Next message: Wilcox, Curtis: "RE: [WinMac] Cable vs DSL"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Roth [mailto:tomroth@wfubmc.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 3:20 PM
> To: WinMac (E-mail)
> Subject: [WinMac] Cable vs DSL
>
>
>
> I'm considering getting high speed internet access for home
> use and have the option of cable or DSL. What's the best way
> to go about choosing which one would be best other than
> signing up and performing speed tests?
The advertised speeds vary from company to company. Even each cable
franchise may advertise different speeds. But the advertised speed hardly
ever matters, it depends on how much bandwidth they've provisioned and how
much its getting used. The only useful part of advertised speeds is the
upstream rate, those numbers will be much closer to reality. If upstream is
important (if you're running a server for the public or just yourself), pay
attention to the upstream. DSL usually has better upstream rates than cable.
> I've heard that in choosing between cable and DSL it really
> matters where you are geographically and who is providing the
> service. I realize that cable has a slightly higher
> potential bandwidth but that it's shared with your neighbors
> where as DSL is more like a switched network. So how do I
> know which to go with?
Location absolutely matters, to the point where I don't think a
recommendation can be made unless you can say specifically which companies
you have to choose from. I'm very satisfied with my Time-Warner RoadRunner
cable modem in Rochester, NY.
DSL often requires using PPPoE which is like doing dial-up authentication
over your broadband connection. I would find that to be a nuisance. On my
service, my IP assigned by DHCP almost never changes unless I change
machines. I think DSL DHCP servers are usually set to frequently assign
different IPs which makes it harder to use a home machine as a server.
There's also the fact that you have to put filters on all your phone lines
which are *not* connected to the DSL modem and I understand that some
devices (phones, faxes) don't work with the filters. But I think all of that
is really secondary to the quality of a company's customer service and of
the service itself.
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: Wed Jan 15 2003 - 15:54:11 EST