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Neyland85
join:2003-02-04
North Augusta, SC
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to yanks
Re: Should I switch from Comcast cable to AT&T DSL Xtreme 6.0?
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. | |
yanks
join:2003-09-10
USA
| 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? | |
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 | |
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. | |
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 | |
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. | |
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 | |
ILpt4U
join:2006-11-12
Lisle, 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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