Difference between ADSL and Cable Modem

ADSL Modems and Cable Modems appear to be cost-effective techniques for providing broadband network services. The primary contrast between ADSL electronic devices and Cable electronic devices is that ADSL electronic device use twisted pair connections to provide both voice and data services. In contrast, cable modems operate online.

In this article, you will learn about the difference between ADSL and Cable Modems. But before discussing the differences, you must know about the ADSL and Cable Modem with their advantages and disadvantages.

What is ADSL?

ADSL is an abbreviation for "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber line". It is the initial technology of DSL technologies. It is a technology that will provide quicker Internet connection speeds than standard dial-up telephone lines. It is the technology that powers many Internet connections throughout the world. It necessitates the use of two modems, one at the source and one at the subscribers' end. It sends both phone and internet service via the same twisted pair connection.

ADSL is an asymmetric technique that offers downstream and upstream speeds, with the downstream speed being much faster than the upstream speed. The downstream bandwidth is enhanced by adopting this unequal bandwidth partitioning, which eliminates crosstalk between downstream channels of the same amplitude. Upstream signals are more prone to interference due to their lower amplitude and the signals originating at different distances. The distance between the user and the public carrier central office may affect the speed, which implies the signal quality declines as it travels.

The primary benefit of the ADSL technique is that its bandwidth is not shared among customers. It may reach distances of up to 18000 feet. The frequency range of an ADSL modem is 25 kHz to 1.1 MHz, and it has a maximum downlink speed of up to 200 Mbps.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ADSL

There are various advantages and disadvantages of ADSL. Some main advantages and disadvantages of ADSL are as follows:

Advantages

1. It is the broadband connection that has the greatest coverage and connects most houses.
2. You can use both services without one affecting the other because it doesn't interact with the telephone line.
3. It provides a better speed/price ratio than dialling methods, which can only typically deliver 56 kbps while also using the phone line. ADSL can deliver speeds of up to 4 Mbps.
4. Your privacy is protected by the independent, non-transferable nature of the services.
5. In terms of speed and stability, fibre optic connections considerably outperform ADSL.

Disadvantages

1. It might be costly in places where installation materials are scarce. It is because it necessitates a high level of copper quality.
2. It is unable to use the complete telephone line. As it has a 3km limit, it requires more than one connection to be used.
3. ADSL technology is sensitive to interference; your speed may be slower on occasion.
4. It is not as stable or as quick as a fibre optic connection.

What is Cable Modem?

The cable modem uses coaxial cable and works on HFC (Hybrid Fibre Coax) and cable TV coax networks. The main con of this method is that it shares bandwidth across users, which causes overloading. Cable modems should be able to filter out various traffics, including DHCP traffic, local LAN broadcasts, and ARP packets, among others.

The cable network employs a tree or branch topology. If the transmitter and receiver are on the same network branch, all connected hosts will receive the broadcasted upstream traffic, making the strategy exceedingly insecure. Cable modems (IEEE 802.14) provide isochronous and immediate access. It utilizes the FIFO transmission rule, priority, and the n-ary tree retransmission rule to resolve collisions.

The distance between the user and the ISP has no effect on the signal transmission rate in the cable modem. The frequency range of a cable modem is 54-1000 MHz. It may give a maximum downlink speed of up to 1.2 Gbps, and it depends on the manufacturer and organization.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cable Modem

There are various advantages and disadvantages of the Cable Modem. Some main advantages and disadvantages of the Cable Modem are as follows:

Advantages

1. It provides faster internet speeds than remote access, satellite, and DSL.
2. Cable modems accelerate the downloading and uploading of huge files.
3. Cable modems improve online gaming experiences for gamers.
4. Cable modems do not lose connections.
5. Access to the internet is available from any location. Furthermore, it is a dial-up connection, so the internet is available 24/7. If you have to make or receive calls on your landline, you have to disconnect from the internet.

Disadvantages

1. You have to pay expensive monthly, quarterly, or yearly fees to use a cable modem connection.
2. Cable modem connections are not available in all places.
3. Internet speeds are slower than those of fibre optic internet. The quantity of connections to the same internet line in your location also has an impact on speed. Additionally, a lot of people utilize the Internet at once, which could slow things down.

Key Differences between ADSL and Cable Modem

There are various key differences between ADSL and Cable Modem. Some main differences between ADSL and Cable Modems are as follows:

1. ADSL modem utilizes twisted pair cable. In contrast, the Cable modem utilizes coaxial cable.
2. Cable offers a much faster connection than ADSL. ADSL has a maximum speed of 200 Mbps. In contrast, the cable modems have a maximum speed of 1.2 Gbps.
3. The cable modem is vulnerable since all hosts receive the broadcasted signal on the branch. In contrast, ADSL modems provide security because every user has a connection.
4. The frequency range offered by an ADSL modem is 25 KHz to 1.1 MHz. In contrast, a cable modem provides a frequency range of 54 to 1000 MHz.
5. As each customer has a dedicated connection, ADSL networks are more scalable. If the user's number increases, the current users of the system are not significantly impacted. In contrast, cable lines are shared. Therefore, if multiple users log on, the performance decreases. The cable system becomes less scalable.
6. ADSL modem users may select their own Internet service providers (ISPs). In contrast, Cable subscribers are not permitted to utilize this feature.

Head-to-head comparison between ADSL and Cable Modem

Here, you will learn the head-to-head comparisons between ADSL and Cable Modem. The main differences between ADSL and Cable Modem are as follows:

Conclusion

When compared to the ADSL modem, cable modem delivers faster services. ADSL modem gives a security feature to the user that the cable modem does not. In the case of a cable modem, bandwidth is shared among users, which reduces transmission speed when a high number of users access services at the same time.