Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dsl and broadband

Should I ditch Comcast's Triple Play in Chicago for DSL?

bdk3clash — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:31:07 -0800

Thinking of switching from Comcast cable modem to DSL for broadband--will I notice the difference? I'm in Chicago and currently have the Comcast Triple Play package (cable TV/digital phone/Internet) which ends up costing $123.44 a month. My year of service is almost up and I'm not interested in paying even more than I already am, so I'm considering getting rid of Comcast and switching over to just a broadband provider.

I'd stick with Comcast if they could offer Internet only for $50 a month or so, but that's not an option with them as far as I know, so I'm thinking about switching over to AT&T for DSL service.

I'm a fairly heavy bandwidth consumer--in addition to typical browsing, I download a lot of binaries via Giganews. I usually get speeds of around 1000 k/s.

Other than AT&T, are there any solid options for broadband Internet providers in Chicago? And if I switch to DSL, will I notice the difference when doing regular browsing? Slower binary downloads don't bother me unless it's, like, way slower than what I'm used to.

Thanks.

Why can't I open webpages?

k8t — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:49:00 -0800

ADSL working but HTTP not working. I just got an ADSL connection (in Armenia, provider is Beeline, only documentation is here and is in Armenian. 256k though. Woo!)

I can use all sorts of applications pretty well (iTunes downloading podcasts, Flickr uploader, Outlook for mail, gChat, etc.), but I can't do anything HTTP. I open Firefox and can sometimes get a mobile page to load and I can search Google or Yahoo and see the results, but I can't open "normal" webpages at all. I tried IE and Opera but the same problem occurs.

I tried getting into the configuration page for the DSL modem, but doesn't look like it'll work well.

Also, suggesting updating firmware for DSL modem or something isn't possible. I am on really bad dialup otherwise.

Why would this be? (And yes, I've called tech support. They are less than impressive. They only introduced this service this month and aren't exactly supporting it.)

I am running Vista. I have tried to turn off all firewall-related stuff that I can possibly think of.

Any other ideas?

Best option for internet provider in San Francisco?

jcruelty — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:51:56 -0800

What's the best option for high-speed internet access in San Francisco? (Moving from Castro to Potrero Hill, would like to ditch Comcast if there's a good alternative.) Apologies if this has been covered somewhere-- I googled around but there's too many hits to make sense of. Basically I want to know what people recommend for fast reliable internet service in San Francisco. We've been using Comcast (cable modem) but I don't like the company and don't need cable TV, just internet. I'm not entirely averse to staying with Comcast but I'd like to know the alternatives. Is DSL comparably fast?

I'm running a wireless network through a Belkin Pre-N router, don't know if that matters.

Cheap Broadband in Albany, NY?

cahlers — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:47:35 -0800

Can someone suggest cheap ($15/mo) broadband in zip 12208? Verizon DSL 768kbps is unavailable there. I'm looking for DSL at 768kbps download speed in Albany, NY, comparable to what's offered by Verizon Online for $14.99 in other markets. Apparently this package is not offered in the zip code where my parents live (12208). They have never had broadband before, and now are looking to obtain it, after using dial-up for many years. However, they have a limited budget and could not pay more than around $15/mo. They do not need download speeds of higher than 768bps; however, I don't think paying $10/mo for 50 hours of Verizon dialup is worth it.

My parents do not need DSL per se, only broadband. However, they do not have cable TV, so bundling w/ cable is not an option. If a company offered cable broadband at around $15/mo, that would work for them too.

I have searched DSL Reports and Google without success.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Testing the health of a broadband connection

hodyoaten — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:36:40 -0800

Is there a software program of some kind that will automatically monitor and analyze the health (i.e. transfer rate and up/down status) of a broadband Internet connection? Ideally like to see statistics graphed over the course of a week or so, tested every 1 to 15 minutes, so I can see what kind of quality I'm getting. I'm not sure if any software like this exists.

Using multiple home broadband connections?

jeffbarr — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:36:33 -0800

How can I best use multiple home broadband connections? [more inside] After a hiccup last week (and a fix today) from my DSL provider, I now have two broadband connections to my home -- 1.5 Mbps of DSL, and another 1.5 Mbps of WiMax (via Clearwire).

Given that we have a bunch of kids and computers, with plenty of bits flowing both ways, it would be pretty cool to aggregate the bandwidth in a simple way. Bonus points for something that would keep things up and running if one of the connections drops momentarily.

How can I do this?

DSL basics. What hardware do I need?

vacapinta — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:06:12 -0800

SanFranciscoWiFi: I currently have DSL service with AT&T. It came with a DSL modem/wireless router thingy from 2WIRE. Can I replace the 2Wire? If so, what are my options? Please speak to me as if I were a child because in the area of networking, I am.

In search of cheap, fast BGP peering.

eschatfische — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 00:36:49 -0800

Other than XO Communications, who in San Francisco offers ADSL2 service or bonded G.SHDSL service (aka "Ethernet over Copper") and allows BGP? DS3s and bonded DS1s are too expensive, unless you're aware of a shocking deal. Standard ADSL service or cable is too slow. Unlicensed wireless service is too risky (although I'm willing to consider a wireless provider who's in the licensed bands). There's no fiber currently in our building. BGP is mandatory.

We already have a 10mbps "Ethernet over Copper" bonded G.SHDSL line from XO. It's exactly what we need, but I'm looking for something comparable to multi-home with for redundancy.

Thanks in advance!

Want DSL; don't want phone line.

raf — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 23:22:00 -0800

Experiences getting DSL without phone service? Cable modem service is not an option in my new apartment. The building has free "T1" internet access, but it sucks. (It borders on false advertising, but that's for another day.) I can get DSL, but I don't need a phone line. Anyone have any experience obtaining such a thing? This is in Chicago; AT&T (née SBC) is the phone company.

Help me find a cheaper Internet provider.

TwilightKid — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:52:31 -0800

I live in NYC, and had AOL for Broadband for my internet service provided to me through Time Warner. AOL recently waived their fee's and is now free. I am left paying Tie Warner about $45 bux a month for broadband service.....I wanna find something cheaper, yet just as fast and efficient... Who can point me in the right direction? IS DSL a safe route to go? I never really learned the difference between the two; (broadband and DSL). Are their cheaper services out there, but just as good?

Too many choices! So much fine print!

rossination — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 11:37:33 -0800

Internet options for 3 apartment-dwelling college students in Seattle. In a few weeks, I'm going to be moving into an apartment in Seattle's U-District (15th and 55th) with two other college students. We're trying to figure out what the best bet is going to be as far as Internet goes. We won't have a land line (the building is wired for it, of course, but we're all just using our cell phones) and we only plan on staying for a year (possibly more, but we don't want to get into a 3-year contract). Basically, I'm looking for the cheapest broadband option that won't be a pain to set up and/or maintain.

I've looked at this thread, which is sort of useful, but still doesn't really apply because we're not looking for phone or TV. I've also poked around DSL Reports a bit. And I know about the fabulous nocharge.com, which has sustained me through the summer, but I'm itchin' for some high-speed Internetting.

Do we want cable or DSL? How best to go about doing this? Any advice about broadband, especially in Seattle and the U-District, is appreciated.

Does Verizon DSL still suck or have they cleaned up their act?

jason's_planet — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 08:55:29 -0800

I live in Queens, NY. I want to take the plunge into broadband. Verizon is offering a pretty good deal ($18.00 a month for as much bandwidth as I'll ever use) but I am a little leery. Four or five years ago, I was hearing nothing but complaints about Verizon's DSL offerings. So . . . does Verizon DSL still suck or have they cleaned up their act? I'd really love to hear from Verizon DSL customers who live in Woodside, Astoria or Sunnyside, if you're out there and have MeFi accounts.

Broadbandfilter: How can I get internet setup without a current phone number (in SF)?

gramcracker — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 06:05:11 -0800

Gah! Broadbandfilter! Moving to a new apartment next week (in SF). What broadband provider, and how do I search for it without a current phone number? (Cable vs. DSL vs. FIOS vs. Wireless?) Cable is Comcast obviously; DSL looks like it can be from any number of providers, but I need a phone line first to verify. And then there's Verizon FIOS and Sprint or Verizon Wireless available as well. Need service earlier than Google rolls out its free product in SF.

Any experience with FIOS or Wireless? Good, bad?
I used a nearby restaurant's phone number to checkout availability of DSL in the area, and it looks like I'm close enough to a CO to get it. Anyone know the cheapest phone line I can get--or "naked DSL" without a phoneline--or a cheap DSL + phone line package? (Have Cingular wireless, could I do their "triple package" thing?)

Any advice, especially SF-specific, would be greatly appreciated. We're students, so we'd like to stick to the ~$40 per month range. Thanks!

LegaleseFilter: How does AT&T's new DSL privacy policy compare to my current provider's?

jxpx777 — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:21:04 -0800

LegaleseFilter: How does AT&T's new DSL privacy policy compare to my current provider's? Obviously, lawyers or other such persons will be most helpful here. I have been contemplating ditching my current internet service provider due to poor performance and reliability. The only other real option for me is AT&T Yahoo! DSL. I was just about to pull the trigger on the switch until I heard about AT&T's updated privacy policy. In reading the two policies (Charter and AT&T), I can't really see that my current provider's policy is any more restrictive than AT&T's. But, I wanted to check with my MeFi homies to see if someone with more legal training than I have (and any would be more than I have) can outline the differences. Also, explaining if those differences are in theory or if they would actually make a difference in the real world would be helpful as well.

Current provider's policy: http://www.charter.com/privacy/InternetPrivacy.aspx
AT&T Yahoo! DSL policy that would apply to me: http://help.sbcglobal.net/article.php?item=8620

Verizon FIOS vs DSL?

cahlers — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 14:42:27 -0800

Verizon FIOS vs DSL? Anyone have any experience with Verizon's FIOS broadband vs. their DSL? I'm looking for comments regarding increase in speed for FIOS, problems with the upgrade, or any other problems you might have encountered.

Are you more satisfied with FIOS as opposed to your previous internet connnection?

DSL Software

dagnyscott — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 14:04:55 -0800

OK. I have SBC Yahoo! DSL at my apartment. Recently my roommate moved out, taking with him the computer that had the software from SBC on it -- my computer had been connected through a router. What software do I actually need to get DSL back? I'm using Windows XP Professional.

Bandwidth Galore

cosmicbandito — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:54:48 -0800

I just got braodband internet after 5 years of living the dial-up lifestyle. Help me use my new-found bandwidth effectively. I'm so used to thinking of the internet in terms of dial-up speeds and possibilities that I have no idea what sorts of cool things you can do with broadband. What bandwidth intensive sites/tools/cool things do you use your broadband for? (BESIDES porn). Hope me Mefi!

wireless between buildings

striker — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 08:50:57 -0800

Have dsl in building 1 with linksys gateway providing a wireless connection. Need to use dsl is building 2. What is the best/cheapest way to accomplish this? Without going into details, would like to remain completely wireless. Building 2 is a metal building 15 feet from building 1. At the point in building 1 nearest building 2 (still inside), there is a 30% signal, but none inside building 2. Currently using a linksys BEFW11S4. Do I want a larger antenna, another AP, repeater, absolutely must find some way to run cat5, or what is recommended?

Setting up DSL

jdroth — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:15:16 -0800

The New House, part four: Help me set up my DSL. Please! [more inside, naturally enough] I've signed up for DSL through Qwest out here in Portland, Oregon. They shipped me a smallish, black Actiontec DSL modem/wireless router. It didn't detect the DSL signal.

They sent out a service tech, who was very helpful. He checked the line and told me, "The modem needs 8db to 'train up', and your line is showing 16db, which is pretty good for your distance from the C.O." He spent an hour futzing with things to no avail. He even tried two other Actiontec modems of the same model, but none of them detected the DSL signal.

Then he tried an older model (bigger, white, no wireless router). It got the signal fine. He left the older modem with me and told me to call him when the replacement modem new model arrived. Well, it arrived yesterday, but like its three brethren, it doesn't detect the DSL signal.

I e-mailed the tech support woman whose been helping me. She's not only crediting me for two months of free DSL (without my asking!), she's forwarding my problem to her brother, "a supervisor in the DSL center".

So what's my question?

Simple: Why does the older Actiontec modem detect the DSL signal, but the new models don't? The service tech was completely puzzled by it. The tech support woman says I can buy my own DSL modem, but she recommends that I buy Actiontec (they're the only brand officially supported by Qwest).

Which Actiontec DSL modem should I buy? Or — since I'm not really that concerned about owning an "officially supported" model — can you recommend other DSL modems I should consider?

[I'm a fairly techie guy. I have my own small computer consulting firm. I'm comfortable with both Macs and PCs. I'm fine tinkering with the internals of a wireless router, etc.]

p.s. Is the thing I'm calling a DSL modem actually a modem at all? Or is it simply a router? I mean, if I plugged my existing Linksys wireless router directly into the DSL line, would it work fine? Or is there some vital component needed to process the DSL signal?

Looking for Current Research Comparing Number of Broadband and Dial-Up Internet Users

dhacker — Fri, 19 Mar 2004 08:57:36 -0800

Broadband vs. Dial-Up. I'm looking for current research that shows the number of users that connect to the Internet via Broadband vs. dial-up. I know its out there somewhere . . . So far I've found this article but we're talking 3 months old here.