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Cable Internet Access Service
What Is Cable Internet? Cable Internet is
one method of experiencing a broadband connection. Broadband Internet allows
you to have an always-on connection that delivers considerably faster speeds
than dial-up without interfering with your ability to make and receive
telephone calls.
Many users prefer Cable Internet over other broadband
options, such as DSL, because it utilizes the same fiber optic wiring
already used to provide cable television in their homes. This typically
makes installation faster. It also means that broadband users are working
with their local cable provider, a company which they already trust.
While most Cable Internet service provides upload
speeds of up to 256 Kbps, its download speeds can be as fast as 1 Mbps.
Because of this speed, Cable Internet is especially useful for people who
enjoy playing online games, downloading music, sending instant messages, and
surfing graphic-intensive web sites.
How Cable Internet Works: Cable Internet works similar to cable
television. Cable providers use an infrastructure of fiber optic wires to
transmit television broadcasts. These same lines are used to connect you to
the Internet. This is possible because each wire actually consists of
multiple channels. Most of these channels are used for television
transmission, but some are reserved for data transfer. Those channels are
used for accessing the Internet and separate ones are used for uploading and
downloading. Your speed, in part, depends upon the number of channels made
available for users.
The transmissions travel to your cable provider's regional data center. This
center acts as the main hub for all of the television and data transmissions
for your area. From here, the transmissions are sent out along the fiber
optic lines to your Local Node Box. This box collects transmissions for all
of the households in your neighborhood; one neighborhood consists of between
1,000 and 1,500 households. From the node, the transmissions are sent into
the individual homes.
Because you only have one wire bringing cable into your home, it will need
to be split so that one part can connect to your cable television receiver
while the other hooks into your cable modem. You will also need an Ethernet
card if your computer does not already have one. Most providers will supply
and install both your Ethernet card and your cable modem if necessary.
When your cable modem receives the Internet transmission, it translates it
into Ethernet data which is then converted by the Ethernet card into
information you computer can understand. The process is reversed when you
send data from your computer to the Internet.
The Facts About Cable Internet: Deciding on Cable Internet for your broadband needs
requires that you know the facts beforehand. Otherwise, you may realize too
late that a different alternative would have been more appropriate. Below
are five of these important facts:
Cable Internet is faster than dial-up. With upload speeds between 64 Kbps
and 256 Kbps and download rates ranging from 128 Kbps to 1 Mbps, Cable
Internet will help you increase your enjoyment of online activities, such as
gaming, downloading music, and chatting.
Cable Internet provides an always-on connection. This means that as long as
your computer is turned on you are connected to the Internet. The obvious
advantages of this is that you don't have to worry about getting
disconnected because of inactivity, busy servers, or incoming telephone
calls. It also means that you don't have to wait while your modem attempts
to connect. However, an always-on connection can also make your computer
vulnerable to hackers and viruses. You can protect your system, however, by
using a firewall and reliable antivirus software.
Cable Internet costs more than dial-up. In most cases, the cost
difference is $5 to $20 more per month. However, many dial-up users
have a second phone line which becomes an unnecessary expense with Cable
Internet and which could easily make up the difference in cost. Plus, many
cable television subscribers receive discounts on their Cable Internet
service just for using both. In the end, most Cable Internet users are
simply willing to pay extra for the increased speed, convenience, and
reliability.
Cable Internet is not available everywhere. Because offering Internet
services requires local providers to update their infrastructure, many have
not made the switch. If you live in a larger city, however, chances are
Cable Internet is already available. Also, most providers who now offer
digital cable television already or will soon be offering Cable Internet.
Cable Internet requires extra equipment. In order to receive high speed
Cable Internet access, you will need a cable modem and
an Ethernet card. Some computers come equipped with one or both of these
pieces of these items. If yours does not, you can purchase them from most
electronics stores. Generally, most Cable Internet providers can also supply
you with this equipment, so check with them before making these purchases.
Networking a Cable Internet Connection: One of the benefits of Cable
Internet over dial-up is that it can be shared conveniently with other
computers in your home. By purchasing a router - the small office/home
varieties are relatively inexpensive - you can create a home network that
splits the Internet connection for you. These routers also provide
much-needed protection from hackers and other unwanted traffic through the
use of a firewall. Once your network is ready, your family can freely surf
the Internet simultaneously on all of your home's computers.
