Episode 29: Cable Modems, DSL, ONTs, and Interfaces

This episode dives into the technologies that bring internet service into homes and small offices—focusing on cable modems, DSL, and fiber-based Optical Network Terminals, or ONT s. You’ll learn how cable internet uses coaxial infrastructure with shared bandwidth, while DSL operates over twisted pair telephone lines and can degrade over distance. We also explain the key characteristics of ONTs and how they convert fiber-optic signals into usable Ethernet for end-user equipment.

We compare these interface types in terms of bandwidth, latency, installation requirements, and power needs. Understanding these technologies helps you answer questions about broadband types, signal conversion, and endpoint device compatibility. This episode prepares you to identify and differentiate among these technologies in both theory and troubleshooting contexts. Brought to you by BareMetalCyber.com.