Tech: DSL or RoadRunner

Subject: DSL or RoadRunner?
From: Anglo
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 02:39 AM

I can't seem to find any comparison information anywhere on high speed internet access, so I thought I'd throw it up here and see if anyone in this remarkably well-informed constituency could point me to any anformation.

Nothing to do with folk music, of course, except I could access the DigiTrad database a lot more quickly, especially when the computers are up :-)

I'm currently working off a 28K modem, and I'd really like to get the faster stuff. I'm in a location where I could get a DSL line from my ISP, or from the phone company, or RoadRunner from cable. Any input? TIA.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Naemanson
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:40 AM

I use a cable modem myself. I don't know anything about DSL. (It might be the same thing for all I know.)

The cost is roughly equivalent to a second phone line and the service is fast. The only thing that slows you down is the server at the other end.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: GUEST,PattyClink
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 12:19 PM

Roadrunner is outstanding, makes the occasional audio or video feed actually practical, makes surfing pretty instantaneous, and doesn't tie up phone lines. We had the special phone line for a while, and it was a vast improvement over regular dial-up, but not as fast as rr. Add up your costs for each one, and maybe negotiate to see who can cut you a better deal.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Anglo
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 04:46 PM

Thank you both for the input. Costs seem identical, that was why I was looking for some other criteria. Good to know that RoadRunner is faster than telephone DSL (which also lets you talk on the phone at the same time, so tying up the phone seems like another dead heat). So - so far we're leaning towards RoadRunner.... ('course, I'll have to get a different email address).

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Chocolate Pi
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 01:41 PM

If you're looking at DSL prices and services, try comparision-shopping for DSL reports here.

Chocolate Pi

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Mrrzy
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 01:43 PM

Don't talk about throwing up. I still haven't recovered from Thanksgiving!

Subject: DSL And Cable
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 30 Nov 00 - 02:25 PM

DSL and Cable both have ups and down... and in the end they both sorta boil down to being about equal...

Cable is blazing fast... until all the folks in your neighbourhood get in it as well nad you all log on at the same time... then things can get a little slow... But those times when you're the only one on... WOW!!!

DSL... you speed is set... it depends on how close you are to the nearest switching station... Right next door, and yer cookin' with gas... 15 blocks further down... you may as well be on a 56K phone modem....

What decided it for us was, locally the DSL providers only granted one user account per house... one email addy, one web space and the cable company offered 5... which has since been upgraded to 7 I think... at 5 or 10 megs of web space each... so if I were to activate all my possible accounds I could potentially make a web page that was about 50 megs big... Minus the space the wifes account takes up... What a great porn site THAT would be eh!

LOL!!!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 04:48 PM

We're looking into DSL now...anyone have any more experience with it?

Our cable company has decided to charge $10 extra for separate bills for cable tv and internet, even when they are electronically generated bills, instead of print, and it doesn't matter if one is for business and the other for family pleasure! If one drops the cable and just wants internet, they will still tack on an extra $10!

Sso...needless to say, we are looking at alternatives. Satellite tv is looking pretty good, too, comparively.

Thanks for any updates/experiences, etc.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 05:48 PM

LOVE Roadrunner!!!

Good company with an excellent tech support service for idiots like myself. They have done a fine job for me, about a year and a half now. Faster than DSL with a lot of features.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: artbrooks
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 06:32 PM

I have DSL from Earthlink...good service and they have a spam blocker that is pretty good...but not perfect. Mention me if you go with them..I get a kickback.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 06:49 PM

Don't be too concerned about what the provider offers outside of connectivity. If you use USENET newsgroups you'll want to make sure they serve all the groups you follow. Don't worry too much about email. You're better off selecting an email provider that isn't connected with your ISP. You may want to change providers at some point and you don't want to have to change your email address.

There are a number of email providers, some free some fee. Choose one that is likely to remain in business and will allow you upgrade the service (mailbox space, accounts, online storage) when needed.

Cable providers commonly advertize only their download speed while severely restricting the upload speed. Ask about upload speeds and compare competing services if they are available.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 07:11 PM

Thanks, guys, now I have to ask what is Roadrunner? (Should have said before, I know!:-) We have cable internet now and I don't have any problems with the speed. That's kind of why I wanted to know more about DSL because I don't want to lose that speed, though Rog says our computer is old and out-dated and it would be even faster with a newer one.*sigh*

Is what Clinton said still true about DSL and being close to the switching station? Anyone have any experience with that?

Curiouser and curiouser kat

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 09:31 PM

DSL requires you to be within a certain distance of the phone relay station, or it just wont work (15,000 ft, I think). I presume service drops off at the far end..

we are seriously thinking about it all right now, but the service I am with won't have THEIR cable network in my area for 2 years! So, it's Comcast or DSL, and the reports about DSL in my area are sad..(was a good company, but they are getting sloppy)

I guess I will try the cable bit...can always go back to dial-up if I am unhappy. (I know a couple people who are doing ok with it)

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Padre
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 09:34 PM

We have satellite internet service, becasue we live too far out for cable, and the local service doesn't offer DSL. The one disadvantage is that HEAVY rains may cause the signal to fade.

Padre

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Amos
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 09:36 PM

Long-term Road Runner fan -- used them for eight years and generally excellent service. Dsl is lower bandwidth and less reliable technology although it has matured of late.


A

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 10:03 PM

Meep Meep!

ZOOOOOM!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Amos
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 10:11 PM

Kat:

Road Runner is high-bandwidth internet connection for those who subscribe to Time Warner Cable. If your cable is provided by some other company, they may have a different similar service, such as Cox.net. For a home on the cable service network, the pipe that brings your cable signal in for TV is big enough to provide high speed Internet access as well if the company has organized the technology and set up the servers, (which use a dynamic protocol for assigning IP numbers on the fly called DHCP).

A

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: NicoleC
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 10:15 PM

I just got RoadRunner and I love them so far. Very fast and reliable, at least for the past 3 weeks.

The bit about how "cable modems slow down" when everyone gets on them is, in fact, a lie, (or at least not moreso than DSL) for which many DSL companies got their hands slapped for advertising. ALL home broadband access uses shared lines, including DSL.

FWIW, I've had cable for about 3 years. Had one 6 hour outage when Comcast was transitioning our system from ATTBI. Had DSL at work for a year and a half -- the connection would get boogered when rainy, too sunny, or when it just didn't feel like working that day. About 3% down time overall, plus sorta-down time. Never DSL again for me.

DSL does get slower farther from the station, but consumer DSL typically runs at the slowest speed anyway. And you won't be charged for a speed you can't get, provided that rates are tierable. For example, a business DSL line might be purchased at 768k, but a consumer line is generally SDSL (Synchronous DSL) at 128k upload/128k download OR ADSL (Asnychronous DSL) at 256k download/128k upload. Unless you upload large files to the internet, I wouldn't worry about the lower speed ADSL upload at home. The business might choose to purchase a faster line if they were close enough, and is more likely to need the speed on both ends.

You won't know what your actually potential speed is until they come out and test the line. Interesting enough, I worked on a business park where we were across a canal from the switching station -- 100 yards away. Turns out the cable was run halfway across the city before it got to the park -- no DSL service even though you could throw a rock and hit it! No one knew until a resident waited 3 months for a DSL install only to find out they couldn't get it. It's CABLE distance, not physical. (And your internal house phone wiring will also affect your speed...)

If your local cable connection is reliable, that a good indication of what a cable broadband connection will be like, although there are other things to break in the loop. I don't have a land line phone, so cable is a much cheaper way to go for me anyway.

A faster computer will have some effect on your online speed, but unless you are using a very old computer or doing a lot of internet multimedia stuff or viewing large pages, you probably won't notice much. Windows 2000 and XP do have much better and faster TCP/IP stacks (networking stuff), so that upgrade (if your computer is worthy) will probably do more than a faster processor or more RAM. However, RAM is cheap and a very cost-effective upgrade.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Amergin
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 11:16 PM

It just depends on what you like...some folks love dsl...and the closer they are to the CO (Central Office)...the faster they CAN get their service...and it depends on the area as well...and all the other factors...In some areas a person can be over the 3 mile limit and still get dsl...but chances are they won't be....and in DSL there are so many factors that can affect your speed...and DSL companies will not guarantee a speed because of that...the factors can be from the equipment at the CO...to the quality of the lines between the CO and the SNI (the box on the side of the house where the lines come in)...to the quality of the signal from the SNI to the box...things like filters on the phone lines, fax machines, halogen lights, digital cable, the length of the phone lines from the jack to the modem (phone cord should be no more than six feet), 900 mhz and higher phones, satellite dishes, can all affect your signal...as outside interference can come in and affect your connection/speed...

The reason why there is a 3 mile limit is that unlike cable...the dsl signal will bleed off the lines...down to nothing...and other things will bleed into the signal....

All that said, hundreds of people (if not thousands) have never had any problem with their dsl...save for little issues easily fixed...or outages in the area....and they prefer the DSL over the cable....but then I have heard vice versa as well.....so it just depends on the person and their general experiences.

good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 11:58 PM

We just got a satellite dish, 4 free mos (of 130 channels of not much) then, $49.95/mo. if we keep the premium movie channels. It's Dish Network. I didn't want it, but.............

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 12:09 AM

Wow, thanks, everyone!! Lots of info here to digest. We do have cable tv and internet, right now. I have issues with their billing practices and have just had it...first they were ATTBI & cable, then COmcast, for about a day, then Bresnan and that's when the billing stuff started going haywire. This weekend past they up and changed everyone's account numbers! Don't know why!

This has really been helpful. I think we are definitely going to go with satellite tv...we can get 100 channels for 30 something or 150+ for $42 and that includes our favs which are NOT network tv, thank goodness.

Thansk, again, all of you!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: DSL or RoadRunner
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Sep 03 - 07:31 AM

According to my PC, my DSL connection is currently working at 10,000 kbps. The connection hasn't gone down in the 2 years I've had it...of course, rain isn't an issue here much of the time.