Cable vs. DSL

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MotionMan

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,124
12
81
I honestly have never paid attention to my ISP speeds because I had resigned myself to paying as little as possible for my connection (e-mail and light surfing only). However, now that I have three active computers, 4 iDevices AND an AppleTVII, it is time to get up to speed.

I called AT&T, my DSL provider, and found that my $20/mo got me 758kb. For $30/mo I can get 1.5mb. Those are the only options in my area.

Then I called Time-Warner, my cable co. For $30/mo I can get 10mb ($40/mo=15mb, $50/mo=20mb).

Can this be right?!? What am I missing? Why would anyone get DSL (other than being lazy/stupid like me)?

MotionMan
 
AMDZen

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
DSL was dead technology the day it came into existence. You should be ashamed to be on a tech forum and then ask these questions.
 
Kommander_Kink

Kommander_Kink

Banned
Nov 28, 2010
384
0
0
Cable is the fatest thing out there, but if you live in a monopoly like here in Canada where the only 2 cable internet providers cap your downloads to 90 GB a month it's better to go with DSL, it gives 2.5mbds/down and no download caps.
 
Mike Gayner

Mike Gayner

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2007
6,175
3
0
Wow you guys get really shitty DSL over there. Most of the internet here is ADSL2+ and it's A LOT faster than that.
 
frostedflakes

frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
1
81
That's probably an introductory rate for the cable package. Although if you don't mind calling up a CS rep every six months or so and threatening to switch to a competing provider, you can often get them to continue extending these rates.

But anyway, the reason people get DSL is because they don't need the higher speed and just want cheap internet service. In some areas DSL is as cheap as $10-15/mo for the 768kbps package. And that's the actual rate, not some introductory rate that goes up $10/mo or whatever after half a year. If you're not a power user, something like this is very affordable and more than adequate.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,366
14,776
146
We had Pacbell/SBC/AT&T DSL for over 10 years. The available speeds kept increasing slowly over the years, and when we dumped Uverse a couple of months ago, we had the 15 Mb service and usually got in the 12-14Kbs range.
It was pretty good...not great, but good.

Now, we have Comcast Xfinity, and we have their 16 Mb service...and usually get in the mid 20's.
We really didn't WANT Comcrap...but the Alchemy price was too good to pass up.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,664
6,546
126
DSL blows if you can get faster cable.

where i live i can either get 1Mb cable for $45/mo, or 3Mb verizon dsl for like $40/mo.

so yea i use DSL. my apartment is just wired to a shitty old ass cable company so that is the fastest I can get, and DSL is my only other option right now. was thinking about that Clear thing, but it still hasn't hit my region yet.

EDIT:

oh shit ... Clear has now expanded to where I live. anyone have any experience with it?
 
WaTaGuMp

WaTaGuMp

Lifer
May 10, 2001
21,207
2,506
126
frostedflakes said:
That's probably an introductory rate for the cable package. Although if you don't mind calling up a CS rep every six months or so and threatening to switch to a competing provider, you can often get them to continue extending these rates.

But anyway, the reason people get DSL is because they don't need the higher speed and just want cheap internet service. In some areas DSL is as cheap as $10-15/mo for the 768kbps package. And that's the actual rate, not some introductory rate that goes up $10/mo or whatever after half a year. If you're not a power user, something like this is very affordable and more than adequate.
Click to expand...

Just a few days ago my internet went up again. I sent them an email saying I am tired of them raising my rates and getting nothing for it. They gave me a one year deal at $29.99. The raise made my price $50.99. So I guess in a year I will contact them again. :biggrin:
 
frostedflakes

frostedflakes

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
7,925
1
81
purbeast0 said:
DSL blows if you can get faster cable.

where i live i can either get 1Mb cable for $45/mo, or 3Mb verizon dsl for like $40/mo.

so yea i use DSL. my apartment is just wired to a shitty old ass cable company so that is the fastest I can get, and DSL is my only other option right now. was thinking about that Clear thing, but it still hasn't hit my region yet.

EDIT:

oh shit ... Clear has now expanded to where I live. anyone have any experience with it?
Click to expand...
My experience with wireless service in general is that it is extremely variable. Could work great for the guy down the street but be terrible for you, there are just so many factors that can affect signal quality. Best advice I think with wireless services is to make sure you can try it in your home risk free before committing. If they won't let you do this, I wouldn't bother.
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,664
6,546
126
frostedflakes said:
My experience with wireless service in general is that it is extremely variable. Could work great for the guy down the street but be terrible for you, there are just so many factors that can affect signal quality. Best advice I think with wireless services is to make sure you can try it in your home risk free before committing. If they won't let you do this, I wouldn't bother.
Click to expand...

yea I do a lot of online gaming on xbox360 as well, and I'm wondering if the wireless infrastructure will jack up my latency even more than it is now (i run wireless to my 360 but it is wireless to a hardwired router).

i also can't find a definitive answer on the actual speeds you get with Clear as far as DL speeds go.
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
Are you sure you're not confusing B and b?
My current DSL line through AT&T is faster than what I could get with TW Cable.

Time Warner offers their services in Mb/sec: "Includes your choice of Road Runner Turbo High Speed Online (up to 15 Mbps)"
Current Dload speed I'm getting on UVerse: Download speed: 1.38 MB/s
 
purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,664
6,546
126
Homerboy said:
Are you sure you're not confusing B and b?
My current DSL line through AT&T is faster than what I could get with TW Cable.

Time Warner offers their services in Mb/sec: "Includes your choice of Road Runner Turbo High Speed Online (up to 15 Mbps)"
Current Dload speed I'm getting on UVerse: Download speed: 1.38 MB/s
Click to expand...

im positive ... max i can download things at is like 340Kb/sec on the dot.
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
Homerboy said:
Are you sure you're not confusing B and b?
My current DSL line through AT&T is faster than what I could get with TW Cable.

Time Warner offers their services in Mb/sec: "Includes your choice of Road Runner Turbo High Speed Online (up to 15 Mbps)"
Current Dload speed I'm getting on UVerse: Download speed: 1.38 MB/s
Click to expand...


Are you sure YOU are not confusing MB and Mb?

1.38 MB/sec = 11.6 Mbps.

So TW Cable is faster than your UVerse.
 
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