Any ISP option will have a limited amount of data it can transmit at one time. This is called bandwidth and is usually limited by the physical limitations of whatever is being used to deliver data to your home or business. In the case of cable internet, data is transferred over coaxial cables which means bandwidth is limited in comparison to another data transmission option like fiber optic internet. Here you can read our cable internet vs fiber review.
Cable's bandwidth is only limited, this means that anyone that lives nearby to you is using the same cable connection that you are and therefore when any of you use the internet you will be competing for speed priority with the others. If you all use it at the same time then all of you will likely experience slower speeds because you are all demanding a lot of data very quickly, if only one of you are online then your speed will likely be as fast as it can be.
What is a modem? A modem serves as a kind of middleman between your ISP and you when it comes to data transmission. The easiest way to think about it is like this, basically, when your ISP sends data to you, they send it in highly technical tech jargon that nobody understands, when it gets to your home it is sent directly to the modem that is specifically trained in translating that weird jargon into something that any device can understand.
So, essentially, modems serve as a kind of signal translator and they work very closely with routers to make sure that signal can be used by anything that needs it. Without modems there would have to be some kind of translation device attached to all of your devices and they would have to be plugged into a special kind of jack on the wall whenever you wanted to use them online.
If your computer has an ethernet port or the ability to connect to Wi-Fi then it most likely has a network card installed. These cards are commonly merged with the motherboard of the machine, but sometimes they come separately and must be installed which is often the case with Wi-Fi capable network cards. The purpose of the network card is to give your machine a possible way of connecting to a network, whether it is through a wired or wireless connection.
Without it, there would be no way for your machine to transfer data with other devices or connect to the internet, which is a very lonely existence for a PC. So, in our communication analogy earlier we mentioned that ISPs speak in tongues and modems are uniquely suited for translating their gibberish, but how does that help you?
Well, once a modem translates the data into something intelligible, a device can be directly plugged into the modem to receive that data and connect to the internet. But there are only so many ports for connectivity on a router and that means you have to use a bunch of wires; how do you get around that? That is where routers come in. Once you connect a router to your modem, your modem will translate the gibberish from your ISP and tell the router, then the router will start screaming it at the top of their lungs.
Essentially, the signal is passed from the modem to the router and the router will broadcast that signal to any device that will listen. If your device stably receives this signal then they can use it to connect to the internet the same way a wired connection would allow.
Cable internet service uses existing cable television networks to deliver data to households across the globe. There is plenty of bandwidth on the existing cables to deliver both television and internet signals to users, which make it very accessible.
Coaxial cables are also made from durable materials so they will last a long time with minimal wear. This means that the cost of upkeep is low, and that translates into moderate cost-savings for consumers. Cable internet uses the same coaxial cables that provide cable television to deliver broadband internet service.
With around million subscribers , cable internet is widely available to consumers. It is a reliable and fast connection that is suitable for all household internet uses. An internet service provider transmits data signals through a network of coaxial cables to connected homes.
The signal is received inside each connected home and transferred through a modem. A modem is a device that converts digital data into a format suitable to be used by a computer. Any internet-capable device in your home can connect to the cable internet service through either a direct connection or on a wireless signal. A direct connection is more secure and sometimes faster than using a wifi signal.
An ethernet cable is used to connect a device directly to the modem for a direct connection. Or, an ethernet cord can be used to connect a wireless router to a modem in order to transmit a wifi signal that allows multiple devices to connect and use the internet wirelessly.
With speeds up to Mbps, cable internet is among the top choices for internet service. For families that enjoy online gaming or streaming high-definition video, cable internet is a more accessible alternative to fiber-optic. Cable internet is very reliable. While some users may see some noticeable lag during peak times due to heavy network congestion, cable internet is generally not prone to outages or downtime like other internet services.
Cable internet offers consumers a good value for the price point. Consumers who are looking for a reliable and fast broadband internet connection and do not have access to fiber-optic will find the best value with cable internet service providers.
There may be only one option in a given area, but that should not stop consumers from shopping the available plans. Some things to look for when shopping for a cable internet package include speed, data caps, and price. Internet speeds, also sometimes called bandwidth, determine how quickly pages load and how long it takes to download or upload files. Speed is important to the overall user experience. Although most internet service providers are not quick to advertise this, data caps are pretty common among most companies.
What this means for consumers is that — depending on how they use the internet — they may need to shell out more cash for additional data. Information on data caps is in the fine print section on most cable internet provider websites.
Pay close attention to the cost of additional data if you go over each month. Also, look at the number of plans available in case you need to upgrade your plan in the future. Cable internet is capable of speeds of up to Mbps. But, not everyone needs the top tier speed package.
The further they have to travel from their origin to reach you, the slower they will become. However, updated versions of DSL decrease this; as does the fiber-optic cables delivering cable internet to your neighborhood. With cable internet, you share the same cable network with any neighbors who also have your internet service provider ISP. That means during peak usage times — i. DSL, in contrast, does not have this issue, so your speed will typically be more reliable. Cable internet typically costs more than DSL.
Cable internet can be a great option for many people. The number 1 criteria is that cable service is available to you — if you live in a more rural region, there may be no cable infrastructure in place, making cable internet a moot point. Start by checking out our round-up guide on the best cable internet providers of Then, check out our individual reviews:.
Last — but definitely not least — call or order online. Luke is the managing editor and site manager of Dailywireless. Disgruntled as he may be, he tries to keep his articles as honest as possible. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. HomePlug AV2. Table of Contents. How cable internet works.
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