Internet Connection Types
Run a Speed TestFiber, cable, DSL, 5G home internet, and fixed wireless — how each broadband technology delivers internet to your home, what speeds to expect, and how to choose the right connection type for your location and needs.
Fiber Internet
What Is Fiber Internet?
How fiber-optic connections deliver symmetric gigabit speeds with the lowest latency of any home internet technology.
How Fiber Optic Internet Works
Light pulses through glass fiber, OLT and ONT hardware, and how your ISP delivers fiber from the exchange to your home.
FTTH vs FTTC vs FTTP
Fiber to the Home, Cabinet, and Premises — the three deployment models and why the last-mile technology determines your speed.
Fiber Optic Speeds Explained
1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, 10 Gbps — typical fiber speed tiers and why symmetrical upload matters for remote work and backups.
Cable Internet
What Is Cable Internet?
How cable TV infrastructure was repurposed to deliver broadband over coaxial cable to hundreds of millions of homes.
How Cable Internet Works
DOCSIS, the CMTS, upstream and downstream channels, and why cable speeds can vary by time of day.
Cable vs Fiber Internet
Speed, latency, reliability, and upload symmetry compared — and which is worth paying more for.
What Is a Coaxial Cable?
RG-6, RG-11, F-connectors, and why the physical cable from the wall to your modem affects your connection quality.
DSL Internet
What Is DSL Internet?
Digital Subscriber Line internet over existing telephone copper wiring — how it works and why distance limits speed.
ADSL vs VDSL
Asymmetric DSL vs Very High Speed DSL — the speed and distance tradeoffs between the two main DSL variants.
DSL vs Cable Internet
Dedicated phone line vs shared coax — how DSL and cable differ in reliability, speed, and performance under load.
5G and Fixed Wireless
What Is 5G Home Internet?
Home broadband delivered over 5G cellular networks — speeds, latency, data caps, and when it makes sense.
What Is Fixed Wireless Internet?
A directional antenna on your house connects to a nearby tower — how FWA works and why it matters for rural areas.
5G vs Fiber Internet
Availability, speed ceiling, latency, and consistency compared — when 5G home internet is good enough vs when fiber wins.
What Is 4G LTE Home Internet?
LTE-based home internet before 5G — still the primary broadband option in many rural areas and how it performs.
ISP and Choosing a Provider
What Is an ISP?
What internet service providers are, how ISP tiers work, and how your traffic travels from your home to any server on the internet.
How to Choose an Internet Provider
Speed, price, contract terms, reliability, and connection type — a practical framework for comparing ISP options in your area.
What Is a Bandwidth Cap?
Data caps, soft throttling, and overage charges — how ISPs limit monthly usage and strategies to avoid hitting your cap.