cable modem vs.dsl

smbruin22 · #1 08-19-2006, 10:06 PM

anyone have an opinion on which is better?

or know where i can read about which is better? my choice is rogers vs. bell (telus too??) up here in canada....

thanks in advance!!

Ali shmali · #2 08-19-2006, 10:16 PM

I think cable is faster. at least the last 2 places i have lived. Some areas give cable pretty cheap too. I was getting service in texas for like 20 dollars a month but in New mexico I get the same speed for 60.

McBusto · #3 08-19-2006, 10:42 PM

The notice is not that much and where I live cable is decently more expensive. OBV I go with DSL.

Depends on what you are being offered.

salloch · #4 08-19-2006, 10:51 PM

The answer is DSL.

YMMV, but where I'm from, cable can slow to an unusable crawl when traffic picks up. I switched to DSL and have not yet lost service. With cable, in the evenings, I lost service several times a week, for an hour or longer.

Good luck

smbruin22 · #5 08-19-2006, 10:53 PM

thanks for the responses!!

the problem i'm having is that my cable modem speed is very inconsistent...

i'm wondering if it's a problem sharing your local area (sorry, don't know correct expression) with people downloading TV shows and movies etc.... i know 5 years ago when i was downloaded 5 TV shows at a time (don't do stuff like that anymore, for various reasons), but that i assume uses up alot of capacity.

is DSL more consistent because of the dedicated bandwidth? or is it fairly inconsistent too? (i realize the problem can be further down the line).

thanks in advance!!

Ali shmali · #6 08-19-2006, 10:54 PM

also take into account if you are going to get cable TV. sometimes you can get it all in a package for a discounted price. I've heard of the traffic issues with cable but I have never noticed it. I think it really depends on your region.

dlk9s · #7 08-19-2006, 11:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I think it really depends on your region.

[/ QUOTE ]

Correct. I have never noticed any slowdowns with cable where I live. And except for about a two week stretch once in the last few years, I have never had a major problem with it.

I suppose if I lived somewhere else, DSL might be better, but I really have no reason to switch.

RR · #8 08-20-2006, 12:36 AM

I have had high speed internet in all four time zones, so I have a lot of experience with this. I have lived places where the cable is a lot better and I have lived places where the DSL is a lot better.

uncleshady · #9 08-20-2006, 01:11 AM

I used to be a cable installer, cable modems are almost always faster than DSL, but tend to be slightly less reliable.

cgwahl · #10 08-20-2006, 01:32 AM

Unless you're going to be downloading like crazy its not going to really matter which you get since they're both high speed (although Cable is usually faster than DSL).

DSL no matter the provided is through the same Central Office in your area (so just find the best deal; local phone company, Earthlink, AOL, etc.).
Cable is with whomever is your cable provider.

If you're able to get DSL in your area then you're probably close enough to get a decent broadband speed (although the closer the better).

Cable...I'd ask your neighbors what they think.

You should also be able to go to DSL Reports and see what the reviews are in your area (I think).

http://www.dslreports.com