DSL vs. Cable
- Thread starter juicexj24
- Start date
- Location
- Aransas Pass, Texas
Check out the thread on this forum about speed tests. Good examples there.juicexj24 said:
Also, have a look at www.dslreports.com Great resource.
Glenn
KY Chris
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Louisville, KY
I have both at my house; one for work and the other for personal use. InsightBB Cable and BellSouth Fast Access DSL. Both seem to be about the same as far as browsing speed. DSL may be slightly faster on the DLoading. Cable is definately less problematic. I have had both for about 2 years and cable has maybe gone out once. DSL goes out every 3 or 4 months and seems to be more of a pain in the ass to get reset.
PhatXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- ID Native in WA
Speeds on both will depend on the Host and if they have caps on their speeds and/or quality of the Host themselves.
I believe Cable has the capability of running faster speeds than DSL at max, but neither of which are evern near their max capability from the Host.
In other words, I would say that from a speed standpoint, DSL and Cable are about the same. I have ran both and the Cable was less problematic than the DSL was.
I believe Cable has the capability of running faster speeds than DSL at max, but neither of which are evern near their max capability from the Host.
In other words, I would say that from a speed standpoint, DSL and Cable are about the same. I have ran both and the Cable was less problematic than the DSL was.
ChuckD
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Kerman, CA
I've had both also. I've stayed with Cable for the reliablity reason and have been very pleased with the speed.
RichP
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Effort, Pa
Cable is a 'shared' resource, the amount of users on your cable segment has a direct effect on speeds. It does have one other 'oddity' if you have say a 3.2meg down and 256K up like I do and you fill your upload pipe with say a big ftp transfer from your machine to another out on the net your download speed will slow to a crawl, has to do with ack's, yea, it's kinda trivia but if you ever do it you wll be pulling your hair out trying to figure out why your 3meg pipe is running at 56K.. Also being a shared resource it is less secure natively. Firewall is needed 100% of the time. As for renting a cable modem, no way, you can buy them for $50, Motorola SB5100, at almost any bestbuy, motorola makes another really nice cable modem, it's a 4 port wireless firewall that does nat and DHCP, cost is round $150 or so but it's a very nice box. I'm at a customers right now and have two of them I just picked up at bestbuy sitting downstairs in the TJ, I'm installing them on friday at two neighbors home business's.
DSL is somewhat of shared resource but it is shared only when it gets to the Central office or dslam, it is less prone to hacking by neighborhood kids but is still prone only at a more distant level, firewall is needed 100% of the time.
The ADSL that all the telco's use is not really true ADSL, it's a hybrid or generic. True ADSL would require specific tuning of your phone lines by a telco tech and as such would be alot more expensive, the normal ADSL is a compromise and allows customer installs. They both have their plus's and minus's. Alot of my customers have DSL, it works better than cable, no, thats a bad way to put it. The cable companies are alot more anal restrictive about what, how many machines, bandwidth usage, etc than the telco's, the telcos could care less how many workstations you hook up cause they know you can't exceed the bandwidth you are paying for, the cablcos are still back in the 60's when they wanted to charge you for how many TV's you had, they tried to analog that concept over to boadband which to me is nuckin futs. Our problem is that they have a monopoly in too many areas but as the telcos turn their stuff on that will change but it will take a while so from a business prespective DSL is better all around if you have a good provider. Verizon has a business grade DSL that has 7meg down and 1meg backup for $200 a month and thats not bad. Cable company on the other hand charges $250 a month for a commercial cable modem account and that only goes to 512/512.
Once DOCIS II comes out and actually starts being used the speeds will get pretty close to VDSL [which is 55Meg full duplex] designed for video over phone line but that will be a while coming.
DSL is somewhat of shared resource but it is shared only when it gets to the Central office or dslam, it is less prone to hacking by neighborhood kids but is still prone only at a more distant level, firewall is needed 100% of the time.
The ADSL that all the telco's use is not really true ADSL, it's a hybrid or generic. True ADSL would require specific tuning of your phone lines by a telco tech and as such would be alot more expensive, the normal ADSL is a compromise and allows customer installs. They both have their plus's and minus's. Alot of my customers have DSL, it works better than cable, no, thats a bad way to put it. The cable companies are alot more anal restrictive about what, how many machines, bandwidth usage, etc than the telco's, the telcos could care less how many workstations you hook up cause they know you can't exceed the bandwidth you are paying for, the cablcos are still back in the 60's when they wanted to charge you for how many TV's you had, they tried to analog that concept over to boadband which to me is nuckin futs. Our problem is that they have a monopoly in too many areas but as the telcos turn their stuff on that will change but it will take a while so from a business prespective DSL is better all around if you have a good provider. Verizon has a business grade DSL that has 7meg down and 1meg backup for $200 a month and thats not bad. Cable company on the other hand charges $250 a month for a commercial cable modem account and that only goes to 512/512.
Once DOCIS II comes out and actually starts being used the speeds will get pretty close to VDSL [which is 55Meg full duplex] designed for video over phone line but that will be a while coming.
- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
Sorry.. but that's BS and propaganda!!! At work we actually switched to business cable cause with DSL we had more issues with the "up speed" topping out and then killing our "down speed". Since we rolled into cable it's not a problemRichP said:
At home I have cable for 4 years now (at least) and I have had 3 down times in all that time, and one time it was cause an electrical transformer blew out on a pole and took phones and cable and everything with it.
Well... I gotta call that one again.... I don't rent a cable modem, TW folks throw it in for me at no $$... if I bought my own, I'd pay the same money. Also it doesn't mater if you're on DSL or cable you have to get a firewall either WAY and saying that you are less prone to hacking on DSL is plain delusional (sorry Rich).
Anyways, I know folks who are happy with cable and hate dsl and vice versa... to each his own... Also a lot of specifics depend on your provider, your area and so on but in general the shared resource thing... well as I said, it's BS. I have never had any slowdowns on big tv event nights (Fights, pay per views/what have you). Coax can carry more bandwidth then twisted pair and is less prone to noise interference. Quite often when you get DSL you will end up getting filters for your phones (little thingamagies that plug between the phone and the wall) so that your speeds will improve.....
Oh and the thing about how many machines... IIRC there is a federal law saying that they can't restrict you any further then givng you one IP (which is what basic cable offers) and if that IP goes to a router they can't do nothing. They might have you unplug it for diagnostics if things go bad, but guess what... telco would do the same thing: they don't want to diagnose other people's problems (as in other manufacturer/vendor) and they are not trained for other equipment anyways.
- Location
- Aransas Pass, Texas
Actually, what Rich says is pretty standard for most areas and providers.
Also note, he did say a firewall was needed for either type of connection.
Either way, the connection is only as good as the company providing it, and how much capacity their is in your area.
Yours works great (sometimes), but what Rich says is not BS.
Cheers.
Also note, he did say a firewall was needed for either type of connection.
Either way, the connection is only as good as the company providing it, and how much capacity their is in your area.
Yours works great (sometimes), but what Rich says is not BS.
Cheers.
- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
Glenn said:
Well you're kind of right. He pretty much repeated the pac bell commercial that I keep hearing every so often, which is mostly untrue (extreme situations scenario). For example he said that you kind of need firewall for both, but more for Cable then DSL. Also the shared thing... I know people across US and in Europe that use both DSL and Cable on different networks and with differnt providers and I will have to say that most that have both prefer cable, but there are the opposites as well....
Anyways, as I said I think that both have their plusses and minuses and one can't praise one over the other to the point he did. Also I know some people @ TW and Verizon and we talk about general stuff so the info that I got from them was the "behind the scenes" not the customer end/advertising stuff and each admitted the plusses the competition had over theirs so I got both sides from each side...
imma honky
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Augusta, Ga
Like Kej said, It's all about the provider. Do some research about the local companies. Ask people who have whats offered. I had Comcast cable for a year and hated it. Horrible speeds, 8+ hour downtimes at weeks at a time, pathetic service ect, ect. Now I have Bellsouth DSL and love it! Ive had a total of about 4 hours downtime in 8 months. Customer service is good as well (usually takes them 2 days to get here to fix something, and it's usally free).
BUT, I'm gonna have to side with Rich. From what I have read/talked to people/experienced, I agree with him. Cable is shared amongst the users in an area. When everyone on that line decides to get on, it CAN slow down the upload/download speeds (This is why my service with comcast was bad, they got too many people on one line). DSL is shared after it gets to the main network hub. BUT, cable modem download/upload speeds are NOT related. Meaning one does not effect the other. Whereas on DSL they are effected by each other. The downside to DSL is that you must be within a certain radius to even get it.
I uploaded/downloaded from an uncapped person a few weeks back and I was getting about 350k downloads and about 80-90 uploads on my current DSL. I NEVER went over 100k with my old cable modem and my uploads were about 30-50k.
With comcast: Horrible speeds, 50$ + $15.00 modem rental
Bellsouth: Great speeds, $50 w/ free modem and free dial up for a second computer + I can use the dial-up anywhere in the US and only be charged the long distance fees.
BUT, I'm gonna have to side with Rich. From what I have read/talked to people/experienced, I agree with him. Cable is shared amongst the users in an area. When everyone on that line decides to get on, it CAN slow down the upload/download speeds (This is why my service with comcast was bad, they got too many people on one line). DSL is shared after it gets to the main network hub. BUT, cable modem download/upload speeds are NOT related. Meaning one does not effect the other. Whereas on DSL they are effected by each other. The downside to DSL is that you must be within a certain radius to even get it.
I uploaded/downloaded from an uncapped person a few weeks back and I was getting about 350k downloads and about 80-90 uploads on my current DSL. I NEVER went over 100k with my old cable modem and my uploads were about 30-50k.
With comcast: Horrible speeds, 50$ + $15.00 modem rental
Bellsouth: Great speeds, $50 w/ free modem and free dial up for a second computer + I can use the dial-up anywhere in the US and only be charged the long distance fees.
- Location
- Aransas Pass, Texas
That is why I said in my original response to look at dslreports.com Yeah, sales pitches... who cares. Does not matter, and I do not think Rich was talking sales pitches. It REALLY REALLY depends on the local (to you) set-up, no matter what company you use.... or which "insiders" you talk to. Some communities are built out better than others. Depending on the capacity and age of the equipment, your results will vary. The only way to know is either try it yourself, try it at a close neighbors house (one block may make a difference), or look at what others experience in your area with your available providers. dslreports is good for looking in to that aspect.
I do not think Rich was disrespecting anybodies connection type, but rather pointing out some "common" things people do experience.
Every place is different....... so you gotta find what works best for your house.
I do not think Rich was disrespecting anybodies connection type, but rather pointing out some "common" things people do experience.
Every place is different....... so you gotta find what works best for your house.
imma honky said:
- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
I live in a fairly populated area (Orange COunty, south of LA County, next ot Disneyland). So I'd say that I should be amongst those who experience the speed change with the traffic... well I get none. As I said, coax has a lot more bandwith capability then twisted pair and if they need, they just open up more channels as needs grow. Your main connection point is not a central office, but a box on a pole from which it goes directly into fiberimma honky said:
Oh and also, with cable I don't have to worry about distance from the CO which determines if you can get DSL or not and if so which grade of service.
- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
Glenn said:
I agree, but I jumped on it as it was very one sided and as I said: it repeated the local pac bell commercial (actually now it's sbc) word for word
Anyways, I was maybe a bit "rough" in my first reply, but I get tired of hearing the same old jingle over and over again.....
- Location
- Aransas Pass, Texas
Yes, as I have said, it depends on the area and the capacity. You are in an area with a built up infrastructure. Not everybody has that. Again, it depends on the area you live in, and the equipment. You also mention yours goes to a pole, then fiber. Seriously, not everybody has fiber.Kejtar said:I live in a fairly populated area (Orange COunty, south of LA County, next ot Disneyland). So I'd say that I should be amongst those who experience the speed change with the traffic... well I get none. As I said, coax has a lot more bandwith capability then twisted pair and if they need, they just open up more channels as needs grow. Your main connection point is not a central office, but a box on a pole from which it goes directly into fiber
You and your local system may have great capacity, and other use may not affect you. That does not mean in any way "cable" works like that all over.
Either way... I am happy for you. Glad you have great service. However, I still suggest anybody looking at either DSL or Cable research the provider in their area. Find the one that works best in your area, not somebody elses. You seem stuck on "cable is best", so I will leave you with that.
There is no "best", only was works better in your area. I am out.
- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
well Glenn..... I will say that what your're saying what I said in my orignal post:
And yes, I like my cable, but I don't really diss DSL either... I just didn't agree with the post for the reasons I outlined in my replies
Kejtar said:
And yes, I like my cable, but I don't really diss DSL either... I just didn't agree with the post for the reasons I outlined in my replies
RichP
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Effort, Pa
When I say a 'shared' resource on cable it is a classic 'thinnet' or 'cheapernet' architecture, almost a duplicate of the old coax ethernet. w/o a firewall and if you and your neighbors took the MS networking defaults you can click on 'network neighborhood' and see EVERY machine on your segment and thats a fact. With a windows 2003 server you can see even more and have the capabaility of taking control of alot of boxes as win2003 will show every domain that it can see not just the default domain that the 95/95/nt/win2k shows. Cable uses two of the cable channels, one for upstream and one for downstream, you can see which one by going into the cable modem setup to see which it grabs.
The reason you were having the upstream downstream problems on DSL is because your dsl was not ADSL but SDSL which by definition is synchronous DSL vs asynchronous DSL.
As for calif and other heavy propulated urban areas you are very lucky, get into more rurual areas and you are limited to at most ONE provider and because the big telcos are busy in pissing contests with wireless the rural areas are the last to get DSL.
Personally I dislike both the cable and telco's, would prefer that broadband be a public service utility or run by the municipality. Part of this is because it took them, the cable/telco, so damn long to get me ANYTHING other than a friggin slow dial up.
The reason you were having the upstream downstream problems on DSL is because your dsl was not ADSL but SDSL which by definition is synchronous DSL vs asynchronous DSL.
As for calif and other heavy propulated urban areas you are very lucky, get into more rurual areas and you are limited to at most ONE provider and because the big telcos are busy in pissing contests with wireless the rural areas are the last to get DSL.
Personally I dislike both the cable and telco's, would prefer that broadband be a public service utility or run by the municipality. Part of this is because it took them, the cable/telco, so damn long to get me ANYTHING other than a friggin slow dial up.
ChuckD
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Kerman, CA
Comcast just upgraded me for free, 3M download and stil the 256 upload. I do remember one thing about Cable over DSL, is the upload speed. It was always limited to 128 not 256 like Cable. I may have changed since then, but I been sooo :loveu: with Cable, I haven't been wanting to shaop around.
