Topic awaiting preservation: Cable VS xDSL: what is your opinion?

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I switched to cable about a year ago and I have been very happy with it. To be fair, I should mention that I have not personally used a computer with a DSL connection so I can't say if my cable connection is any better or worse.

I know that many people don't consider DSL for the geographic limitations you mentioned. If your not near enough to the main, you can't get it. I have DSL available, but chose cable because of the cost differences. DSL in my area is about $10 (US) a month more than my cable connection... not to mention the much higher cost of getting the DSL line installed and buying the modem for it. I don't know how it is in other areas, but it seems that around here you can almost always find someone offering a cable modem for free (after rebate) when you sign up for the service.

Anyway, I've had no regrets about my choice of cable for my broadband connection, and they now even offer a business type connection that (for a higher monthly of course ) will get you an even quicker connection. I have no need of it now, but it's nice to know it's there.

-Butcher-

[This message has been edited by butcher (edited 11-25-2003).]

i switched from DSL to cable a few months ago. it had nothing to do with one being better than the other, it was one provider being better than the other.
my upload/download times seem a lil bit more consistant but, that's the only real difference i've noticed.

we have 2 computers hooked up to it and if one is downloading a large file then it tends to slow the connection for the other computer a bit but, not too badly. i only had one computer hooked up to DLS prior, so i can't make a comparison.

i'm paying $60/month for my cable connection (DSL was $50) and could lower it to $50/month if i get my long distance service thorough the cable company as well. they also give the option to upgrade to faster connections... which is nice should i ever feel i'm going too slow

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Cell 1007::

I use cable, but my sister currently uses DSL. She had cable previously, and I think she switched due to availability. She tells me that cable is noticeably faster than the DSL she is currently using.

Neither cable nor DSL is anything near as fast as the T1 hookup we used at an office I used to work in. And most of the network here at the University runs through T1s and fiber optics. It is fast fast fast!


Cell 617

over the past few years I've set up 4 DSL and 2 cable accounts and use 2 DSL constantly. All the DSL connections have been over 1Mbit on a constant basis, the cable connections have definite peak traffic times where the bandwidth goes down. The 2 cable connections are in residential neighborhoods where there is no DSL available so it stands to reason there's going to be congestion at peak times.

Both are fine for surfing the web but I definitely prefer DSL for the bandwidth to money spent ratio. And I've never paid for a modem, the install and modem are always free, I do the install, and there's always been a deal going to get the modem free. You do however take it in the bum if you break the contract, about the cost of the modem

Jason

I have had cable for 3 years, and absolutely love it. Mine tops out at about 3.2Mbps usually all the time.

Actually, doing a speed test here reveals the following results:

Well worth my $50 a month. My speeds may be indicitive of the area I live in though, because Pittsburgh is mostly a blue-collar town.


[This message has been edited by Ramasax (edited 11-25-2003).]

I can only speak from some limited personal experience.

I have cable.

A friend a few miles away has DSL.

My connection speed and reliability are consistantly better on Cable than hers on DSL, and the difference in price is just about negligible.

I have Cable. I've been very happy with it. i've never had DSL but I've used those connections. I find the cable connection to be much faster and much less of a hassle to deal with.

Something that is being ignored (to a certain extent), not only should you be looking at the future of internet connectivity but look at the base systems involved. I don't have a land line at my home. I am strictly a cellular user, it's cheaper and far more convenient. From my understanding you cannot get a DSL line without a basic phone setup. How long is having a land line going to be a justifiable expense? Is it right now? With the negligible diffference in cost, the downturn in telephony usage (which will eventually lead to maintenence degradation), and the expanded capabilities of cable... I think it's by far the better way to go.

But thats just my opinion.

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.

i'm on cable and my numbers are comprable with Ramasax's. i had DSL for quite a while as well, and more than speed it was the reliability that bothered me. my cable connection is much more consistent and rarely drops, with DSL i found myself having to power cycle my modem quite a bit to reconnect, if it felt like reconnecting

chris


KAIROSinteractive

Ini - Not a paradox at all and proves my point rather well. Phone lines are going away or at the least are going to stop being serviced. Cable has proven to be a much better medium for data transmission. The phone companies are buying contracts with cable companies left and right because they can't survive on their own networks anymore. Eventually those phone companies are going to be merged with the up and coming cable communications companies. Eventually wired communication (for voice anyway) could be phased out entirely (as it should be IMO). Depending on who wins the Cable vs. Satellite battle. Wires could go away for everything but Electricity eventually.

I find that thought rather tantalizing. Put a hydrogen fuel cell driven generator in your basement and you wouldn't have to be connected to everything around you (assuming you went electric for appliances and dropped natural gas). Huh... makes digging in your yard a bit easier.

I find it hard to dig with the weight of a massive tumor on my head

Jason

quote:

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I know that many people don't consider DSL for the geographic limitations you mentioned. If your not near enough to the main, you can't get it.

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Uh...the same limitation applies to cable as well. If you aren't close enough to the main trunk cable then you can't get cable in any form. I use ADSL becuase I have to. There's no cable available in my area.

But InI...I must say, if it's your employer you're talking about going for a connection with, I say go for it, since most employers will give you a discount on your connection (lower costs, higher download limits, whatever) if you're one of their employees. You're being 'loyal' to them, and they like that.

When I lived in Seoul I had a cable connection, provided by the local cable company. They were lucky if they could tell their anus from a hole in the ground, but they were pretty good at coming by to fix things whenever they weren't working.

This past summer I moved out of Seoul and into the countryside. There is no cable modem service to our neighborhood yet, so the only option I have is DSL. Unfortunately, we're quite a ways away from the nearest base (or whatever you call it), so the connection can be very spotty. Lately it's been better, but on occasion it will still go down for a few hours at a time. These occasions seem to be becoming rarer.

Of course, minor downtimes (of anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes) are very common. It gets a bit aggravating to have to keep looking at the modem to make sure you're connected before you try to access the Net.

All things considered, I would prefer a cable connection from a provider that knows what they're doing, but I don't really have a choice right now.


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Suho: www.liminality.org

The poster has demanded we remove all his contributions, less he takes legal action.
We have done so.
Now Tyberius Prime expects him to start complaining that we removed his 'free speech' since this message will replace all of his posts, past and future.
Don't follow his example - seek real life help first.