How is cable internet works

Satellite internet is more accessible to households in remote areas. But cable internet still outperforms satellite internet in reliability and speed. Satellite internet tends to be a little finicky with the weather. By comparison, cable internet is very reliable. Fiber optic internet may be the only true competitor for cable internet.

Fiber optic boasts speeds of Mbps up to Mbps and easily outperforms cable. But, fiber optic is not as widely available and usually requires very expensive installation and upkeep. Overall, cable internet provides the most bang for the buck. Next to fiber-optic internet, it offers the most bandwidth. It is also one of the most reliable options. Service may get bogged down during peak times with heavy network congestion, but will not be affected by the weather.

Cable internet service providers offer a menu of options. Data caps, speed limits, and bundled services allow cable internet providers to customize services at different price points. To get a good deal on cable internet services, consumers should shop all plans. There are a lot of costs associated with cable internet service, including monthly plan fees, equipment rentals, and installation costs.

Promotions and bundled services can help consumers save money on the costs of service. Even with all of the costs associated with cable internet service, it is still considered a good value for the money by most consumers. The speeds available with cable internet are adequate for almost every household. It can support multiple users engaging in high-bandwidth activities without lagging or crashing. Omar attended Clemson University in South Carolina where studied computer information systems and fell in love with the field.

He also likes playing video games, reading fantasy and self-improvement books, and learning from people who are smarter than him. In this article you will find out Points to Remember. Table of Contents. How cable internet works. Copper coaxial cables: Cable companies often utilize fiber-optic cables to send internet a greater distance; however, once it reaches your neighborhood, they change over to existing copper coaxial cables to travel the rest of the way to your home.

Ethernet cable: An Ethernet cable connects from your modem to your router or directly to your computer. It provides faster, more secure internet than Wi-Fi does. Cable internet speeds.

Cable speeds Mbps download, Mbps upload. Cable vs DSL: How do they compare? Cable vs DSL: Speed. Cable vs DSL: Distance. However, distance can be a factor with both. Cable vs DSL: Bandwidth sharing. Cable vs DSL: Cost. Should you get cable internet? Disclaimer : The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing.

This is not a guarantee. All information is subject to change. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase. Each individual's unique needs should be considered when deciding on chosen products. Go to Reviews. Watch our video reviews on. Home Security Home Security Reviews.

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What Carriers Use Verizon's Network? What Carriers Use Sprint's Network? Next Steps Back to top. Home » Internet Service. How Does Cable Internet Work? By Tyler Abbott. Published on December 08, Share Article.

Here's a quick look at the cable internet providers we recommend the most:. Best cable internet providers. As new users, especially heavy-access users, are connected to the channel, you will have to share that bandwidth, and may see your performance degrade as a result. It is possible that, in times of heavy usage with many connected users, performance will be far below the theoretical maximums. The good news is that this particular performance issue can be resolved by the cable company adding a new channel and splitting the base of users.

Another benefit of the cable modem for Internet access is that, unlike ADSL , its performance doesn't depend on distance from the central cable office.

A digital CATV system is designed to provide digital signals at a particular quality to customer households. On the upstream side, the burst modulator in cable modems is programmed with the distance from the head-end, and provides the proper signal strength for accurate transmission.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. How Cable Modems Work. Do you even know what the modem is?

Extra Space " ". Streams When a cable company offers Internet access over the cable, Internet information can use the same cables because the cable modem system puts downstream data -- data sent from the Internet to an individual computer -- into a 6-MHz channel.

Inside the Cable Modem " ". Inside the Cable Modem: Tuner " ". Inside the Cable Modem: Demodulator " ".