DSL or cable, which would you do:

DSL - $60/mo, includes hardware modem/firewall/router. 1.5 up/down. Would dump land line in process.

Cable - $75/mo. Includes modem but requires me to use one address per PC. Speed is 3.0 up/down, on a good day... (though I heard that it's actually 384k/3.0m up/down :wtf: ) Comcast rep also said they've overcome the limitations relating to segment (security and speed) but I don't believe them, the guy didn't seem too knowledgeable... I'd have to get a router to hook up all my PCs ($100 one time fee) I'd read how it can be determined if a connection is using a router in order to cheat (even with mac cloning, there are other ways to determine if a NAT, et cetera, is being used)

I'm leaning towards the higher speed DSL. I don't care for my land line and web administration would be faster, as would playing online games...

:shrug:

Thx!

Had problems with the DSL going off line, slow downs. Have cable now and it seems much more dependable and faster. The only time we went down was during a very bad ice storm and that was only for about 15 minutes.

I got a cable package that comes with digital cable so there is a discount. There may be some possible problems with data rates in DSL and they are not as popular as cable modem. Whatever works for you....If you aren't happy with either you can always change. BTW..I think you can get WiFi and connect your PCs wirelessly. My cousin gets free internet because her neighbor has his connection open.

Which is one reason why I prefer wired! :D

Besides, I wouldn't borrow internet connectivity... :evilgrin:

went from 3 yrs of cable to finally DSL...have had DSL for 6 months.....found Comcast to lack good customer service and had problems with stability and security....
much happier with DSL.........but like I said....I am basing that on 6 mos of service

with static IP... is not cheap, but can host own web server.

http://www.speakeasy.net/refer/27339

Check them out before you sign up with anybody else. I use them for White Rose, and have been VERY happy both with the service and the support provided. And as a bonus, they do not mind you running servers at all, and encourage you to either share your broadband with your neighbors via WiFi or to actually SELL them broadband time if you so choose. Speakeasy are a first class outfit.

I have 1.5/768, with fixed IP address, and I find it quite enough to run White Rose with.

I just switched from DSL to cable based on price and better performance. I was paying $50/mo for 1500/128 DSL. Adelphia was running a special in my area so I got 3000/256 cable for $30 including the modem rental. The phone company countered that they would lower my rate to $35 if I signed a 12 month contract. I went with cable. I got better speed with no contract.

Don't pay $100 for a router. You can get a 4 port router almost anywhere for $40 or less. The number of PC's is invisible from the outside. All the providers know you are going to hook up a router. It is no big deal. The modem limits the bandwidth.

For browsing I cannot say that I can notice any difference between my old DSL and cable. The download speeds are a least doubled.

The print server is a nice bonus but it's the firewall features I want...

'tis something to consider... but I wish comcast's service was $29.99 per month instead of the intro deal, after which the price jumps to $43. (then add the fees and additional IP addresses, you can bet your sweet bippy that they'll check up on customers...) If I didn't have my basic $9/mo account, I'd be paying $100/mo for their cable internet. :puke:

Mine was $60 after rebate. Every router now has a built-in firewall. Linksys, D-link, Netgear all do.

We had Qwest DSL and now have Comcast cable. It's way faster and more reliable, in our experience.

Comcast Cable high speed.

Sprint DLS.

I had nothing but problems with Comcast, I have not lost my connection once with Sprint. Just my 2 cents.

I've worked for the company that Comcast outsources their tech support to. My comments are as follows:

1. don't buy their router. There are a lot of routers that have the same features for much less.

2. The only way you are charged for more than 1 ip address is if you use a hub instead of a router.

3. the only ip the company would 'see' other than the modem is the router.

All of the tech support is coming from Canada, and the vast majority are people who have no Idea what they are doing.

Regards
Trek

I'm thinking of going cable, but they say you can only hook up one computer for their price (49.95/mo) . . . my brother (who is much more computer savvy than me) says if we get a router, we can hook up all three computers and there's no way the company will know . . . if anyone could expand on this a little in plain English, I'd appreciate it greatly . . . thanks . . .

A router is a gateway between two networks: the Internet (WAN) and your local Network (LAN).

A Hub (or a switch for that matter) connects computers within one network (i.e. your LAN).

The important part is: with a Router connected to the modem your whole local network is connected to the Internet via the router at once (while the Internet only "knows" your Router - assigns an address).
With a Hub/Switch connected to the modem, every PC would "go" into the Internet itself, directly. For that reason the Internet would have to "know"(assign a address) to each of the computers and that costs extra.


As for the "there's no way the company will know" myth: that's completely wrong. Any ISP that cares about it's customers using a router can easily find out - some allow it, others don't.
(for techies doubting it: two ways to find out: use of unusually high ports with http connections directed to them and - more importantly- the good old IP-ID Header entry.)

A hub blindly broadcasts data to all computers on the lan...

Routers can direct data to specific computers. (that's a glib definition...)

Also, depending on the situation, the cable company could figure it out that you're using multiple computer connections via one router. http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,10196066~mode=flat has a lot on the subject. They may not, but with improving technologies I can easily fathom how a cable company would install hardware and/or software to look up what's at the IP address they've assigned. Especially if they tell you they've increased or improved their data lines to accomodate more traffic. You can bet your sweet bippy they'll use some of it to keep tabs on their customers, as much as legally possible.

And remember, avoid the el-cheapo $40 routers. Get one with a built-in firewall ($80 for junky linksys crap, $100+ for decent gear.)

I'm stickin' with DSL. For the moment.

nt

But only because I don't want to pay the cable company any more than I already do. They are constantly raising rates, and it's getting very annoying.

I've only had one outage in three years--and that was less than an hour. With DSL, my Internet was going down all the time. Qwest's customer service was appalling. I once had a robotic voice tell me, "please stay on the line. Your call is important to us. The average wait time is one hour and forty-seven minutes."

In my experience, cable is much, much faster and much, much more reliable. No contest.

but I'm a downloading fool. I download gigabytes of ....(edited) um, entirely legal stuff....., so the cable really helps.

I play some on-line gaming, too, and it's noticeably faster.

I had QWEST DSL for a couple of months and gave it up in disgust: I had to use MSN e-mail, and they kept losing messages, which is intolerable when I'm trying to run a business.

I had originally resisted cable because the cable was not located where I wanted my office to be, and the landlord wouldn't allow any holes to be drilled in the walls, but then I realized that I could get a wireless hub and it wouldn't matter.

I have not had any problems that cannot be solved by resetting the cable modem (i.e. unplugging it for a minute or so and then plugging it back in).