Cable v. DSL..Opinions?

rjpear · 07-06-2001, 08:21 AM

Hi folks..
I am currently running on a Low Grade DSL service at 300 Max DL and 128 up.. I now have Cable modem service available to me ..for the same price i get 500 DL and 128 (min) uL.
Question..Are cable modems good for gaming? Pings Etc low..like a DSL hookup..? Or should I stick with the lower grade DSL.. The price is the same..and I don't think I am in a very tech neioghborhood where the folks will fork out the xtra $$ for Cable internet..
Any opinions would be appreciated!!
Thanks
Rob
rjpear@alltel.net

Mezpin · 07-06-2001, 08:36 AM

In my experience, there isn't an inherent difference between the two in terms of speed. At home, I have cable through Charter (which goes through EarthLink), and at my apartment I have DSL through EarthLink. I get nearly the same download speeds and pings. Though I suppose it could be a limitation of the EarthLink network, in my experience, one service isn't by definition faster than the other. It's like asking are Fords faster than Chevys. Some Fords are faster than some Chevys...some aren't.

I suppose my rough estimates and ping times are far from science, so I'll let some other people chime in, too.

Mezpin

jase71 · 07-06-2001, 08:39 AM

I think the companies providing the service make a bigger difference than the type of service you get.

Cable should theoretically offer the same low ping times as dsl. And would apparently offer greater bandwidth in your case, assuming all your neighbors don't jump on and throttle you back down.

Check out your cable provider's reputation in the area. Find out what kind of luck other people have with it.

The type of pipe running into your home matters very little compared to what happens on the other end, at your cable or DSL company.

billxp · 07-06-2001, 09:08 AM

I have adsl 640/90 really like 500/80 from Verizon.

My biggest complaint is with file sharing apps. The low upload really does slow down your downloads due to overhead.

You might want to check out the forums at http://www.dslreports.com for ratings on your service provider.

Good luck. For me the only choice is DSL. Cable internet is not here yet.

Grimm · 07-06-2001, 10:06 AM

If you provider is Cox@Home service go for it. That's who I use and their service is great. Good technical support and fast speeds. In my area it is cheaper than DSL unless you get a slower DSL speed.
Having neighbors online isn't a big deal with cable, when your neighbors are online, so is everyone else. Then the bottleneck is the internet.

Memo · 07-06-2001, 10:25 AM

Actually, It depends where you are. I am not sure where evil cyclops lives, but here in Texas, EVERYONE, i mean EVERYONE who has had any experience with COX internet hates it thoroughly and have opted for DSL. I like my Road Runner service I have in austin. I like Cable over DSL because it doesn't use the phone lines and from what I've seen, I get lower pings with my cable modem than DSL (except for the more expensive DSL packages).

Grimm · 07-06-2001, 11:59 AM

I lived in Texas. I hated it. I live in California now. The Cox@Home cable service here is universaly loved and reviered. RoadRunner is considered to be much less desirable, but still good.
I remember the nightmare of trying to get internet access in Texas. I think terible internet access there is a sort of tradition.

~~xsiled~~ · 07-06-2001, 05:21 PM

1. its @home Cox just uses there service 2. its fast
3. its cheap as hell and works great with a good router

G_Sup · 07-06-2001, 06:39 PM

I'm in SoCal and Cox@home rocks. I average about 300/kbps dl speeds. The DSL service I had before switching had speeds of about 70/kbps and it was $20 more a month!

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07-06-2001, 08:21 AM	#1
rjpear Ensign Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 6	Hi folks.. I am currently running on a Low Grade DSL service at 300 Max DL and 128 up.. I now have Cable modem service available to me ..for the same price i get 500 DL and 128 (min) uL. Question..Are cable modems good for gaming? Pings Etc low..like a DSL hookup..? Or should I stick with the lower grade DSL.. The price is the same..and I don't think I am in a very tech neioghborhood where the folks will fork out the xtra $$ for Cable internet.. Any opinions would be appreciated!! Thanks Rob rjpear@alltel.net

07-06-2001, 08:36 AM	#2
Mezpin Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 145	In my experience, there isn't an inherent difference between the two in terms of speed. At home, I have cable through Charter (which goes through EarthLink), and at my apartment I have DSL through EarthLink. I get nearly the same download speeds and pings. Though I suppose it could be a limitation of the EarthLink network, in my experience, one service isn't by definition faster than the other. It's like asking are Fords faster than Chevys. Some Fords are faster than some Chevys...some aren't. I suppose my rough estimates and ping times are far from science, so I'll let some other people chime in, too. Mezpin

07-06-2001, 08:39 AM	#3
jase71 Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: May 2000 Location: East of Eden Posts: 2,060	I think the companies providing the service make a bigger difference than the type of service you get. Cable should theoretically offer the same low ping times as dsl. And would apparently offer greater bandwidth in your case, assuming all your neighbors don't jump on and throttle you back down. Check out your cable provider's reputation in the area. Find out what kind of luck other people have with it. The type of pipe running into your home matters very little compared to what happens on the other end, at your cable or DSL company.

07-06-2001, 09:08 AM	#4
billxp Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: NY Posts: 518	I have adsl 640/90 really like 500/80 from Verizon. My biggest complaint is with file sharing apps. The low upload really does slow down your downloads due to overhead. You might want to check out the forums at http://www.dslreports.com for ratings on your service provider. Good luck. For me the only choice is DSL. Cable internet is not here yet.

07-06-2001, 10:06 AM	#5
Grimm 100% Pure Evil Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,861	If you provider is Cox@Home service go for it. That's who I use and their service is great. Good technical support and fast speeds. In my area it is cheaper than DSL unless you get a slower DSL speed. Having neighbors online isn't a big deal with cable, when your neighbors are online, so is everyone else. Then the bottleneck is the internet.

07-06-2001, 10:25 AM	#6
Memo Admiral Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: East Village Posts: 5,659	Actually, It depends where you are. I am not sure where evil cyclops lives, but here in Texas, EVERYONE, i mean EVERYONE who has had any experience with COX internet hates it thoroughly and have opted for DSL. I like my Road Runner service I have in austin. I like Cable over DSL because it doesn't use the phone lines and from what I've seen, I get lower pings with my cable modem than DSL (except for the more expensive DSL packages).

07-06-2001, 11:59 AM	#7
Grimm 100% Pure Evil Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 7,861	I lived in Texas. I hated it. I live in California now. The Cox@Home cable service here is universaly loved and reviered. RoadRunner is considered to be much less desirable, but still good. I remember the nightmare of trying to get internet access in Texas. I think terible internet access there is a sort of tradition.

07-06-2001, 05:21 PM	#8
~~xsiled~~ Banned Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 301	1. its @home Cox just uses there service 2. its fast 3. its cheap as hell and works great with a good router

07-06-2001, 06:39 PM	#9
G_Sup Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: CA Posts: 262	I'm in SoCal and Cox@home rocks. I average about 300/kbps dl speeds. The DSL service I had before switching had speeds of about 70/kbps and it was $20 more a month!

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