DSL
vs.
Cable

Using the sliders, set the importance of each aspect.
Choozza will then find the best product for you.

DSL

2
Speed
2
Security
2
Reliability
2
Network Structure
2
Low Cost

Cable

DSL

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or xDSL, is a set of technologies that is used to transmit digital data over regular telephone network. With DSL a user can surf the Internet and make a phone call or send a fax at the same time, using the same phone line.

Cable

Cable relayed Internet uses the cables that cable TV uses, but this does not mean that the user has to subscribe to a cable TV service. The use of the cable modem does not affect the TV reception.

Speed

The speed of residential DSL services varies between 128kbps (kilobits per second) to 26Mbps (Megabit per second). Note however that the 26Mbps is not common and is actually the real top speed, available only in Japan. Most DSL variations reach well under 10 Mbps. And most home users get anywhere between 1.5 and 6 Mbps.
The actual maximum speed available for a specific phone line depends on the DSL technology implemented, the line quality and other factors.
Most home users are connected with ADSL, which is a flavor of DSL where upload speed is usually much lower than download speed. In SDSL (another flavor of the DSL technology) - upload and download speeds are equal. The DSL speed a user signs up for can not always be reached, and the actual speed a specific phone line gets is affected by the quality of the phone lines in the neighborhood and the distance between the home and the phone company's hub. DSL is very sensitive to distance, and the closer you are to the hub - the better the connection is going to be.
On the other hand, DSL connection is unique. This means that, unlike cable, it is not affected by the number of users online in your neighborhood. The speed you get may not be good, but at least it will be consistent and will not get worse. To top it all, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) usually place speed caps on your Internet lines, so the users don't get the full speed. In all fairness, cable ISPs do it as well.
Cable Internet has higher speeds than DSL. The speeds are often in the neighborhood of 30Mbps. Even though, most cable ISPs offer service for much lower speeds and, like DSL providers, they enforce speed caps to limit bandwidth used by the subscribers. The speed a cable modem provides is affected by the number of concurrent users in your neighborhood, as the network structure is different. Cable Internet services share the bandwidth between all subscribers in the same area. When many of your neighbors use the Internet at the same time as you � your speed will be affected. Cable Internet services, like DSL services, are usually offered with an upload speed that's much lower than the download speed.

Security

DSL uses dedicated cabling, unlike cable Internet which uses shared cabling. This means that subscribers are not on the same local area network (LAN). In the past, this was considered a security advantage for DSL, but this was not completely true even then, and is not relevant at all nowadays.
Cable Internet services share cable lines between users in a neighborhood. This makes all uses in that neighborhood members of the same LAN (local area network). In the past, some cable subscribers discovered that the structure of the network lets them view their neighbors' computers and files. The problem was of small scale, and is eliminated today by having security features integrated into the cable modem itself. The security features include basic firewall capabilities and DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification), which is a protocol that offers good security over the cables network.

Reliability

The DSL service is only as reliable as your phone line. Service is sensitive to interruptions by bad weather, and the subscriber must be close enough to the telephone hub.
Service is sensitive to interruptions by bad weather and reliability can be an issue.

Network Structure

The DSL network is using the phone network. Phone networks are non-sharing (at least not on purpose) and the speeds are not affected by this structure.
With Cable networks, all the subscribers in your part of the network receive every packet that you do. The cables, and the Internet connections, are shared between all those users. This affects the speeds (as discussed in the speed section).

Low Cost

DSL is traditionally cheaper than cable. Sometimes at up to 30%.
Cable is traditionally more expensive than DSL.

DSL

Cable

DSL

Average rating: 4.5 / 5
based on 358 customer reviews
Feel factor: 3


Great!

(Score 5/5)

Got if as promised and works great. Buy this product today to save you monthly rental fees from your cable internet provider.

Posted on: 2010-08-27
By Ju



Works great

(Score 5/5)

Only comment - make sure you call your provider and give them the new MAC address

Posted on: 2010-08-24
By kknaub



Motorola Surfboard SB5101 Cable Modem

(Score 5/5)

I replaced my Charter provided 10 year old Motorola Surfboard with this one about a month ago. Charter recognized it immediately and all I had to do was provide them with some information online and it's been running perfectly ever since. Idiot proof installation!

Posted on: 2010-08-23
By Califdrmn



Product crapped out after 5 minutes

(Score 1/5)

Connected it up. I worked with internet provider to get it registered. Powered on. Got the internet. It worked for five minutes and then dropped the internet. It would re-establish it periodically and hold it for a minute or two and then lose it again.

Posted on: 2010-08-22
By Annoyed



great modem for the money

(Score 4/5)

I had problems with an RCA modem I was using prior to this Moto modem. I would regularly need to unplug the modem and restart my computer since I was losing the signal frequently. This modem is easy to set up and I have been using it for weeks without a single problem.

Posted on: 2010-08-22
By supercriticalgirl

Cable

Average rating: 4.5 / 5
based on 812 customer reviews
Feel factor: 5


Questionable quality control

(Score 3/5)

The router was easy to configure using the setup wizard, at least for basic configuration. If you want to go beyond that, you're pretty much on your own because there is no documentation provided with the device. The wireless range is plenty for the house I live in, and had no problem connecting to it with my HP laptop. However, two of the four switch ports don't work.

Posted on: 2010-09-02
By BG



Good Value

(Score 5/5)

I'm no geek. The only tomato I'm familiar with is on a sandwich. I had the router installed and running in 15 minutes. Strong signal all through a 2 story house. Four to five bars 225 ft. through two windows into another building. Buy it.

Posted on: 2010-08-30
By not2smrt



Failed after short time

(Score 3/5)

Worked well for a while then system slowed to a crawl. Removed router and everything was ok. I did not bother to try to get it to work. This is probably a solvable problem, but, I do not wish to spend the time to try. This may be a good product, but my experience with it was not good.

Disclaimer: Reviewer holds stock in Cisco.

Posted on: 2010-08-29
By wauwis



dd-wrt works great

(Score 5/5)

I've got 2 of these. Both have dd-wrt installed. One is connected to the DSL modem and the other is downstairs set-up as a wireless bridge repeater. Prior to adding the last one I relied on a d-link wireless router and ended up rebooting it and the dsl modem at least a few times a day. Now that I've eliminated the d-link router, I've had no issues whatsoever for the last 2 weeks.

Posted on: 2010-08-27
By Scott Smith



Good, Reliable Product for the Money

(Score 5/5)

Product was quick and easy to install on both desk pc and notebooks. I have not had a problem with it during the month that I've had it in use. This is a good, reliable product for the money. Security is not as flexible as the SMC that this one replaced, but does seem adequate. As always, I did not have a problem with Amazon handling the sale. It arrived promptly and in great shape.

Posted on: 2010-08-20
By Ronald DeLauter

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