![]() ![]() And that’s the only acronym you need to know in the world of Cable Internet. ![]() Since the service in question is cable TV, we have the Cable modem.Ĭable modems use a standard DOCSIS to carry data signals, an acronym for data over cable service interface specifications. It converts service signals into computer data signals and vice versa. What is a modem?Ī modem is a device that works as a modulator and a demodulator. Since the coaxial Cable was initially made for TV signals, there needs to be a modem to make it work for the Internet, which is data signals - similar to the case of DSL that uses the telephone line. Cable InternetĪs the name suggests, Cable Internet is the broadband connection via the coaxial copper wires used originally for Television or Cable TV. Most DSL providers have been slowly moving to Fiber as the replacement.īut in a way, as far as the Internet net is concerned, DSL is similar to Cable. Short for digital subscriber line, DSL uses the existing phone line - that same wire we once used for the good old Dial-up connection - to deliver modest broadband connections.ĭSL has declined significantly due to slow speeds and unreliability in recent years. Your real-world Internet (download) speedsīefore continuing, though, let’s address the elephant in the room: your beloved DSL.Tips on getting a Cable modem: Which DOCSIS version to use?.DOCSIS 4.0: The future of Cable as a real alternative to Fiber-optic.DOCSIS 3.1: Multi-Gigabit-capable on top of top-tier DOCSIS 3.0.Cable modem (further) explained: DOCSIS 3.0 vs DOCSIS 3.1 vs DOCSIS 4.0.Fiber vs Cable Internet: The future is in the former.The curious case of Cable Internet’s fast download vs slow upload speeds.Fiber vs Cable Internet, or ONT vs modem.In this particular setup, you need two routers or one that supports Dual-WAN. Each delivers the Internet to a single wired device, which, in most cases, is a Wi-Fi router. The Cable modem (top) is connected to a coaxial line, and the ONT is live with Fiber-optic signals. Best Cable modems: For Comcast Xfinity (and possibly other ISPs)įiber vs Cable Internet: Pictured here are a Cable Modem (top) and a Fiber-optic ONT in action.Broadband: Fiber-optic ONT vs Cable modem (DOCSIS 3.0 vs 3.1) | How to activate a Cable modem | Broadband troubleshooting | Tips on 10Gbps Internet. ![]() Best Wi-Fi routers: Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5.Wi-Fi routers explained: How to pick that perfect one.Best mesh Wi-Fi systems: Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 5.How to best use multiple Wi-Fi broadcasters: Wi-Fi mesh systems explained | Tips on getting extenders | Access point buying guide.Wi-Fi hardware: Dual-band vs Tri-band vs Quad-band | Airtime fairness and IoT devices | Common home Wi-Fi settings.Wi-Fi standards: Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 6E | 5.9GHz Wi-Fi 6 (a.k.a UNII-4) | Wi-Fi 6 | What is Wi-Fi? | Wi-Fi antennas (dBi) | W-Fi broadcasting/signal power (dBm).Replacement: The right time to get a new Wi-Fi router.Everything you need to know: The basics (modems, routers, switches, etc.) | Router setup and maintenance | Tips on running network cables | Wi-Fi troubleshooting | Wi-Fi/Internet speed testing | Multi-Gig explained | Dual-WAN vs Link Aggregation | Your router and online privacy risks. ![]() On home networking, Wi-Fi, and the Internet I wrote this based on my experience as someone who moved to 10Gbps Fiber-optic after years of using Cable and kept both in a Dual-WAN setup.ĭong’s note: I first published this piece on December 28, 2021, and updated it on March 21, 2023, to add relevant, up-to-date information, including DOCSIS 4.0. This is also the case for any gateway unit. For example, certain modems work with Comcast Xfinity while others might not. That’s true as long as the two can connect via a network cable, which is almost always the case.Ĭompatibility is applicable only between a terminal device and the ISP. (If you run into that type of information somewhere on the Interweb, it’s likely nonsense.)Īny standard router, including the primary unit of a mesh Wi-Fi system, will work, at its full potential, with any Internet broadband terminal device - modem, Fiber-optic ONT, or others. There’s no such thing as “compatible” or “best” routers for a particular Internet service provider - Fiber-optic, Cable, or what’s not. ![]()
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