DSL or Cable?

[MrJim]

I'm going to select on of these-if cost isn't an option then which would you use and what do you recommend and why?

And does anyone keep a dial-up account open in case the DSL/Cable isn't working?

 

[MusicalProgrammer]

I'm going to select on of these-if cost isn't an option then which would you use and what do you recommend and why?

And does anyone keep a dial-up account open in case the DSL/Cable isn't working?

Do you have cable TV already?

I personally use ADSL through the phone company because I've got a special all-in-one plan, and I don't have cable TV anyway. The biggest difference is that cable is shared bandwidth with your neighbors, while DSL is dedicated.

I certainly don't think it's worth paying for a dial-up account in addition; if you've got a good service provider, your broadband should rarely go down.

 

[rdale]

DSL or Cable? ...or FIOS
Fiber Optic

It's not available for us right now, it'll be another 2-3 months, then will cost the same as our current ADSL through the phone company. YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!

http://www22.verizon.com/fiosforhome/channels/fios/root/about_fios.asp

 

[Psalms34]

DSL or Cable? Depends on you location or even if either are available in your area. It all depends on the provider and for DSL the distance as well. If you don't have either in your area than the 3rd choice is satellite but it's bad for playing games and costs a lot more.

 

[WeakButHopeful]

Right, I'm on cable and though my bandwidth is shared it never has been an issue. It's not like I'm downloading Linux ISOs every night or something. My cable Internet doesn't go out any more often than my cable TV (which is not very often). And the local phone company in my area (which I'm tempted to name but won't in an attempt at charity) is absolutely positively awful. I have switched my local and long distance service and my cell phones away from them because their customer service (and sometimes their service) is pretty bad.

But as everyone else has said, it depends on where you live. And yes, satellite is much more expensive and has "latency" problems (high bandwidth like a firehose, but time between blasts from the fire hose is noticeable because of the thousands of miles the signal must travel out to space and back).

 

[MusicalProgrammer]

DSL or Cable? ...or FIOS
Fiber Optic

It's not available for us right now, it'll be another 2-3 months, then will cost the same as our current ADSL through the phone company. YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!

http://www22.verizon.com/fiosforhome/channels/fios/root/about_fios.asp

L U C K Y!!!!!!!

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

Yep, jes like everone else has said, first you've gotta figure out if both are available in your area. I dislike cable because of the cable loop, normally it's probably not a problem but an example would be a provider allocates say 10 mb bandwidth to X loop, and while X loop has only 10 people on it, durin peek times when all 10 ppl are on it you may notice performance problems. In this example havin 10 ppl share 10 megs of bandwidth is fine, cept, it's more like a couple of hundread. So sure there'll be times when you've got all the bandwidth to yourself an others when your jes tryin to git a web page to load.

I'm on dsl myself, mainly cause there's no cables run out this way (to far from town) an I prefer it this way anyways because my bandwidth is mine alone dependant only on the service providers servers goin out etc. So while there isn't much noticeable difference in performance by the average user you've got a couple of choices to make. If I remember correctly, cable is bandwidth dependant by the loop, an dsl is purchased, I have a couple of em here, ones a 1.3 mb, an the other is 640k so if your area offers dsl at say 256k an cable at loop speed an there's no cost difference, go with the cable. Your liable to end up with better bandwidth at least part of the time. Everthin PC is dependant on what an how you wanna use it for. So don't blow your money if your not gonna use it. If you can get away with a 128k dsl an you don't need more then have at it.

I do have a dial up account, but it's the same as my dsl, I use same account an I work rather closely with my co-op so's I have their numbers etc. I keep it on hand for playin wit my own server an comps secruities, as well as when I work on systems with modems, sometimes it's easier an faster to update em this way via installin a temp nic in em. For you, dump it, if you don't need it drop it.

 

[Psalms34]

I'm on dsl myself, mainly cause there's no cables run out this way (to far from town) an I prefer it this way anyways because my bandwidth is mine alone dependant only on the service providers servers goin out etc.

Hrm I live out in the Country with horse trails, barley farms and vineyards. lol DSL, I wish! It's dial-up or nothing out here. At least it's a sub-200 ping out here so I can play a few PvP games. Ah well, I live in one of the fastest growing spots in the country and it'll all be concrete and pavement soon enough. lol then I'll think about gettin outa here. I spent the first half of my life by LA and urban sprawl is just too detestable.

btw that reminds me. Seems there is a new technology looming on the horizon. It's broadband that works over any hard phoneline no matter the distance. Downside is that it will mess with part of the radio frequency spectrum including the World band short wave and some HAM frequencies so it has some opposition as it stands. I heard it's much faster than DSL or cable. Anytime soon? no idea, lots of red tape I'm sure.

 

[Abuna]

DSL or Cable? ...or FIOS
Fiber Optic

It's not available for us right now, it'll be another 2-3 months, then will cost the same as our current ADSL through the phone company. YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!

http://www22.verizon.com/fiosforhome/channels/fios/root/about_fios.asp

That looks awesome not availible in my area yet but with those prices i plan on getting it. But 5Mbps download how does that compare to The latest DSL and Cable Mbps. The computer im on right now is 100Mbps its on an Intel Network. It not that much faster then the comcast i used to have at Home. So what exactly am i getting with this.

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

It's dial-up or nothing out here.

I think it sorta helps they ran an oc 12 line through my dads place a few years ago an they've got a sub station er probably a repreater not 3 miles as the crow flies from here hehe Jes wish they'd let me piggy back on the upside of that oc 12 lol

 

[rdale]

That looks awesome not availible in my area yet but with those prices i plan on getting it. But 5Mbps download how does that compare to The latest DSL and Cable Mbps. The computer im on right now is 100Mbps its on an Intel Network. It not that much faster then the comcast i used to have at Home. So what exactly am i getting with this.

I'm just heading out the door right now so I'll check back here tonight. For now just a couple links:

MBPS vs. KBPS confusion re: download speed
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12713280

What affects my connection speed?
http://www22.verizon.com/forhomedsl/channels/dsl/faqs1.asp#speed2

Forgot what the "advertised" speed was supposed to be with Verizon DSL, but in practise, depending on where I'm downloading something, we average 170-195Kbps. So, bumping that up to a "theoretical" 5Mbps (- the conversion factor) should be dramatic.

 

[MusicalProgrammer]

The computer im on right now is 100Mbps its on an Intel Network. It not that much faster then the comcast i used to have at Home. So what exactly am i getting with this.

That's your LAN theoretical speed; your WAN connection is going to be a lot slower than that.

 

[MrJim]

Both are available where I live. As far as cost is concerned there has been some DSL competition ads going on with one saying the other has hidden phone company costs. Any have any trouble on that end?

 

[pgp_protector]

If you already have cable TV, go with the Cable

Cable Bandwith shared locally
DSL Bandwith shared at the switching station

I've had both, no problems with either.

Why did I drop one & switch ?
The Wife wanted DirectTV, so solong Cable Hello DSL

 

[faller_g]

have you not ADSL2+ in america.. http://adsl2.adam.com.au/ This is about as cheap as normal adsl, but up to 90*'s faster :-o!

 

[The Story Teller]

I'm going to select on of these-if cost isn't an option then which would you use and what do you recommend and why?

And does anyone keep a dial-up account open in case the DSL/Cable isn't working?

I've used them all and Cable is the best. With the phone line for both dial up and DSL you're at the phone companys mercy. I've found that they both have problems and wil be down or busy every so often. After switching to Cable and getting the bugs out, I'm online 24/7. If you hate waiting and are online most of the day then Cable is the way to go..

 

[Addicted2~Jesus]

I'm online 24/7. If you hate waiting and are online most of the day then Cable is the way to go

Don't git me wrong, cables fine, but I've never noticed on anyones dsl waitin troubles or not bein on 24/7. I ask this out of curiosity, are you thinkin perhaps of isdn lines? The worst I've ever seen on a dsl is the modem will drop the line for 30 to 45 seconds as it dials back into the server, why? Good question lol I don't know if anyone knows for sure what's causin that, but I've also known cable modems to do the same thin, so you have a 30 to 45 sec interuption an then it's all back to normal.

 

[The Story Teller]

After the initial setup and signal problems with cable I’ve never had a problem. I find it faster that DSL and dial-up can’t touch it. If cost becomes a factor then I’ll switch back to DSL. I’m running Comcast cable and it has never dropped out on me. Even when I had a cable TV problem the high speed kept working. The Cable is more expensive but then I don’t like to wait. With DSL I noticed a small delay at times. But for the money and no headaches I’ll keep Cable. I have yet to live any where, where the phone lines didn’t start having problems. I also take care of 8 other people’s computers. Where they have dial-up or DSL I always have to go there and trouble shoot the phone line when they have a problem. 9 times out of ten the phone line has been the problem. Another point is that when you have a problem with the phone line it doesn’t affect your cable. The phone lines aren’t getting any better, so for my vote…CABLE…

 

[jclovesall]

I would choose cable

 

[Abuna]

when fiber optics comes im going to get that. It looks like it wont be that much more then cable or DSL but it will make watching videos online look like watching TV. but you better have a super processor and a very good media card.