The internet has made quite an impact on our lives. There’s hardly anyone who could survive a day without accessing the internet. Even though the internet was only brought about a few decades back, it has now become an essential part of our lives.
In fact, as the years go by, we can expect more people to have access to the Internet. There might be certain parts of the U.S. where people have bare minimal use for the internet, and hence don’t require high-speed internet.
However, if you reside in the West region, you might just have access to fiber-optic, specifically Xfinity Internet. Although it is a small ISP, it has grown exponentially in the last couple of years. Xfinity is one of the best fiber-optic ISPs if you need high-speed internet.
Anyway, we all are very much aware that there are different internet connection types such as DSL, cable internet, fiber-optic, and satellite internet are the most common ones out there. That said, in this article, we will be discussing DSL and Wi-Fi.
By the end of this article, you should know what DSL and Wi-Fi are and how they are different from each other. Let’s get started!
What Is DSL?
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a service that makes way for us to access high-speed internet. ISPs offering DSL internet use telephone lines to provide internet access for both residential and business purposes.
There are two types of DSL lines – symmetrical and asymmetrical. These lines are what determines the amount of data the user can download and upload all at once. Today, most DSL lines are connected to wireless routers so that the whole house has a Wi-Fi connection.
Let’s see how symmetrical DSL is different from asymmetrical DSL:
Symmetrical DSL
When the user has symmetrical DSL (SDSL) internet, both the download and upload speeds are the same. However, since this form of DSL offers slower download speeds, internet providers typically don’t offer symmetrical DSL anymore.
Asymmetrical DSL
Asymmetrical DSL (ADSL) is different from SDSL. ADSL service offered different download and upload speeds. It offers a higher download speed in comparison to its upload speeds. Most internet providers tend to offer ADSL service, because of the higher download speeds.
What Is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi is wireless internet. Wi-Fi is much more common than DSL internet. A wireless router transmits signals to the various devices connected to it, hence allowing us to easily access the internet.
The Wi-Fi router tends to access the internet via the modem, which is connected to the ISP’s internet. In other words, a Wi-Fi connection allows multiple devices to access the internet and is probably the only way we can use the internet on our phones.
There are two types of Wi-Fi networks – a mesh and a non-mesh system. Let’s elaborate a little below:
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Mesh Systems
Mesh Wi-Fi networks have multiple Wi-Fi hubs at various internal locations. It’s a known fact that the further you are from the router, the slower the internet speeds will be. However, with a mesh network, the internet connection’s range will increase alongside its speed.
Mesh networks are expensive, as there will be more devices, and their installation is also pricey. Mesh networks are usually used in offices and malls.
Non-mesh Systems
Non-mesh systems only need a standalone router to provide internet access. In other words, if the user is nearer to the router, the better the internet speed will be. Most homes have non-mesh systems, as they are cheaper and easier to maintain over time.
What Is the Difference Between DSL and Wi-Fi?
Now that we understand what DSL and Wi-Fi are, it’s time to analyze how these two forms of connection are different from one another.
A DSL service is a physical connection to the internet. Whereas a Wi-Fi connection is unable to provide internet access on its own, it has been shouldered by DSL or any other internet service, such as cable internet.
DSL uses our telephone lines to provide an internet connection. It is much faster than dial-ups although both have the same type of mechanism. The difference between DSL and dial-ups is that with a DSL connection, you can use the internet and home phone at the same time, as they both work on different frequencies.
Moreover, it is easy to install a DSL connection as most homes already have an existing phone line. That said, DSL connections get easily disrupted in bad weather unlike fiber-optic and fixed wireless connections.
Now, moving to Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi allows people to access the internet without needing a physical connection to its network. In simple words, Wi-Fi is a way for ISPs to provide internet access to all your wireless devices without the need for a cable.
However, what a lot of people don’t know is that Wi-Fi is entirely independent of the Internet. If a user wants to connect to the internet wireless from a DSL connection, there must be a wireless router available. The DSL modem will connect to the router, hence providing a wireless internet connection.
All in All
In summary, DSL is the physical connection that carries data from an internet provider to an office or other location. As such, it must be connected to the modem-equipped router’s input terminal.
Wi-Fi is a network of signals that the router transmits using its antennas. It’s the one in charge of spreading the signals across the house. DSL connection is the input to a router and Wi-Fi is the output. We hope you now have a better understanding of DSL and Wi-Fi, and what’s the difference between both connections.
