ISP Recommendations? [Vanity]

June 3, 2006 | my_pointy_head_is_sharp

[Cedar]

I've got RoadRunner--normally very fast, but even with my enhanced-speed wireless router, it tests much slower (almost 1/2 as slow as RR capability).

I sure enjoy wireless, but feel cheated!

[ThePythonicCow]

Do you live in the eastern U.S. Verizon has land line phone service there, if I recall recorrectly. In California, where my_pointy_head_is_sharp lives, according to his Freeper home page, Verizon is for cell phones, and SBC (now AT&T) is for land lines. I really doubt that you will find cheap DSL service from Verizon in California.

[ThePythonicCow]

as their customer service is seriously lacking.

Ah - so is that another requirement - besides being cheap and a little faster than what you have?

The combination of cheap and good service could be a difficult one to meet. You might want to be clear in your own mind which of these matters more to you.

And the place to check for DSL recommendations is DSLReports - also known as BroadbandReports: . Enter your zip code in their search page, and see what looks good.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Why do you prefer cable internet? Is it faster?

[Echo Talon]

heck ya! my DSl only downloads ay like 46Kb/sec the cable i used to have would download anywhere from 200K-300Kb/sec

standard dial up 56k modem downloads at about 4.6kb/sec

[ThePythonicCow]

That's an unfair comparison. Some DSL lines get upto 600 KBytes/sec.

And DSL lines are not shared the way cable lines are, so you don't have to compete with everyone in your neighborhood for that bandwidth. And you can get symmetric up/down lines and fixed IP addresses with DSL if you are providing a server for others.

The current installation rates across the nation are actually a little higher for DSL than for cable.

The main reasons I use DSL are:

• Unlike cable, there are multiple competing ISP's for DSL, so I can get a smaller, high service ISP, as I choose not to deal with the big no-service cable or phone companies. I can get a highly knowledgable and patient technician on the phone in a few minutes, 24/7. The big guys just can't do that.
• I only need a $20 basic service phone land line to get DSL, whereas I'd need a $30 or $40 TV cable to get internet over cable. So the total package is cheaper, especially given that I want a phone land line anyway, but don't want TV.

[Echo Talon]

I had cable internet in very populated area and actually I was in a pretty large apartment complex at the time... Still would download fast. I live out(sort of in the boonies now) and the DSL is only 48K/sec I could get faster DSL IF i spend like $200 a month... :\ the Cable i just got is like $21 a month or something like that. I don't have a server so the static ip is worthless to me.

[Echo Talon]

OH, also I only got the cable internet NOT the Cable TV, I have Direct TV(satellite)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I use ATT/Yahoo DSL. Haven't had any problems and it's only $24.00 for the Elite Package. I know they're liberal but I ain't paying $60 bucks a month to Time Warner.

[ThomasThomas]

DSL extreme is in most of california a gives 1500/384kbps for about $15 a month.

[Echo Talon]

how fast does fiefox say you download at? kb/sec

[Echo Talon]

download this here and tell me how fast it says.

[Echo Talon]

downloading the file i listed with DSL i started at 124KB/sec and towards the middle of the download it was at 51KB/sec and remained there until it was done.

[Not now, Not ever!]

After Charter cable dropped the rates on their Pipeline service, I got it last week, Downloads are at a reliable 3.0 mb, almost twice as fast as T-1.

The change from earthslink dial up is not to be beleived. It will change the way you use the internet.

[ThePythonicCow]

Yes - if you are in the boonies, then cable wins, as the speed DSL over phone lines drops off pretty bad at longer distances.

I didn't realize you could get cable internet without cable TV - good deal.

And yes, for most folks, static IP addresses aren't useful.

[Echo Talon]

wow, I ordered my cable but don't get it for 2 weeks, hopefully its fast since I'm not in a really populated area. I can guarantee it will be faster than the DSL im currently using is :\

[Echo Talon]

well in not really in the boonies.. hard to explain... im only
about 1 mile from the ISP's office.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Which DSL service provider are you using?

[Echo Talon]

And yes, for most folks, static IP addresses aren't useful.

really easy to be tracked that way. :\

[Echo Talon]

im about 45 miles north of Minneapolis.