Cable Connection

[Hartley]

If you can get a home connection go for it.

I just downloaded a 3MB file in 45 seconds.

Absolutely phenomenal.

[chestrockwells]

Harley, where do you live? In the California Bay Area many locations can get cable internet. The results vary a lot though. Sometimes its blindingly fast and other times slow. I'm told that its dependent on how many people are using it simultaneously in a given area. DSL is much more consistent it seems.

[Squirming For Action]

In addition, you have to keep in mind the sites that you are visiting...even using a T1 things can be slow if the site you are trying to download from is too busy.

Plus, I believe still that cable modems still have an area of @ 16 miles max from a hub that they can be used.

[sportbettor]

Yes Cable Modems do rock. However, chesterrockwells is correct in that the number of users and more importantly their total throughput is the limiting factor. Cable modem users are actually on a WAN (Wide Area Network) so the combined activity of all other users on your local WAN affects your download speeds. In theory, a cable modem with no other users on the WAN can outperform a T1.

And yes DSL is more consistant because they give you a guaranteed minimum download speed. However, you must live within 1/2 of a mile from the nearest switching station for DSL to be an option. This eliminates many people from getting DSL.

I have a cable modem, but if I could get DSL, I would, though there is a hefty install fee.

[Hartley]

I live in the north part of Toronto.

I'm not sure what DSL is, but after switching from CompuServe I feel like I'm in heaven when I use it.

The other good thing about cable is the clarity of pictures.

Imagine clear pornography and no wait time (just kidding) .

[sportbettor]

DSL= Digital Subscriber Line

It is a high-speed internet connection that is available through standard copper phone lines. It uses a different frequency than standard phone conversations, so phone and internet connectivity run on the same wires (i.e. no extra line).

[chance_of_rain]

I use to have the standard 56 kps phone line, but people got pissed off that they couldn't reach me. So I put in another phone line just for the modem. That cost $20 a month, and my ISP was charging me $20 for unlimited hours. Then Shaw cable came along with the @home service. Up to 100 times faster, and cost $40 a month--the same amount I was paying for telephone access and an extra phone line. I'll never go back to phone lines.

[Check One]

Hartley,

It snows in Heaven Aye?

check one

[reno]

When I lived in San Diego last year, I had cable modem, and for a back-up ISP I had Netcom, which is is now Mindspring. However, when I moved to Reno, which is still a bit of a hick town, cable modem was not available and Netcom (Mindspring) did not offer 56k speed in this area. So, I signed up with a local ISP. Well, I ended up dropping them because they had constant technical problems, causing me to regularly have my navigation cancelled. Then I signed up with a another local ISP. Well, lately I have frequently been getting disconnected, thus having to constantly reconnect. Well today, I called the ISP and asked them why I'm constantly getting disconnected. The guy who answered the phone told me, in a nasty tone, that I'm always on the Internet and that I'm costing him money. When I heard that, I just hung up on the guy and signed up with Earthlink, a national company that offers 56k speed in Reno.

I'll be moving out of this town in just the nick of time. Telephone Plus, which had been a competitor of Nevada Bell in Reno and which offered 56K speed through the telephone line, is pulling out of Reno. Nevada Bell is taking over, and even though the lines and equipment at the apartment complex are exactly the same, they will only offer 28K speed. If you want faster speed through them, they charge an arm and a leg for ISDN installation and service.

What makes cable modem so good is that you can hook up a bunch of computers to the hub, without wasting precious phone lines. If you're a single guy like me and rent apartments, it is usually difficult to get enough phone lines. Cable modem eliminates this problem.

[Underdog7]

Reno - this is really non of my business. But you got me confused here. I had an impression that you are one of the high rollers in this forum and everytime I see the name Reno I always relate you to at least a mininum of high five figure wager. But why rent? Are you trying to stay away from Uncle Sam? Don't take it against me pal, I am just curious. Don't have to answer this one.

[Hartley]

I found that same problem with Sprint and Compuserve - the constant disconnecting.

When I told Sprint I was cancelling they asked why. I told them that I now had a cable modem because I was tired of being disconnected for no reason.

They told me I should have called and they would have "worked something out" so that I was given VIP service.

I never realized that they disconnect you on purpose but apparently all phone companies have a list of "VIP" customers and regular customers and if a VIP tries to get on then they will kick off a regular customer. To me that sucks. I also wondered what is meant by VIP although I figured it had something to do with paying a premium.

[azbob]

i've got a cable modem at home but have been out here on the road on my laptop with a pathetic 56k.

USA Today had an article yesterday about hotel surcharges for either 800 calls or for time over a given period (for instance .03 a minute over 60mns) Luckily, I'm not facing that here in my luxury suite in the heart of greeley, co.

I would recommend getting the cable hook-up although i have read about potential security issues for those (like me) who go online in the morning and leave the line open all day long.

[pnanda]

With cable modems, the security problem arises only when someone enables the print and file sharing on their computer. This is why cable is not recommended for networks. The majority of people would not use this option @ home and thus is not a problem.

[sportbettor]

Pnanda,

Well it is true that security issues arise in cable modems connected to a network due to the fact that cable modems are on a WAN, anyone with such a network is most likely using a server to allow multiple computers access to the cable modem and should thus install a firewall to prevent unauthorized access.

Note that it is not just cable modem users that are vulnerable. ANY computer hooked up to the internet is vulnerable should someone want to attack you if you dont have a firewall. Since cable modems and dsl assign fixed IP addresses, once someone has your IP address they will always know where you are. That is why it is not such a good thing that BW posts user's complete IP address.

btw, @home had a serious problem with security in that you could simply use windows explorer to look at any computer on the same cable modem node as your computer if they had file or print sharing on, but they have since eliminated that security hole.

[sportbettor]

And... for those of you that are interested.

This url is a collection of hacking articles

http://home.t-online.de/home/DrJones/hack.htm

And this is an article on the site describing how (in theory) to hack into a computer on the internet.

http://www.hackersclub.com/km/library/hack/gtmhh1-1.txt