DSL to Cable - Worth the switch?

[Peterlock]

Hi Folks, :wave

Hope everyone is doing great..quick question about high speed connections.

I have DSL and no significant complaints about it. We have Cablevision/Optimum here in CT I've been pounded with offers of switching to a cable connection.

Cost wise it's pretty much apples and apples, cable is a few bucks cheaper Is performance really that much better and safer with cable? The Optimum rep told me cable runs 3 x faster than DSL and whereas DSL speed will fluctuate, cable is constant. He also said much safe because your not over telephone lines.

Seems like a hassle to switch, but if the benefit is really there I'm all for it...any thoughts?

Peter ha

[Perry]

I downloaded an 80MB video file in < 10 minutes the other day. I'm running Cable with fiber optic from the source to my house. If you're a heavy download user (more than just websurfing) you should move to Cablevision.

[Peterlock]

Thanks Perry!

I guess my 14/k modem has to go!....j/k. It took what? 6-7 weeks to log onto the web...I'm aging myself again.

Peter

[Bugaboo]

Actually the rep has it backwards. DSL is constant, cable can flucuate (sp?) because you're sharing with others. Depending on how many are on at the same time it can really slow down where DSL is not shared and never changes. I've had DSL for a couple of years and wouldn't switch to cable because I don't like sharing. :geek And cable is not safer because it's being shared on a LAN and others on that LAN can peek into what you're doing. Although, Perry is right about downloading, cable will download a lot faster, assuming a bunch of other people aren't downloading at the same time. Just my .02 worth.

[Peterlock]

Hi Bugaboo,

Thanks so much for the reply, it's good information to have and I appreciate your thoughts. I've had DSL for a long time and really do more uploading of pics to ft p space than anything else. I'll be giving it alot more thought before and If I decide to switch.

Peter ha

[Perry]

DSL slows down the farther you are away from the home office and has a limited range. So, it might be constant - but it could be contantly slow.

DSL requires filters on all your phone lines and is basically traveling over copper wires. Very inefficient.

On the other hand, Cable charges $20/month more than DSL in my area. Thank goodness my company re-imburses me for use.

[Laurenfra]

My opinion may be a little off since I live outside of city limits where everything is much slower, but we had DSL and experienced flucations on speed(because we live in the country?). Cable was faster and more consistant. Our local cable office has an internet connection you can go in and play on if that helps, maybe yours does.

[Bugaboo]

I guess it depends on the provider which is slower. We've had DSL Broadband over two years and it's always lightening fast. We have filters on our phone lines and it doesn't affect a thing. My mom had cable modem and hated it because she lives in a bigger city and sometimes it was dog slow, they switched to DSL and are a lot happier. I live in a smaller town so maybe that's why my service is so good. My provider is the phone company which is a co-op so that might also have something to do with it. It's not like I have a choice though, we either pick the local phone company or rely on smoke signals. It's not too expensive only $39.95 a month, we could have my husband's company re-imburse us but it would be a nightmare.

[full-wit]

We switched from DSL to cable, also. We had a terrible time with the DSL always going out and an even worse time trying to get them to trouble shoot it. No problems since we've changed to cable. We also live aways from the city, so maybe that does have something to do with it,

[Peterlock]

And the battle between the DSL'ers and Cable'ers rages on!

Maybe we need seperate Forums? :icondance

Hey, I'm just happy not to be on dial up anymore. Thanks for all your feedback everyone ~ Peter ha

[Perry]

Hey, let's start a Windows vs. Mac debate while we're at it!

To me, broadband is broadband. It beats 56K (if you can afford it) but there are better things coming down the road. Japan is light years ahead of us with their broadband offerings.

It's also a good time to mention pic posting here. Think about your fellow modem members when you display graphics in your threads! Not everyone is fortunate enough to have high speed access. It is especially frustrating with the entire thread is pics. Maybe put *modem beware* in the thread title when appropriate.

Good luck on your decision, Peter.

(satellite radio rocks!)

[Rhinohd]

Hey, let's start a Windows vs. Mac debate while we're at it!

I was just thinking the same thing before I got to your post perry.

Hey Peter,
See if you can get Wireless access. I have it thru a company called DLS.net and I get a crazy 10mb connection for a few bucks more. That's both ways. Up and down. I have downloaded 100 meg files in well under a minuet. It's a shared connection like cable but I never had any speed issues.

Oh and VIVA LA WINDOWS!!!

[Jake]

Hey Peter,

I just noticed you are in CT so am I, figured I should reply as i've had both here. When I had cable it was through Adelphia, horrible service, slow as ****, bad tech support. Ditched it in a few weeks and picked up SBC DSL i've been on it since and love it.