I Need Faster Internet!

[BruiseLee]

I'm still poking around the internet at dial-up speeds, so I'm seriously considering upgrading to DSL or cable. I'm sure there are a lot of you guys on this forum with some good advice, so I thought I'd post my questions here.

My main concerns are price, reliability, speed, and tech support, in that order. As long as I can go at least 3 times faster than my dialup connection, which is only like 33k due to crappy phone lines, I'm gonna be happy about speed. Tech support is important, too, though, because I always seem to need to call for help eventually.

I think I am leaning a bit more towards ADSL due to the fact I hate my cable company (rip off prices), and there's always the possibility of sharing too little bandwidth with my neighbors (who I know for a fact do use cable).

I'm a cheap ******* who didn't even like shelling out $20 a month for dialup. I mean $20 a month is one less knife or flashlight a month, right?

So, who is a good company to deal with in Southern California? The best price I've seen so far is $35 a month, which I can live with.

Also, any point in considering upgrading to a new modem with v.44/v.92? I know its supposed to improve web surfing due to better compression of HTML and some other types of files. Uploads are supposed to be faster, connecting to the internet faster, and you got the new "internet on hold feature."

Big deal. I don't think this can help me download MP3 files faster, right? Or the latest Windows service pack, or virus update?

I don't even think a lot of dialup ISP's support v.44/v.92. Is this true? I'm with Juno right now. I know there is no way any dialup service can compare with ADSL in speed, but the cost still makes it an attractive option. And buying a new modem is a only gonna cost me money one time.

Bruise

 

[tiktok 22]

Hi Bruise,

I just signed up for cable broadband myself. I have put this off until I've seen the results of other subscribers. With simple internet speed tests, They've been reaching speeds up to 1.4 meg download. Not to bad for $40 a month. the upload speed is considerably slower, but for $20 more than I am paying now, I'm not complaining. Mine should be up and running by next Monday. If you go with cable, remember this is a shared bandwidth. The more people using broadband on your sector, the slower your speed.

cheers
kev

 

[avusblue]

I subscribe to NetZero dial up, a good deal at $9.95 per month -- it's been reliable and never a busy signal or dropped call.

Now they are offering a "high speed" dial up service for an extra $5 per month. Supposedly this uses some sort of caching and compression technology to make web pages load faster, without affecting download speed.

Has anyone tried this? Or even found a credible independent review of whether this upgrade is what it's cracked up to be? I'm unwilling to pony up for broadband service, but this would seem like a reasonable "higher speed" alternative if it really works.

Thanks

Dave

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

If you have crummy phone line, DSL may not help you or even work.

I am on DSL on the machine I'm typing this on, and have a definate love/hate relationship with it.

The ping time (time after a click until action begins) is HORRID! Sometimes running into MINUTES!!!!

The throughput once action begins BLOWS MY HOME DIAL UP out of the water!

If I could get both...... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jpshakehead.gif

 

[Bill.H]

So much depends on where you live and the age of your phone lines and what ISP you're planning to go with that it would be hard for anyone else to give you much advice. xDSL technologies are only good within a limited distance from the telephone company CO. Cable bandwidth depends on how many neighbors you share it with. Some cable companies (such as mine) have multiple "rings" of service, I'm fortunate in that the one I am on is very lightly loaded. Were I to live on the other side of the highway, cable service there is terribly slow; however, people in that same area can get ADSL or EDSL services that I can not.

I recommend you learn the name of the providers for the various services in your area and then look them up at: http://www.broadbandreports.com Maybe you'll get lucky and discover something good is available to you.

 

[LukeK]

Avus -- I wouldn't mess with paying the extra 5 bucks a month for caching. It does speed up loading of sites that you frequent, but downloads are still the same speed. If you want to fork over 60 bucks a year extra for improved webpage speeds, then be my guest. It might be worth it if broadband isn't within reach. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif I am currently using a cable connection for internet. It has slowed considerably since I signed up, yet it is still faster than any DSL around here. I used to be able to get literally 5-6 Mbit/sec steady at night. Now during the day I'll get around 1.5 - 2 Mbit and maybe 3 at night if I'm lucky. (Maybe things will speed up once the school year starts eh? All these dang teenagers stealing songs online, hogging my bandwidth!)