Modem Question

[Guest Retro Rob]

One of the computer topics I know nothing about would be modems. RIght now I'm working with a 56K and wanted to know what the fastest modem using a phone line is. Also, is DSL only available through Verizon? I don't know if this matters but I use MCI. Also, what is necessary for a T1 or T3 modem? Any suggestions would be great.

[Guest TUS_02]

Fastest speed on the phone line? That'd be DSL. And Verizon isn't the only company that carries it... you'd have to ask around your area to find out who your provider is. T1s and T3s are.... well, I can't really explain what they are, but you'd just be better off with a cable modem since T1 and T3 lines cost like a couple G's a month.

[Guest DrTom]

T1 and T3 lines are quite expensive, and are generally used by businesses and government agencies. You'd have some killer bandwidth, but you'd be paying a real premium for it.

 

In dial-up, the fastest you can get is 56K. There are some modem tweaks you can do in the registry (I think some have been posted here before) that clean up your connection and make it run faster, but you're still restricted in terms of speed.

 

Broadband offers DSL and cable. Cable tends to be faster, and in some areas, you can pay different rates for cable depending on the speed you want. The prices are generally pretty even (cable's actually cheaper here, thru Comcast, than Verizon DSL), but the speed advantage makes cable the better value, IMO. You'll need a cable modem, of course, but they make them in USB now, so you don't always need a NIC and a hub.

[Guest Retro Rob]

Around here DSL and Cable are essentially the same, $40 vs. $45. Thanks guys.

[Guest EMAXSAUN]

Cable and DSL are the same cost, but even though through certain DSL providers you can get faster speeds than cable, cable is better overall, because you are ALWAYS logged on, and if you use download accelerator with cable like me , you can get speeds up to 700k/s.

[Guest SP-1]

Yeah my local ISP provides DSL in three speeds, and Cable. I don't know if Cable has different speeds though. I don't get to choose because only DSL runs out to where I live. But I have 10Mbps so I ain't complaining.

[Guest tpww7]

I wish Cable was avaliable here

[Guest Dace59]

With the terminal speed from Cable and DSL dependent of different things?

 

Cable it's how many uses on the same trunk as you or whatever in your area.

 

And DSL the distance from the phone exchange.

 

Am I thinking of the right stuff?

[The Dames 0]

So...Cable runs through your cable box? I'm considering getting some sort of broadband connection, but I have a black box...

 

Dames

[Guest DrTom]

Dace, the speed of cable is somewhat dependent on how many users are currently accessing the internet on your node (at least they're called nodes here). There's a good deal of bandwidth to go around, so you're not going to crawl at speeds just above dialup because the whole neighborhood is reading about the Shuttle crash on CNN. DSL depends on your distance from the switching box, which can be buried inconspicuously in the ground somewhere. DSL is still a network, so you're still sharing bandwidth on some level, even though the providers never seem to tell you that.

 

Dames, cable internet does not run thru your cable box itself, but it does run over a standard cable line. Here, all you have to do is get cable internet, and you can split the wire into your TV and have basic cable for free. They can't shut that part of the signal off, so there's no way yet for them to stop it. But if you want to keep all your channels without arousing the suspicion of the cable company, you might want to go with DSL.

[Guest Dace59]

Thank you Tom.