Review by AtHomeTech 
Posted: 9.6 years ago
member for 9.6 years, 9 visits, last login: 9.5 years ago
 Saint Louis,Saint Louis,MO
 $39 per month (month by month)
 "FACTS"
 "FACTS"
 "FACTS"
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@ Home Facts from an @Home Install & Service Technician
These are facts straight from the frontline. So you dont think I am unfair,
I have ordered my own ADSL with a one year contract so I can give more detailed
information. This is at my own expense. I am not representing my employer but
only giving you actual facts about the two services. I have used both services
but most of my ADSL facts come from friends that are currently working for local
ADSL providers as install technicians. Three of whom are in the process of leaving
and coming to the local @Home privider.
1) Typical at home speeds are 3400kbps downstream and 768 kbps upstream
2) A subscriber does not have to be within a certain distance from any switching station
like ADSL. As long as a cable subscriber is in an area that has an upstream path, you
can subscribe to cable internet service.
3) Shared bandwidth is not an issue...All connections are eventually shared at some level,
including ADSL. In fact ADSL becomes shared after the local loop is terminated at your
telephone company where your DSL line and others interconnect at the DSLAM.
(Digital Subscriber Line Access Mutiplexer) After your DSL is concentrated with others
at the DSLAM, YOUR shared DSL connection is passed through one or more ISP interconnects
and ultimatley to the internet backbone. Typical concentration rates are 100:1, meaning
that 100 users with 1.5 Mbps ADSL service then share a SINGLE 1.5 Mbps T-1 connection.
After that further sharing can occur before even reaching the internet backbone!
4) Cable speeds will not decline. In fact the speeds have only gotten faster. Typical
cable segments pass 500 homes per node. Typical subscribers total 20% per node. Thats
100 subscribers per node. Again, in the past year that I have been a Tech with @Home
speeds have went from 1700kbps to 3400kbps. If speed declines, more nodes will be added
but probably wont be needed.
5) Cable is a better deal...current specials are 19.95/MO for 3 months and 39.95/MO
thereafter with free installation.
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AT&T Southwest
