Wideband connections: Worth the cost?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 11 Sep 2005 7:37 am

My cat drinks the same swill that I drink so that's a wash. I'm on the verge of making the leap from dial-up myself. But it will be at considerable cost increase in that I am paying $22 for my Earthlink dial-up currently. I am wired for cable and probably have DSL access. It annoys me how difficult it is to browse for simple info. I am repeatedly walking away from the computer with nothing but confusion, what with package deals bundled with cable tv, phone service etc.
I must say, though, Bill, that I am deeply moved by the love you show Earnest in heeding his advice so well

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Sep 2005 7:56 am

One new service in limited areas is fiber optic directly to the residence and one of the features is you can get broadband interenet access along with analog voice, etc.

Another service that is in it's infancy but will be coming along is broadband service via the AC power lines.

In reference to the speed of the link, that only refers to the speed between the user and the ISP. It has nothing to do with the ISP's link to the web or what happens in the web. If the ISP advertises or guarantee's a certain bit rate, that is only valid between the user (subscriber) and the ISP.

But the point is well taken that you will only be as fast as the slowest link. If you have a 2 Mb/sec downlink and you connect to a server that only has a 256Kb/sec link to their ISP you will be limited to overall 256 Kb/sec (or less depending on how well the server is operating or loaded). Or if there is a slowdown in a link somewhere in the "WWW" again the over speed will be what the slowest link in the web is.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 11 Sep 2005 4:15 pm

(Connection) speed will be what the slowest link in the web is.

Absolutely. I have a 1.5Mbps downstream connection that seldom hits its ceiling as I browse pages or download contiguous files (iTunes, software updates, etc.). The limitiation is usually further out on the line. That should improve with time as internet service providers and backbone connections improve. (I think.)

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Sep 2005 11:22 pm

I use cable for my internet service with no TV. It is only $40 per month. I'm thinking of using Vonage for my land line phone service over the internet. Its pretty cheap and easy.

Bill,
I would start preparing to dump your current isp. If they cannot compete with broadband rates they will be out of bussiness soon anyway.

Bob

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Sep 2005 2:11 am

Two issues with internet telephone services. 1. many cannot provide 911 or other critical local services. 2. If you lose AC power, your phones service is out too - "POTS" (Plain Old Telephone Service) supplies it's own "battery" (power) and will still work during a power outage.

Bill Llewellyn · Post by **Bill Llewellyn** » 12 Sep 2005 7:37 am

I would start preparing to dump your current isp. If they cannot compete with broadband rates they will be out of bussiness soon anyway.

Bob, are you referring to my incoming feed seldom hiting the full 1.5Mbps of my DSL connection? That's actually normal, as I understand it, even for cable. Data can take many hops along its way from some distant server before it gets to my machine, and those hops slow things down before the data even gets to my ISP. If, however, I download something from Apple (which is very nearby) then I can see 1.2Mbps real transfer or better. So it's the net that's the bottleneck (distance, congestion) not so much my local DSL hookup through my ISP. Usually, anyhow.

If, on the other hand, by "rates" you were referring to the monthly charge, that's really not too bad at $15/mo.

Incidentally, my ISP is SBC. They're a very big telco company, so I wouldn't think they'd exit the ISP business--in fact they've been growing it. Their DSL service used to be bumpy, but it seems it's gotten better (and cheaper, due to competition) over the years. That's why I signed up.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 12 Sep 2005 8:16 am

I doubt that SBC (Used to be called Southwestern Bell Telephone) will be going anywhere. AT&T has agreed to be purchased by SBC. I'm not sure where they are in all the government regulatory chain but ultimately AT&T will be taken over by SBC, one of the "Baby Bell's".

George Redmon · Post by **George Redmon** » 12 Sep 2005 2:26 pm

with the kid gone..i don't download music..and i have nothing but time...whats the hurry..i have "all dial . net" $9.95 a month, free accelerator. You $420 dollar a year guys, drop me an e mail..i'll tell you all about the great steel guitar goodies i bought with the extra money i save on my ISP bill......

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 18 Sep 2005 11:19 am

I have the fiber optic direct to the house from Verizon. (As Jack mentioned above.)
My service is 3 Mbs, I wouldn't go back to dial up for anything.
The extra cost is worth not having to sit for a long time downloading things at 26.5K
and for putting up with at least 5 line drops per session with AT&T dial up.
I spend less time with the computer and do more.
The service came with an ethernet hub standard. I could have a wireless hub for extra cost.
Customer service with Verizon is a dream.
All the people speak and understand english.
They are not people in a middle eastern country reading from a computer screen as is the case with AT&T.
I can now hear net radio stations with out the "buffering" every 15 seconds and can get streaming video.
The direct fiber optic service is great...check it out if it comes to your city.
My telephone service is also more reliable since it is also on the fiber.
Used to be the phones would shut down in a hard rain. (We put up with that for 6 years.)
Now the phones are clean and do not malfunction.
Blake