OT: DSL

[odinn7]

After seeing the post that JohnL made about digital cable, I thought that this may be a good place to get an answer for my questions.
I have been on dial-up at home for years (T-1 at work...love that). I am now considering switching to Verizon DSL at home for about $11/month more than what I'm paying now for dial-up. I want to be sure that this is the right choice before switching. Sure, it will probably be faster if my crap-ass phone lines can handle it but will they? I can't be sure. I only get 26.4 on dial-up from a 56k service right now. It's not the service that's causing the problem as I've had a few other services that offered 56k and still got no more than 26.4 out of them...gotta be the line. Will this matter for DSL and if so, how much? Also, what kind of charges can I expect to see...I know that $29.95 plus tax can't be all I'll get charged. Last question, what is the deal with DSL filters for the phone lines that aren't using the DSL service?
Basically, I just would like over-all opinions on DSL from anyone that is or was using it. If anyone can answer the above questions, that's just a bonus.
Thanks.

[trekgeezer]

The condition of your phone line may cause a loss of speed on your connection. What speed are they promising you for  the DSL? The speed is also determined by how far away you are from the phone company's digital switch.  When you order it , the company should test the line and tell you what's available.

If all your phones are on the same number, then you have to have the high band filters installed on all the phones or you will hear the modem sound when you are talking to someone and may drop your internet connection when someone answers the phone.  These are simply noise filters that block the high frequency that the DSL uses.  Most of the companies I deal with at work include a bag with 4 or 5 filters in  with the DSL modem.

[Ash]

I've had dial-up, cable and DSL and I liked DSL the best.

Your phone lines should be able to handle it....I wouldn't see why not.

You asked about filters...
When I got my modem it came with multiple filters.
Those are for additional lines or just to use as spares.
As far as I know you don't need to use the extras for lines that aren't DSL.
I just kept mine in the box as spares.

HOW DSL WORKS



Post Edited (10-02-04 13:33)

[odinn7]

The speed I am being offered is 1.5/384 which is of course the base speed without taking into consideration the distance or line condition. I haven't actually talked to anyone yet as far as the distance I am but doing an online number search with the company, I do qualify. I am considering calling them to get all the information that I need. One bonus is that I can cancel within 30 days at no cost to myself if I am unhappy with it. Seriously, I would be happy if I could get over 100kbps considering I am so used to 26.4 now.
Thanks for the help.

[JohnL]

I don't know anything about DSL itself, but one thing to watch out for is that most broadband providers include absolute bottom of the barrel Usenet access with their accounts. If using the newsgroups is important to you, especially the binary groups, you'll almost certainly need to subscribe to a premium news provider.

[Acidburn]

Alright, the connection that you are receving with your dial-up modem has nothing to do with the speed your phone line can carry.  It has to do with the modem itself.  I have been working with computers a long time and have never saw a modem that actually connected with 56/k speed.

 As far as DSL goes you will not be getting the advertised rate, simply because you are running from a regular phone line.  This does have a little something to do with the phone line when it comes to DSL. That line will go into your DSL modem and then CAT-5 line will run from there to your Ethernet card.  I am less than a block away from the digital switch that my ISP has and I am barely breaking 100/kbps.   My guess is you  will be getting about the same.  VERY much worth the extra 11 dollars.

[odinn7]

Well, I did it. I went for the DSL and I'm quite happy with the speed I am getting out of it. I'm getting over 200k which is way over my earlier 26.4k speed that I was used to. The only problem is now the computer is slowing me down on the internet as opposed to the internet slowing the computer down.