Cable or DSL?

**Deckard** · 04-09-2002

I currently have a cable modem for Internet access at home. For years it has been my only choice for residential broadband, short of something bank-breaking like frame relay or OC

Although the service is advertised to provide speeds up to 1.544mbps, I consistently see 400k-430k ul/dl speeds.

A few days ago the phone company announced DSL in my area and I'm thinking about switching. The montly fee is ten dollars less and has a speed of 768k, both ways. I am close enough to the CO to get the service.

I am interested in hearing opinions from those of you who have personal experience with both cable and DSL Internet access. I would like to know which you prefer.

**adrianxw** · 04-09-2002

Any end to end connection is only as fast as the slowest link. If you have a fast link to a router, but the server is connected to it's via tin cans and a piece of string, you will not make it better by speeding up your end.

The marketing claims of many services bandy speed figures around as if they are routinely acheivable. I don't believe I have ever had my connection run at it's published rate.

That being said, DSL is supposedly upgradable, (here I've seen 2Mbit advertised), and if the cable is not going to get better, and if the DSL is cheaper...

**Deckard** · 04-09-2002

Originally posted by adrianxw
Any end to end connection is only as fast as the slowest link.

Thank you, Mr. Obvious ;)

**Barjor** · 04-09-2002

With a Dsl you get your own static Ip address wich is good if you want to host your own web page. With the cable you share your conection with the rest of the people in the neighbourhood. Actually with the cable your neigbourhood is part of the same "workgroup" network. I have cable at home and I love the speed I get out from it,much faster then my work dsl conection.

**Govtcheez** · 04-09-2002

Doesn't DSL speed diminish the farther away from the switching station you are?

**Brian** · 04-09-2002

I would prefer Cable.

It has an easier to say name

**ygfperson** · 04-09-2002

i have adsl, asyncronys(sp?) dsl
it's 640/90, costs $40 a month, and for the most part is reliable. (after some mishaps in the beginning, but it hardly ever hiccups now)
my biggest complaint is the upload speed. that being said, i have no experience in cable (other than installing it at a friends house) so i can't compare. but i can say this:

Code:

   \
    \
     \
      \
DSL    >    modem 
      /
     /
    /
   /

**Imperito** · 04-09-2002

Well I'm tempted to say DSL just cuz I hate my cable company. Bt DSL is not availiable.

[rant]
Ok, listen to this. I buy the service, they don't make any promises of a minimum speed, but its still pretty fast. (500-600 up and down). So then, six months later, they cap the speeds at 300. People panic, and ask questions, but all we get is that they are "restructuring" their network to provide better service.

Which is exactly what they do. they retool their network, and again provide service in the 500+ range.

The caveat? This is "business class" service, and costs a fair amount of coin to get. Plain ole residencial service is still capped at 300.

So basically, they sell me a service, water it down, and then offer to sell me back the same thing I had before for more money.

ain't capitalism grand?
[/rant]

Bobish · 04-09-2002

hey don't complain my dsl conection doesn't work a quarter of the time.

**xlnk** · 04-09-2002

cable baby!

**sigma** · 04-09-2002

To summarize:

With cable you share bandwidth with your neighbors.

With DSL, the bandwidth decreases with distance from the telephone distribution hub.

Pick your poison.

**lightatdawn** · 04-09-2002

>>Pick your poison.

Picked. Cable. It was especially nice as I was one of the first people in my area to sign up when it became avaiable. Shoulda seen the speeds i was getting when 'sharing with my neighbours' was, like, 1 person. I still get some pretty crazy speeds. As i've mentioned before (somewhere a long while ago), I downloaded the DX SDK in a matter of a few minutes (3-4 i think). Thats most definatly the longest time i've ever had to wait for something. Everything else is done before i can open a browser window to go use it.

**tyler** · 04-09-2002

I have cable internet, and I have never noticed an internet slow down. On occasion, the whole city cable company goes down and I can't go on the internet OR watch television. A few of my friends have DSL internet, but they say that they download slower than me.

**tim545666** · 04-09-2002

I have ADSL 1.5 mbs down, and either 128 or 256 up, I'm not sure. My worst complaint is how often this thing crashes. The company seems the screw somehting up monthly, so I am without service for a few days. And my upload speed really sucks. But I can download at over 180 kbs on fast sites, so that's good. But I pay $50 per month. I see cable for $30-40 per month with faster download and upload speeds. I wish it was available in my area.

**lightatdawn** · 04-09-2002

Another point. I've had Cable for 3+ years and its been down only a single time ever (that i have noticed) and that was shortly after it had become available here.

>>I have ADSL 1.5 mbs down

Okay... i've never reached those speeds. Have you? About 500 kbs is the fastest. 60 kbs is the slowest. I dont really know what the average is as it usually all over so fast you barely have time to check. ... I pity the modem users... "What!?!?? I clicked on that link and its not open now!!!"

Q: Why is the upload speed slower on the DSL conections? I dont know much about DSL as i dont actually know anyone who has it.

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