Enhanced DSL

[Rod Hagen]

Today is supposed to be the first day of my so-called Enhanced DSL-supposedly 120% faster than my previous standard DSL. Although they don't tell you this during the sale, I understand that only new buildings with updated wiring can fully take advantage of the top end of your potential new spead (eg, if you should be getting speed somewhere between a theoretical 5 and 12, you can only achieve something near 12 if you have new wiring, otherwise you'll be seeing only 5-6, still much better than dial-up, which might be a 1-2, or your standard DSL, say 4). However, I'm not sure if I'm actually experiencing a faster connection today, or just wishful-thinking it. Can some of you please make some suggestions of extremely graphic intensive (I have a powerful enough computer processor and sufficient memory) websites so that I can test it out? The NYC listing A-M on this site SEEMS faster, but I want a better test than that.

 

Thank you.

 

RH

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Try an online speed test site~

 

Something like Toast.net features a free way to find out just how fast your connection is going. It's pretty nifty actually

 

I'm also sure you can find other testing sites through a place like Download.com or just by Googling. Hope the hype is for real, as my Roadrunner connection is going through the same thing.

 

'Now even faster' they tell me. We'll see...

 

 

Warmest Always,

 

 

Benjamin Nicholas

[BuckyXTC]

Rod:

 

I never had good luck with DSL....had it from Verizon. Service would be out at least a whole day per month. I cancelled it and went to a broadband cable connection, and I've never looked back. Cable is definitely the way to go.

[Boston Guy]

You have probably ordered ADSL -- Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line -- service. It's "asynchronous" because the speed provided to you is not the same for uploads and downloads.

 

Most people do very little in the way of uploading but download lots of information as they surf the Web. So download speed is what you're most interested in, unless you do lots of large uploads.

 

You also will probably have a dynamically-assigned IP address, meaning that your ISP will assign a different IP address to you whenever you log in. Static IP's -- IP addresses that are always the same -- cost more. But, if you're planning on running your own Web server, you'd probably want a static IP.

 

Then there's also SDSL -- Synchronous DSL -- that supports the same speed in both directions and often higher speeds than are offered with ADSL. SDSL also supports additional features that are necessary if you're going to be running multiple Web servers over the line.

 

To test both your upload and download speed, go here:

 

http://www.dslreports.com/stest

 

For home ADSL service today, you can generally get something approaching 1500 kbps download and 128 kbps upload for a very reasonable price. This level of service should provide most users with very satisfactory connections to the Internet.

 

BG

[Boston Guy]

Bucky:

 

I've had the reverse experience, also with Verizon. Boston was one of the first areas in the US to get DSL and I was one of the first to get connected in the city. (I actually had Verizon personnel come to my home just to see how it was working.)

 

I've used DSL now for years and have been extremely satisfied. It did have somewhat spotty performance at the beginning and was often down for a few hours or more at a time. But I haven't seen anything like that for a very long time.

 

Verizon doubled DSL speeds a while back and it's just very fast and reliable now. Some of my friends have cable and their experience is mixed. The ones on Time Warner's Road Runner seem to be more satisfied. Adelphia customers are generally happy with the cable TV but dissatisfied with Adelphia's Internet service.

 

Also, cable Internet performance is quite dependent on what's happening in your neighborhood. If your neighbor has a 16-year old kid who's online all the time playing net-intensive games, your speeds can be reduced. DSL speeds are not affected by what others are doing, at least generally.

 

Regards,

BG

[Rod Hagen]

Thanks everyone. According to those tester sites I have a very fast connection.

Download: 3429

 

Upload: 507

 

COOL!

[Guest Utopia]

Rod go cable, it's faster and the service is far better. BG posted the best link for all broadband info, http://www.dslreports.com

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"You realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last"