able TV versus satellite bandwidth as any consumer
television is an old customer would ever need boasting
rivalry that can be seen downloads of up to 30Mbps and
discussed on TV at all hours of uploads passing 512Kbps in some
the day. The comparison seems to areas.
end however when it comes to
satellite internet and cable Cable also offers a high degree
internet access. This seems of reliability as it has been in
strange as cable and satellite service in many markets for over
companies are pushing packaged a decade, and of course the cable
services over anything else. So, companies date back to the early
which is the superior Internet 1970's. Generally 99% uptime can
service provider, cable or be expected.
satellite? Here we will examine
both and see if we can answer the Bundled together, cable TV and
question. cable Internet will cost around
$90.00 per month, or around
Cable Internet: $55.00 for Internet-only. This is
comparable cheap for a broadband
Cable modems allow Internet Internet service, with DSL being
access through the same lines a slightly less expensive option
that over 60 million Americans in most areas.
now receive cable TV. The
infrastructure is proven and Satellite Internet:
sound and more importantly
already paid for. The coaxial Internet over satellite, or IoS
cable allows dual band Service, is the technology that
transmission, one for uploads the provides Internet access via a
other for downloads. Cable low, geosynchronous orbiting
Internet offers about as much satellite. This means that the
static position of the satellite often an upfront cost. This
relative to Earth allows additional cost does not bring
customers to maintain connections any additional reliability. Many
any time of day. customers complain about slow or
even no Internet access during
One serious drawback to satellite inclement weather, and though
Internet access is signal these interruptions are generally
latency. Every data packet sent brief they certainly don't help
and received must travel from the justify the cost.
consumer's computer, through the
Internet, through a transmitter, Conclusion:
into orbital space, then return.
The round trip is around 45,000 It appears as if there is no
miles, and can create a great competition between cable and
deal of lag. Although satellite satellite Internet access. Cable
ISPs offer up to 1.5 Mbps is superior in performance and
downloads speeds, the average pricing, as well as reliability.
signal speeds are closer to If this is truly the case, then
512Kbps. Add latency to this and how can satellite companies
you can see how the connection intend on competing with cable
can be very slow compared to Internet? The answer is they
cable or DSL. don't. Satellite has one thing
cable does not, and that is the
Satellite internet access is also ability to send access to any
far from affordable. The service dish anywhere in the country.
typically costs around $50.00 to Rural America may for the first
$120 per month. This doesn't time have a broadband solution in
include the equipment investment satellite Internet.
which can cost around $300.00 to
$600.00 or more, and this is most If you can get cable, get it. If
you can't, then at least
satellite provides you with a google_ad_channel
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About the Author:
Jon Norwood is a managing partner of the High Speed Internet Access Guide, a site dedicated to providing information on Cable and DSL Internet service providers, as well as information on satellite Internet and wireless Internet access.
