What Do You need to Know About a Cable Internet Connection?

People are always on the lookout for deals where they can hit two targets with one shot. Enjoy the best of both worlds, you know? Similar is the case with those cable internet combos that are hyped about in the telecom market.

How do they work? Well, it takes only a single coaxial line to transmit both cable TV and internet signals to your home, and what can get better than that? Let’s break this combo service down for you, so you can decide whether it’s right for you or not.

cable internet connections details

Coaxial Cable Base

The word ‘cable’ in ‘cable internet’ refers to the copper-based coaxial line that runs through a neighborhood and carries high-frequency data signals from the service provider’s station to the communal node, and then from there, to your home. Because of its shielded design and sturdy center, the coaxial cable enables both the cable TV and internet connections at the same time. This means you can watch the broadcasted news and browse through your newsfeed simultaneously, without worrying about any overlapping of signal stream.

Connection Speed

These days, people ask for nothing less than a high-speed network solution that’s delivered over a stable connection. In other words, they hate to wait and wish to be instantly gratified. Now, as I’ve said before, a cable internet service works on the basis of a coaxial cable, which runs through the neighborhood before it reaches your house. So, the internet speed that will be delivered to you will heavily depend on the usage pattern of your community. If there are ‘heavy data’ or power users living around you, then you can expect the internet speeds to be restricted during peak traffic hours.

Essentially, cable internet is a shared connection, which is a fact you need to keep in mind before switching to this network type.

You might be wondering how cable providers meet this ‘shared’ speed setback and still manage to keep their customers satisfied. The answer is: They make use of hybrid cables or FTTN (Fiber To The Node) infrastructure, which is a mixture of fiber-optic and coax. This combo significantly increases the speed of data transmission and expands per house bandwidth. Fortunately, if you happen to live in the fourth ‘most connected state’, you can see FTTN in action with Spectrum or other internet providers NYC has to offer.

Best Cable Internet connection

Reliability Factor

On a particularly stormy night, a satellite-based internet connection tends to die down, due to the electromagnetic interference in the atmosphere. A strong cable internet connection, on the other hand, withstands all whimsicalities of the weather and continues to provide its subscribers with an unimpeded bandwidth flow. However, there is one important hardware-related fact about the cable internet that you should consider. Cable erodes over time, so always choose the service provider who knows how to tackles the wear and tear, and who regularly upgrades the hardware.

Cost Comparison

Experts recommend that you do your research beforehand and make a detailed cost comparative analysis. First, evaluate at your finances and see if you can afford the upgrade. Second, look at your geographical position and check if the cable internet providers available in the vicinity suit your needs. Three, browse through the different cable internet bundle deals and packages offered by credible service providers in your zip and then choose the ones that resonate with you the most.

The following are some estimates of the cable internet rates in the market as of 2019, by top providers.

Providers Speeds Monthly Data Allowance Monthly Price Range Verdict
Xfinity from Comcast 15 – 2000 Mbps 1 TB – Unlimited $29.99 – $299.95 Best Plan Diversity
WOW! 100 – 1000 Mbps Unlimited $39.99 – $99.99 Best Low Costs
Spectrum 100 – 940 Mbps Unlimited $49.99 – $104.99 Best No-Contract Deals
Cox Communications 10 – 1000 Mbps 1 TB $29.99 – $99.99 Best No-Frill Packages
Suddenlink by Altice 100 – 1000 Mbps 250 Gb – Unlimited $34.99 – $84.99 Best for Small Towns

Wrapping Up

A cable internet connection has a wonderful stability and durability, and even though its speeds may suffer due to the ‘shared’ nature of its connection, you can surely enjoy a seamless web experience with the right ISP.



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