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Difference Between DSL And Cable Modem | Definition | Table | Updated

We explain that what is the difference between DSL and cable modem? with definition and table. Technology and the Internet have taken humanity through a different period. From connections to wired and now wireless connections, the connection modes have changed. Two of these modems in the modern world are the DSL modem and the cable modem.

The DSL modem is connected directly to the phone line. Although the speed provided by this service is low, it is sufficient for less data transmission and an average family. The added benefit is the stability of the network, even if a large number of people are connecting to the same modem.

The cable modem is connected to the TV setup box. This provides reliable, high-speed data. The advantages of the cable modem include the fact that even if the distance between the device and the modem increases, the connection remains stable.

the difference between the DSL modem and the modem cable is that while the DSL modem is connected to the phone line that is unique to each home, the cable modem is connected to the box the TV settings.

Comparison table between DSL modem and cable modem

Comparison Parameters DSL Modem Cable Modem

Connection	Connected to the phone line	Connected to tv cable
Velocity	Has a speed of only up to 400 MBPS	Has a speed of up to 10GB
Use	It is used for lower data rates like videos, movies, etc.	Used for higher data needs, such as video game streaming
Stability	It is more stable because the landline is unique	It is not stable because a large region uses the same signal
Distance	The further you are from the connection, the lower the speed	As long as you are within the cable region, the connection will not be affected

What is the DSL modem?

The DSL modem is connected to phone lines. Therefore, the connection is made through telephone services. Since the phone line is unique to each house, the connection is also unique to each house. This ensures stability.

The devices have individual connections. So even if the actual speed of the DSL modem is slow (only 400MBPS), it will not be affected by the number of devices connected to the modem. The DSL modem therefore has a reliable connection.

The DSL modem is connected to the telephone line makes the distance between the modem and the connected device important. The greater the distance, the worse the connection.

They are usually used in places that have low data requirements, like watching videos, downloading movies, etc.

What is the cable modem?

Cable modems are connected to the TV setup box. This ensures high speed internet, approximately 10GB. Therefore, this is used in large-scale data usage, such as in business or enterprises. This is also used for games.

Although the cost of a cable modem is higher than that of a DSL modem, this difference in price is only due to the high speed that this modem provides.

Since it covers a wide range, the region covered by the TV cable will also be covered by the Internet cable modem. This means that the distance would not affect the connection received by the devices.

But the number of devices connected to the modem can make a difference in the received Internet speed. The more devices that are connected, the lower the Internet speed. This is because the data speed depends on the scale of connections made.

Cable modems were once very popular, but due to the added price advantage and reliability of the DSL modem, it is slowly declining.

Key Differences

The key difference between the DSL modem and the cable modem lies in their connection. While the DSL modem is connected to the phone line, the cable modem is connected to the cable TV setup box.
Due to the difference in connections, the difference in Internet speed can also be observed. The cable modem has a high speed of up to 10 GB, but the DSL modem, on the other hand, only has a speed of up to 400 MBPS.
The difference in the speed of the two modems results in the difference in the need for them. The high speed cable modem ensures stable connection and can be used for high data requirements such as continuous gaming or business work. But the DSL modem is used for videos, downloading movies, and other activities with low data requirements.
The reliability of the modem depends on the stability. Since each phone line is unique to a household, the DSL modem is more stable because only people within range use the modem. But in the case of the cable modem, it has a wide range, people in the region would be using the same connection. Therefore, during peak hours, your internet speed will suffer.
Distance plays an important role in DSL modem because only if the connected device is within phone range, the network would be strong. As the distance increases, the speed decreases. But the cable modem is not affected by this distance.

Final Thought

Internet is one of the most important things to survive in the modern world, it has helped in the development of different modems for connection. Two of them are cable modem and DSL modem.

The DSL modem is connected to the telephone line and is limited within the services of the line. This means that the modem is unique for each house and therefore the connection is reliable.

The cable modem is connected to the cable TV setup box. This means that the same connection is used over a wide range. But this also ensures that the network speed does not decrease even if the distance between the modem and the connected device increases.

The main difference between the DSL modem and the cable modem, which led to the decline of the latter, is the fact that cable modems are cheap and reliable. They are stable even with a large number of connected devices.