There are a number of different ways to get access to the Internet in your own home, and some are better than others. For example, some of the technologies that you can use to access the Internet are DSL, satellite Internet, broad band cable, and dial up networking.



DSL is can only loosely be defined as a high speed Internet access technology because it's limited to less than two megabytes per second of download speed. (Actually most DSL connections don't even attain half a megabyte per second of download speed!) DSL is also only available in areas where there are good enough phone lines to support the technology.

The main advantage of satellite Internet is that it's available just about anywhere, but it has a number of limitations on its usefulness. For example, while it's definitely fast, there's a serious time lag built into it because of the distance that signals have to travel two and from the satellites. This time lag makes online gaming and VoIP applications difficult if not impossible. Satellite Internet is also extremely expensive and limited to about two megabytes per second in download speed.

Dial up networking is the cheapest form of Internet access, and next to satellite, it's the most widely available. It's so pathetically slow, that it really isn't worth having except as a last resort.

Broad band cable based Internet is probably the best service for the widest range of people, and it's certainly the fastest. While it's only available to people who live within the service area of a digital cable TV provider, it can provide download speeds that are four times faster than satellite Internet, six times faster than DSL, and one hundred times faster than dial up! It also has a quick response time which makes it good for applications like online multiplayer video gaming and VoIP.

One of the premier companies that offers broad band cable based Internet service is Comcast. In addition to offering reliable high speed Internet access to homes over a wide geographical area, Comcast also provides a number of features that will enhance the user experience. For example, all subscribers receive freebies like a cable modem, a wireless router, anti-virus software- along with updates- and access to lots of online content. The online content includes features from NASCAR.com, Rhapsody Internet radio, and video clips from CNN. Subscribers also have complementary online storage space which serves as a good way to back up data.

In addition to free features and content, Comcast provides its subscribers with the option of purchasing other products and services. For example, they can purchase an optional firewall. Firewalls are effective ways to keep a home network invisible to hackers and will also provide an extra layer of security to keep any Spyware that gets onto home computers from sending sensitive information back out.

In addition to high speed Internet service, Comcast also provides digital cable TV with hundreds of channels and home phone service with money saving features. The digital cable TV service has state of the art features like video on demand and HDTV, and the phone service will save you money with free unlimited domestic long distance. Both of these services are a good complement to high speed Internet access.