| cable modem
Speed is something we all want on the
Internet, and it also explains the allure of cable modems, which promise
speeds of up to 80 times faster than an ISDN line or 6 times faster than a
dedicated T1 line (the type of connection most large corporations use).
Because cable modems provide Internet access over cable TV networks (which
rely primarily on fiber-optic or coaxial cable), they are much faster than
modems that use phone lines. But cable modems are expensive--they're
expected to cost between $200 and $250 when they hit the retail shelves in
mid-1998. And the fees from your local cable company could include a $50
to $100 installation fee, while the service itself costs around $40 per
month, if the service is offered at all. Some cable modem testers complain
that the service is neither as fast nor as consistent as promised. |