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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
 Posted - 01/22/2002 : 13:54:18
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Seriously considering moving to high-speed home access (something other than normal phone line) but have no in-depth knowledge of how to proceed or what constitutes a good deal.
Any ideas on where to start or what questions to ask? Other than just calling AT&T, which I suppose I could do....
My kids still love me.
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2002 : 14:20:44 [Permalink]
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What you get is going to depend on what's available in your area. For some good advice check out www.dslreports.com for reviews and availability.
BTW, I use DSL and from what I have learned and experienced, DSL is far superior to cable but that depends on what you want to do. DSL and cable can vary from area to area depending on the infrastructure around you but my DSL is incredibly stable and I have had almost no problems with it. Not only that but I can upgrade it to where I can get 8mbs upstream and 8 mbs downstream. With cable you get one speed and that can be drastically affected by how many people are using cable in your neighborhood. So if a bunch of people are logged on and using cable near you, your speed can drop fast. With DSL you get none of that. Besides that, I wouldn't want to count on AT&T for anything.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Zandermann
Skeptic Friend
USA
431 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2002 : 18:54:33 [Permalink]
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Garrette: The move to DSL from dialup modem has been very good for me...connections are faster and much more stable. But do shop around.
Have no experience with cable, so I can't compare...but I'm certain that it would depend upon the vendors in your area. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2002 : 19:04:16 [Permalink]
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Ultimately, you should get DSL from the phone company because all of the other DSL providers are just purchasing the ability to offer it from your local phone company anyway. Not only that but if you have line problems etc. it will be easier to diagnose trouble and get problems fixed if you go through them. I read an article recently that talked about how little motivation the phone company has to help out DSL customers of these "other" ISPs.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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ljbrs
SFN Regular
USA
842 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2002 : 20:17:35 [Permalink]
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I think that am going to stick to my slow-pokey access. My phone company has yet to supply DSL (each time it states it has it available, I find that DSL is not yet available in my area). The phone company's *wolf, wolf* has made me leery.
Cable is out for me, because I do not use cable (having once, for years, subscribed to all channels). I do not watch much television. I have too many other things to do, such as this and reading. Then with what amounts to a 10-hour workday (including travel time), and meals, my time is limited. My astronomy club and physics lecture attendance, symphony orchestra attendance, skeptics club attendance, Mensa attendance, and going out with friends to gab about astronomy, I do not have much time left. Oh, yes, I forgot. SLEEP.
The pokiness of the usual telephone line connection goes well with my aging brain. There is a long time in which to contemplate contemplation. The extra expense does not excite me. I would rather spend my money on things which I can use many times.
ljbrs 
"Nothing is more damaging to a new truth than an old error." Goethe |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2002 : 21:16:39 [Permalink]
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I keep hearing about slowdowns with cable. So far I haven't experienced that. The service I have is screaming fast. But, if you live in my area, I suggest you get DSL...
The Evil Skeptic
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous. |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2002 : 00:06:20 [Permalink]
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One thing to keep in mind with cable is that upload is always 128KB but you can upgrade DSL to over 8 MBS upstream! Sure most people might not care but to someone like me that needs to throw large file here and there besides download it means everything.
There is also sattelite broadband that can get 128KB upstream and upt to 1.5 mbs downstream which is awesome if you live in the boonies.
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Tim
SFN Regular
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2002 : 04:03:57 [Permalink]
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We use DSL supplied by our local phone company for the simple reason that all my wife's friends use it, and they think it is great. Personally, I've had no problems other than slow loading web pages and my prehistoric 'puter. But, that's not Bell South's problem.
I have several friends, (the hacker type), and my sister, (lots of money to blow), that prefer digital cable. This is by far the fastest route, but you have to pay for it, and you can only go as fast as the server, and your computer are capable. They pay close to $100.00 per month for service. There are cable speeds that are about the same price as DSL, or a little more. However, if you buy the digital cable TV package, too, the internet cost should be about the same as DSL, with equivalent speed.
Yes, DSL has a more stable bit rate, so for cost versus value, at the same speed, DSL is a better choice. But if you have the money, and buy the super speed cable, then a little bottleneck is no big deal. Like everything else, you get what you pay for. Plus, I think that cable modems cost more, but can be rented.
I can't use a sattelite service because I have a very large live oak, and an even taller magnolia tree on the south side of my house--No uninterrupted view of geosynchronous orbit or some such.
Hope I was of some help.
We have imagined ourselves invulnerable and have been consumed by the pursuit of ... health, wealth, material pleasures and sexuality... It [terrorism] is happening because God Almighty is lifting his protection from us.
-- Pat Robertson |
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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2002 : 04:18:35 [Permalink]
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Thanks, all. I'll be looking at DSL first, I suppose.
I have no real definable need for high speed access other than:
1. Insatiable curiosity for surfin'...
2. Plans to begin a distance learning for my advanced degree with classes online. I have a bit of time before that starts, though.
3. It sounds cool.
Thanks again.
My kids still love me. |
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PhDreamer
SFN Regular
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2002 : 09:12:35 [Permalink]
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I have had cable for about 8 months and a friend has had DSL for about the same. Before the @home fiasco, I had rock-solid service and 300 mbps average http downloads and 500 for ftp. My friend's DSL was about 80% up time and 30 mpbs average. The switchover from @home to Cox has not exactly gone smoothly but I'm willing to put up with it for a while because they went to great lengths to give uninterrupted service after the @Home bankruptcy. So, if you lived in Northwest Florida, I'd say cable all the way. As @tomic's anecdote indicates, however, the cable-DSL battle seems to be greatly regional. If I were you, I'd pay a lot of attention to what your neighbors have to say before giving weight to the testimony of cyber-acquaintances halfway across the country.
Adventure? Excitement? A Jedi craves not these things. - Silent Bob |
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