DSL vs Cable/Broadband

[wojo629]

hello to all, hope the holiday were good..a quickie question...currently using AT&T cable/broadband for internet access...Verizon sent me the kit to go to DSL internet access...same price...is there any major difference?..one better than the other?..i'm getting so sick of having to tithe my wages in order to pay AT&T, with another 8% increase this month..cable/internet access is over $100 a month now!!..thanks

[SchoolNetworkAdmin]

It all depends on the company and what contention ratios they offer.
I get 512kbps internet (128kbps upstream. dunno what the contention ratio is, but I can always download at full speed whenever I want to) and it's only £25/month (around US$40).

[Welshjim]

wojo629--Cable is usually faster, unless you pay for a very high level of DSL. Also DSL will often solicit your business and then after a long wait and perhaps even "installation" will confess that you are too far from the central office to get DSL.
However, you say you are paying $100/month for cable access, ISP and email? Good grief!! I am paying $40/month (using my own modem) for the complete cable internet package and get 200-300KBps downloads. This is even after a 15% increase as of 2002.
I would not consider a switch to DSL but in your case, maybe you should??


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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[wojo629]

Originally posted by SchoolNetworkAdmin:
It all depends on the company and what contention ratios they offer.
I get 512kbps internet (128kbps upstream. dunno what the contention ratio is, but I can always download at full speed whenever I want to) and it's only £25/month (around US$40).

thanks for the quick reply...i have no idea what the ratios are...maybe someone from this side of the big pond might?

[bassetman]

I recently went to DSL. $59./mo including my ISP charges and I can add my phone line to it for only $10/mo.
I am just off their main cable so I get great connection at 611Kbs or faster.
Cable here is only 256kbs and expensive.
John


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"Try to be the person your dog thinks you are"

[NetWerx]

Generally speaking, DSL is better for "online gamers" because it almost always offers better latency (lower ping times).

I had cable and went to DSL because the cable provider was very unreliable.

But in any case, you should try them out before you commit to it (this is why no one should sign up for a 1 year contract).

In many areas, Verison DSL is only 640bps, in this case, cable might be better (usually over 2000bps).

[Solarix]

$100/mo for cable internet??? you sure you're not paying for cable tv as part of that?

I'm paying $88/mo but that includes both Cable TV ($33) and CableModem ($45).

In my area, Cable is much better than DSL, the DSL speed here is 384kbps download/128kbps upload, while my cablemodem is averaging 2,300kbps download/384kbps upload. I haven't seen my download rate drop below 1,700kbps and my upload rate drop below 300kbps. Even ping rate/latency is better.


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- §ølårïx

[richlowe]

I am paying about $80 a month for 8 static IP addresses on DSL. On our area (Calif) AT&T cable does not allow VPN access to residental (you have to upgrade to business for over $100/month). I get 1.7mb down and 356kb up and the service has been rock solid for over a year. :-)

[cadlenc]

Overall, I think Cable is way more reliable than DSL. Definitely less companies to deal with. When a problem arises, your cable provider is the only one to contact. Exception is when the cable provider is just starting up with cable internet. Until they get their system right, there may definitely be problems.

[backbackgone286]

how do you determien your speed..i know of one website, but i dont see upload there..also, what exactly is download compared to upload

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win. xp, 750 athlon, 128 ram, 30 gig HD, 8x8x32 samsung cdrw, sb live value, video-81 agp/pro, cable modem hooked to hub/router

[Solarix]

how do you determien your speed..i know of one website, but i dont see upload there..

2 sites are...

www.dslreports.com
www.pcpitstop.com

Both will test your download and upload speed.

also, what exactly is download compared to upload

Download is when you receive data from the internet into your computer. An example would be downloading a MP3 from someone on Napster. If you download from someone on a full T1 or T3, then you will more than likely download at your max download speed. If you download from someone with DSL or cable, you will download at their max upload speed.

Upload is when you send data from your computer to the internet. An example would be someone from Napster downloading an MP3 from you. The max upload speed you have is the fastest they can download it from you if their download speed is that or higher, otherwise they only download at what their max download speed is.


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- §ølårïx


[This message has been edited by Solarix (edited 01-07-2002).]

[Welshjim]

wojo629--When I said I get 200-300KBps downloads, I meant what I said. Bytes not bits. Translated that means 1600-2400Kbps. For $40/month including ISP.
Looking forward to learning what you decide and if you really must pay $100/month for cable internet.

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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm

[wojo629]

i want thank every one that replied...looks like i have some more research to do...i did check out verizon's speed..guess what?..faster=$$$$....probaly stick with the cable- a.k.a AT&T..thanks folks!!!

[fredmlr]

My 2 cents.

I just thought i'd add my commentzs on this topic.

I hated my cable co. they kept saying that cable access for internet was comming soon!!

It had been 4 years and still none.

I recieved an offer from verizon for dsl.
within 2 weeks i had my dsl modem--did my own install of the modem and was up and running. I LOVE it.

I do agree that cable can be faster than dsl.
BUT I know so many people who hate thier cable access. they have the complaint that they can't "connect" or it slows down becasue they are on the same trunk as many other people in their neighborhood.

I like the dsl never slows down.
system has only been down 1 time for 6 hours in the last year and a half.

can't compalin about that.
I have 2 computers mine and my wife's and we are both always on and can still be on the phone at the same time.

I choose dsl over cable.

bye the way 2 weeks ago my former cable company -didn't they realize i cancelled all cable service and went to direct tv 3 months ago. sent me an offer they finally have internet access .

no loss.

[ironwalker]

Well,i disagree on the DSL is better for Latency thing.I guess it just depends who your cable provider is.Most cant touch DSL,but dsl ia much slower ,so it doesnt say bmuch for cable.
Unless of course ya can get optimum online cable...then ya will see speed and low pings.Im getting line speeds of 4-5000kb/sec down 980kb/secupload and dl transfers avg between 500-900kb/sec
depending on how many people are dling the same file and the traffic to that particular website and there upload speed.
pings,well i can,from nj/ny area ping 90-100 in the netherlands for a quick game of freezetag q3a.
my normal pings are 50-90 westcoast and 30-50 eastcoast.
if ya want to get an idea PCWorld magazines' febuary issue has a big articl a few pages long on the difference and where broadband is going.
DSLreports.com forums is another place to look for info.
and last, $35/month for OOL


screenshots are available for all tests

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"LIVE FREE OR DIE"