Deciding between cable vs satellite internet for your home can be confusing. availability varies by location, and the technology behind each works differently. This in-depth guide will analyze all aspects so you can determine which option best fits your needs and budget.
Overview: Key Factors to Compare Cable vs Satellite
When comparing cable and satellite internet, there are 5 major factors to consider:
- Speed – Cable offers faster download/upload speeds
- Reliability – Cable less prone to disruptions
- Availability – Satellite available more places
- Data caps – Satellite restricts more data
- Cost – Satellite is more expensive
Weighing these key factors side-by-side for where you live will help decide whether cable or satellite is the smarter choice for your home.
How Cable and Satellite Internet Work
First, understanding the underlying technology is helpful background…
Cable Internet Infrastructure
Cable internet service relies on underground coaxial cable – the same infrastructure used for cable TV delivery. Here‘s how it works:
- Fiber optic cables connect your cable provider‘s super-high speed network to local infrastructure
- Feeder cables run 100 miles or more to bring connections closer to neighborhoods
- Last mile coaxial cables finally connect directly to modems in your home
So if you can get cable TV, you can likely get cable internet over the existing lines. no new infrastructure needed.
As of 2022, cable internet availability includes:
- 90% of Americans – 300+ million people
- Over 80% of US households
- Primarily urban/suburban areas
Satellite Internet Equipment
Satellite internet works wirelessly through space to orbiting satellites about 22,000 miles up. To connect your home, satellite providers install:
- Satellite dish – mounted outside with clear view of southern sky
- Modem with built-in transmitter/receiver
- Wiring from dish to indoor router
Because satellites broadcast signal over huge areas, coverage includes:
- 99% of the continental US
- Millions in rural areas unreached by cable
- Remote locations like mountains, valleys and oceans
Comparing Download Speeds: Cable Much Faster
When choosing internet service, speed is a top priority. Faster speeds allow you to access more data and enjoy smoother performance across activities like streaming, gaming, and video calls.
Cable internet offers varying tiers of speed packages to pick from:
| Download Speed | Good For | Avg. Price/Month |
|---|---|---|
| 5 – 10 Mbps | Light browsing email | $20 – $30 |
| 100 – 200+ Mbps | Video streaming, smart home | $50 – $70 |
| 500 – 1000+ Mbps | Gaming, 4K video etc | $80 – $100 |
Meanwhile, satellite internet delivers slower speeds, especially at lower price points:
| Download Speed | Good For | Avg. Price/Month |
|---|---|---|
| 10 – 25 Mbps | Light browsing | $50 – $100 |
| 100 – 150 Mbps | Video streaming | $150+ |
So while satellite may work for basic web use, cable is much better suited for data-heavy tasks.
Verdict: Cable internet offers faster download speeds across all pricing tiers. Go cable if speed is important.
Comparing Reliability: Cable Less Prone to Disruptions
Reliability is another key factor when choosing internet service. Disruptions due to network issues, weather events or other causes can seriously impact activities like remote work and schooling.
Because cable infrastructure is physically underground, service tends to be more reliable with limited downtime. And when outages do occur, damage can be easily identified and repaired by crews on site.
With satellite, weather and environmental blockage can more easily interfere:
- Heavy rain/snow degrades signal quality
- Trees, buildings, terrain obstruct line-of-sight to satellites
- Complete signal loss in severe storms
This causes slower speeds or temporary loss of connectivity until reception improves.
To compare, typical annual downtime looks like:
| Type | Average Downtime Per Year |
|---|---|
| Cable | 8 – 15 hours |
| Satellite | Over 30 hours |
Verdict: Cable internet enjoys significant uptime advantage over satellite service.
Comparing Availability: Satellite Available More Places
While we‘ve seen cable rates better for speed and reliability, satellite holds a major infrastructure advantage that greatly expands internet access.
Because satellites can broadcast signal across huge swaths of geography, coverage includes over 99% of the continental US. That means reliable home internet connectivity even in the most rural and remote corners of America.
Recent expansion has extended satellite to an estimated 8 million previously underserved households.
So satellite fills critical gaps in areas beyond reach of cable internet infrastructure.
Verdict: Satellite internet availability wins over cable hands-down. Critical for rural access.
Data Caps: Satellite Restricts More Data
One downside of any internet service is data caps that limit how much you can download before facing overage fees or throttled speeds.
Both cable and satellite providers impose data caps, but satellite restrictions tend to be more limiting:
- Cable data caps: 200GB – 1TB
- Satellite data caps: 10 – 150GB
The much skimpier satellite allowances make it easier to run over your limit with routine video streaming, gaming and device usage.
Verdict: Tighter satellite data caps pose challenges for medium-to-high data usage households.
Cable vs Satellite Pricing: Satellite Is More Expensive
Due to the sheer cost of building and operating a space-based communications network, satellite internet simply costs more. With subscriber numbers far lower than cable internet, providers must spend billions just to replace aging satellites every 10-15 years.
Average monthly pricing reflects satellite‘s higher overhead:
| Type | Starter Package | Better Speeds | Super-Fast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cable | $20 – $30 | $50 – $70 | $80 – $100 |
| Satellite | $50 – $100 | $150+ | N/A |
Most satellite providers also charge full price whether you bundle other services or not.
The limited availability of cable also helps keep pricing competitive thanks to market pressures.
Verdict: Satellite internet costs markedly more for equivalent speeds compared to cable.
Choosing What‘s Best For You
We‘ve covered the key factors differentiating cable vs satellite internet. But which is the better choice for your situation?
Here are some guidelines for deciding what works best in your unique case.
When Satellite Internet Fits The Bill
While satellite has some technical and value limitations compared to cable, it excels in availability. For over a decade, satellites have delivered connectivity to rural households otherwise stuck with old DSL, dial-up or nothing.
Despite latency and data cap challenges, basic internet utility is now accessible for remote work, school, telemedicine and more.
Over 8 million rural households – over 20 million Americans – now rely on satellite after cable companies ignored calls to expand rural infrastructure.
So for otherwise unserved regions, satellite brings vital connectivity where cable fails to reach.
When Cable Internet Is Worth Paying More For
In regions where cable and satellite both offer service, cable tends to make the most sense for many. Why?
Those faster, more reliable speeds support the exploding household needs of video streaming, smart home products, online gaming, remote work and e-learning. Trouble-free cable service minimizes disruptions to crucial activities that even short outages can derail.
While satellite caps and throttling force you to constantly monitor usage, cable‘s fatter data allowances provide welcome breathing room month after month.
So for the nearly 90% of Americans within range of cable internet, paying a premium brings you outsized returns in everyday internet performance.
Choosing What Fits Your Situation
Of course, not every household falls neatly into the "cable always beats satellite” camp. Depending on your budget, how many people are online, and what you use the internet for, satellite may prove perfectly adequate too.
If it‘s just you working from home, video calling family once a week, and watching an hour of Netflix before bed, satellite handles that usage easily. Why spend more for cable speeds you won‘t utilize?
But for a family of 5 all remote schooling and video streaming in HD all day? Satellite data limits will have you throttled by week 2. In this case, cable provides cost-effective peace of mind.
So rather than simplify it to "this one is always better”, analyze how your household actually uses the internet. Weigh factors like:
- Number of concurrent users
- Do you stream lots of video? At what resolution?
- Do you play graphics-intensive online games?
- Typical monthly data usage if you can monitor your current plan
- Need for reliability during business hours or remote learning times
Matching your unique use case to each offering determines whether jumping to faster, pricier cable makes good sense over "good enough” satellite.
Conclusion: Prioritize Availability, Speed and Value For Your Needs
Cable and satellite internet ultimately have distinct pros and cons. Cable offers faster speeds where available, but leaves vast rural areas unconnected. Satellite fills these gaps to deliver essential access, but lags on performance metrics.
There‘s no universally "better" internet type for all. But assessing cable vs satellite capabilities in your region side-by-side against your household‘s needs and budget makes picking the right service easy.
Prioritize availability first – your only options are what‘s on offer for your address. If you have only one provider choice, the decision is made for you!
Where both cable and satellite are options, weigh factors like speed, reliability, and data allowances against the activities of your household. And of course, balance capabilities against monthly costs to find the best bang for your buck.
I hope mapping out the key differences between cable vs satellite internet helps you determine the best home internet solution! Let me know if any other questions come up. Happy to chat more about your specific needs and help make sure you get optimal service.
