Even with all of the options out there for Internet access, the truth is that not all Internet services are right for everyone. Depending on where you live and your budget, you will do better with some Internet services than others.
Compare broadband, cable, satellite, DSL, dial-up, and wireless Internet to see which will be the best option for you. Use the chart below to get a rough idea of how different services compare. We have excluded wireless service from this chart because that term refers to so many different kinds of service that it would be too difficult to compile all of that information into this one chart.
DSL Internet Access
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet access is Internet service delivered through analog telephone lines. Analog telephone lines are the lines of the original telephone system. So, if you already have an analog phone line currently connected to your home, then you should be eligible for DSL phone service.
Advantages of DSL
DSL provides very fast and high quality Internet service. DSL service includes a very high bandwidth because telephone lines have a lot of room for data transfer. This means that you can use the Internet and make telephone calls at the same time, and support many Internet users all at once.
DSL lines are also very secure. Generally, DSL lines are harder to hack into than cable modems, so you shouldn’t have to worry about any unauthorized users.
DSL lines are also very durable. As easy as it is to lose power in bad weather, you are pretty unlikely to lose functionality from your telephone lines. As a result, you shouldn’t need to worry about severed lines except in the most severe circumstances.
DSL is frequently a good choice for fast Internet service for people who live within close proximity of their service provider. The closer you are to your service provider’s central location, the better your Internet connection will be.
Disadvantages of DSL
If you don't already have a phone line connected to your home, it can be prohibitively expensive to get one. Depending on the situation, whether you just need to replace a phone line, or you need to install one in a home that has never had one before, it can cost well upwards of $200 to install a new line.
In addition, it can be very difficult to get DSL service if you live too far away from a central service provider. In fact, most service providers have an upper limit for how far they can provide service, around three miles away from their server location.
This means that you generally can’t get DSL in remote locations, so you will have to check to see if you qualify for DSL service.
