# What are my options here? (broadband related) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 6, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268 "2005-09-06T00:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/1 "2005-09-06T00:14:00Z")
I recently moved to a new apartment complex only to find that the “high speed internet” that they have available must be purchased through the complex and their online service ([multiband.us](http://multiband.us), if you are interested). After a frustrating back-and-forth to get it set up, including three separate faxes of the same form to their offices, they finally got me hooked up on Friday night. The plan I bought was their most expensive option ($59.99, which is outrageous, but when you add that to the cable tv, it comes out to the same ammount I was paying for both with Comcast at my last place) and the advertised speed is 1MB/256K. Yeah RIGHT. It seemed pretty slow, so I have run multiple speed tests from various servers and am absolutely APPALLED. Here are the three I ran today: 2005-09-05 19:40:05 EST: **80 / 244** Your download speed : 82694 bps, or **80 kbps.** A **10 KB/sec** transfer rate. Your upload speed : 250558 bps, or **244 kbps.** 2005-09-05 19:21:17 EST: **61 / 242** Your download speed : 62539 bps, or **61 kbps.** A **7.6 KB/sec** transfer rate. Your upload speed : 248186 bps, or **242 kbps.** 2005-09-05 13:16:46 EST: **258 / 243** Your download speed : 264701 bps, or **258 kbps.** A **32.3 KB/sec** transfer rate. Your upload speed : 249750 bps, or **243 kbps.** You have to be fucking kidding me. 7.6 fucking Kb/sec for $60 a month?? I looked back at the same tests I had run in May from my Comcast connection at my previous home - a cost of only $42.95 a month, mind you - and this is how it came out: 2005-05-09 20:07:53 EST: **3223 / 355** Your download speed : 3300799 bps, or **3223 kbps.** A **402.9 KB/sec** transfer rate. Your upload speed : 364088 bps, or **355 kbps.** Notice any difference here? I am blown away. So what I’m asking is this: aside from paying a gazillion dollars a day to get a T1 line hooked up, what are my options? Am I pretty much fucked? Do I have to go with these idiots to get broadband or are there any other providers I can look into? My main issue is that I spend probably 10-12 hrs a week playing SOCOM II online with my PS2 and there is no way in hell these speeds would work. So do I have to give up a hobby of mine because the only company that can provide me service is totally incompetent? Or I can I find an alternative? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/2 "2005-09-06T00:37:35Z")
Read this. [http://www.multiband.us/modules/terms.asp](http://www.multiband.us/modules/terms.asp). You are seriously screwed Fun parts > [@](#): > > 4.2 A standard Multiband account provides access to browse the Internet, and should only be connected when a user is actively using the Internet. A standard Multiband account shall not be used to run a server providing an information service over a user’s modem connection such as an FTP or WWW server or similar server. A connection held for extended periods of time by automated methods or server software are in violation of this Policy, and will have their connection terminated or account suspended. Although a Standard Multiband account allows unlimited monthly access, to ensure the system is not abused and all customers have equal access, a connection will automatically be disconnected after fifteen (15) minutes of idle connection or five (5) consecutive hours of connectivity ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/3 "2005-09-06T01:16:47Z")
I realize that terms of condition are terms of condition, but isn’t the vast majority of the terms document (including the quoted passage above) directly in relation to dial-up connections? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/4 "2005-09-06T16:38:36Z")
$60 for 1000/256? You’re not only screwed, you’ve been cross-threaded. I’m paying $52 for 6000/608 DSL, for comparison. Even worse, SBC is offering something like 1500/368 for $15 now. Why can’t you just get DSL from your local phone company? ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/5 "2005-09-06T17:01:09Z")
That’s exactly the conclusion I came to last night, actually. DSL speeds are faster than that piece of crap for less than half the price! I’m going to try and get into the game by the end of the week. Do I have to have an existing land line to get DSL or can I forego that? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-my-options-here-broadband-related/320268/6 "2005-09-06T17:41:12Z")
Almost invariably, you need an existing copper phone line with active voice service. It is possible to put DSL on a line without voice service, but it’s uncommon and challenging, since the voice number is usually the primary way the line is ordered and identified. For more information on the broadband providers in your area, head over to [www.dslreports.com](http://www.dslreports.com) - they have a lookup tool where you plug in your phone number and address, and it reports the distance to the CO and your provider options. They also have reviews on providers. As for distance, the usual limit is 15,000 feet for any sort of DSL to be possible. At the shorter end, if you’re within 4,000 feet, you’ll be usually able to get as much as 6 megabit service. If your distance comes back as over 15,000 feet, don’t despair just yet. Call your would-be provider and ask them to check if an “RT” is on the line, and at what distance. An RT is essentially a repeater, and your distance would be measured to it.