Every modern home requires a stable internet connection. Whether you own a smart home or just need it to browse, stream or game, the internet quality in your home can affect your daily life significantly.
For a lot of people, most of their day is now spent online. The internet is a huge part of not only our professional lives but several aspects of our personal lives as well. You use it to keep yourself entertained, informed and to communicate with the outside world; this means that a low-quality connection can keep you from successfully performing all of these tasks.
The following is a guide on the different types of broadband connections that homeowners can select from, depending on their area, ISP and internet usage requirements. This may help you select the best packages which you will be able to fully utilize every month.
Fiber
The type of internet connection which may be best for your home depends upon a few different factors. How many people live in your home? How many devices will be connected to your network, and how much is your daily internet usage? These are all questions that must be answered before one selects an ISP and the connection type. For users who tend to do heavy streaming and download games and such, the best option is always fiber internet.
This is the fastest, most reliable connection you can get for your home. With speeds of up to 1000 Mbps, fiber internet transmits data to users through tubes of fiber or glass laid out in an underground network. The one drawback to fiber is that it isn’t available in all locations.
Cable
If you already have cable TV in your home, this type of connection may be the perfect choice for you. Internet is transmitted to your home using the same cable connection which brings content to your television set, and this is the second most trustworthy type of connection you can find, right after fiber. The connection is set up in a way that one line goes to your TV, while the other is for internet and connects to your internet device.
With cable internet, you can get decent enough speed without having to worry about availability. It is reliable and can provide you with good browsing and streaming speed; however, if you are a gamer or tend to stream a lot of content online, you may want to opt for a package that will allow you to have a hassle-free online experience.
While cable may not be the absolute best in terms of speed, it is still the most widely used type of internet in the US, making it a great option for those who either cannot afford fiber, or find it in their area.
DSL
A DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection is another option homeowners have, and it transmits data through your home using the traditional copper wires through which your landlines are already operating. A lot of homes these days do not have landline connections, which is why opting for this is most convenient if you have already have the connection.
In a DSL connection, distance matters. The further away you are from the provider, the slower your internet speed will be. However, this internet type can give you decent browsing and downloading speeds, and is fairly reliable for homes with light to medium daily internet usage. There are essentially two main types of DSL connections:
- Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
- Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL)
The difference is the speeds they provide for upstream and downstream connections. Symmetrical connections are better for users who require significant upstream and downstream bandwidth, making them more convenient for professional purposes. This type of connection is best for users who cannot access fiber or cable internet.
Satellite
A satellite connection is best for those living in areas where other types of connections are almost completely inaccessible. Satellites orbiting the earth provide people living in remote areas with services such as TV and telephone, but the lesser used service you can have through a satellite connection is internet. If your area is not quite populated or is located somewhere where it is difficult to lay down a proper connection, satellite can ensure that you will always have a connection to the outside world.
Satellite is a good option for those with nothing else to opt for, but it may not be a preference. This type of connection is very slow and unreliable, and it is mainly due to the distance between the satellite and your home.
The satellite dish installed on your home has to detect the signals in order to provide you with the particular service, and this can become difficult at times. Satellite connections are often affected by factors such as weather, so if it rains, you may not be able to access the internet at all.
Conclusion
Having a good internet connection is essential for every household. Homeowner’s dependency on it has gotten to a point where one must prepare themselves for situations like electric surges with a backup connection. Being disconnected from all online sources for your various needs is highly inconvenient, which is why it is important to select a connection type that will not disappoint you in any way. Speed, reliability and customer service are all factors that contribute to making any type of internet connection worth considering.