DSL is also more readily available in numerous areas because it comes through the phone line, while cable Internet, which is paired with a user’s television cable, is more limited to where the signal can be supported.  An advantage that cable has over DSL, though, is that the range of operation extends immeasurably, so that distance from the point of connection does not disrupt the speed.  A DSL connection can become unavailable or diminished if the distance from a service area is too far to support the user.

Speed Capability and Performance

• DSL speed can be faster or slower depending on how far the user is from the point of initial operation, an issue that cable Internet overcomes. 
• A normal cable connection, not hindered by distance, can have a much faster connection speed, around 30 megabits per second (mbps), leaving DSL far behind at only about 10 mbps.
• A cable user will likely experience faster browsing speeds that a DSL user might not, but there is always the chance of the unpredictable cable usage experience that a DSL user would not encounter.

Make Your Choice: DSL or Cable

So, now that you know what is the difference between DSL and cable, you will need to decide what features and considerations are the most important for you. The general thing to keep in mind, though, is that if using a DSL connection, the user will not have to worry about Internet traffic or signal areas as much as a cable Internet user might have to.  With cable, though, the user essentially sacrifices the promise of uninterrupted web surfing for the guarantee of a faster Internet experience overall.