Author Topic: Connection speedup (Read 2616 times)

Steve_J · « **on:** May 28, 2003, 10:45:46 AM »

I need recommendations on how best to speed up a dialup connection. I'm retiring on Friday and will lose my high speed connection. Have to figure out how to afford cable or DSL. Opinions on which of those is better?

I'm running a beige G3 at 500 MHz with 640 Meg of RAM and a 56k modem. The modem is a V.90. I just bought a V.92 hoping to pickup a little more speed, only to find out my current ISP doesn't support V.92.

Logging on to TS is the first thing I plan to do each morning.

krissel · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2003, 07:30:30 PM »

Steve. first of all, congratulations and welcome to the world of retirement. It's glorious.

We have had many discussions on this subject, some recently. Here are a few I dug up from the past couple months.

thread1

thread2

thread3

thread4

If you also go to the Archives , then do a search with "cable and DSL", you will get many more relevant threads.

In a quick summary, DSL is a fixed rate that will not vary depending on the number of people connected as cable will. DSL is slower than cable but usually cheaper as well. You have to be within 18,000 feet of the server for your ISP for DSL. Of course cable with internet must be on your street to connect. DSL is a phone line so you can also fax. Most setups now also allow you to surf and use the phone at the same time.

I would have signed up for DSL long ago except I'm too far from the server. My only choice is cable at a higher rate and then I have to "share" the line with others. Still it is faster for most users. A lot will depend on what is available to you.

gmann · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2003, 09:33:52 PM »

Congratulations Steve, and what a coincidence, I am also retiring on Friday.

jepinto · « **Reply #3 on:** May 29, 2003, 07:58:58 AM »

QUOTE(gmann @ May 28 2003, 10:33 PM)

Congratulations Steve, and what a coincidence, I am also retiring on Friday.

PARTY!!! I'll bring the chips and dip, I'll volunteer Sandbox for orange juice, and Dreambird has ice

and.......

Congratulations!! to both of ye.

Steve_J · « **Reply #4 on:** May 29, 2003, 09:36:59 AM »

QUOTE(krissel @ May 28 2003, 5:30 PM)

You have to be within 18,000 feet of the server for your ISP for DSL. Of course cable with internet must be on your street to connect.

for the good wishes and congrats to you too gmann!

I've forgotten where I found it, but I ran a DSL check that says I'm 22000 feet from the server. It said I could still get DSL but it would deteriate (sp) the further away I am. Probably not worth it. The cost seems to be about the same as cable here in San Diego.

I'll be checking out those threads and the archives.

Kris.

Bbob · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2003, 03:10:22 PM »

Steve,

I have cable and am enormously happy with it--except for the forty bucks a month it costs me. I would never go back to a phone modem (unless maybe I became destitute). I am retired and use my internet connection a lot. Retirement really is wonderful, even after seven years.

Bbob with a Cube

tacit · « **Reply #6 on:** May 30, 2003, 02:00:58 PM »

One more consideration:

Most consumer DSL is "aDSL"--asynchronous DSL. It gives you high speed downloads--files go from the Internet to your computer quickly--but low-speed uploads. When your computer sends information to the Internet on aDSL, it's no faster than an old-fashioned dialup modem.

If you ever send (by email or Web or FTP or any other means) large files, aDSL is not for you.

There is a form of DSL--sDSL ("synchronous DSL")--that is fast in both directions. It is usually quite expensive--as much as double the cost of aDSL, or more.

If you have to send files, cable is a better choice. Cable modem connections usually do not have slow uploads

FLASH1296 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 13, 2003, 08:07:42 AM »

I have used Cable Modem via RoadRunner for several years. I could never go back to dialup. It is far superior to consumer-level (A)DSL. Using SpeedDownload I most often download large and small files from the WWW at speeds between 100 and 400 k/ sec. ! It costs me $45 / month A bargain at a buck and a half a day.

jcarter · « **Reply #8 on:** July 13, 2003, 08:25:45 AM »

I love retirement!
(G4,OS 9.2.2)
Am taking some great on-line courses in photography, and since I do a lot more computer stuff now, I find it is great to have cable.
Dial up is so slooowww, but for example, this morning, I had a slight cable problem, so keep your dialup account for this reason, have a back up.
My Earthlink account is about $10 a month, and without it, I wouldn't have been able to connect this morning. Or another reason, say you are on vacation, you can always connect with dial up no matter where you are.
But I sure would say that Cable is the way to go. DSL isn't available here, we are too far from the phone 'office'.
Happy times ahead, congratulations on retirement.
Jane

RHPConsult · « **Reply #9 on:** July 13, 2003, 09:58:28 AM »

Steve:

Despite some recent unhappiness w/SBC/PacBell's policies (as illuminated by Tacit in a recent thread of mine on bouncing e-messages) you might want to check specifically with them to see just exactly how far you are from one of their central stations - the critical measurement.

I discovered that they also have a new promotion, if you buy "everything" in one package (local, long distance, DSL and cellular) everything is reduced, with DSL cut to $29.95 for a year.

Alternatively, one TS friend (also lucky enough to live in San Diego!) recently got DSL via Earthlink. He seems quite happy. (I haven't yet checked to see if he's been having blocking/bouncing episodes - since the "service" provided by Earthlink is most certainly contracted to PacBell)

Worth a close look.

Congratulations and best wishes SteveJ and gmann on your respective retirements. The TS Senior Caucus is growing. We should probably petition Krissel for a special logo

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Author Topic: Connection speedup (Read 2616 times)