DSL provides most customers with a fairly consistent rate for both upstream and downstream. However, the maximum limit for that rate is I think 3Mb/s downstream. Most customers are subscribed for 768kb/s downstream.
Cable modem can achieve faster theoretical speeds (6MB/s downstream), but actual speeds can vary depending on how many other people in your neighborhood are using the service at the same time. Most customers are subscribed to the basic rate of 4MB/s downstream.
In terms of services provided, most computer users (dynamic IP) would be better off with cable modem. However, I'm still on DSL because I require a static IP, and I get my service through Speakeasy.net over Verizon's copper.
Note also that because you are sharing the loop with the rest of your neighborhood, you are somewhat more vulnerable to attack on a cable modem loop than on a DSL loop. In fact comcast.net is the single worst source of spam and zombie machine attacks on the Internet. So make sure you're set up with a firewall, regardless of what operating system you use.
when I lived in Largo, I had faster speeds with Dial Up then I had with cable. I will say that I am very jaded when it comes to that. I would have done better with a 28.8k modem and a phone line. Honestly..
I would seriously look into how many users are in your apartment complex first. That was our issue.
i've used both in my area. actually, it was my sister stealing wireless from a neighbor on her laptop... and me on my slower machine with dsl. mine moved faster. i guess it depends on your area.
Yeah, I asked the rep about that; she had no idea what I was talking about. Then again, she also told me I could use my current router-- for DSL-- with my cable service. So I told her I had some people to talk it over with.
Sure you could - IF it's a separate, independent box which is a true "router" - which would be possible but unlikely. I.e., why would you have a router at all, unless it's a router for both the G4 and the PowerBook? I suspect she was confused.
lets use an analogy that was used to intially explain things to me.
you have a 20 dollar bill in your pocket. if you give 40-50 people a slice of that money you cant expect to come out of that with all that much cash. However if you have 8 bucks all for you your going to have more money.
So Cable IS faster but that also depends on how many people are connected to the switch thats planted in your complex to handle those customers. Also comcast is HORRIBLE with their email client. I get 40-50 emails a day that are unwanted and unsolcited. No matter how many times i ask comcast to remedy this they cannot.
So for your websurfing and music downloading and video watching needs DSL is MORE than adequate. for me running games online to norway im going to need a cable line....or a T1 but who can afford a T1 connection :-)
so Meekay is correct technically Cable is faster but DSL is going to be better for what your using it for and also faster for you.
Damn. He beat me to it. But yeah, what he said. Sunday afternoon/early evening is hell trying to do any sort of online gaming. I also notice issues with downloading stuff and watching streaming video during those times. That's one of the selling points we are told to pass on to customers...yo uare the only one on your line, you aren't sharing it with other folks.
HOWEVER...for us gamers and people who live in magical faerie lands, the added "pipe space" we get for the information to shoot down is a definite plus.
Speed 3 megabits per second Communications 3 megabits per second Storage 363.2 kilobytes per second 1MB file download 2.8 seconds Subjective rating Great Explain results
Info Date & time Thursday, January 19, 2:39PM* Test type IDT4 Free Connection type Cable Region Delaware Data size 1024KB Provider Comcast
By an eerie coincidence, I just switched from Comcast to Verizon DSL! By comparison, the DSL is as slow as molasses in January - compared to Comcast. It doesn't suck, though, and DSL has more constant speeds, as has been suggested by some posters here.
Why did I switch, you may ask? Well, Comcast = $66 / month. Verizon = $23 / month. But since I sold my old Xeon server, I no longer need to host my site from my own house. So DSL is just fine, albeit slow. The caveat, however, is that cable (as has been previously alluded to) is a shared connection. If an entire apartment complex has more than a few cable Internet subscribers, the speed will decrease proportionately. I was the only house in my neighborhood with Comcast. (I had them run the line down the street and drill a tunnel under my cast driveway.) So I had the full bandwith of a single cable connexion. That will not be the case with most subscribers, of course.
I should note that, for only $10 more, I could get "Business" or "High-Speed" DSL, which would be a dedicated DSL line as fast as an UN-shared cable connection could ever be - at half the price!
Last, the slower the computer, the less noticeable and utilizable any speed increase will be. In your situation, I would personally decide by price alone.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:33 pm (UTC)DSL provides most customers with a fairly consistent rate for both upstream and downstream. However, the maximum limit for that rate is I think 3Mb/s downstream. Most customers are subscribed for 768kb/s downstream.
Cable modem can achieve faster theoretical speeds (6MB/s downstream), but actual speeds can vary depending on how many other people in your neighborhood are using the service at the same time. Most customers are subscribed to the basic rate of 4MB/s downstream.
In terms of services provided, most computer users (dynamic IP) would be better off with cable modem. However, I'm still on DSL because I require a static IP, and I get my service through Speakeasy.net over Verizon's copper.
Note also that because you are sharing the loop with the rest of your neighborhood, you are somewhat more vulnerable to attack on a cable modem loop than on a DSL loop. In fact comcast.net is the single worst source of spam and zombie machine attacks on the Internet. So make sure you're set up with a firewall, regardless of what operating system you use.
Typo Negative
Date: 2006-01-19 04:35 pm (UTC)Re: Typo Negative
Date: 2006-01-19 04:36 pm (UTC)Re: Typo Negative
Date: 2006-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:43 pm (UTC)I would seriously look into how many users are in your apartment complex first. That was our issue.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)Namely, my fList.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-20 04:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 05:04 pm (UTC)And the bills are a lot cheaper.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 05:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-19 05:54 pm (UTC)your better off with DSL.
lets use an analogy that was used to intially explain things to me.
you have a 20 dollar bill in your pocket. if you give 40-50 people a slice of that money you cant expect to come out of that with all that much cash. However if you have 8 bucks all for you your going to have more money.
So Cable IS faster but that also depends on how many people are connected to the switch thats planted in your complex to handle those customers. Also comcast is HORRIBLE with their email client. I get 40-50 emails a day that are unwanted and unsolcited. No matter how many times i ask comcast to remedy this they cannot.
So for your websurfing and music downloading and video watching needs DSL is MORE than adequate.
for me running games online to norway im going to need a cable line....or a T1 but who can afford a T1 connection
:-)
so Meekay is correct technically Cable is faster but DSL is going to be better for what your using it for and also faster for you.
Hope that helped.
:-D
no subject
Date: 2006-01-20 08:01 pm (UTC)That's one of the selling points we are told to pass on to customers...yo uare the only one on your line, you aren't sharing it with other folks.
HOWEVER...for us gamers and people who live in magical faerie lands, the added "pipe space" we get for the information to shoot down is a definite plus.
my results
Date: 2006-01-19 07:40 pm (UTC)Speed 3 megabits per second
Communications 3 megabits per second
Storage 363.2 kilobytes per second
1MB file download 2.8 seconds
Subjective rating Great
Explain results
Info
Date & time Thursday, January 19, 2:39PM*
Test type IDT4 Free
Connection type Cable
Region Delaware
Data size 1024KB
Provider Comcast
Yes And No
Date: 2006-01-20 04:05 am (UTC)Why did I switch, you may ask? Well, Comcast = $66 / month. Verizon = $23 / month. But since I sold my old Xeon server, I no longer need to host my site from my own house. So DSL is just fine, albeit slow. The caveat, however, is that cable (as has been previously alluded to) is a shared connection. If an entire apartment complex has more than a few cable Internet subscribers, the speed will decrease proportionately. I was the only house in my neighborhood with Comcast. (I had them run the line down the street and drill a tunnel under my cast driveway.) So I had the full bandwith of a single cable connexion. That will not be the case with most subscribers, of course.
I should note that, for only $10 more, I could get "Business" or "High-Speed" DSL, which would be a dedicated DSL line as fast as an UN-shared cable connection could ever be - at half the price!
Last, the slower the computer, the less noticeable and utilizable any speed increase will be. In your situation, I would personally decide by price alone.