Study: Cable speeds outpace DSL

CED Magazine ^ | 4/23/03 | Jeff Baumgartner

[Pro-Bush]

Study: Cable speeds outpace DSL

Jeff Baumgartner, CED

Consumers are generally willing to pay more for a faster connection, but the speeds provided by high-speed cable and DSL providers remain rather inconsistent, comScore Networks revealed in a new study that details broadband usage and quality of service.

The research firm found that the average cable modem connection was more than 50 percent faster than the average residential DSL connection.

Citing observed network speeds in February 2003, cable averaged 708 kbps, led by Cablevision Systems at 800 kbps and followed by Comcast Corp. (794 kbps), Cox Communications (688 kbps) and Adelphia Communications (575 kbps).

Residential DSL averaged just 467 kbps, led by ATT WorldNet's 762 kbps. SBC was second with a 584 kbps average, followed by DSL reseller Earthlink Inc. (369 kbps) and Qwest (240 kbps).

If preference trends hold up, cable's better average speeds will continue to pay dividends, comScore said.

Broadband competition "has created intense pricing pressure, so performance metrics such as connection speed are likely to become an increasingly important factor, both for consumers selecting a broadband provider and as a part of providers' sales and marketing efforts," said comScore Networks Vice President of Telecommunications Solutions

[Psycho_Bunny]

I wasn't talking about up-time or service or anything like that.  I was generalizing about pure performance.   In choosing between Cable or DSL; if you want speed, get cable, if you need low ping get DSL.

There will, of course, be people who live in areas where the reverse is true but I work for a gaming company.  We host thousands of players a day (we're the primary host of America's Army) and the general rule of thumb is: players pinging under 60ms are on DSL....players over 100ms are on cable or 56k.

Whenever you see someone spike up to 500ms or more it's usually followed by a "F*cking laggy cable" or "Cable R teh sux0rs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" chat from the player.

In four years of admining, I've never once seen a DSL player say that.  Although, as you indicated, DSL players will sometimes (very rarely) lose their connection.

[KneelBeforeZod]

yes you can download 20 megs / second off the backbone.

you must have missed the whole point of my post. I worked right downstairs from the NOC.

[G Larry]

Bad data!!

I've got Qwest DSL and have tested it at 640kbps, in the Denver suburbs.

[PFKEY]

Shhh... Cable is slow and you have to share your bandwidth, plus there is the security issues related to this sharing.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Sam, buddy, lighten up. I said shhh...as in I don't want the good word getting out.

Humor, man, humor.

[Pro-Bush]

I told you this was a sensitive subject.. ;^)

[SamAdams76]

Sorry about that. I went into "rant" mode because I heard others say the same things about cable over the past few years. And they were serious.

[js1138]

I just tested at 667kbps at bandwidthplace.com with earthlink.net DSL

I used to get double this speed but was betting bumped off when not using it. They obviously split the lines to add more users. Now its more reliable but a bit slower. Still fast enough for the way i use it.

[farmfriend]

I love mine.

[Vinnie]

Communications
2.8 megabits per second

Storage
347.7 kilobytes per second

1MB file download
2.9 seconds

Time-Warner Cable

[lotus]

sorry about delay in answering, I work bad hours. I'm on starband, microwave transmit up to sat and recieve sat down, very fast. (no phone line)

When we moved out here it was our only comm, and it was expensive, but far less now. Cost either 200 for equip or 500 depending on the contract, at 200 about 100/mo yr, 60/mo yr, then 50., at 500, 70 yr, then 60, then 50, something like that. Plus about 100 for install, they wont let you do it. When we did it was about 700.

The address is static but I run a firewall. It is very reliable, and from test I run it is superior to almost all other systems. You can get tv at same time and it cost more of course.

Probably get more info at starband
I just logged in there, and if you decide to go with it you could email me, and if I refer you, we both would get one month free service, but I would have to have your name, email and phone number as its for friends and family.

The only downside is a good rain stops the signal, otherwise its perfect.

[Jonez712]

Here are my results with an ADSL line:

 Results

1.2 megabits per second
 

Details

Your raw speed was 1173055.62 bits per second which is the same as:

Communications	1.2 megabits per second How communication devices are rated. Kilo means 1,000 and mega means 1,000,000. Examples include 56k modem and 10Mbit Ethernet
Storage	143.2 kilobytes per second The way data is measured on your hard drive and how file sharing and FTP programs measure transfer speeds. Kilo is 1,024 and mega is 1,048,576.
1MB file download	7.2 seconds The time it would take you to download a 1 megabyte file at this speed.

Rating

Compared to all connection types worldwide, yours is fantastic

Not bad, considering it's meant to be 1.5mb/s downstream. It costs $50 a month, which isn't bad, considering we have it on 5 computers through our home network. We're also about a quarter mile away from the SBC substation, which should produce some pretty nice speeds. Besides, cable isn't even available here for whatever reason, although Comcast is our new cable provider, and maybe they'll bring cable internet along with them.

[Stewrt]

I think the best thing about having both cable and DSL available is the competition between services, and not one industry trying to corner the market and price gouge us all.
Speed, reliability, and pricing will come around with time and maybe even more competition. Hopefully more competition. In my present area both are crap. and still cost alot.