> On 30/1/98 9:04 am Benjamin Ruset said
>
> >I just stared my new job last week -- installing *cable modems*.
> >
> >Let me tell you -- you have not seen fast until you see this. I downloaded
> >a 20
> >meg file in under one minute. And it has nothing to do with the phone
> >company!
> >=)
> >
> >By me, they charge $40 a month - including the lease on the modem itself. It
> >may be higher or lower depending on where you live, but -- I would start
> >bugging your local cable company to get this system! It's *fantastic!*
>
> Is that the same as an ISDN line?
>
> Philip Raby
> Editor, MG World
> PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
> Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
> www.chp.ltd.uk
>
No, a cable modem uses the same coax cable as your TV set to send and
recieve data. It's become practical now that more cable companies
are upgrading to fiber-optic bidirectional lines. I think you can
still use a cable modem for downloading with an older monodirectional
cable system, but you'd need a phone line and analog modem for
uploading. (this is similar to the DirectPC satellite setups). Back
in November or December, WIRED magazine did an article comparing all
the currently-available access methods. I recommend it as a primer
on Internet connectivity.
Scott
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