Cable or DSL

[Calhoun07]

I want to get a high speed Internet service, but which one is better? Cable or DSL?

[Singin' Stray Cat]

I use a cable modem, and so far I've been happy with it most of the time. It is fast, of course, and it's not terribly expensive ($43 a month, installation was free in my case). Plus now I don't have to worry about hogging the phone line - sis and I had several discussions about that before getting the cable modem :rolleyes: - but now we're both happy. She parked on the phone, I parked on the computer. And there was once again peace in the land. ;)

However, there have been a few times where my internet connection has slowed down and even stopped, usually during peak usage hours when everybody and his brother gets online. These periods can last anywhere from a couple of minutes to an hour, and it's not like a dial-up service, where if you're "bumped off" you can just sign back on again...if that cable connection isn't working, you just can't get on until it starts back up again. However, that's been more of an occasional annoyance than a chronic problem. So, like I said, overall I'm happy with a cable modem, and that's what would get my vote.

I don't know all the details about DSL, but I have heard it's a lot of trouble to get and much more expensive. On the other hand, your connection is (supposedly) not supposed to slow down even during heavy internet traffic. Maybe someone else can provide better information about that.

I'd also encourage you to shop around - look at different ISP companies' websites and see which one has a deal best suited to you.

[Mr. Eye]

I'd go with DSL. I pay 40 canadian dollars a month for it. Plus, I've heard that there's a limit to how much you can download with cable.

Mr. Eye

[Failure]

You might find this link informative. There's info on cable v. dsl as well as price comparisons.

http://cnet.search.com/search?timeout=3&tag=ex.cn.1.srch.cnet&q=dsl

[Calhoun07]

Thanks for the link. I am going to check it out!

AOL currently is offering both DSL service ($55 per month) and cable ($45 per month, which is better than my cable company trying to charge $50.00 per month for their Internet service). I am more concerned about privacy and security than I am about download speeds. Heck, anything more than 3-5 kbps for me and I will be VERY HAPPY! I have heard Cable is more suseptable to being hacked into and the "always on" feature leaves your computer open to trouble makers and hackers and what not.

[Vin]

I have Cablevision's Optimum Online Cable modem. It's very good and I would definitely go with a cable modem if you can shelve out a high monthly fee. Then again, you also save money on your phone bill.

[Failure]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Thanks for the link. I am going to check it out!

AOL currently is offering both DSL service ($55 per month) and cable ($45 per month, which is better than my cable company trying to charge $50.00 per month for their Internet service). I am more concerned about privacy and security than I am about download speeds. Heck, anything more than 3-5 kbps for me and I will be VERY HAPPY! I have heard Cable is more suseptable to being hacked into and the "always on" feature leaves your computer open to trouble makers and hackers and what not.

I think DSL is also an "always on" type of thing. But I could be wrong. There are personal firewall programs out there though that protect your computer from hackers, intruders, and the sort. The one I use is ZoneAlarm, it's free, I like it a lot. Although if you use one of these programs, I strongly recommend you save the installation file, in case you ever uninstall it and something goes wrong.

[Tmansdc]

Originally posted by Vincent Benenati
I have Cablevision's Optimum Online Cable modem. It's very good and I would definitely go with a cable modem if you can shelve out a high monthly fee. Then again, you also save money on your phone bill.

you lucky (well, ya know). That optimum online is fast! 1.0 MBPS upload/10 MBPS download! You go near t3 speeds! I go slightly slower than 1.5 MBPS DSL USERS! I go 128k upload/1.5 MPBS download. That's slow compared to yours!

[grim15]

i have at@t internet serice so go with th cable modem

[Zapages]

I am going to get cable specially Optimum Online <-- friend gets it and he lives next door.... He says its really fast he just downloads the lastest preview clips and game demoes...

[ccffan01]

I have a cable modem(optimum online), its extremly fast and since july(when I got it) there have been absolutely no problems to speak of.

[Failure]

Geez, way to dig up really old threads everyone. I really didn't think there was much more to add to this one... back in November. :rolleyes:

[ccffan01]

Originally posted by Failure
Geez, way to dig up really old threads everyone. I really didn't think there was much more to add to this one... back in November. :rolleyes:

I'm sure hes made hid decision by now, tmansdc. ;)