Oops - I see that b_line12 has already addresed this issue. Maybe I should read the entire thread before responding to a particular message next time.
Actually, DSL provides a Dynamic IP address with the base package. To get a static IP address costs much more per month, since they assume the real reason you would want a static IP is to run a Web server. Don’t know about cable though.
The Prince: “Did you kill Jahamaraj Jah?”
Lady: “Yes.”
The Prince: “My Gods! Why?”
Lady: “His existence offended me.”
I was hoping by now there would be some of those internal DSL modems [$100] & $20/month dsl [not always on]. Anyone seen anything happening in this area?
ba.internet newsgroup has tons of messages on DSL. ba=bay area [SF]
Okay, I had a BellSouth account before I got ADSL, so my dial up account is still active. As I do have a second phone line and a second computer, I use the dial up number with that machine when ADSL goes out. After the last ADSL outage, I called the “Technical Support” people at (888) 321-ADSL and asked specifically if I could use the dial up connection with the computer that is connected to ADSL when the ADSL service was down. The person I spoke with was adamant that I could not and that damage would result if I did.
For what it is worth, I telecommute for a company on the west coast of Florida and the whole point of my having ADSL was for staying constantly connected to their network. I don’t know if that is relevant or not.
WillGolfForFood said:
I did not mean to ignore your question. I was told this by a “Technical Support” person for BellSouth FastAccess.
Crystalguy
Yeah, I guess I should too.
Crystalguy
Here are the questions to ask the telco and cableco reps:
– What is the max bandwidth I can get with this plan?
– What is the minimum GUARANTEED bandwidth?
– How much does it cost per month?
– What is my recourse if I do not get my guaranteed minimum?
What do I have to do to prove that I am not recieving my guaranteed bandwidth?
Get the answers to all of the above, in writing. Then, you can compare apples to aplles, instead of brochures.
I, as a customer of PacBell DSL, get 384 kbps GUARANTEED, and a max of 1.5 Mbps. In neighboring towns, where GTE is the DSL provider, the guarantee is only 10kbps, which is about the same as a 14.4 modem. Slow, in other words.
My guess is that the cable companies will not be very willing to guarantee you naything. This for me (well, and the fact that, since we don’t use TV cable, I’d have to buy that service, too) was the dealbreaker.
I am very satisfied with the DSL line, but I should not that my experience is by far the most positive of anyone I know. Proceed with care, and don’t jump before you’re comfortable with the numbers.
I have had a cable modem for about 6 or so months and except for the first two months it’s been pretty reliable. There had been a $250 installation fee! When they finally dropped it, I signed up.
If there’s some problem at their end, they will credit me for each day that I can’t connect - about $1.30/day.
I did have a problem when I couldn’t connect for a week. The signal to the TV was also degraded, so the two problems were probably related.
When I signed up, DSL was not generally available. If it had been and the prices and reliability were close, I would’ve gone with DSL just so the cable company wouldn’t get any more of my money.
“No,” he replied, and smiled seraphically, as was his wont.
It may depend on the provider. When I got my DSL from Flashcom, I specifically asked if I got a fixed IP (I just wanted to know). I was told yes. I wound up with the 768/384 Solo Surger package, but I have no reason to believe that it’s different with the slower access version. I do indeed have a fixed IP.
They should not be assuming that I will be running a Web server, because my temrs of service explicitly forbid running any kind of server, including NAT.
I was at a freind’s house last night, and he has Media One. He gets his IP from a DHCP server. It has changed twice in the past two years.
jrf
Once again my ADSL line was down this morning. It is now up and running and as soon as I was able to contact Technical Support, I did and I asked again about using the dial up connection when ADSL was down. The guy I talked to said, basically, “Hell, yes, and whoever told you not to did not know what the hell he was talking about.”
So, I regret posting as truth what now appears to be totally false information. But a Technical Support person did tell me not to do it, originally.
After i got my DSL from Pacbell, my girlfriend convinced her mom to get high speed access. Her mom, being cost concious as she is, decided with a cable modem. They too had to buy a modem but installation was free. About a month later they cancelled their service because it was about the same as their old AOL connection, in other words, BUTT SLOW! They then got a DSL connection and they are whipping along like i am. Right now in the San Francisco Bay Area Pacbell is doing DSL for 39.95 a month, free modem, free installation. BUT here’s the kicker. You have a one year service contract. And since Southwest Bell owns Pacific Bell i assume, ususally a bad idea, that this applies to their DSL as well. Also, as far as static vs. dynamic, my girlfriend had a dynamic one with cable and also a dynamic one with DSL. I have a static one with DSL because i got mine in the beginning when all they had was static. I much prefer static to dynamic, but thats because i run a server. As far as speed goes, i have gotten up to 2.5 megs a second, but that was before they imposed a Max speed law of 1.5. When Pac-bell installed it they brought up a web page that could tell you how fast your connection is. Does anyone know of such a web page? Also,if you are researching cable i would ask your cable provider, if they will tell you, how may people are on your node, and what the max of your node is. If you have 250 people on your node and they max is 275, then from 8am to 9pm your speeds are gonna suck. and thats my 2 cents.
-n
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Strider, the Tech Support guy I talked to yesterday gave me this: www.dslreports.com . Maybe this is the webpage you meant. Hope it helps.
Crystalguy