ISP, ISP, ISP, ISP, ISP which one?

[Kareem Lanier]

There are toooo many different of these IS providers.
Which one is the most RELIABLE,FASTEST, Feature"full". I'm interested in web hosting, web page designing, and of course dial-up access(unlimited). No AOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dh]

I have Sprint/Earthlink. I can say that I have Never been cut off. I have NETCOM at work and am getting cut off all the time.
Earthlink has 6mb of web space included
with your subsciption.($19.95)And I connect at 52000bps+ all the time.
No complaints at all!
www.earthlink.com

[Susan]

I've been using Mindspring for about 3 yrs. without a problem. They have a variety of plans. www.mindspring.com (http://www.mindspring.com)

[CMonster]

Recent article in PCWorld rated ISPs and gave the best review to AT&T Worldnet..I have never tried it so I couldn't tell you first hand.

I have 3 ISP's and they all suck, but two are freebies and AOL is about to get the "heave-ho!"

George

[Eastlot]

DH! -

I've only been successful at connecting at a max of 46k, and a usual speed of 42k at Earthlink. I would really like to connect at 52k. Is there a number that you know in the New York area that actually connects at that speed?
btw, I do have a 56k modem, so that should not be the problem.

Thank you for your reply.

[This message has been edited by Eastlot (edited 02-15-99).]

[dh]

Eastlot
I'm in the Chicago area so I can,t help you
In NY. Allot depends on the distance from you to the ISP, also the condition of the phone
lines in your area. Also check to see if there is a V90 update for your modem.
Good luck....

[Susan]

I'm on Long Island, and have connected at 46, but it doesn't last for too long. I don't think I've ever connected above that which I blame on old lines, and too much congestion in the area.

[Roy]

I'm using Earthlink right now, but I may go back to AOL. EL makes me enter my password separately to collect my email! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif It took some digging, but I found the way to fix this. Now it chimes if new mail comes in. However, it also puts up the dialing box at timed intervals if I log off. Very annoying!

Speed really depends on the distance and condition of lines from you to the telco office.

If you want to try a freebie, www.netzero.com (http://www.netzero.com) . It has some drawbacks, but the price is right.

[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 02-28-99).]

[Eli]

I'm in Ontario, and I've tried 6 different provides over the last 7 months. The best by far, so far, was Sprynet. Kinda pricey compared to the others, but it gave me reasonably good speeds and I don't remember any busy signals. I think they still have a one month free trial....

[dh]

Roy
I dont know why you have to enter your password to get E-mail. You need to adjust your settings so it will do it automaticly.
And as for going to AOL? I had it for A time and the worst of ISP's are better than AOL.
(My opinion)
Later...

[Aris]

Here's an interesting option.

At the PC show I went to Monday they had an ISP that had a single lifetime charge of $129.

No other fees. Once and done. They freely admitted they make their money on advertising.

Of course how well they perform years down the road is another matter. Still, if they are decent for a year you get an ISP for $10/month.

[Yampa]

I log on constantly at 48k. On the other line I logged in at 36k, in the same house, different line. Go figure. US West with a problem? I called a friend that works for the phone company and he says the problem is my phone company, not my ISP. Then I had to bribe the wife to let me have the faster line as she doesn't need a 48k line to talk.

Some phone companies have antique phone switching, and some use a SLICK system which will not let you get above 36k. This sucks.
Check it with Ping or some other program.

I just picked up another ISP that I can't get hooked up to at more than 36k but I show line speeds of 76k and higher when I go to another web page.

Good luck,
Mark

[roner]

I use Earthlink and consistently connect at 50666, never a busy signal, and very seldom loose the connection. Best I've had so far out of about a half dozen I've tried.

Tony

[Avedis]

I have NETCOM and HATE IT!
Too many busy signals...
Few reliable connections...

and everyone spams netcom e-mail addresses!!

I plan on changing as soon as the company I work for has a local access number for me.

try Http://www.qwestinternet.com
Not too bad if your not a 'Power User' and just want the basics.

~Avedis

[z0rg]

Roy: "I'm using Earthlink right now, but I may go back to AOL."...
NOOOOOO!!!! DON'T DO IT! Can't imagine why you'd want to anyways. heh

"EL makes me enter my password separately to collect my email!"
ehh.. What program do you use to check your email? Can't you just have it save your password? That's what I do.

[Sky]

I had MCI, who got bought out by Cable and Wireless (CWIX). They opened a second internet account under my name and charge me for accessing an 800 number. I've told them about the second account and getting incorrectly charged 800 access, and THEY STILL CHARGE ME !!!!!!!!!!!!

But you know whaT the worst part is... after a few months of connecting at 42k, I'm always connecting at 26k. A few of my friends had the service and they couldn't connect higher than 24.4.
Obviously, i've dropped them. But they are the cheapest at $14.95 a month.

Even considering how bad they are, I still wouldn't use AOL, unless of course you still like to be handheld, breast fed and have you clothes picked out for you! Well, maybe I'd use them for the free month.

[This message has been edited by Sky (edited 02-24-99).]

[Aris]

EROLS.COM

50666 connections all the time. Once in a great while 28000 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif, or 53000 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif.

$15/month

[Roy]

Maybe it won't matter soon.

The FCC has ruled that we may be charged long distance rates for emailing the girl next door! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif