Switching to DSL from Cable Modem

[spacelord]

I currently have Comcast Cable modem.. and it really works well. Rarely down for me and always fast.

However Comcast keeps raising rates on Cable and dropping channels and am looking for other options.

Might I be happy with DSL speeds and reliability?

Its probably been 10 years since I've had DSL before cable modem was an option to me. I want at least 5 or 6 MBit down and 384k up.. like the cable modem.


Thanks.

 

[JackMDS]

DSL Cable and what you want means nothing to thecnology.

If you buy a 6 mb/sec. DSL it is better than 4mb/sec. Cable.

I.e. it depends on the speed given according to the contract and Not on the medium or one wishes.

That said if the bandwidth is exactly the same (example: 6mb/sec. DSL and 6mb/sec. Cable contracts) and the real speed at the home outlet is the same, DSL is a better choice.

 

[spacelord]

I guess thats what I'm worried about. DSL seems to never PROMISE a speed.. just a possibility of a max speed.

 

[nightowl]

Both DSL and Cable give you up to the provisioned speed of the line. Like Jack said, if the speeds are provisioned the same, you will not notice a difference. Even if one is a few Mb/s slower chances are, you will still not notice a difference other than downloading files. Now, there can be a difference with DSL as they change some things to achieve transmission on lines that are farther away from the DSLAM (DSL termination point). This will induce some latency on the link but this is usually only seen with lower provisioned data rates as the data rate is also distance dependent.

So, with all things being equal go with the service that gives you the best price.

 

[spacelord]

Any recommendations about a DSL provider that doesn't require local service? I noticed that AT&T Yahoo requires local service.
I am currently tied into a VOIP phone provider so local service really isn't something I want to pay for.

 

[nightowl]

Your local phone provider is going to determine if you can have DSL without phone service. Even if you do not go through the local phone provider for DSL service they can still require you to have analog phone service. Usually there is only one company that owns the copper in the ground where you are at so your choices are limited.

 

[nwrigley]

My experience has been that the latency on DSL is quicker than on Cable. This means that surfing the web on 3MBitdown/1up DSL is faster for me than a 10MBitdown/1up Cable connection.

Why? because the 3MBitdown isn't being maxed out on typical web surfing, which makes latency the real measure of speed. Even sites that stream video typically cap their output and I don't notice a difference. The only time I've noticed a difference is when downloading large files.

For my money, DSL is better than cable, but I'm only using it on one main computer with some light wireless traffic to a laptop. If I frequently had 3+ computers surfing the web at the same time and my bandwidth was being maxed out, then latency wouldn't be the determining factor and I would be better off with cable (or paying for more bandwidth from DSL, which is an option for me).

Of course, any of these services are only as good as your local ISP. Such as Comcast, who regulates Bittorent traffic and thus making their advantage of faster download speeds for files a mute point for me since Bittorent is the main time that I am going to be downloading large files.

 

[imported_SLIM]

I have basically never lost DSL service in the 4-5 years I've had SBC/AT&T DSL. Still using the original DSL modem too. I would second the notion that DSL has a quicker feel to it due to lower latency compared to my friends cable modem (comcast). For what its worth, I pay for a 3Mb connection and typically download around 2.5-2.6Mb/s. Do keep in mind (at least I think this is still true), DSL has better consistency in that you don't share the total bandwidth with your neighbors ie if comcast allocates 500Mb/s of bandwidth to an apartment complex and 100 people are all downloading huge files or movies or whatever, nobody gets their 10Mb/s. Dunno if that is still a major issue with the amount of fiber that's been laid since cable modems first came out, but that used to be a discussion point when comparing the two technologies.