OT: Heading toward DSL Road; looking for directions

Krsqk · #1 June 2nd, 2004, 05:38 PM

It seems I can get DSL access reasonably cheaply (at least compared to other rates in the area): 1.5 Mb/256 Kb for just under forty bucks. Just a few questions for those who are more DSL-informed than I:

I have the option of getting a USB modem or an Ethernet modem. Which is better? I would need an Ethernet card; what's the most I should pay for that? And, the big question, which modem and how much?

According to dslreports.com, I'm just under 18,000 feet from the CO. How much is that going to affect my speed? Is that even worth it?

I already run ZoneAlarm; should I invest in a router as well? How much should I pay?

I think these cover most of the questions I have for right now.

I'm sure I'll check back later with more. Thanks in advance!

[ June 02, 2004, 16:45: Message edited by: Krsqk ]

tesco samoa · #2 June 2nd, 2004, 05:49 PM

18,000 feet

is that under 4.5 KM ???

tesco samoa · #3 June 2nd, 2004, 05:59 PM

for the usb or cat.

I suggest you do the following setup

1. phone line to modem to hub( with built in firewall router )

So read up on your routers/hubs and get one that accepts usb or both... but with 5 connections out...

Good router/hub is very cheap. Depends on if you want to go wireless / land line ( and then for wireless b or g )

speedstream is good.

drop buy your local computer shop and see what they recommend for your area.

Suicide Junkie · #4 June 2nd, 2004, 06:25 PM

You can get Ethernet cards for $10 Canadian.

Don't bother with the ones that have extra features like being able to power on your computer over the network...
Look past the ones they want to sell ...pLastered with features and high prices... and just get the basic 10/100 ethernet card.

If you can find a router with USB in and both out for a reasonable price, it could be handy though.

[ June 02, 2004, 17:29: Message edited by: Suicide Junkie ]

geoschmo · #5 June 2nd, 2004, 06:35 PM

18K feet is a long way. If at all possible I'd try to find someone in your neighborhood that has it and see what sort of performance they have. Your DSL company might provide you with some referals, or they might not.

DSLreports.com will tell you what sort of success other customers in your town have had, but unless you know exactly where they live that may not help you much.

Talk to the guy who actually hooks up the phone line if you can. Depending on your situation he may not have to visit your house, so this may not be possible. And if he comes out you may not even know it. All his work will probably be outside, some of it down the street. So you may need to stay home all day and peek out your windows to catch him.

More often then not he won't actually work for the DSL provider directly. He'll be a phone co employee or a third party tech. He'll know more then the reps you talk to on the phone, especially about how things work in your area. And he won't have as much incentive to gloss over the bad stuff.

Definetly read the fine print very carefully. Most, but not all, DSL service has a contract. Most that do have a contract have a period of time after installation that you can get out of the contract if the service isn't living up to your expectations. If yours doesn't, DON'T BUY IT! But those do have an out period will have stipulations on how long you have to make up your mind. Make sure you understand what those stipulations are in your case. Get assurances in writing.

Record the names of everyone you ever talk to on the phone, time and date, and what you talked about. Make sure you ask them a couple times during the conversation if they are putting everything into their computer that you are talking about. Your number one greatest help in getting any service disputes resolved succesfully will be a detailed record in the companies computer system of every problem you've ever had and any promises they have made to you. Without that record for them to look at, you are always on your first call. And call centers rarely do anything on the first call. (I know, I work for one.

)

You almost always will have a choice in ISP's, but regardless of ISP, it will almost always be the same wires and technicians working on them. Changing ISP's will likely not improve your speed, and probably won't improve the reliability much. But all ISP's are not the same when it comes to customer service. How seriously they take your issues, and how hard they will try to make you happy when things break.

Fyron · #6 June 2nd, 2004, 07:54 PM

Quote:

I have the option of getting a USB modem or an Ethernet modem. Which is better?

Always avoid USB whenever possible (this applies to ALL hardware, not just modems). It is horribly slow and works much worse than dedicated ports for nearly all devices (the exception, of course, being devices that can only work through USB...). Ethernet is far, far faster than USB.

geoschmo · #7 June 2nd, 2004, 08:34 PM

What Fyron says about USB speed is mostly true, but isn't really so much of an issue when looking at a choice for a DSL modem. Ethernet is much faster, but both of them are faster then your DSL anyway. Ethernet isn't going to suck data through your phone lines any quicker. You would notice a difference between USB and Ethernet if you were comparing local area networks running flat out. But nobody hooks up LAN's using USB.

That being said, I can't really think of a good reason to go with USB over Ethernet, unless you just really are opposed to getting an ethernet card for your pc and have a USB port sitting there doing nothing. USB is slightly easier to setup, but today's ethernet isn't that hard either. Most of the cards are plug and play, and the software that loads the drivers is pretty much idiot proof. (Not that you'd need that Krsqk.

) And Ehternet does give you more flexibility down the road if you decide to setup more then one computer on your home network to share that DSL line.

[ June 02, 2004, 19:40: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

Atrocities · #8 June 2nd, 2004, 11:01 PM

I am free of my chains and once again have escaped the dark age dungeons of modern day dial up. I am human once again..... I have DSL.

Captain Kwok · #9 June 2nd, 2004, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
I am free of my chains and once again have escaped the dark age dungeons of modern day dial up. I am human once again..... I have DSL.

Welcome back Atrocities.

David E. Gervais · #10 June 2nd, 2004, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atrocities:
I am free of my chains and once again have escaped the dark age dungeons of modern day dial up. I am human once again..... I have DSL.

Yup he has DSL, allright, I was there (Online) when it happened. (I was probably the Last person he chatted with before making the switch)

but, compared to me his speed is lacking,...

I'll let AT post his results. And I'm anxious to see others.

Want to compare your DSL speed? go here..

DSL SpeedTest

..and post your results. (be sure to choose ADSL as you connection speed.

Here are my results..

Communications: 2.6 megabits/sec
Storage: 319.6 kilobytes/sec
1Mb Download: 3.2 secs
Speed result: Great!

FYI I'm twice the average speed of DSL in Quebec, and almost twice the speed of a T-1 line.

Cheers!

[ June 02, 2004, 22:12: Message edited by: David E. Gervais ]