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Choosing Internet Providers

Cable, DSL, Fixed Wireless, Mobile, and legacy connections. It's tough to decipher the differences between these types of high speed internet connections and even tougher to weed through the useless information to find real-life useful reviews on the topic (not to mention the internet providers themselves). We're going to show you what you need to know to make the right decision in purchasing high speed internet access. See what's available in your area. Where is the internet

The Speed

Cable and DSL internet providers love to battle one another over who has the faster network speeds. You can't sit down to watch a show without noticing at least one ISP (internet service provider) showing a commercial with planes flying overhead or fancy 3D graphics illustrating their blazing fast speeds. While Cable internet providers have the upper hand in this respect, it's important to discuss whether it is really neccessary to purchase a 105mbps internet connection for $300+ a month (We're going to assume a family of four living in a suburban home for our example case).

It's important to note that you're not always passing large amounts of data through your connection. While you may have a 12mbps internet connection at home you're definitely not always downloading a file or streaming video. You complete these tasks in short bursts (relative to the whole day) and retrieve the information you want at a predetermined speed. That speed is your available bandwidth designated, as such, by the carrier. Most ISPs purchase dedicated internet access and resell this connection to you. You, in turn, are sharing your available bandwidth with others on the same local network as something referred to as the oversubscription ratio. It really doesn't matter what carrier you pick as this will occur regardless of provider. Some carriers oversubscribe less than others. Centurylink does a great job of keeping their oversubscription ratios down. For every 12mbps of dedicated internet access, 10 others can receive the same residential-grade connection on the principle that not everyone will be using this connection at the same time. It's the same idea that telecommunication companies use to provide telephone service. adsl

What does this mean for your family? Well...you're going to want to "oversubscribe" the right amount for your family as well. Here are some recommended minimum numbers for a single user:

256k to stream standard definition audio 512k to stream high definition audio 2mbps to stream standard definition video 4mbps to stream high definition video

If you're a single person in an apartment living along with nobody else using the internet connection then you can use the ballpark numbers above as a guide to bandwidth purchasing. If you have a family or live with others then you need to heed the following advice: double the numbers above as your minimum for a family of four. Triple the numbers if you live with teenagers (I'm not kidding!). How to get internet

The Technology

Cable - Uses the cable TV connection, known as coaxial, to run the internet connection over wire. It won't interfere with your television service and is relatively easy to install as most homes are wired for cable. Cable has been known to oversubscribe their users at ranges of 30-1 or even 50-1 in some areas. Ask your neighbors how their internet access functions at peak times, 3pm-9pm, to gauge the overall quality of the connection. Streaming Movies Recommended: Yes Speed: 1.5mbps - 105mbps Cost: $20 - $200/mo

DSL - Uses copper phone wires to transmit data digitally using a direct line back to the carrier's hub. DSL uses higher frequency bands for transmitting data so it won't interfere with your home phone. You'll just need to attach very simple filters to your phones which most carriers provide (they literally just plug in). DSL has the limitation of distance and can sometimes be difficult to attain faster speeds in more rural areas. Streaming Movies Recommended: Yes Speed: 256k - 40mbps Cost: $20 - $70/mo