# Wireless internet and how it works **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 10, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376 "2004-04-10T22:23:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/1 "2004-04-10T22:23:02Z")
I am looking into getting DSL, Cable etc… do they all require either a cable television service or a landline? is there any way to just get a high speed internet connection without getting either and just paying for the service of the internet service? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/2 "2004-04-10T22:26:51Z")
Well, DSL _requires_ a landline, as that’s how you get DSL - via the landline. Cable doesn’t “require” cable TV service, but once you get cable Internet, it’s trivial to buy a splitter and get cable TV for free. Because of this, most cable providers either charge you $10 more a month to get Internet without TV or structure their packages to make it “better” for you (moneywise) to get both. And what does this have to do with wireless? ---
**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/3 "2004-04-10T22:35:04Z")
very good question. i went absentminded and typed the wrong thing… i meant high-speed instead of wireless. oh well. sorry for the confusion ---
**Author:** ![chefIL11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/4 "2004-04-10T22:36:57Z")
and what does it typically cost per month to get cable internet? ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/5 "2004-04-10T22:45:28Z")
Well, I suppose that the “typical” price is $49.99 a month, but you’d really need to see what’s available in your area to know for sure. Most cable companies offer a choice of ISPs with their service. For example, in my area you call your cable provider and tell them you want Internet. You then have a choice of RoadRunner, Earthlink or (God forbid) AOL. Because of this, prices may vary. My best friend and I both have cable Internet through Time Warner Carolina, but RoadRunner is my ISP and Earthlink is his - because Earthlink had a “$24.95 for the first 6 months” deal going. When I signed up, there were no such deals and since I have my own domain and newsgroups subscription (and therefore I don’t need my ISP to provide me with email or newsgroup access), I just went with RoadRunner - even though I’ve never “set up” my account with RoadRunner. ---
**Author:** ![Alien2022](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@Alien2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien2022)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/6 "2004-04-11T02:32:33Z")
Actually, within the next few years, there will be wireless high speed internet access, with a radius of about 30 miles from the base station. It’ll be quite interesting to see how it takes hold, if it does. Depending on the type of connection and modem you get, the price will vary. I would strongly, strongly, recommend getting DSL. The quality and performance, even though your speeds will be lower, is much more consistent and reliable than cable. I have had DSL, and the performance was there when I needed it. Cable on the other hand… well when you’re in an apartment complex and everyone around you has cable high speed. You’re kind of in a lose-lose situation. Bandwidth takes a _huge_ hit in populated areas. If you get a dial up (yes they exist for DSL) or permanent connection modem will also greatly affect cost of service. My mother pays $29.99 a month for dial up DSL. While my father pays $49.99 for permanent DSL or Cable (he has had both). Add on ISP costs as well… ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/7 "2004-04-11T12:48:21Z")
Unlike Alien2022, I found DSL to be a nightmare. But that’s why they make chocolate _and_ vanilla ice cream, right? > [@](#): > > I have had DSL, and the performance was there when I needed it. Cable on the other hand… well when you’re in an apartment complex and everyone around you has cable high speed. What difference does it make whether it’s shared at the street or shared at your CO? It’s _all_ shared. This is one the DSL mafia tries to pull all the time and I’ve never seen it happen in reality. Especially now that Time Warner gives me 3-3.5Gbps down. BellSloth always sends me stuff in the mail about their “superior” 1.5Gbps Internet. Hah! > [@](#): > > If you get a dial up (yes they exist for DSL) or permanent connection modem will also greatly affect cost of service. My mother pays $29.99 a month for dial up DSL. You mean PPPoE or something similar? Who the hell wants that?? With cable you just screw coax into modem, connect modem to PC or router and you’re done. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/8 "2004-04-11T14:11:14Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > What difference does it make whether it’s shared at the street or shared at your CO? It’s _all_ shared. With DSL, you have a dedicated line from your house to the CO. From there on, it is shared, that’s true, but it’s using a _big_ pipe. With cable, your signal is commingled with others in your immediate neighborhood on the way to the bigger pipe somewhere else. Cable’s pipe, as impressive as it is to the home, isn’t in the class of major backbone speed. Whether or not you can tell the difference is dependent upon many factors. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-internet-and-how-it-works/239376/9 "2004-04-11T14:22:35Z")
> [@Rex Fenestrarum](#): > > Especially now that Time Warner gives me 3-3.5Gbps down. 3.5 **Gbps**?