# What is the difference between DSL and Cable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510 "2003-11-27T02:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/21 "2003-11-27T19:13:30Z")
As one who’s used both, let me get right to the point: I’ve been much more impressed by cable than DSL. The main problem with DSL, as far as I’m concerned, is that both transfer speed and latency (especially latency) are very dependant on your location in relation to the actual POPs the phone company has set up. In our case, our location gave us a pretty crappy connection. I was unable to reliably play any online games, transfer rates for downloading were OK, but nothing special. As well, our DSL provider (SNET cum Williams cum SBC cum 50 other partnered companies) was terrible at providing support. The service went down on a regular basis, and on a number of occasions we were out of service for 3+ days. Calling them got no response; you were simply routed to an outsourced callcenter, where the support staff would assume it was something with your Windows network settings. They basically forced you to go through the song and dance of checking all the network settings, rebooting the computer a few times, switching the modem off and on, and so forth, before finally moving you up to another support level – who would again assume it was something on your end. We finally were given a pager number of an actual network tech, who _was_ helpful, but it came down to calling some local guy at home to get the stupid DSL back up. Having worked in network operations myself (basically, the department whose job it is to make sure the network doesn’t go down, and to fix it when it does), this is _not_ acceptable, and is indicative of a poorly-run company. Business users would never tolerate such downtimes. Since we’ve switched to cable, the service has gone down maybe once, and the cable company was able to tell us exactly what was wrong, and when it would be back. As well, latency is excellent (I can find countless game servers with sub-30ms pings, making for a very smooth gaming experience). Download speeds are great, and are more often limited by the remote server than your cable link. Anyway, I’m rambling a bit, and since I don’t even know what the OP was, I may be way off base. My suggestion: investigate the local companies that operate broadband services, ask around, and a clear picture of which is better will develop. Most people I know’s experience, though, has been that cable is the way to go, if you have a choice. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/22 "2003-11-27T19:24:49Z")
\*\* occ \*\* does make a very good point, ask around to those who have cvable or DSL in your area and ask what their experence it. It is highly variable and info from yoru location would help the most. ---
**Author:** ![olefin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@olefin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olefin)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/23 "2003-11-28T00:48:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Probably not, unless your cable ISP provides compatible software. . \*\* No special software needed. It doesn’t matter to the cable modem. Cable works just as good with with W-95 as W-XP. We have two computers, one W-XP, the other W-95, connected with a router. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/24 "2003-11-28T01:57:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by danceswithcats \* > **There is also the issue of location. IIRC, DSL is not available if your location is more than 3-5 miles from the telco local office exchange.** Depending on who you ask, the maximum distance is between 16,000 and 17,500 wire feet. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/25 "2003-11-29T02:10:33Z")
My original post got lost somehow. The question (title) posted, but not the OP. Very odd. Anyhow, we thought that commercials were claiming DSL is digital as well as cable is digital? But, actually DSL is not really digital, is it? Then again, it can’t be analog, right? …In other words, does DSL = cable? From your responses, I take it DSL is regular, old-fashion dial-up, right? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/26 "2003-11-29T03:09:32Z")
DSL is a digital signal. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. Cable internet service also uses a digital signal, but of a slightly different nature. The confusion may come from the two types of wire used. The type of wire doesn’t necessarily mean the signal it carries is either analog or digital, or of some any specific nature. With the right equipment at either end, you can run all kinds of signals through just about any type of wire. Cable internet uses standard coax, the same kind of wire your cable TV or satellite signal uses. As you’re probably aware, some cable TV signals are analog (the “old fashioned” kind) or digital. Cable internet uses a digital signal, but (I think) it’s a different format than the digital cable signal. DSL uses a twisted pair of wires, the same kind of wire your regular telephone uses. Again, this kind of wire can carry various different kinds of signals, either digital or analog. Your telephone (probably) uses an analog signal, and a standard dial-up modem converts the data to sound, and sends it across the wire just like your voice would be sent, as an analog signal. But even though DSL uses the same kind of wire a telephone does, it’s a completely different kind of signal. It is a digital signal, higher in frequency than the analog signal used to carry voice or analog modem information. Because the DSL signal is of a different type and frequency then the analog voice/modem signal, they can be run on the same wires at the time, with a simple filter to split them. This is why you can “piggyback” a DSL on a working telephone line without interfering with the telephone. ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/27 "2003-11-29T04:09:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Depending on who you ask, the maximum distance is between 16,000 and 17,500 wire feet. \*\* Now, if you are talking nautical miles instead of statute miles, that would be 2.67 - 2.92 miles. \ **Jinx** DSL does NOT equal cable. They are both high-bandwith digital pipelines into your computer, but they are different beasts. Most simply, DSL uses the phone line and cable uses the cable line. Different wires into your house, different people selling it. Honestly, talk to people in your neighborhood to see what they have and how their experience is. You may be limited by service providers (cable seems to be more restrictive in my area), and it might be worth it to find out who works well in your area. Your house may be far from a telco switch box, thus ensuring minimum performance from DSL. On the other hand, there may be 100 teenagers downloading from Kazaa every night in your neighborhood, making cable useless when you want it the most. From my own personal experience, cable has faster downloads of large files but can’t get the low ping times that DSL can for online games. Your preferences may vary, but I can guarantee that even lousy “broadband” service will be miles ahead of dial-up. ---
**Author:** ![robo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@robo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robo99)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/28 "2003-11-29T04:34:34Z")
I’ve got DSL with 1238 kbps download and 213 kbps upload. Let me reiterate the insecurity aspect of cable. Let’s say you live in an apartment building and both you and the person above you are using a provider’s cable for internet access. All your neighbor needs to do is install the appropriate software on his computer and he can see all the traffic between your computer and the world. He won’t be able to see encrypted data (SSL/HTTPS) of course but he will be able to see everything else. He can easily log all the info if he wants. ---
**Author:** ![robo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@robo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robo99)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/29 "2003-11-29T04:36:20Z")
P.S. the above applies to anyone using the same wire so it could be a couple of hundred people that can spied on, not just the guy next door. ---
**Author:** ![MyOld85MG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MyOld85MG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyOld85MG)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/30 "2003-11-29T05:16:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Susanann \* > **DSL, at least in my area, cannot/doesnot work with Windows 95.** Well, in my area, my provider said DSL wouldn’t work with Win95, but really what they meant was the software they provide to make the PPPoE connection won’t work on Win95. In fact, if you have a router (and you should, even if you only have one computer), the router itself handles PPPoE and you don’t need the provider’s #@()#$# software. And it will, too, work with Win95. So long as you have a compatible Ethernet card. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/31 "2003-11-29T05:34:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > **Actually, broadband _really_ means capable of high bandwidth. In data transmision (whether analog, as in TV and radio, or digital),** Lately people have been using the term broadband to mean just about any kind of high speed Internet access. Broadband actually has a specific definition that predates this usage. It refers to anlog signalling over multiple frequencies on the same wire, as opposed to baseband, which is digital over a single channel. Ethernet is baseband. See [here](http://sunsite.queensu.ca/rmc/network/lanproject/lansample/appendix_k.htm) for a chart of the other main differences between the two. ---
**Author:** ![RavingMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@RavingMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RavingMad)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/32 "2003-12-01T15:33:07Z")
Something I’ve never quite gotten about cable broadband connections: the actual data transfer medium is coaxial cable, same as what cable TV runs off of, right? The service is provided by a cable TV company, the same that offers you HBO and such, right? So… does getting a cable broadband connection mean that you’re also getting cable TV programming included? Or are the two entirely separate beasts? I know that’s a frightening bit of ignorance, there, but enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/33 "2003-12-01T16:31:35Z")
Stark, There’s one wire which simultaneoulsy carries two separate signals for TV & computer data. Think of the computer data as being on a different TV channel and you’ll have a good big-picture concept even though that’s technologically all wrong. Now whether the cable company will sell you the two signals separately a la carte is another matter. Where I live, you can get basic cable TV, fancy cable TV with more channels , digital cable TV with even more channels, or digital cable TV AND computer access. They only sell those 4 packages and each additional service costs more. So to get the computer access you have to buy the super deluxe cable TV package even if you don’t have a TV. And since the computer access is real popular right now, guess what: it costs a bunch extra. DSL on the phone line is similar in that the phone co will (usually) only sell it if you’ve already got a regular phone line hooked up, and that it costs a bunch extra. How much extra for computer cable or DSL ? More than $25, less than $50 per month in most locations. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/34 "2003-12-01T19:15:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robo99 \* > \*\*I’ve got DSL with 1238 kbps download and 213 kbps upload. > > Let me reiterate the insecurity aspect of cable. Let’s say you live in an apartment building and both you and the person above you are using a provider’s cable for internet access. All your neighbor needs to do is install the appropriate software on his computer and he can see all the traffic between your computer and the world. He won’t be able to see encrypted data (SSL/HTTPS) of course but he will be able to see everything else. He can easily log all the info if he wants. \*\* Is this really true? I would like to see some more information about this. I do not think that my cable modem sends any traffic out the ethernet connection except for traffic meant for me. Time Warner says you cannot monitor other people traffic from a cable modem. > [@](#): > > **Can other people see what I send and receive through a cable modem?** > No. While cable modems use a shared data channel, the modems were designed to prevent anyone from intercepting data sent to or from a cable modem. First, our cable modems only deliver TCP/IP traffic; other network protocols, such as NetBEUI and AppleTalk, cannot be transmitted via cable modems. Second, our cable modems only deliver data targeted at the IP addresses of the computers connected to them; there is no way to “sniff” packets sent to or from other subscriber’s computers. Third, all data sent to and from the cable modem is encrypted. From here [http://www.twcarolina.com/cablemodemsupport/faq.html](http://www.twcarolina.com/cablemodemsupport/faq.html) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/35 "2003-12-01T19:53:28Z")
Cable services vary. My cable company (SUSCOM) actually gives you a seperate wire for the computer connection. I have two RG 6 cables coming into my house, one for TV and one for the computer. Unlike LSLGuy, I can get cable internet and not get digital cable, although in my case I do happen to have both. Most of my co-workers live in an area served by COMCAST, which uses a single cable and is pretty much as LSLGuy describes. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/36 "2003-12-02T00:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LSLGuy \* > Think of the computer data as being on a different TV channel and you’ll have a good big-picture concept even though that’s technologically all wrong. How is that technologically wrong? That’s exactly how it works. All of your downstream data is encoded in a QAM-modulated signal that occupies a standard TV channel frequency band. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/37 "2003-12-02T02:55:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vknowles \* > **Well, in my area, my provider said DSL wouldn’t work with Win95, but really what they meant was the software they provide to make the PPPoE connection won’t work on Win95.** Can’t you get DSL service without PPPoE? PPPoE is a hassle, reduces your bandwidth, and typically means you get a different IP address every time you connect. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/38 "2003-12-02T04:43:16Z")
I heard the ad on the radio from Comcast. They say they offer high-speed internet which is faster than direct dial-up and DSL. So, in this context, it is implied that dial-up and DSL are two different beasts. Yet, some posts here say they are one and the same. Still confused… - Jinx “…They should never give a license to a man who drives a sleigh and plays with elves!” ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/39 "2003-12-02T05:31:21Z")
DSL and dialup are different beasties that are both available over your telephone line. dialup negotiates an analog connection, which limits the speed greatly. DSL, while still using the same phone line, negotiates a dedicated, digital connection that is many, many times faster than dialup. What’s an average dialup top speed these days? Around 5-6 KBytes/sec? DSL service varies by area, but 120KBytes/sec isn’t unusual. With a cable modem, 200 KBytes/sec isn’t necessarily unusual, making it faster than either in a theoretical sense. But in a practical sense, it depends on your neighborhood. If you’re at the edge of DSL distance, you’re not going to get a very good rate (relative to other DSL connections, you’ll still be doing fine relative to dialup). If you live in a college student neighborhood, you’re not going to get good cable modem rates. -lv ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510/40 "2003-12-02T06:38:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr2001 \* > \*\*Can’t you get DSL service without PPPoE? PPPoE is a hassle, reduces your bandwidth, and typically means you get a different IP address every time you connect. \*\* I signed up for DSL in 1999 and received a static IP address. Some months later, new customers had to use PPPoE. A static IP is available for more money (twice the basic rate in my area). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-cable/215510.md?page=3)