04-14-2005, 08:46 PM
You might want to look through BBR to see if they provide any info that would help.
For my experience, I started with DSL from the local phone company, Qwest. I initially went with DSL because of the issue of shared -vs- single pipe. I was tickled pink with it in the beginning. I couldn't imagine ever needing anything faster. However, after a couple years, I started having slowdowns, disconnects and extended outages. They blamed equipment and threw a couple modems at it. I worked with them to try to regain the excellent connection I had had at one point. It finally got to where I couldn't count on the connection, I couldn't get hold of support when things went out at odd hours and, even working through my ISP (who could see the problems on the connection) could not get any resolution. I dropped them and went with RoadRunner cable. I was amazed at how much faster it was (approx. 6 times faster and they now offer a connection with twice my speed). I never experienced a slow down, short of an outage, that wasn't fixed by rebooting the modem (they do glitch at times for whatever reason). Maybe I am just lucky and don't have other big users in my area. (I don't know if I believe the pipe being shared with TV watching. For normal TV, it is my understanding that the digital information is layered onto the analog TV signal. Digital TV might be shared pipe though.) I have, however, had 2 or 3 outages that lasted approximately 24 hours. These were a little frustrating. Not only did I want to be on (playing WoW :blush: ) but they wanted to blame it on local hardware. They did clear up without intervention on this end so something had to have been reset on their end. This was not enough to send me back to DSL though.
Bottom line, both types of connections are good options. Cable is preferable only if you expect massive file downloads. The real decision needs to be based on the perceived quality of the two providers and what you can expect from their technical support. If your current provider can't provide reasons that you can understand and resolve your problems, it might be worth the switch to get better tech support.
For my experience, I started with DSL from the local phone company, Qwest. I initially went with DSL because of the issue of shared -vs- single pipe. I was tickled pink with it in the beginning. I couldn't imagine ever needing anything faster. However, after a couple years, I started having slowdowns, disconnects and extended outages. They blamed equipment and threw a couple modems at it. I worked with them to try to regain the excellent connection I had had at one point. It finally got to where I couldn't count on the connection, I couldn't get hold of support when things went out at odd hours and, even working through my ISP (who could see the problems on the connection) could not get any resolution. I dropped them and went with RoadRunner cable. I was amazed at how much faster it was (approx. 6 times faster and they now offer a connection with twice my speed). I never experienced a slow down, short of an outage, that wasn't fixed by rebooting the modem (they do glitch at times for whatever reason). Maybe I am just lucky and don't have other big users in my area. (I don't know if I believe the pipe being shared with TV watching. For normal TV, it is my understanding that the digital information is layered onto the analog TV signal. Digital TV might be shared pipe though.) I have, however, had 2 or 3 outages that lasted approximately 24 hours. These were a little frustrating. Not only did I want to be on (playing WoW :blush: ) but they wanted to blame it on local hardware. They did clear up without intervention on this end so something had to have been reset on their end. This was not enough to send me back to DSL though.
Bottom line, both types of connections are good options. Cable is preferable only if you expect massive file downloads. The real decision needs to be based on the perceived quality of the two providers and what you can expect from their technical support. If your current provider can't provide reasons that you can understand and resolve your problems, it might be worth the switch to get better tech support.
Lochnar[ITB]
Freshman Diablo
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own."
"You don't know how strong you can be until strong is the only option."
"Think deeply, speak gently, love much, laugh loudly, give freely, be kind."
"Talk, Laugh, Love."
Freshman Diablo
"I reject your reality and substitute my own."
"You don't know how strong you can be until strong is the only option."
"Think deeply, speak gently, love much, laugh loudly, give freely, be kind."
"Talk, Laugh, Love."