All About Broadband

Dispel some of the biggest myths surrounding cable Internet access and DSL.

By Rouzbeh Yassini

Editor’s note: When you think broadband, you likely think cable or DSL.

If your choice is cable, you can thank Rouzbeh Yassini for your ability to quickly browse the Web. Yassini, founder of YAS Broadband Ventures, has been hailed as the “father of the cable modem” by the broadband industry.

Bottom line: Yassini knows broadband better than anybody. That’s why we asked him to clear up some common misconceptions about high-speed Internet service. Today on “Call for Help,” join Yassini and learn even more about what makes broadband jam.

The common misconceptions

My connectivity speed is 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.

The cable modem typically has numerous interfaces. The Ethernet port may connect to your computer at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps, or a USB port may connect at 12 Mbps. These rates are the speed between your computer and the cable modem. The speed to any particular site on the Internet is dependent upon the slowest link between the cable modem and the website. Many websites share a Telco T1 link (1.5 Mbps) or a fractional T1 at 56 Kbps with typical office traffic and are often the slowest link between you and the website.

The cable modem will operate slower during peak usage periods.

This is a misconception dating to the early days and field trials of cable modem service. Today, the architecture of the HFC (hybrid fiber-coax) plant used by cable operators permits myriad methods for “load balancing” to ensure consumers do not experience a slowdown in service during peak usage periods. DSL service has not had to address this challenge because the twisted pair technology that DSL uses is static and doesn’t need to adapt to varying loads. This is because there is a fixed dedicated bandwidth allotted to the customer, yet DSL has also the same challenges at a different point in the network. All networks are shared at some point (including DSL). It all depends on how much investment the service provider puts in its network.

My computer is more susceptible to hacker attacks because my computer is always on the Internet.

Since your computer is connected to the Internet all the time via the cable modem or DSL modem, there’s more time for hackers to look for ways to break into your files. It’s like leaving the curtains on the widows in your house open all the time so everyone walking by can look in to see if you’re home. Having constant connectivity requires you to use all the tools available to protect your system. A good software firewall on your PC should prevent unauthorized access. So, while this isn’t necessarily a misconception, it’s certainly avoidable. Some prefer a stand-alone firewall, like a Linksys or Netgear box, over a software firewall from Microsoft or other third party. Regardless, users should have a firewall in place for their broadband connection at all times.

The cable modem can be hacked, thus bypassing the service controls.

There are numerous methods for securing the cable modem from service tampering. From its conception, the cable modem contains three built-in layers of security: secure identity of the cable modem; encrypted communication to the cable modem from the cable operator’s central office; and tamper-resistant software.

Service providers can activate various tools and features to prevent theft of service, while home users are always free to add more security to their PC and to specific PC applications like email.

My data can be viewed by others.

The simplest form of data protection is encryption. Encryption on communication to and from the cable modem is controlled by the operator and is normally turned on. Data may be decoded by a sophisticated hacker, but it would take extreme lengths of time and resources to do so. No security is unbreakable. The DSL service has a direct connection back to the central office rather then a shared connection. It therefore doesn’t encrypt its data since the likelihood of someone physically tapping the DSL line is low. But since the DSL connection is a twisted pair, it’s arguably easier to hack into. All you need is a pair of alligator clips.

The cost of broadband service is high.

Often broadband service costs less than most pay for basic cable service. Sometimes service providers will have special deals or broadband services may be bundled with other services at a lower cost. Typically cable modem service costs about $40 per month.