DSL

[jourgenson]

I'm thinking of getting DSL for my apartment and was wondering if anyone has any advice. There seem to be tons of companies offering countless speeds and plans and equipment. Any suggestions as to what I should be looking for? I saw one the downloaded at 600+ and uploaded at about 100 and it was fairly inexpensive. Would 100 be fast enough for uploading?

Thanks

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my eyes, the goggles do nothing

[JHowse]

Well, just to help you decide for yourself, since I am not so sure (as different people do different things with their connections), a 56k modem downloads between 40 and 50k per second and uploads at 33.6k. So you are getting around 12x 56k download and 3x the upload.

[Diesel]

I have never seen a modem ever get into the same universe as 40-50k throughput. Try 4-5k and you're closer to accurate.
When looking at modem speeds, don't forget that 56k is 56,000bps, not 56,000kbps.
Once you do the math, a modem connected at 56k will theoretically yield 5.6Kbps. Generally, the number is much lower.
I usually see 4.5-5k throughput when using a 56k connection when connected at 53,333bps.


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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[jourgenson]

Well Dan, I have almost no idea what you just said.



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my eyes, the goggles do nothing

[jourgenson]

I guess I understand that now. So DSL is pretty darn fast then in comparison to a 56K modem?

I really wish that Boston's cable system could handle cable modems.

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my eyes, the goggles do nothing

[JHowse]

Forgive me. I didn't know that we were discussing bytes instead of bits, here. If you are getting a connection of 600Kbytes /sec download and 100Kbytes / sec upload, JUMP ON IT!!!! That's hella fast! However, if you are talking about 600kbps down and 100 kbps up, then my comparisons from earlier hold.

[jourgenson]

the speed on the website I was looking at is measured in kilobits per second.

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my eyes, the goggles do nothing

[JHowse]

Ok, latency aside, my ratios basically hold.

[Diesel]

Yes, just about all network connections (such as DSL and cable) are measured in kilobits and megabits, ie. 10bT, 100bT, etc. When you get a quote from your cable or DSL provider, 99 times out of 100, they're quoting you a vaule in Kb or Mb.

However, when talking about download and upload throughput on the Internet, it's usually referred to in it's corresponding byte value.
Just a common point of reference, I suppose. Most people know the terms of bits and bytes, but when you talk to them, they only really know of things in KB, MB, and GB and know nothing of what bits actually are.


I know this probably belongs in another thread, but I notice a significant lack of proper notation on the part of, not only average users, but also "techies".
I'm sure most of us know the difference between b and B, but most of us hardly ever write it out the proper way, maybe because many find it's just pointless to type out. Maybe I'm just a stickler for proper usage...?

b = bit
B = byte
m = milli
M = mega

Maybe I'm just too anal... http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif


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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[WaterB]

just a little DD

[Boone]

DD you de man. Do you teach? Seriously you explain things quite well, better than the guys I work with. I'm new to the computer field and the guys I work with are all friendly enough that if I have a question they will actually take the time to help answer it. But they forget that I am a novice and they kill me with this computer jargon. Usually it takes 5 attempts for me to understand them.

Anyway I was just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention. If you want to test the speed of your internet connection try www.computingcentral.com/ (http://www.computingcentral.com/) and look for the speed test link. I don't know how accurate it is but it may give you a general idea of your connection speed.

jourgenson> I have DSL from SNET which I got for $39.95 a month and I saved money by doing the install myself.

[Diesel]

Basically, I was refuting what JHowse said when he said "a 56k modem downloads between 40 and 50k per second and uploads at 33.6k".

That is inaccurate. A 56k modem will come nowhere to achieving 40-50k download throughput and 33.6k upload throughput, because throughput is measured in KB (kilobytes).
He's confusing that with a modem's connection speed, which usually ranges somewhere in the neighborhood of 45,666-53,333bps (bits per second).
8 bits = 1 byte. Do the math, and you'll find that a connection speed of 53,333bps usually equates to around 6.6KB/sec throughput (53333/8/1000). Then factor in connection overhead and real world performance factors (latency, network congestion, etc.), and you'll find that a 53,333bps connection usually yields about 4.5-5.2KB/sec throughput on downloads.

As a result, JHowse's math in figuring out that one would be "getting around 12x 56k download and 3x the upload" is way off. It's usually quite a bit faster. His numbers would reflect the extreme lower end of most people's experiences with DSL and cable modem connections in comparison to 56k dial-up.

I know that's complex, but that's a pretty thorough explanation. I'll be happy to explain more if you're still unclear.

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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[Diesel]

Teach> I used to tutor a learning disabled child when I was in high school, and that's the extent of my teaching experience. Other than that, I just have a good ability to explain things in multiple ways until the ideas are understood.

Speed Test> I'm currently on an unencumbered T1 (only 10 PCs on it, and I'm the only one here), and it gives you a readout in 2 ratings: Kbps and KBps. For most users, they would just look at the higher number and assume that was their throughput in KBps since that's how Internet throughput is usually referred to.
as you can see from my readings (805.2 Kbps and 98.7 KBps), there is a significant difference between the two numbers, even though they equate to about the same thing.

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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[possum37]

http://computingcentral.msn.com/topics/bandwidth/speedtest.asp for those who can't find it off the bat - thanx for the heads up on that site, Boone!

Just a general question - if one had the chance to go thru somesort of national DSL provider, or a local company (who in my instance also provides me with long distance phone service and dial-up internet access), what would be your inclinations - go national or stick with the local folks?

The local folks in my case would be http://www.frontierlightninglink.com for those who just need to know.

Sigh...DSL...a man can dream... http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

And DD> "having a good ability to explain things in multiple ways until the ideas are understood" is teaching. Get used to it. http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif


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My knob tastes funny.

<font color="#000000">[Edited by possum37 on August 30, 2000 (edited 1 time)]</font>

[Diesel]

Since bandwidth isn't really limited with DSL (you decide how much by the plan you get), network reliability is key. For that reason, I'd opt for a national provider over a local. The local provider is probably using a national provider for their network, but who knows who they're using?

poss&gt; Actually, that's having the ability to teach... not actually teaching. More than anything, it makes me ideal for a support position, which thankfully, I just left. As the maxim goes: "Those who are most qualified to do technical support know enough to NOT do technical support."
http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif


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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[WaterB]

*sigh* being a help desker or a tech support guy is like being a voodoo doll.. people keep sticking pins and needles in you...

[possum37]

Only voodoo dolls get days off.

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My knob tastes funny.

[Diesel]

Ahh, these are *my* people. My people... they understand me! http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/lol.gif


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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[possum37]

DD! Your badge! It's...it's...

*grandiose music*

The 1K badge! Yaaaaaaaaaay! 'Bout time, too... http://www.aliensoup.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif


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My knob tastes funny.

[Diesel]

Yeah, I try to make each post meaningful in it's own special way.
I doubt you'll find any of those 1000 posts to be a message consisting solely of a smiley, or one word.


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On an long enough timeline, everyone's survival rate drops to zero.

[jourgenson]

congats on the big K DD.

Thanks all fro the DSL suggestions, now I just have to make some calls.

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my eyes, the goggles do nothing