If you are still using dial-up, you have probably gotten either the “You don’t use DSL yet?” or the “You don’t use cable yet?” expressions of credulity. So you’ve decided that it’s probably time to get off of dial-up – yet, the question remains: which is better, DSL or cable? There are advertisements arguing the perks of both, but which will really get you more bang for your buck?

The three issues to take into account when comparing DSL and cable Internet connection are speed, customer satisfaction and security.

Theoretically, cable modems run faster than DSL because they offer more bandwith. There is also a form of DSL called VDSL which can match the speed of a cable modem. However, the speed of cable is relative to the number of people in your area who are accessing the neighborhood at the same time. One popular commercial compares cable modems to drinking out of a straw – the straw is fine, if one person is drinking from it. But if the straw must be shared – well, obviously things slow down a little. Both DSL and cable also vary in speed by the minute depending on the congestion caused by multiple users.

Customer service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates in 2004 showed that DSL had an edge over cable in customer satisfaction ratings. This survey looked at billing, the provider’s business image, cost and tech support, and email services. Earthlink and Verizon, both DSL, were the top two service providers rated in the survey.

Since cable modems necessitate the sharing of a cable line to provide service to the entire neighborhood, DSL is slightly more secure. However, cable modems are easier to install, and many sources believe that the difference in security is not significant enough to go through the trouble of installing DSL. Many cable customers avoid security problems by putting up firewalls in order to protect themselves, and their information.



Thanks to Ross Gravett for contributing this article to our DSL blog:

DSL Internet Providers

Can you answer doitmyself’s question about DSL?:

When weather is less than app. 80 degrees I have internet service. When it gets hot I lose service. The cable company installed it on the eave of the roof, but laid the 75 ohm cable across the roof. I moved the cable so that it no longer ran across the roof and gained another couple of hours during the day of connection time.

One of the contractors they sent said that if we could use the outdoor cabling the company uses we would probably be fine, but the company won’t allow them to use it indoors.

Since we have no crawl space to run wires. Do they make heat resistant 75 ohm cabling? Or can I increase the signal to the cable modem with an amplifier. The cable company hasn’t offered any options except drilling through the walls, which really won’t help. I have 3 TV’s and my cable modem. TV pictures are fine. Internet service works great when it is up and running.

Any ideas?
Internet service goes down when sun is shining and above 80 degrees. ISP has been out and says house need to be rewired with new RG6 cable. I rerouted their installation so that 50′ of app.350′ of outside cable was no longer laying on roof of house (took 50′ off roof and ran that through eave of house and now I get about 2 more hours of internet service each day – TV service is always fine). ISP has checked signal coming to house from pole and says it is sufficient. They last guy out said that heat was a factor. I asked about a signal booster and they said they didn’t like to do that, but I have a friend who said they installed one for him. I think the run from the pole to the house is too long and since it is in full sun all day much of the signal is lost before it gets to me. I need someone with technical expertise to explain what’s happening. Does anyone have any ideas? Do you know of a cable from high heat installations? What kind of booster can I get to install in the house?
We can’t drill through wall because there are 3 TV’s and internet service in different rooms to they have to go throughout the house. Drilling would only bring it into one room.

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