Cable: uses the same types of cable that transmit cable television services. Through cable internet, you have the broadband capability and can reach high speeds. Cable internet is usually available through current or former cable television providers in their respective areas. Cable internet can have fast speeds.

DSL: stands for a digital subscriber line and uses a connection that is similar to a phone line, but the wiring is different, so it allows broadband transmissions. DSL is faster than dial-up.

Satellite: with satellite, the internet is delivered wirelessly to the receiver, but it still requires wiring to transport its signal from the receiver to various locations throughout your home. The bandwidth for the satellite is comparable to DSL and cable but can feel slower.

Fiber: this internet form is the quickest internet technology available. Fiber internet uses fiber-optic cables. These cables are capable of transmitting large amounts of information fast. It is the most expensive form of internet, and not readily available in all areas.

How Much Internet Speed Do You Need?

Internet speed makes internet packages different, and to choose a package. You need to figure out how much internet speed you need. How is internet speed measured? Internet speed is measured by megabits per second (Mbps). This measure is smaller than a single character you would type in an email or document. Which means, a megabit is one million bits.

What is Mbps Measuring?

In order to determine internet service's overall speed, you need to look at download speeds, upload speeds, and latency or lag.

Download Speed (measured in Mbps) – the download speed tells you how long it would take to download a particular file. Files are not downloaded all at once but come through one by one. Download speeds will vary during the download process.

Upload Speed (measured in Mbps) – the upload speed is determined by how long it takes to send a copy of a file from the computer to a remote network connection. For example, it was uploading pictures to Facebook.

Latency (measure in milliseconds) – latency refers to the length of time between when information is sent and when it is received. You can see the lag on your screen while you are waiting for a website to load or a buffering video on YouTube.

Different households have different internet needs. A home with one person using the internet to access social media would not need a lot of internet speed, as a family with Netflix streaming in multiple rooms. Below are the different internet speeds and what you can use them for:

0-5 Mbps – check emails, stream music on the device, searching on Google
5-40 Mbps – streaming video on one device, video calling with Skype or FaceTime, online gaming for one player
40-100 Mbps – streaming HD video on a few devices, multiplayer online gaming, downloading larger files
100 – 500 Mbps – stream video in UHD on multiple scenes, download files quickly, gaming online for multiple players
500-1,000+ Mbps – able to do almost anything

Streaming Habits

Do you like streaming movies or video calling with family and friends? Make notes of your streaming habits and of anyone else sharing your internet connection to get a sense of what your needs internet needs and usage is.

Connected Devices

If you have multiple devices connected to your internet, it can determine your package. A large family with many people connected to an internet plan requires faster intern speeds than one person in a single household. Having higher speeds for a higher number of connected devices helps in ensuring a reliable and seamless connection across all devices, like laptops, phones, TV's, tablets, or video game consoles.

Routers and Modems

The modem is the gateway between your home network and the internet. The router is like the switchboard for all different connections among the devices in your system. The quality of your modem or router affects the speed at which your home Wi-Fi network functions.

Modems or routers that you receive from your internet service provider are typically necessary for internet usage. If you want your home network to execute at its best, you will need to upgrade, especially if you usually have four or more devices connected to your internet at any given time.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know what makes internet packages different and the importance of internet speed, you should consider if your internet service provider is delivering enough speed to your household. You can check your internet speeds to make sure that you are an internet service provider is providing the correct speed that you are paying for.

Choosing the right internet service provider and internet package can be a long process, considering you have to research, deal with contracts, look through packages, and read the fine print. Your first step is making sure that your internet service provider is available in your area, and second, compare speeds, prices, special offers, and packages lineups by various locations. Contingent on where you live, you could find yourself limited on internet service providers in your area.

Your last step is to do research on internet service providers, speed tests, and have an inkling of the bandwidth you will need to run your network system successfully.

By Travis Bard

© 2020 Copyright Travis Bard - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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