DSL vs Phone line.

Jimmy Campbell · Post by **Jimmy Campbell** » 7 Sep 2002 2:40 pm

My home internet connection is through my phone line.
At the office I got online with the school system and I couldnt believe how fast that system is. They ran fiber optic cable to the computer.
I had never really thought about how slow my system is at home.
A friend sent me a website that I could run a check on my system and it came up bad.
I have no choice at home but the phone line.
I have windows 95 and someone told me to get Windows 98.
Will that make any difference as far as downloading from the internet.
Thanks

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 7 Sep 2002 3:54 pm

Windows 98 won't help. I had it with a phone line and I cancelled 10 months of a free subscription to go to cable. The difference is unbelievable. www.genejones.com

Jimmy Campbell · Post by **Jimmy Campbell** » 8 Sep 2002 4:07 am

Thanks Gene.
Maybe one day our cable company will offer internet service.
Guess I will just set back and get use to the slow downloads at home.

The one at the office sure has spoiled me.
Jimmy[This message was edited by Jimmy Campbell on 08 September 2002 at 05:08 AM.][This message was edited by Jimmy Campbell on 08 September 2002 at 05:14 AM.][This message was edited by Jimmy Campbell on 08 September 2002 at 05:18 AM.]

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 8 Sep 2002 6:46 am

Windows 98 SE does fix some buffer size issues that will help your modem transfer faster, but nowhere close to DSL or cable modem speeds.

Phone lines themselves have a wide variation of speeds, even the time of day you connect makes a difference. If there is another number you can use to connect to your provider try the speed test with that number.

Also some providers have faster dialup speeds than others is different areas. Check with your friends that have dialup service and see how their speeds compare to yours.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 8 Sep 2002 7:14 am

Hi
I hope this helps.
There are four options that I know about. Not always available where you may be.

1. Dial up Modem. Yuk
2. DSL. Digital subscriber line. uses phone lines. Speeds start at around 125kbps. I have been very happy with mine. I have three computers networked, everyone gets their email and can surf fast.
3. Cable. as in fiber optic cable provided by the cable tv company. Very fast.
4. Not sure of the tech name but...a tower in your neighborhood and a small dish on the roof aimed at the tower.

All are affordable for the home/small business. Usually in the 75 to 150/ month range.

Megapath DSL is very good.

You can speed up whatever you are using by trying Opera, a free browser, that has only one ad banner, and none of that pop up junk.
Also, you can turn off the all the pretty pictures when you are looking for something specific.

Ron

Ron

Lou[NE] · Post by **Lou[NE]** » 8 Sep 2002 10:08 am

Ron I think the name for your option 4 is Fixed Wireless; at least that's what I have here in rural NE. $400 up front for the company to install a Cisco 350 series radio card in my PC, and an antenna about 12" square that shoots at a grain elevator 8 mi. away. Then $30/mo. for a 256k always-on connection. I have 6 PCs networked at home I'm very happy with this arrangement.

Jimmy, you might check at http://www.bandwidthplace.com to see if there is a fixed wireless provider in your area. They also have a speed test page. Disclaimer - I have no connection with bandwidthplace.com, nor did I find my provider there.

Another alternative to check out is satellite. Both DirecTV and Dish network offer satellite ISP. I have a friend in MN who has been a satisfied user of Starband (Dish) for several years.

Hope this is of some help. Good luck

Lou