| reply to pnyxxpress
Re: Satellite to ISDN should I make the leap. Info needed. If you want to play games online where a low ping is required, then yes, dump satellite for ISDN if you can't find a WISP or afford a T1.
If you want to download a lot, then ISDN can let you download more than sat. Although it'll be slower downloading over ISDN, you should be able to average about 1GB down and up per day if you keep the connection maxed 24/7. If WildBlue still has the 5GB/month limit then ISDN definately wins in the total usable bandwidth catagory, if you have the patience for it.
ISDN is a pair of 64kbps connections in one wire. It can reach 128kbps maximum if you bond them together . That comes to only 16KB/s, though if you include TCP/IP's overhead you're really looking at about 13-14KB/sec. That only applies if you use both channels for data. If you use one line for voice you'll cut those numbers in half.
Ping times can be pretty reliable usually hovering around 150ms, but can get as high as 600+ on occasion, though it's semi-rare in my experience. My wife and I were both able to play Guild Wars at the same time with only occasional lag.
My ISDN runs me about $60 a month, although that required a 2 year contract, and $100 install fee and a $100 jack install fee.
If what you're primarily doing is just causal browsing and email checking and IM, then you'll probably be happier on satellite or even dialup than ISDN. If you're gaming or downloading, ISDN is definately a option to consider if you don't have a WISP, DSL, or Cable connection available. |
