Cable

Overview

Cable Internet works through the same wires as cable television. These cables provide a fast and reliable option for broadband Internet services. Cable Internet connections typically have speeds between 10 and 30 Mbps. You can configure a local area network (LAN) of multiple computers that access the Internet through one cable line.

If you have cable TV, you can receive high speed Internet through the same line and provider. These cable lines are called coaxial cables and carry cable television and Internet signals. Some systems also use fiber optic cables for these connections. Even when the fiber cable is in use, the signals will move through the fiber optic cables for further distribution. Since cable modems position downstream or upstream data, they can be used to enable internet access through cable lines. Upstream and downstream data movement requires two types of equipment: cable modems at the customer end and cable modem termination systems (CMTS) at the service provider's end. All networking, security, and Internet access management is managed by this equipment.

Internet service charges generally range from $30 to $50 per month. You may need to purchase a cable modem, which costs between $100 and $300. Some cable Internet providers will waive this fee.

Benefits

Cable Internet is fast, inexpensive, and reliable. The speeds are at least 70 times faster than dial-up Internet. You can remain connected to the Internet constantly, and you do not need to worry about interfering with your telephone lines.

If you set up a network, multiple users can access the Internet over the same cable line. With a network, users can also share the same network hardware including printers and the modem itself. Unlike dial-up Internet, cable Internet makes it possible to always be online, without constantly dialing the ISP phone number.

Cable Internet service providers will frequently feature deals and packages with cable television and telephone service.

How It Works

There are two cable services: one-way cable service and two-way cable service. One-way cable service needs a cable modem and two-way cable service requires an Ethernet cable for Internet access. For one-way Internet service, an analog modem is necessary for uploading and downloading information through a cable connection. Since it requires a dial-up connection along with a cable modem, you cannot make calls from your telephone when you are using the Internet.

A two-way service offers better speed and more flexibility than a one-way service. This service does not require an analog modem since it uses Ethernet card that handles high-speed information transfer. The computer sends data at low frequency through the coaxial cable and by the time it reaches the signal source, it becomes a fiber optic. Cable Internet access offers speeds up data transfer to 30 Mbps for downloading and browsing, and has an uploading speed of up to 384 Kbps.

Companies/Brands

Cable USA and SmartCity provide cable Internet access services.