How to Know What Type of Dsl You Have

What Blazon of Internet Do Yous Have at Dwelling?

Mar 19, 2021 Share
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Net comes in several dissimilar connection types—and the type of connection you lot have plays a big part in determining how fast, reliable, and plush your Wi-Fi is.

Fiber internet is the fastest connexion you lot tin can get, merely information technology'southward also the hardest to discover. Cablevision is too reliable, just information technology's not equally cheap as DSL internet. There's also 5G internet, a promising and affordable new type of service, just information technology may exist a while before information technology's widely available to the public.

And so which internet type is best for you?

We put together a guide to aid y'all figure that out. Read on to get all the details of how these types work, how much they cost, and what speeds you tin can get from each. And of grade, use our cipher check tool below to run across what type of internet yous can get in your expanse.

What types of internet are bachelor?

Data equally of 3/xvi/2021. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*Percentages are based on net availability data from the Federal Communications Commission.

**Figures not currently available.

DSL, fiber, and cablevision

DSL, cobweb, and cable are the nigh common types of internet services available. They're the fastest, most attainable, and virtually affordable connections for the vast majority of internet customers in the United States.

Fixed wireless

Fixed wireless isn't as common, but information technology comes in handy if you desire an culling to the main providers in boondocks. If you live in a neighborhood with poor cable or DSL coverage, for example, or a rural area without many internet options to choose from, fixed wireless is a good choice.

5G

5G is a relatively new technology based on wireless cellular networks. It'southward non widely available at the moment but could sally as a solid habitation internet type over the adjacent few years.

Satellite

You lot can also get satellite cyberspace, which beams an internet signal downward from infinite. It is past far the most bachelor selection out there, simply it's more expensive than other internet connections and delivers slower speeds and less data. It's really something you'd desire only if you lot live in a rural area with express options.

What is the best type of cyberspace connection?

The all-time type of internet is cobweb-optic internet because it's extremely efficient, reliable, and fast. In most cases, fiber tops out at one,000 Mbps for both download and upload speeds. Indeed, cobweb delivers the fastest speeds possible out of any internet blazon—all the style upward to 2,000 Mbps (though 1,000 Mbps is far more mutual).

Nonetheless, fiber—which runs on arranged fiber-optic cabling—is also the least commonly available blazon of internet. If you lot can't get it in your area, cablevision is another excellent internet type. Information technology's capable of reaching 1,000 Mbps download speeds and is much more readily accessible since it runs on the coaxial wiring provided by large cable companies.

Type your null code to find different types of cyberspace providers in your area:

How to know what blazon of internet you accept

To find out what blazon of internet service you have, you can ask your internet provider. Most internet providers have one blazon of internet on their network, or two at nigh. You can also await at your monthly bill, or simply look at the cable that connects your modem to the wall, every bit we explain in the chart beneath:

Fiber net

$29.99–$299.95/mo.

Speed: 100–5,000 Mbps

Availability: 39% of US population

Animal likeness: Chetah

Fiber is truly the fastest, about reliable, and most high-tech internet around. Unlike internet connections like cablevision and DSL, it doesn't rely on older or potentially outdated communications infrastructure. Instead, it carries data over light signals through its own spiffy network of fiber-optic cabling.

That makes fiber incredibly powerful and fast, capable of reaching up to ii,000 Mbps (although 1,000 Mbps is far more than mutual). It also lets you take advantage of symmetrical internet speeds, boosting uploads to 10 times the speed of what y'all normally could go otherwise. This manner you tin upload enormous video files, practice Zoom video-conferencing, and complete other upload-heavy tasks with fast speeds and no interruptions.

Only fiber also costs more than than what you'd commonly get from a cable or DSL program. And the networks are less widespread, so it's not every bit readily available.

Pros

• Efficient connections
• Symmetrical upload and download speeds

Cons

• Less availability
• College prices

What are the best fiber internet plans?

*Plus taxes. Price after $v/mo Autopay & Paperless pecker discount (due west/in two bills). Monthly State Price Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies.

**Charge per unit requires paperless billing. Additional taxes, fees, and surcharges use. Speeds may non be available in your area. Maximum download/upload speed of up to 940 Mbps via a wired connection.

Cable internet

$xix.99–$109.99/mo.

Speed: 25–i,000 Mbps

Availability: 89% of US population

Animal likeness: Horse

Cablevision cyberspace is reliable, fast, and pretty much ubiquitous. It runs over the coaxial wiring of a cable company, so you tin usually bundle it with cable TV plans or streaming options. It doesn't quite match fiber for speed, but it can hit one,000 Mbps download speeds, which is ridiculously fast. And it has a much wider range of speeds bachelor compared to DSL, and so yous take more speed tiers to cull from.

Cable net tin can dull down during height hours since your service draws from a neighborhood-broad network. Cablevision likewise tends to feature seasonal toll hikes, so your bill can go up afterward a yr or ii of service. Simply cable companies are usually game to negotiate, and so don't be afraid of calling up your provider and asking for a promotional hookup if it's fourth dimension for your nib to go upward.

Pros

• Fast speeds
• Frequent promo offers

Cons

• Lengthy contract requirements
• Slower speeds during meridian hours

What are the best cable internet plans?

*For the beginning 12 months with No Term Agreement

**For the first 12 months.

DSL net

$27.99–$69.99/mo.

Speed: 0.5–100 Mbps

Availability: 88% of The states population

Animal likeness: Tortoise

Instead of photons zooming through fiberglass or signals beaming across the latest telecom protocols, DSL internet carries data over the former-school wiring of a landline telephone network. That makes DSL many times slower than cable or fiber—and the signal gets fifty-fifty weaker equally yous get farther away from the main network.

But if you can become 25 Mbps on DSL or faster in your area, you're pretty much adept to go. Y'all won't exist able to rely on it for uploading terabyte-sized film projects to YouTube or doing Netflix flick marathons in 4K resolution. But you tin can still stream in HD, surf social media, and practise plenty of other stuff with minimal issues every bit long as you live in a small household.

DSL is as widely available as cable. And DSL plans are fairly straightforward when information technology comes to pricing, so information technology can be a good option if yous demand Wi-Fi at a inexpensive price with minimal fuss.

Pros

• Wide availability
• Straightforward pricing

Cons

• Slower speeds
• Inconsistent performance depending on area

What are the all-time DSL internet plans?

*Rate requires paperless billing. Boosted taxes, fees, and surcharges use. Speeds may not be available in your area.

**with a 12 month contract.

5G internet

$sixty–$xc/mo.

Speed: 40–1,100 Mbps

Availability: Very limited (technology still emerging)

Animal likeness: Unicorn

5G is congenital on the latest generation of wireless engineering science, which promises superspeeds of ane,000 Mbps and faster with minimal buffering. But 5G networks are however in the process of coming together, so information technology may be a few years before 5G home internet becomes a properly viable internet type. Right now availability is very express, as about wireless companies are focusing on cell phone service. Besides, the technology works best in densely-populated areas, and so 5G rollouts are by and large focused around towns and cities, for now at least.

Providers like Starry Cyberspace practice offer 5G fixed wireless service in some small markets, though—and then it'due south worth running a search to see if it's available in your area. Otherwise you lot will take to admission 5G over a phone or hotspot, which requires that you get a 5G device.

Pros

• Fast speeds
• Low latency

Cons

• Limited availability since it'southward new technology
• Loftier barrier to entry since information technology requires an expensive 5G device

What are the best 5G internet plans?

*Data every bit of 3/four/2021. Offers and availability may vary past location and are subject to change.

4G LTE internet

$40.00–$100.00/mo.

Speed: ix–50 Mbps

Availability: Limited (technology notwithstanding emerging)

Animate being likeness: Turtledove

4G LTE internet gives you a Wi-Fi connection over a 4G wireless network. It's what you get when you use the net data on your phone or a mobile hotspot. But lately it'due south as well evolved into an option for abode internet with the launch of services like Verizon's 4G LTE Habitation Internet and T-Mobile Habitation Net.

Although the speeds can be inconsistent—since they depend on where y'all are in relation to the nearest jail cell belfry—4G LTE internet still has some perks, including an affordable price and availability in rural areas. It'due south an excellent culling to satellite cyberspace, since it gives you faster speeds and a lot more data. Cellular carriers are gearing upward to expand 4G LTE habitation internet service nationwide over the adjacent few years, then keep a look out if it's bachelor in your area.

Pros

• Available in remote areas where 5G isn't
• Faster than satellite cyberspace (and has more data too)

Cons

• Slower than fiber and cable internet
• Hard to find because it's new technology

What are the all-time 4G LTE internet plans?

*Data equally of three/xvi/2021. Offers and availability may vary past location and are subject to change.

Fixed wireless internet

$39.95–$99.00/mo.

Speed: 5–100 Mbps

Availability: 46% of US population

Animate being likeness: Pigeon

Stock-still wireless technology delivers internet over radio signals beamed to an antenna console that you install in your abode. It's not a especially common internet blazon, but it does come in handy in cities with bad internet service and in rural areas where your only other option is satellite internet, which tends to exist slower and cost more.

That said, fixed wireless net will still give you lot slower speeds and less data for the money compared to cable, DSL, and fiber providers. You'll likely also accept limitations when it comes to monthly data usage. But fixed wireless is commonly offered by smaller net providers, and then that means you can get more personalized customer service feel.

Pros

• Dandy rural option
• Cheaper than satellite net

Cons

• Limited coverage
• Monthly data caps

What are the best stock-still wireless cyberspace plans?

Provider	Plan	Speed	Price*	Sign up
Rise Broadband	Up to l Mbps	Unlimited	$70.00/mo. (with autopay discount) or $75.00/mo. (without autopay)	View Plans
AT&T Fixed Wireless	Up to 25 Mbps	250 GB/mo.	$59.99/mo.	View Plans

Provider	Ascent Broadband
Plan	Upwardly to 50 Mbps
Speed	Unlimited
Price*	$70.00/mo. (with autopay discount) or $75.00/mo. (without autopay)
Sign upwards	View Plans

Provider	AT&T Stock-still Wireless
Plan	Up to 25 Mbps
Speed	250 GB/mo.
Price*	$59.99/mo.
Sign up	View Plans

*Information as of 10/7/2020. Offers and availability may vary by location and are field of study to alter.

Satellite internet

$30–$150/mo.

Speed: 12–100 Mbps

Availability: 100% of United states population

Animal likeness: Space monkey

Satellite net works past effulgent a betoken down from satellites in space. That means you lot tin get satellite net basically anywhere in the U.s.a.. Simply it also means your internet volition exist fairly dull because your bespeak has to travel literally to space and back again—a distance that could bridge upwards to i,200 miles one fashion—to achieve your estimator, tablet, or phone.

Satellite cyberspace could get a lot more spectacular in the most futurity equally companies like SpaceX race to launch LEO (depression-Globe orbit) satellites into the creation to provide improved speeds and reduced latency. Until then, nosotros recommend satellite internet as a fallback if you tin can't get any other type of cyberspace service.

Pros

• Nationwide availability
• Potential for growth with new tech

Cons

• Slow speeds and loftier latency
• Low information limits

What are the all-time satellite internet plans?

Provider	Plan	Speed	Price	Sign up
HughesNet	30 GB Information Plan	25 Mbps	$99.99/mo.*	View Plans
Viasat	Unlimited Aureate 50	Upward to 50 Mbps	$100.00/mo.**	View Plans

Provider	HughesNet
Plan	thirty GB Information Plan
Speed	25 Mbps
Price	$99.99/mo.*
Sign up	View Plans

Provider	Viasat
Plan	Unlimited Golden 50
Speed	Upwards to 50 Mbps
Price	$100.00/mo.**
Sign up	View Plans

*Requires 24 month agreement.

**For the offset 3 months.

FAQ virtually net types

What blazon of net connexion practise I have?

The type of internet connectedness yous have is adamant by your internet provider. You tin can either have cobweb, cablevision, DSL, satellite, or stock-still wireless net. Some customers may likewise take admission to 5G or some other blazon of internet through their cell provider or a company similar Starry Net.

What is the most common type of net connexion?

The most common type of net connection is cable. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), information technology'due south available to 89% of the The states population.

DSL is too extremely common. Information technology's accessible to 88% of the The states population, according to the same FCC data. By comparison, cobweb internet is available to just 39% of the population.

How do I know my internet connection blazon?

You lot can find out your internet connection type by checking to run across what kind of connection you have between the network and your modem. Here's what to look for:

• Connection through the phone jack—DSL net
• Connectedness through the coaxial cablevision outlet—cable internet
• Connection through a fiber-optic terminal—fiber internet
• Connexion through an antenna panel—fixed wireless cyberspace
• Connexion through a satellite dish—satellite internet

To notice out your cyberspace type, you can also ask your isp (ISP) or look on your Internet service provider'southward website.

Dial in your zip code to see what internet providers and internet connectedness types are available in your area:

Author - Peter Holslin

Peter Holslin has more than a decade of experience working as a writer and freelance announcer. He graduated with a BA in liberal arts and journalism from New York City'southward The New School Academy in 2008 and went on to contribute to publications like Rolling Stone, VICE, BuzzFeed, and countless others. At HighSpeedInternet.com, he focuses on covering 5G, nerding out about frequency bands and virtual RAN, and producing reviews on emerging services similar 5G dwelling house net. He also writes about internet providers and packages, hotspots, VPNs, and Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

Editor - Cara Haynes

Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she'southward edited all things net for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English language and a minor in editing from Brigham Young Academy. When she's not editing, she makes tech attainable through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should experience lost in internet country and that a practiced internet connectedness significantly extends your life bridge.

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Source: https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/compare-internet-provider-types

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