Cable or DSL?

**Dillinger4** · Sep 19th, 2003, 12:54 PM

My dad wants to get either cable or DSL but hes not sure what the difference is in transfer rates if any. I know DSL runs over existing phone lines so no coax is needed. Is any one better than the other? Thanks.

**Memnoch1207** · Sep 19th, 2003, 01:18 PM

I believe cable is just a little faster than DSL...but don't quote me on that.

**techgnome** · Sep 19th, 2003, 02:06 PM

From what I've seen, cable modems tend to be faster...to a point... it depends on how many people are on the same loop at the same time (by this I mean actively using the connection, not just simply attached)....I'm getting this second had, so I don't really know... but because everyone shares hte same pipe... clogs have been known to occurr... BUT it doesn't happen very often. I've got DSL, simply because it was more convenient at the time.

**The Hobo** · Sep 19th, 2003, 02:15 PM

I've got cable (for about a week now) and so far am quite satisfied with it. My girlfriend has DSL, and I don't notice any differences between download speeds.

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 20th, 2003, 04:55 PM

It all depends on the package you pirchase from the broadband service provider.

**Kasracer** · Sep 20th, 2003, 06:14 PM

DSL is slower and cannot acheive the speeds of cable. However, there are different flavors of DSL that can acheive higher speeds, but I doubt you'll look at those.

Cable is generally faster since it has the ability to acheive higher speeds and it has better responce time. However, if you have alot of people on your cable node (groups/communitys with cable access are all connected to 1 hub like center/device that then goes out to the cable company) your speeds may slow down with lots on at once, where as DSL isn't dependant on that since it's 1 connection to the phone company.

My preference is cable, but I would rather just have a nice fiber hook-up

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 20th, 2003, 08:57 PM

Originally posted by kasracer
DSL is slower and cannot acheive the speeds of cable. However, there are different flavors of DSL that can acheive higher speeds, but I doubt you'll look at those.

Cable is generally faster since it has the ability to acheive higher speeds and it has better responce time. However, if you have alot of people on your cable node (groups/communitys with cable access are all connected to 1 hub like center/device that then goes out to the cable company) your speeds may slow down with lots on at once, where as DSL isn't dependant on that since it's 1 connection to the phone company.

My preference is cable, but I would rather just have a nice fiber hook-up

I would say that DSL is less latent, as the bandwidth is dedicated.

**Kasracer** · Sep 20th, 2003, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by DiGiTaIErRoR
I would say that DSL is less latent, as the bandwidth is dedicated.

No, this is not true.

bandwidth does not make your latency awesome or ****. It can be a factor, but it isn't a huge factor.

Take for instance, my friend about a mile away from me has Verison DSL, he gets about 3mbit/380kbit. I get 1.8mbit/256kbit from my cable. When we join the same server in games or even in chat software, my ping is ALWAYS lower than his.

I had a great article about the latency between DSL and Cable, but I can't see to find it right now. Here is a crappy chart I found if you wanna see, lol: http://www.logorrhea.com/cabledsl/img12.htm

It isn't like there will be a huge difference. But it is impossible to say that DSL > Cable or vice versa, because it depends on your area and provider.

My cable has always given me my max alloted speed and usually alot more, I have awesome latency and I had about a total of 5 hours downtime since I had this service, which I got about 5 YEARS AGO. The area I live in is, as you can see, extremely ****ing awesome with cable.

However, friends I know in other areas have problems with the same provider (comcast) and even other providers. I know people who have great success with DSL, and others who had nothing but problems and slow speed.

Basically, he needs to ask someone near him how it is, or maybe get DSL 1 month, and cable the next to see if he can tell who is better because even if Cable is > DSL, if he is on a highly populated node, he may get half or less than the speed he should get where as DSL could give him his total speed, unless he is far away from the station.

There is answer to this question that will work for everyone. It's like saying Maryland Crabs are the best crabs in the world. Well people in Poland won't get them or if they do, they are old and won't taste nearly as good fresh so to them, snow crabs might be the best.

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 21st, 2003, 03:34 PM

It also depends on the protocol used.

My DSL uses PPP, and thus wastes bandwidth on overhead.

So my 640 kBit down only gets around 67 kB/s.

Instead of 72, which is 640/8.

**manavo11** · Sep 21st, 2003, 05:42 PM

And I have PTSN

**mendhak** · Sep 21st, 2003, 06:23 PM

Don't you mean PSTN?

Don't fret. I have an SSTP connection. (Smoke Signal Transfer Protocol). It takes me an entire weekend to download a 2kb text file.

**Sastraxi** · Sep 21st, 2003, 06:28 PM

The frog's avatar has been stolen

**mendhak** · Sep 21st, 2003, 06:30 PM

Stolen in triplicate, in fact.

**Kasracer** · Sep 21st, 2003, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by Sastraxi
The frog's avatar has been stolen

By Who?

**manavo11** · Sep 22nd, 2003, 04:21 PM

You are confusing me with all the initials frog. I mean dial-up connection...

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 22nd, 2003, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by kasracer
By Who?

Good question....

**killerad** · Sep 23rd, 2003, 08:36 AM

my friend got cable and i have DSL i dont realy see the diferents

**Tormentlord** · Sep 25th, 2003, 08:27 PM

I think dat dsk is fine, and cable is fine, and I think the T1 is great. You decide

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 25th, 2003, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Tormentlord
I think dat dsk is fine, and cable is fine, and I think the T1 is great. You decide

T1 is slow compared to some broadband.

**Kasracer** · Sep 25th, 2003, 11:40 PM

Originally posted by Tormentlord
I think dat dsk is fine, and cable is fine, and I think the T1 is great. You decide

T1 isn't great anymore

Originally posted by DiGiTaIErRoR
T1 is slow compared to some broadband.

Not true. T1 lines provide alot better support and usually a 99.9% uptime guarentee as well as a 1.5mbps download and usually the upload is the same (1.5mpbs)

The upload speeds, reliability and support are what makes T1 alot of money. Most broardband companies in the US have about the same download speed, but no where near the same upload.

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · Sep 26th, 2003, 01:44 AM

Originally posted by kasracer
T1 isn't great anymore
Not true. T1 lines provide alot better support and usually a 99.9% uptime guarentee as well as a 1.5mbps download and usually the upload is the same (1.5mpbs)

The upload speeds, reliability and support are what makes T1 alot of money. Most broardband companies in the US have about the same download speed, but no where near the same upload.

Like I said, some.

Comcast or Optimum Online for examples -Fast BSPs.

Especially for home users which will most likely use many times the D/L instead of U/L. Why bother with your irrelevancies?

**iKwak** · Oct 1st, 2003, 01:34 AM

I would get cable if only it was available in my neighborhood.
DSL is capped at my house.

**mendhak** · Oct 2nd, 2003, 12:05 AM

Originally posted by Memnoch1207
I believe cable is just a little faster than DSL...but don't quote me on that.

OK.

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