Once again, my boss has popped into my office and asked me to go out to my “know it all website” and ask you folks for information. We’re moving to a new location in about a month, but the new location doesn’t have DSL yet. We need an alternative to DSL which is reliable and not too expensive. Do you folks have any ideas or links which might be useful? Specific information would help.
Thanks in advance, as always,
CJ
(Hmmm. Wonder if he’d reimburse me for my membership fee . . . :dubious: )
Cable?
Good prices (usually), more reliable then DSL (usually). And (at least our cable co) they are usually running specials. We got free installation at our business. That involved running a cable line from the pole, about 100 feet under the parking lot to the building. Funny thing is, after the FREE installation, we found out that they misquoted us. They told us it was going to be $40 a month (or something like that). OK, they ran the line to the building. Then when it was time to get the service turned on (and finish the installation), they told us that since it was a business, it was actually going to be $170 (or something like that). We ended up not using it. You’d think after Time Warner spent a couple thousand dollars, they would want to make their money back. They never even called back.
But I digress. I think Cable would be your most viable alternative.
DSL may be available even if the front line peons say it’s not. Call up the ISP’s business sales manager and ask about it.
I had DSL installed for a business that was technically outside the limits and the only problem was that the ISP would only guarantee us 1 meg service instead of the 3 meg service that we were paying for.
And don´t be too embarrassed to ask that ISP Sales Manager if he´s running a DSL promo for that new area to generate new business.
I did just that for my home computer and got free installation, free software, and a free modem. Actually, I got two software CDs and two modems (I didn´t ask why).
However, take the sales manager’s word with a grain of salt, because a sales manager’s job is, get this, sales. I’ve had sales managers guarentee customers they cold get DSL, even though they were three miles away from the DSLAM and in a fiber-fed neighborhood.
Good alternatives to DSL:
Cable.
Pro: Usually availible everywhere. Usally good speed.
Con: Shared bandwidth. If your neighbor is having a huge video conference, you will be the one witht he lag.
ISDN:
If your company does not need an “always on” connection, but you still need to send large files, this may work for you.
Pro: Dial up speed up to 128Kb/s
Con: Measured service. The more you use, the more it costs.
Dedicated private line service:
Pro: You get guarenteed speed no matter your location. Always on.
Con: A T-1 is costly. Make sure your business could cost justify $200+/month.
The answer really depends on what your business is using the connection for, and how much they are willing to spend.
I wasn’t in the tech side of things when I worked at a phone company, but my understanding is that as long as there’s phone service at your location (and you’re getting your phone service through the telco that owns the lines) then there should be no problem getting DSL there, since it uses the same wiring. What probably happened is your boss called the company, they mapped out the location and got a “no.” Means nothing. They should be able to set up DSL anywhere there’s a CO and extend the service area.
The concern would be timing. If you need the DSL by a certain date and the telco has to install equipment to make it happen, it probably won’t happen.
There can be a concern with the quality and the length of the last-mile wiring. Voice traffic moves through the most unimaginable rat’s nest wiring and still muddles through. DSL doesn’t. And there’s a specific upper limit for the longest allowable length of cable between the CO and the end-user (18000 feet, if memory serves me.) It all depends.
Maus Magill makes a good list, but I’d like to add one thing: If you get ISDN, it’s imperative that your gear is configured by someone who knows his stuff really well, and even so, you must monitor the line usage. I’ve seen plenty of horror stories where some end-user didn’t know that his cute little stock ticker shareware program made the ISDN dial up once every minute, 24/7. That makes for an interesting bill and an interesting life for the IT guys… (Some telcos have a “cut-off program” - as in, if my monthly bill hits $100, disable service until I call to have it re-enabled.) I’ve got nothing against ISDN, good technology for a lot of purposes, but you have to thread carefully.
A caveat with cable: some cable companies are residential only. Comcast in Indianapolis was this way up to the time I moved last year.
Cox, however, is the service here in SE Virginny, and they try to cultivate business connections. They happen to be the gateway service for my FedGov agency employer.
Be sure to ask the cable provider if they do business connections.
Also, someone else mentioned T-1. In some cases you can get fractional T-1 service, too. Ask the telco.