High Speed Internet Question

rtucker5 · #1 10-11-2004, 02:15 PM

I need some help from the techies out there. I just saw the thread on wireless suggestions and I have decided to post my question. I currently have dial-up service through AOL, but I'm looking to get high speed internet and eventually go wireless. What is my best option for high speed internet?

My options are DSL through Verizon for about $30 a month, a cable modem through my cable provider for about $35 a month, and high speed through a satellite dish (Directv) for about $50 a month. I may have other options, but they are the ones I know of.

My uses for the internet other than on-line poker will be basic surfing. I have no idea what the differences are between my options and if they really make a difference. Any help from you all would be greatly appreciated.

ThaSaltCracka · #2 10-11-2004, 02:47 PM

go with the cable modem.

I got mine through comcast and have been very happy with it. It's always fast and reliable. $50 a month is pretty high for internet service, and I doubt its much faster than cable.

astroglide · #3 10-11-2004, 03:14 PM

try cable first, it shouldn't require a contract. if the reliability sucks try dsl.

Ray Zee · #4 10-11-2004, 03:34 PM

can you get two way with satellite now or is it just downloads as before. where i am i can only get dial up from my phone company. but its funny another company says they will get me dsl using the same lines my phone company uses. i think its a little slower but they will offer it but the phone company would rather lose me for a customer.

wacki · #5 10-11-2004, 05:27 PM

Here you go Ray Zee,

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question606.htm

http://www.starband.com/findadealer/index.asp

There may be better companies, but this should get you started.

With StarBand 481 Residential...
# Lightning fast downloads up to 10x faster than dial-up
# Upload speeds up to 100 kbps in Turbo Mode®**

StarBand Model 360 Residential
Download Up to 500 kbps
Upload Up to 50 kbps
http://www.starband.com/services.asp

astroglide · #6 10-11-2004, 05:37 PM

satellite internet, even two-way, sucks for general browsing because it has very high latency. when you go to a web site you send requests back and forth all the time, and then go to separate servers for ads/etc. each time it takes an amount of milliseconds to send and then to receive. with satellite you get nice, fast downloads but most people spend more time browsing than downloading large files. i would take something like idsl (144/144, basically isdn) over satellite.

cardcounter0 · #7 10-11-2004, 07:04 PM

Dish internet access outright sucks for surfing. Not to mention weather related outages. The only reason it is more expensive than other options, is because if you have to go with dish, you HAVE to go with dish, and they know they have you by the nuts.

Don't know any specifics about DSL from Verizon, but I would be inclined to go with the cable modem, as long as the provider isn't Time/Warner RoadRunner.

Anything would have to be an improvement over AOL dial up service!
[img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

TomCollins · #8 10-11-2004, 07:16 PM

Satelite sucks for poker IMHO. Way too much lag.

AncientPC · #9 10-11-2004, 08:57 PM

[ QUOTE ]
go with the cable modem.

I got mine through comcast and have been very happy with it. It's always fast and reliable. $50 a month is pretty high for internet service, and I doubt its much faster than cable.

[/ QUOTE ]

I second that.

Nepa · #10 10-11-2004, 09:37 PM

You said 30 for the DSL and 35 for the Cable. I would go with the one that offers the greater speed. If they are both about the same I would go with the DSL. The reason I would go with the ADSL is that it is based on a ATM backbone instead of Ethernet. Plus it is 5 bucks cheaper.

I agree with almost everyone else that Dish internet sucks.