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Cable Internet technology

Cable internet gets its name from the physical cables (you guessed it) that make the transfer of data possible for this type of internet. A cable connection uses the same coax cables that are used to bring you cable TV. Luckily, since TV is widely available, so is cable internet. In most areas the cable infrastructure already exists underground. Whenever you try to do something online like click a link or update your status, the information travels through the cables using an electrical signal. You can watch TV and use cable internet at the same time without any problems, even though they use the same types of cable.

In order to get your house set up to receive a cable internet connection, you'll need a modem and a router. Though these items were once sold seperate, most providers now offer a single device that connects the capabilities of both. Essentially, a modem connects your house to the internet. The router splits up the modem's internet signal so that you can connect multiple devices to the internet. Data travels through the cables from your provider to a node located in your neighborhood. The node then distributes the data to the houses connected to it. Your modem and router will then communicate with your devices so that you can access the information you need.

Data caps for Cable Internet

As we talked about earlier, some cable internet providers place data caps on their internet plans. Specific data limits vary drastically by provider and location. Some cable internet providers have lower data caps, while others have such high limits that you'll probably never run out of data. For example, Cable ONE has internet plans with data caps that range from 50 GB to 1,500 GB (aka 1.5 TB). Alright, so now we have the numbers, but what do they mean? Let's start by giving you a list of things that you can do with 50 GB of data. You could send 20,000 emails, download 50 movies, stream music for 600 hours, or do 2,500 hours of browsing. Now, let's look at the higher end of data caps. Many providers have plans with data caps around 1,000 GB, or 1 TB. With 1TB you could watch 416 videos on Netflix that are 90 minutes long each. In other words, you would have to stream Netflix for more than 20 hours a day to hit your monthly data limit. Or, you could play 12,000 hours of online games. While the term “data cap” might sound scary, if the limit is high enough, you probably won't even have to worry about it. These providers will also let you opt into alerts that let you know when you're nearing your data limit. Luckily, there are also several providers that offer unlimited data plans without any caps.

What's the installation process for Cable Internet?

Thanks to cable's widespread availability and pre-existing infrastructure, the installation process is usually pretty simple. The exact process will vary by location and provider. If there is already an established cable connection at your residence, you'll just need to set up your modem and connect. On the other hand, if there isn't a pre-existing connection, a technician will have to set up a coaxial cable that reaches your home from a nearby utility pole. A new wall plate might also need to be installed in your house, but this will only involve drilling a small hole. Next comes the modem installation. The technician will set it up near the cable outlet for a strong signal. After that, your high-speed internet connection should be ready to go! Many cable internet providers also offer a DIY installation option if there is a pre-existing cable connection in your home. They'll send you all the equipment and instructions you need. This will save you the professional installation fee and make you feel like a real handyman/handywoman. The process shouldn't take more than an hour.

List of Cable Internet Providers

There are hundreds of different internet providers bringing a cable connection to over 194 million residents nationwide. Because cable is available in nearly 90% of the nation, chances are, there will be a cable internet provider in your area. Most areas only have a few providers to choose from, so there isn't a great deal of variety. However, you won't be overwhelmed with choosing from a lengthy list of providers. With availability in cities throughout 40 states, Xfinity is the largest cable provider in the country. Depending on your location, Xfinity offers internet plans with download speeds up to 250 Mbps. This is plenty of speed for large households, Netflix bingers, and gamers. Xfinity by Comcast is most available in DC, Utah, Illinois, and Colorado. Typical Xfinity plans have data caps of 1 TB while others are unlimited.

The second largest provider in the U.S. is Spectrum. Time Warner Cable Internet used to be a seperate provider, but it was recently acquired by Spectrum. Its cable internet packages come with download speeds up to 1 Gbps. This is still a high-speed connection, and it should provide enough speed for fairly heavy internet users. For those that live in larger households with multiple gamers, you might need to go with a different provider. Spectrum does not have data caps on any of its plans. This internet provider is available sporadically throughout 29 states. It is the most widely available in Wyoming, Montana, Wisconsin, and Missouri.

Next is Cox Communications. This provider offers the fastest download speeds for cable internet, with plan speeds up to 300 Mbps. All of Cox's packages come with data caps of 1 TB per month. This should be plenty of data for heavy internet users. If you somehow use more than your allotted amount, you'll be charged a small fee for every 50 GB that you go over. According to Cox, only 2% of its customers ever go over this limit. Cox internet is available in cities throughout 18 states. Those with the largest coverage include Arizona, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Oklahoma.

Remember how cable internet uses the same coax cables as cable TV? Because of this, most cable internet providers also offer bundles that include cable TV service. These bundles are great, because they often give you the services at a lower rate than you would pay if you bought TV and internet separately. This way, you won't have to deal with the hassle of paying 2 seperate bills every month. If you catch a good deal, you can also get perks like free installation, giftcards, or contract buyouts. You might as well get your high-speed internet and cable TV in the same place and save some money while you're at it! Type in your zip code at the top of this page to see which providers and bundles are available in your area.

Cable Internet vs Fiber Internet

Now that we've given you the rundown on cable internet, let's see how it stacks up against the competition. We'll start with a cable vs. fiber optic internet comparison. In terms of speed, fiber is the superior option. Cable internet providers offer download speeds up to 300 Mbps, while fiber optic comes with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, or 1 GB. With 1,000 Mbps, you can connect as many devices to the internet as you want. Even if you had multiple people gaming, streaming Netflix in HD, and downloading movies at the same time, your connection wouldn't slow down. Let's not forget that 300 Mbps is still a great amount of speed for larger households and heavy internet users. Though download speeds of 1 GB sound enticing, chances are you're not going to need anywhere near that much speed. While many providers offer a 1 GB connection, speeds will vary drastically by location. The fiber providers in your area might actually offer less internet speed than your local cable providers. Type in your zip code at the top of the page to see which cable and fiber providers are available in your area!

When it comes to price, cable is typically going to be more affordable. Fiber optic internet requires new infrastructure, offers faster speeds, and uses advanced technology, so its price tag is going to be higher. Fiber optic internet uses cables made of glass or plastic that transmit data using light instead of electricity. Data can travel much faster over light than it can over the electricity that runs through coaxial cables. Fiber cables are also much longer than coax cables, so information can travel farther distances at higher speeds. However, because fiber requires new infrastructure unlike cable, it is much less widely available. While cable internet reaches about 90% of the population, fiber only reaches 25%.

Remember those “traffic jams” we talked about that you can experience during internet rush hour with cable? You won't have to deal with this issue if you have a fiber optic connection. With a cable connection, you share bandwidth with all of your neighbors. This means that if you all decide to hop online and stream a Hulu show at the same time, you're going to experience less than optimal speeds. However, you don't have to share your bandwidth with anyone if you have fiber internet. Fiber cables are wired straight to your home, so you won't lose any speed even if the entire neighborhood is online at the same time.

Cable Internet vs DSL Internet

DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, is a type of internet that uses pre-existing phone lines to transfer data. Unlike dial-up internet, you can still make phone calls and use the internet at the same time. Because DSL uses phone lines, it is widely available, reaching 90% of the population. Cable is an option for 89% of the country, so the two don't really differ in terms of availability. Cable internet offers faster speeds on average than DSL. For example, AT&T's DSL internet plans come with download speeds up to 6 Mbps. This is far from high-speed and will only be sufficient for things like checking your email or updating Facebook. Your internet speeds with DSL will also depend on your location. You'll need to live only a mile or two from your provider's central office for optimal speeds. This distance issue doesn't exist for cable internet. One advantage of DSL is that you don't have to share bandwidth with your neighbors. This means that your internet won't slow down during peak hours like it does with cable. However, don't forget that overall DSL speeds are much slower than cable and you need to live close to a central office. Overall, cable is going to be a better option.