Cable or DSL: Which is better?
- Thread starter AnthroAndStargate
- Start date
Within the last 2 years I've had both SBC DSL and Comcast. It could just have been my location, but my DSL would drop a couple times a week for 10-15 min at a time. Comcast had a bit of problems during the initial setup, but after determining the line running to my house was giving problems, they dropped a new one and it has been rock solid since.
DSL gave 2-3 Mb/s average
Cable gives 5-7 Mb/s average
DSL gave 2-3 Mb/s average
Cable gives 5-7 Mb/s average
Depends...
Cable is less reliable but faster (sharing the bandwidth with your neighbors)
DSL is more reliable but slower (dedicated bandwidth)
DISCLAIMER (so I don't get flamed) These are just generalizations based on the providers in my area and common knowledge.
Cable is less reliable but faster (sharing the bandwidth with your neighbors)
DSL is more reliable but slower (dedicated bandwidth)
DISCLAIMER (so I don't get flamed) These are just generalizations based on the providers in my area and common knowledge.
dunno bout you guys but i live in New York City, and im not sure if all my neighbors have cable but i have it and i get constant 6 megabit download (if the sender is sending that fast)...dsl over here gets a max of 2megabit...now avg. price of cable (internet) is around $45/mo. where as you can get dsl for $15-$20 a month...since i download alot (and i mean alot) i have cable...and ive had it for about 4 years with no serious problems and the occasional...slowdowns..
funboy6942
Lifer
- Nov 13, 2001
- 15,362
- 416
- 126
I thought this was the other way around and speed for dsl also takes in factor how far away you are from the main building (sorry got a migrane and cant remember the name atm).
Attenuation is definitely a factor, but I don't know how much of one because I don't know how the infrastructure works with regards to DSL.
Aquila76
Diamond Member
It really depends on location. There are several areas where you just can't get DSL due to CO distances. In my case, DSL was unreliable due to the apartment building I live in. You need near perfect wiring for DSL to work properly, otherwise you get slowdowns & disconnects constantly. I replaced every telephony related thing I could get access to and still had issues. If you live in an older building/home, chances are DSL will give you headaches. I've had Comcast cable for 2 years now and it's never gone out / noticeably slowed down on me.
DSL - 500kbs or 60KB (when it would connect)
Cable - 6Mbs or 700KB consistently
DSL - 500kbs or 60KB (when it would connect)
Cable - 6Mbs or 700KB consistently
I have had both the last couple of years, and that would be how I would describe them w/ the exception on DSL beig MUCH more reliable than Comcast
xanis
Lifer
- Sep 11, 2005
- 17,571
- 8
- 0
Hard decision. I had Comcast for about 4 years and Verizon DSL for 3, and I'm still with Verizon. Comcast was hella faster but it was expensive as hell. Verizon is considerably slower, but it's a lot cheaper. For me, it's six of one and half dozen of the other but I think the edge might go to Verizon since I don't need crazy amounts of bandwidth, and the 768K is just fine for my basic web surfing and occasional online game.
Around these parts my DSL is both Faster and more Reliable than charter HSI.
Bellsouf for the win.
Bellsouf for the win.
Depends. Ask cable people around if they really get the bandwidth advertised. It's a shared connection, so some areas have awful peak times with slow speeds and frequent disconnections. In that case, get DSL. On the other hand, there may be faster cable connections for the same price as DSL in other areas.
DSL, digital subscriber line, gets a dedicated connection. No sharing. But yes, it is slower the farther away from the office, unless repeaters are used. Basically the advertised speed is what you get.
I refuse to vote based on OP's main points. I vote instead on price / moderately ethical behavior / customer service. Where I am, DSL wins hands down.
funboy6942
Lifer
- Nov 13, 2001
- 15,362
- 416
- 126
Yeah I forgot to mention I too was on comcast and now I have Bellsouth DSL and comacast was faster but it was down alot. For almost a year on DSL and it hasnt given me any problems at all ever. Wish it was a s fast but I like not even being down al hell of alot better.
Plus cheaper is DSL unless I called comcast and threw a fit every 6 months when it would go from $20 a month to $55. Right now I have 3meg at $28 a month with no time limit som Im happy with that.
Plus cheaper is DSL unless I called comcast and threw a fit every 6 months when it would go from $20 a month to $55. Right now I have 3meg at $28 a month with no time limit som Im happy with that.
I am a Bellsouther too,but I have 6 meg down, where cable is only 3 around here. I am a middle tennessear, youins a westerner.
Verizon FiOS just got run. They want me to sign up. Think I will drop the DSL.
$29.95=5.0 Mbps down & 2.0 Mbps up.
$39.95=15.0 Mbps down & 2.0 Mbps up.
...Galvanized
$29.95=5.0 Mbps down & 2.0 Mbps up.
$39.95=15.0 Mbps down & 2.0 Mbps up.
...Galvanized
MrPickins
Diamond Member
- May 24, 2003
- 9,124
- 787
- 126
In truth, I've never had cable, but in 3 years, I've had one outage of my SBC dsl, and that was for 6hrs.
I get full rated 3Mbps always, and for only $23/mo. They offer a 6Mbps package for $37(?) on the internet, but the wife nixxed that idea (budget? ha!)
Roadrunner cable is ~$45 IIRC.
I get full rated 3Mbps always, and for only $23/mo. They offer a 6Mbps package for $37(?) on the internet, but the wife nixxed that idea (budget? ha!)
Roadrunner cable is ~$45 IIRC.
I can get 3Mbp for 18/mo here, also SBC. You may want to look online for the better rate. Currently on 1.5 Mbps for 13/mo and I'am quite happy with that speed and price.
brandonbull
Diamond Member
- May 3, 2005
- 6,362
- 1,219
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I live in Berkeley, CA but this applies to my home in Cupertino, CA as well. Both have the same pricing.
Comcast cable: $29.99 / month for 1 yr, $3 for rental of modem, = 33 / month * 12 = $396.
SBC DSL which I had last year in my other apartment, and still have because I have 2 apts right now =) ==> $25 / month for DSL + $10.69 / month for phone = 35.69 per month = $428.28 / year.
So SBC is more, but I only get 3mbps / 384kbps. What a rip. Comcast I get 4mbps, and it's slightly above 4 at a lower price. But since cable internet goes to 57.95 / month after 1 year, and getting TV reduces it to 42.95, and TV is only $13.16 (meaning you actually save by getting basic cable), I decided to get basic cable, and so we get 6mbps which is closer to 6.5mbps for me... That's over double the speed of pathetic SBC at my other apartment, and so I say cable wins.
For those ping freaks, I get under 15 ping at a CS:S server roughly 40 miles away that's 100tick with Comcast. Similar for DSL. Bottom line, Comcast wins because I get to download at 800KB/s.
DSL was good when Comcast was stuck at 3mbps too, but it's at 6mbps, and unless you can offer me something special, I think it's stupid. People watch TV. TVs don't go away. Land lines do, and if you're forcing me to get a land line, I think that's retarded.
Comcast cable: $29.99 / month for 1 yr, $3 for rental of modem, = 33 / month * 12 = $396.
SBC DSL which I had last year in my other apartment, and still have because I have 2 apts right now =) ==> $25 / month for DSL + $10.69 / month for phone = 35.69 per month = $428.28 / year.
So SBC is more, but I only get 3mbps / 384kbps. What a rip. Comcast I get 4mbps, and it's slightly above 4 at a lower price. But since cable internet goes to 57.95 / month after 1 year, and getting TV reduces it to 42.95, and TV is only $13.16 (meaning you actually save by getting basic cable), I decided to get basic cable, and so we get 6mbps which is closer to 6.5mbps for me... That's over double the speed of pathetic SBC at my other apartment, and so I say cable wins.
For those ping freaks, I get under 15 ping at a CS:S server roughly 40 miles away that's 100tick with Comcast. Similar for DSL. Bottom line, Comcast wins because I get to download at 800KB/s.
DSL was good when Comcast was stuck at 3mbps too, but it's at 6mbps, and unless you can offer me something special, I think it's stupid. People watch TV. TVs don't go away. Land lines do, and if you're forcing me to get a land line, I think that's retarded.
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