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Dial-up vs Satelite vs DSL/Cable I am asked occasionally which Internet delivery service is best. I will try and explain in as few words as possible. Obviously the web has numerous pages you can research this subject. To start here is a chart representing bandwidth (download speed) comparison.
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The chart illustrates choices in "Bandwidth" (transmission capacity.)
Dial-up is at the lowest end of the bandwidth spectrum. If you want inexpensive and aren't concerned with speed dial-up is the way to go. Companies like Netzero allow unlimited connection for around $9.95 a month.
Satelite allows those in remote areas who do not have access to Cable or DSL to access high speed. When one thinks of satelite, one thinks of blazing speeds. If you are out in the wilderness satelite is the way to go. Costs around $70.00 per month plus equipment.
Standard DSL or Cable is around 3000 kbps....
DSL comes through the phone line and is distance limited from the telephone switching office. If you are more than 18,000 feet from the telephone switching office that handles your phone line DSL is not an option for you. If you do qualify for DSL and opt for enhanced dsl, depending on how close you are you could achieve 20,000bps.
Cable is similar to DSL except that cable has a reality that cable operates within "nodes." a node is a service area so that groups of cable internet users in a close geographic area share bandwidth so that if you have alot of people in a node and they all access internet at the same time . Your internet speed can be affected if everyone in the node is accessing at the same time.
DSL is direct link through the telephone switching office which is not affected the same way cable is affected by nodes.
