yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
| Should I switch from Comcast cable to AT&T DSL Xtreme 6.0?
Last Nov. we switched from AT&T phone service to Comcast Digital Voice, we had a lot of problems with it so we switched back to AT&T. When I called to switch back the AT&T sales associate asked if I would interested in DSL internet service which would be available in my area shortly, she told me the different plans that would be available and I said I would think about it, we use Comcast cable service. Today when I got home there was a voice mail message from AT&T that a DSL modem was shipped to us today, when I called to find out what is going on unbeknownst to me I had put myself on a list to get DSL when it became available which is today, 6 months after I spoke about it.
I don’t remember actually asking to be put on the list but now I’m thinking if I should go ahead and switch. I was told today we would get several rebates which comes to a nice amount and that the DSL Xtreme 6.0 is as fast as cable.
Is it true that the DSL Xtreme 6.0 service is as fast as cable? Also, I have an Apple Airport Extreme wireless router; will it be compatible with the AT&T modem? Any other positives or negatives I should be aware of? Thanks for your input in advance. |
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ILpt4U
join:2006-11-12
Crystal Lake, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
| While the Old BellSouth Region ADSL varies from the Old SBC region ADSL in the speed tiers, the 6 Mbps tier is pretty fast. Cable's max speeds are higher, at least in theory, but the general feel is that ADSL is more stable.
Cable's bandwidth is "shared" among all those on your local cable node, so on many nodes, between the hours of roughly 4 and 10 in the evening, speeds slow way down, but it depends on your node. That does NOT happen with DSL, because your connection and your bandwidth is yours. That 6 meg stream is your stream.
So, yes Comcast is probably faster under ideal conditions. But DSL at a 6 meg tier will be consistently fast, a lot more so than Comcast.
Also, if you go DSL, consider going for a "dry loop" and then getting VoIP for phone service, from AT&T CallVantage or Vonage. Or you can keep POTS too. But there can be some cost advantages to VoIP. |
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bcfromfl
join:2007-09-06
Youngstown, FL
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to yanks
Depends on which is more important to you -- download or upload. If you want a solid, consistent download, then my vote would be the 6.0 Xtreme. If you want/need upload speed, like for Internet gaming, then stick with cable. DSL upload speeds are lousy... |
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Neyland85
join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to yanks
Both DSL and Cable are 'shared'.
I've had both DSL and Comcast cable, and in my area the reliability has been the same for DSL as Cable. There are situations where one will be more reliable than the other. It comes down to your area, your street and no one unless possibly your neighboor can really answer the reliability question.
Comcast has speed boost which is really nice. I don't download a whole lot of stuff, but when I do go out and get large files having the thing clip along at 800kps for three mins or so is REALLY nice.
The idea that cable slows down during peak time again is very resource dependent. It's a node saturation issue and DSL has just as much issue with this as Cable does.
To say a 6mb DSL connection is as fast as a 10mb Cable connection isn't true. It's cheaper... but not as fast. You're getting what you pay for. We have the 3mb service (best DSL they see fit to offer in my area) only because the price is more of a factor for us right now. |
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n2hisname
join:2004-03-10
Lake Charles, LA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to yanks
I switched just recently from Netcommander to Bellsouth Fast Access DSL 6.0.(ATT Southeast) I was disappointed with cable because of it slowing down when everybody was on the node. I am very satisfied with DSL. Regularly i get 5500kbps down and 500kbps. No more choppy video on YouTube |
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yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
| reply to Neyland85
I live in Boynton Beach FL. The funny thing is I know that AT&T DSL was available just a couple of miles from where I live months ago. I'm not unhappy with Comcast cable but it has gone down a few times during storms and their customer service is the worst. With the rebates it seems like it's a good deal. Perhaps if there is anyone else living in my area using Xtreme 6.0 you can tell me if your experience has been a good one. Also is my Apple Airport Extreme base station compatible with the modem I will receive? |
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Poolside
join:2000-12-22
Boca Raton, FL | reply to yanks
I have had BSFA for years, and have had a great experience with the service. Solid, always on connection. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| reply to Neyland85
said by Neyland85  :The idea that cable slows down during peak time again is very resource dependent. It's a node saturation issue and DSL has just as much issue with this as Cable does. It is actually a bit easier for DSL to fix a saturation problem. Cable has to reconfigure the HFC in the neighborhood. Telco just has to add another aggregation router at the POP center. BTDTGTTS.
To say a 6mb DSL connection is as fast as a 10mb Cable connection isn't true. It's cheaper... but not as fast. You're getting what you pay for. We have the 3mb service (best DSL they see fit to offer in my area) only because the price is more of a factor for us right now.
Beyond 3Mb, you only notice the difference on file downloads. Between my sister's 6Mb Comcast connection, and my 3Mb AT&T (DSL) connection, neither of us can detect any difference for normal web use.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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Canezoid
join:2001-02-16
Powder Springs, GA
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to Neyland85
Sorry Neyland, your facts are not correct. The term "shared" may apply once out on the internet, but has no bearing of comparison between the 2 from an OPs standpoint.
Node "saturation" is a cable network problem and does not apply to telco DSLAM's. While DSLAM's may max out capacity due to user connections has nothing to do w/ degrading of DSL signal to a user as does w/ cable.
As far as 6M to 10M analogy, on a general bitrate speed test yes it's obvious to see a difference. It's only the pipe of transfer that's supplied to you, doesn't necessarily mean your going to see faster surfing, gaming, whatever. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by Canezoid :Node "saturation" is a cable network problem and does not apply to telco DSLAM's. It does afflict DSL users at the aggregation routers. I am, currently, 26 miles out from my aggregation router. I was switched to one in Pleasanton, California, from another in Santa Clara, California. The reason for the switch? Saturation; more specifically, the tech referred to the aggregation router in Santa Clara as an "exhausted router".
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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Neyland85
join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
·AT&T Southeast
| reply to NormanS
said by NormanS :said by Neyland85 :The idea that cable slows down during peak time again is very resource dependent. It's a node saturation issue and DSL has just as much issue with this as Cable does. It is actually a bit easier for DSL to fix a saturation problem. Cable has to reconfigure the HFC in the neighborhood. Telco just has to add another aggregation router at the POP center. BTDTGTTS. To say a 6mb DSL connection is as fast as a 10mb Cable connection isn't true. It's cheaper... but not as fast. You're getting what you pay for. We have the 3mb service (best DSL they see fit to offer in my area) only because the price is more of a factor for us right now.
Beyond 3Mb, you only notice the difference on file downloads. Between my sister's 6Mb Comcast connection, and my 3Mb AT&T (DSL) connection, neither of us can detect any difference for normal web use. It may be easier, but that still gets down to the company willing to make the investment in the equipment in your area.
I've run both side by side. Do I see a difference in my old Comcast 10mb service and my current 3mb service? yes. Where? Not in web browsing typically, but I have seen issues with downloading music and podcasts, streaming media esp HD shows I've missed on Hulu or other such sites, game patches, my ping times were better with Comcast, but I feel that's more of a routing issue than my local connection, uploading pictures to Wally world, downloading email at times.
But, I'm a more of a power user. I'm not one of these torrent nuts, but we use our internet connection alot. My 70 yo parents probably could do what they do easily on the 3mb service though.
Don't get me wrong, the service is fine, but I've found in my area that all the cable poor reliability and bad performance due to sharing to be nothing more than hype. It's just been a simple function of you get what you pay for issue. Bellsouth is cheaper and slower and yes, I do feel it. Comcast is more expensive and typically more responsive for two active internet users. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
| said by Neyland85 :But, I'm a more of a power user. I'm not one of these torrent nuts, but we use our internet connection alot. My 70 yo parents probably could do what they do easily on the 3mb service though. I won't deny being a power user. I won't deny being a "Torrent freak". I am downloading some more anime, as I write.
But I am also budget conscious. The extra $30 a month I'd pay to double my download speed will buy a lot of anime DVDs.
I am doing just fine on 3Mb service, thank you.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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FastAttack
Premium
join:2000-07-28
Fort Lauderdale, FL
clubs:
edit:
May 11th, @09:15AM
| reply to bcfromfl
as a gamer myself, i must say that i don't agree. upload isnt everything. Stability and routing is. upload is only for hosting a game server, which with 512 upload on xbox live is easily manageable with 12 players. |
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ILpt4U
join:2006-11-12
Crystal Lake, IL
·AT&T Yahoo
| reply to Neyland85
said by Neyland85 :said by NormanS :said by Neyland85 :The idea that cable slows down during peak time again is very resource dependent. It's a node saturation issue and DSL has just as much issue with this as Cable does. It is actually a bit easier for DSL to fix a saturation problem. Cable has to reconfigure the HFC in the neighborhood. Telco just has to add another aggregation router at the POP center. BTDTGTTS. To say a 6mb DSL connection is as fast as a 10mb Cable connection isn't true. It's cheaper... but not as fast. You're getting what you pay for. We have the 3mb service (best DSL they see fit to offer in my area) only because the price is more of a factor for us right now.
Beyond 3Mb, you only notice the difference on file downloads. Between my sister's 6Mb Comcast connection, and my 3Mb AT&T (DSL) connection, neither of us can detect any difference for normal web use. It may be easier, but that still gets down to the company willing to make the investment in the equipment in your area. I've run both side by side. Do I see a difference in my old Comcast 10mb service and my current 3mb service? yes. Where? Not in web browsing typically, but I have seen issues with downloading music and podcasts, streaming media esp HD shows I've missed on Hulu or other such sites, game patches, my ping times were better with Comcast, but I feel that's more of a routing issue than my local connection, uploading pictures to Wally world, downloading email at times. But, I'm a more of a power user. I'm not one of these torrent nuts, but we use our internet connection alot. My 70 yo parents probably could do what they do easily on the 3mb service though. Don't get me wrong, the service is fine, but I've found in my area that all the cable poor reliability and bad performance due to sharing to be nothing more than hype. It's just been a simple function of you get what you pay for issue. Bellsouth is cheaper and slower and yes, I do feel it. Comcast is more expensive and typically more responsive for two active internet users. Some cable nodes are just fine and not overloaded. You must be one of those lucky ones. However, when I had cable internet, I used one that was way overloaded, and every day in the late afternoon to about midnight, the internet slowed down to a crawl (when all the kids got home from school and jumped on the net). I have never had the problem with DSL, due to the differences in the technology.
My advertised speed is slower, but actual performance is faster, IMHO. |
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timcuth
Braves Fan
Premium
join:2000-09-18
Pelham, AL
clubs:
·AT&T Southeast
|  reply to yanks
I wouldn't switch until I tried the Xtreme 6 first and found that it gave a full speed, stable connection. Of course, there is probably a service commitment to sign up for it, so you probably can't do that. 
I upgraded from 3.0 to 6.0 when they made 6.0 available to me. My 6.0 connection was fairly stable, but I rarely got speeds greater than 4200 or so, so I downgraded back to 3.0 after a couple of months.
Tim
--
"Love consists in overestimating the difference between one woman and another" - George Bernard Shaw
~ Project Hope ~ |
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neil0311
join:2005-07-24
Marietta, GA
edit:
May 11th, @09:34PM
| reply to yanks
The one big negative for ATT's DSL over Comcast is the really poor upload speeds. Even for DSL, ATT has slower upload speeds. Most DSL providers sell 768Kbps or 1Mbps uploads on their highest tiers. I have FA Xtreme with 6Mbps downloads but only 512Kbps uploads, which after overhead is really only about 400Kbps.
I had Comcast HSI for 3 years when I lived in the Boston area, and my uploads were faster even before powerboost. I'm not sure why ATT won't provision the Xtreme tier as 6M/768K. If that doesn't change soon, I may end up back with Comcast myself (already have TV service). |
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yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
edit:
May 11th, @10:29PM
| reply to timcuth
said by timcuth Of course, there is probably a service commitment to sign up for it, so you probably can't do that.
Nope, no service commitment. I asked if I have to keep the service for a certain amount of time to get the rebates and I was told no. It also says there are no service commitments on their web site. |
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NormanS
Premium,MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
·Pacific Bell - SBC
edit:
May 12th, @03:10AM
| reply to neil0311
Yikes. FastAccess is not so great, I guess. I can't find the upload listing for the third service, though:
NOTE(*): Nominal upload is 128kbps; I've seen reports that subscribers are actually getting 384kbps.
--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum |
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Hayward
K A R - 1 2 0 C
Premium
join:2000-07-13
Key West, FL
edit:
May 12th, @05:22AM
| reply to yanks
Do you KNOW you qualify for 6.0???? Many don;t
Also even I would not BANK on it, but 3.0 seems to be rock solid reliable pretty much everywhere.
I went from 3.0 to 6.0 breifly, when it became available and I was qualified... made it to at best 4.5, and very eratic.... so went back to again ALWAYS rock solid 3.0
--
»haywardm.com (Hayward's Key West)
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neil0311
join:2005-07-24
Marietta, GA
| I have 6.0 now, and I can say that's it's been very stable. No issues with stability ever in my experience, so I wouldn't let one person's experience sour you on that end.
I have tested with various speed test sites (including the official ATT site) and always get around 6.4Mbps downloads, no matter what time of day. Uploads have never gone above 420Kbps.
Uploads and powerboost giving you a quick burst of downloads speed are the two reasons I'm thinking of switching. Stability has NOT been an issue. ATT is rock solid. |
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