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Are you tired of slow and unstable internet connection at your home? It is time to get more reliable internet service. There are few methods to select good internet deals for your home. You might have heard good reviews about Spectrum internet packages but, to choose the best option for your home, you must know exactly about your internet needs. To assist you further, we have prepared a complete guide for you. So, let’s get started!
Broadband Internet for Home Usage
You may have heard the name of broadband internet several times but it is not any technical term. Broadband internet is an always-on internet connection that provides high-speed internet to its users.
Types of Broadband Internet
Broadband internet is of four types: cable, DSL, satellite, and fiber. You can choose anyone among them based on your internet needs. Let’s discuss these different types in detail to help you gain a clear understanding.
Cable Internet
Cable internet establishes a broadband connection via phone lines or coaxial cables that supply cable TV to your home.
Speed
On average, cable internet provides speeds between 3 Mbps – 100+ Mbps. The speeds may vary depending upon multiple factors like location, etc.
Installation Process
If you have a cable TV at your home, then it is very easy for you to install cable internet at your home. You only have to contact your cable provider through phone or website. You can also save some additional bucks by availing bundle deals.
Drawbacks
Cable internet users usually complain about bad customer service. Make sure that you take enough feedback and reviews from your neighbor before choosing a cable internet service provider.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet
An affordable and reliable broadband connection, Digital Subscriber Line transfers connectivity to your home via phone lines. It is different than a traditional dial-up internet connection.
Speed
DSL offers speeds between the ranges of 1 Mbps to 10 Mbps. It allows you to stream Netflix, browse the web, and play online games.
However, your distance from the service provider highly impacts your DSL speeds. The closer, the better. DSL is a cheaper option for those who cannot afford cable networks.
Drawback
The speed of DSL internet is slower than cable internet. If you move away from large cities, the quality of your DSL internet connection gets affected negatively.
Satellite Internet
The best internet connection in terms of availability is undoubtedly the satellite internet. You don’t need any phone lines or cable wires to get access to a satellite connection. You only need to install a dish on your rooftop or balcony. It delivers the signals from the satellite to your home modem.
Speed
With satellite internet, you can enjoy upload speeds up to 3 Mbps and download speeds up to 15 Mbps.
Availability
Satellite internet provides good coverage in areas where no other internet service is available. For residents of rural and remote areas, satellite internet is the number one choice.
Drawback
Many people cannot afford satellite internet due to its expensive rates. Both cable and DSL services are cheaper than satellite.
Fiber Optic Internet
If you want the fastest speed internet, then fiber optic may be your preferred option.
Speed
With fiber optic, you can enjoy a seamless online experience with speeds up to 1 GB per second. You do not need fiber optic if you only use the internet for sending emails or basic web browsing. In this case, you can opt for other affordable options.
Drawback
Fiber optic internet has restricted coverage and is not widely available everywhere. The residents of remote areas are unfortunately left with the option of satellite only.
Choosing Internet Deal that Best Suits You
The first step in the choosing process is to determine the type of internet services available in your area. Once you have learned about internet service providers in your area, it is time to focus on other important things to make a wise decision. To help you in this regard, listed below are a few things that you must consider before selecting an internet service for your home.
Download Speeds
The speeds that allow you to download data are called as download speeds. It can be anything you do on the internet like video streaming, playing online games, downloading large files, etc. All these activities download data for you. So a higher download speed means a smoother online experience. Similarly, lower download speeds may result in lags, buffers, dropped connections, etc.
Upload Speeds
The speeds through which you send data from your device to other places on the internet are called upload speeds. If you use cloud-based backup or run file servers, then you need high upload speeds for a seamless experience.
If you do not use the internet for frequent data uploads then you do not need high upload speed.
Data Limits
While some ISPs offer deals without any data limits, others don’t. The standard data limit that most ISPs impose is 1000 GB per month. If you do not download large amount of data over the internet, then data limits might not be an issue for you.
However, if you have smart devices like watches and appliances, then they may eat up all your data in the background. Similarly, if you use the internet for video streaming in ultra-high definition quality (4K), then we’d recommend you choose an ISP without any data limits.
Bottom Line
Always look out for ISPs that offer the best deals at affordable rates. For example, with Spectrum bundles, you only get a single bill for your internet, phone, and TV that helps you save money and get maximum entertainment at the same time.
