DSL is it worth it???

[Gene C.]

where I live I can get a cable modem. they say something like 1.5 yrs. they have to redo all the cables on the whole island. and now bellsouth dsl is in my area now. they want 150.00 for the modem ect. and 49.00/59.00 a month for the service. can the cost be justified. I get a solid 48.00 now with my local isp on a 56k connection. all input on this is most needed from those that have or know about bellsouth dsl service.

[Unsecured Loner]

I use BellSouth DSL. It's ok, but I can't recommend it wholeheartedly. I was spoiled with the reliability of my Mindspring dial-up account. There have been 5 or 6 occasions when the BS servers were unreachable. I've had the service for almost a month now. Tech support is nearly non-existent, and they do not support Win2K.

I would recommend that you wait. They will eventually offer self-install/free setup in your area. They started that here (Atlanta) about 3 months ago. Apparently, demand is outpacing supply as it took a month to get mine after they promised 10 days.

[blubomber]

Although i do not know how the service is at bellsouth, i do know that DSL is GREAT!!! But, unless you plan on doing alot of downloading, then it might not be worth what they want. I can get download speeds of at least 150Kb/s which is great for downloading games and drivers and such. You might want to wait and see if the prices fall. My local Bell company is only charging $39.95 a month with free installation, free equipment rental, and ISP with unlimited access.

Good Luck!!

[Gene C.]

here is the link where they sent me to get all the info I need for my area. http://consumer.bellsouth.net/adsl/Index.asp
they have lowered it to 49.95 now. I have 4 of there regular phone accounts. but, no service plan extras. and I didn't ask about the win2k thing. I run a triple boot ntws 4.0,98se,win2k systems on all my machines. and will be setting up nt server on a few.

[Unsecured Loner]

Check www.fastaccess.com (http://www.fastaccess.com) for more BS DSL info.

[socalgal]

Hi Gene

Another great DSL site:

http://www.dslreports.com/

[Gene C.]

thanks for all the info. and really thank you Socalgal. that site is like the everything you ever wanted to know about. well, you know. what can I say.

[Gene C.]

I'm still trying to decide on the worth of this. and found this while doing a little more research: http://www.pcworld.com/current_issue/article/0,1212,15821+1+0,00.html

I think there is alot of good info here to. even on the cable part of it. which I'll never see here on the island. he he

[SysOpt]

I couldn't live without DSL. I get 150kb/s downstream, routinely.

BTW:
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/articles/broadband/index.html

[This message has been edited by SysOpt (edited 05-03-2000).]

[socalgal]

Hi again Gene,

Well... my $0.02: I spent $200 for the installation/hardware and currently pay $60 a month (including the PacBell phone line charge) and still I wouldn't go back.

Prices and options will continue to become more competitive as services expand.

My DSL has been down only once in the 5-6 months I've had it, and my 3Com/USR 56k is still in place for dial-up connection backup, if need be.

I do get glitches with email a bit more often, but usually it gets back to operational fairly quickly.

My only gripe is with the software/PPPoE which I needed to install (since I couldn't configure without http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/frown.gif ), which been a major hassle due to the dynamic IP protocol - for me, anyway, - trying to share my DSL connection.) I'm with Earthlink/PacificBell. If you can get a static IP, I would. You will need firewall protection.

You just can't beat it for downloading! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

And of course, if you do legitimate business online, think about saving those DSL bills for tax purposes. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[Gene C.]

very good info there. and thanks, and I see I need to look around this "home" bbs for reviews too.

The real reason I want it is. when I set up my home study lab."4/6 systems or more" I want to be able to share the connections from the server ect. so it must work with ntws 4.0,server 4.0 and all wins. 95,98,98se,2k. and dos/linux if needed. I will be adding novell net-ware as my learning leads me.

and as far as the downloads. there are large files. sometimes 100's of mb that I just can't do with the 56 k modem.

so, like everything else. I have to take it to the extreame. before I decide what to do. and if it won't do what I want it to. I'll still be a 56 k lifer. he he

[brandon184]

I have DSL, and I cannot tell you how much I absolutely love it.

But.. That is the service from my isp (Sympatico, Canada)..

The only thing I don't like about it, is they give me a dynamic IP.. But, that isn't a big deal for the large majority of users.

[Amarok]

Well I love DSL here as well. I too am in canada and have only had my IP address change once on me when I changed network cards. Have had the same IP address for over 3 months now. Only problems I have had have been with email going out once in a while (doing email upgrades BULL$%^&) laughs. But seriously you will love the extra speed.

[jad1097]

I don't have DSL but do have a cable modem and I can tell you that DSL is worth it.

[wyvrn]

Comparing DSL to 56k is like comparing the empire state bldg. to my 2 bedroom apt. If you really want to wait 1.5 years for cable, then by all means. But DSL for me in Houston has been rock solid, going down once for about 10 hours (dns problem). Of course, I could have just used someone else's dns servers and gotten around that, but heck I get a free dial up acct. to go with it so I am not complaining. Just hop over to a friends house and try broadband and I bet you jump on dsl like flies to honey.

[MadMatt]

PacBell DSL is a great service. The only problem is they pushed it out too fast and are behind by 100,000 installs! $40/mo for 1.5mbps down - yes, thank you!

[cyclone2]

By the sounds of DSL comments I would go for it. As for cable experience it is also great try downloading 100+ meg files in under 15 min on 56k lol. BUT the sharing pipeline aspect is true, boy after dinner sometimes I wish I used my 56k dialup- it can be brutal slow. And Im sure that my service is down more than DSL is. How come my TV is still working and computer isnt..... hmmmmmmmmm
Good luck on any decision you make LPB rules!

[Gene C.]

I just went to the bellsouth web site. and they say it won't support home networking. so, if I had a hub and a program like sysgate/wingate. can I still get past this flaw. like you can with a regular isp??

and do I have to have bellsouth as a carrier. I have saw alot of other vendors.

sorry about the stupid questions. I just plain am confussed on this whole thing.

[Gene C.]

update: I ran into a friend on the island today. he said we have two to choose from. but, bellsouth is the top one. also found out the main dsl station is within a 1/2 from my house. what luck can you get.

and as far as the shareing. if bell south knows you are going to network. they won't serve you. but, he has 4 systems set up like I want to do.and another person has six. so my home lab is covered. as long as I keep it to myself. so, will keep you updated on it. still doing info searching