Cable, Satelite, or phone jack broadband?

[thesmartfarmer]

I currently have cable internet and I am very pleased with it, but I am moving and the cable company does not offer service to where i am moving so I was wondering what everyone had and the pros and cons of each. I have to have something dependable and fast (I run an internet business) and I would like to have my internet, tv, and phone all in one package? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

[Greg]

First, what services are available in the area you are moving to? You need to find out specifically at your new address. Are you going to be able to take your old number with you for business purposes? You will get better information by asking about the service providers that you can actually get, rather than just what other members have.

[thesmartfarmer]

Well satellite and Phone services are available everywhere so I know those 2 will be available but the cable company does not offer services at the future location. SO all I am asking for is everyones opinion on satellite versus something like bellsouth dsl.

[ducati996]

DSL is the better option over Satelite. You go to SAT when nothing else is available...

Find out what is available speed wise in your area for DSL...the Phone companies can offer good packages that include voice or VOIP services

[Keweenaw4310]

I agree with Duc on that one.

My personal preference would be cable if available, then DSL then satellite in that order. Notice I don't even mention dialup - I don't even consider it an option.

I'm on Starband satellite internet. I'm set up as an installer and never had to pay the installation fee. Plus when things go wrong, I replace my own cables, lnb or whatever it takes.

Starband speed is excellent. Different packages so you can spend more and get more speed if it's worth it to you. But if I had DSL or cable available I'd jump at it.

DSL is limited to only 2 or 3 miles from a main phone company hub office. That can be fine for people who live in a town but for us rural folks we are too far away.

[cadurning]

I had a cable internet connection in Las Vegas and it was noticably faster than the neighbor's DSL. The difference could have been in our hardware though. Where I live now cable is not an option so I have DSL and it seems plenty fast. The kids live out where the phone lines are so bad that they won't support DSL. They looked into a satellite connection but the service was approaching $100.00 a month. They opted for dial up.

BTW how much is satellite these days?

[thesmartfarmer]

Well dial up for me is not an option?!?!? I need the fastest and most reliable connection possible. I worked for a company that had DSl and it was always going down and screwing up so that is why I was even considering satellite (and the fact I could get tv, internet, and phone all in one)

[Greg]

Smartfarmer,

I had Earthlink dial-up, but at that recent time, Earthlink did not offer DSL in my area. Comcast cable did offer broadband internet, but it was very expensive and I have Sat TV. Most who were on cable TV got screwed for cable internet. We had Verizon telephone service, but they did not have DSL at my address/area. Verizon DSL finally became available, at a very reasonable price, and has great service...so now I have Verizon DSL. Not all providers are available for all areas. Some areas have several, so you have a choice. Not all providers have the same cost or reputation. That's why I suggested you check and then post the providers that do serve your address.

If you have Verizon, I can recommend them.

[thesmartfarmer]

Is there a website to where you can input your zip and then get all providers and cost?

[Greg]

Try this: http://www.findanisp.com/isps/TN/white-pine-tennessee-isp-directory/18785/

[Mickey]

One thing you have to consider is, is DSL going to be available? DSL only works if you are within no more than3 miles of the equipment.

I'm only 2+ miles from the largest factory mall in the state and 4 miles from down town yet I have neither cable or DSL available (just a little over 3 mi from phone Co but even if closer and old wiring wouldn't occomodate the service). What I do have is a wireless broadband service (not wi-fi) that offers ~80kB/sec service for less than $40/mo for the highspeed and internet service. My previous dial-up only provided 2.6kB/sec,

Is anything like this available where you intend to move to? You may find you will have few choices.

[thesmartfarmer]

I really can not find what is available in my area the new address is going to be 782 Leadvale Church Rd White Pine, TN 37890

[ducati996]

Gives us your phone NPAXX or the area code and first exchange i.e (555) 555 -xxxx
I can find out tomorrow whats available for you

[thesmartfarmer]

The home number now is 865-674-8905 but the business number is 865-604-9815

[husqy_rob]

TSF - Without a phone number at your new place, all the info. I could find was here: http://www.dslreports.com/town?zip=37890

Hope it helps you out a bit ... :trink40:

[MowHoward2210]

I would contact your local telco and your area satellite providers. I think DSL would probably be your best bet, but if service in your area is spotty, then I would see what the dish providers offer. But first check with your local telco to see if DSL is offered the your address now or if it is coming soon. My inlaws are about 5 miles out from the Central Office and receive DSL service. The only problems being that far out is their voice level is down a bit when they talk to someone, especially on long distance calls, but they are real happy with the service.

[gwill]

Well dial up for me is not an option?!?!? I need the fastest and most reliable connection possible. I worked for a company that had DSl and it was always going down and screwing up so that is why I was even considering satellite (and the fact I could get tv, internet, and phone all in one)

If dialup isn't an option you better be very careful where you move. Try really hard not to go to an area served (?) by SBC. I'm nearly within shouting distance of their switching station and have tried for years to get a dsl connection. :bonk:

Some of us are cursed with dialup for want of anything better. Those satelite systems are far too expensive for us retirees. :banghead3

[johndeere]

Go to the Best Buy web sight and put in your information.It will tell you what is available in your area.

[Wingnut]

I have Direcway Sat. but it not stable I am alway falling offline (20 times a day)
Thats not good for Business

[Ingersoll444]

We had satelite at work. It was fine till it rained, snowed, was hot, or cold, oh and when it was sunny, or cloudy it went down a lot to. :D :D Not a fan.

Cable would be probably the best, but you say you cant get it. May be tough.

For me, I am still hanging here at home on the old phone line. Works, but slow. We have DSL avalable, but its real pricy, and they say "we may be to far away" ??? nice huh? But we just got a flyer saying they are starting cable. YAhooooo!!! So for about $10-20 more then what I pay for AOL, we may be going that route.

[old_nodaker]

Interesting - I live 8 miles from the phone hub in the middle of nowhere. The local (and I mean LOCAL) phone company got me DSL, cost me $15 to install, $44 a month.

[Keweenaw4310]

I have Direcway Sat. but it not stable I am alway falling offline (20 times a day)
Thats not good for Business
Wingnut & Paul,

It sounds like whoever set up your dish didn't do a good job of pointing it. I pointed my own and I have since made adjustments to eliminate rain & snow as a problem. It can be a snowstorm or a rainstorm and I can still check the radar to see what I'm in the middle of. The only thing that will interfere is wet snow piling up on the dish itself. I just brush it off and we're fine.

Besides signal strength, satellite internet has 2 other parameters that determine the quality of the signal in relation to other interfering factors. It has to do not just with elevation & azimuth, but with polarity & tilt.

The internet service can be completely functional at the outer limits of acceptability in clear weather but the real test comes in the bad weather. If the dish is properly aligned at it's optimal position, it should be more stable than satellite TV.

Many times we loose our DirecTV reception and my internet keeps right on working.

The cost for my 500 kb/sec down & 100 kb/sec up connection right now is $49.00 / month.

[DeereBob]

Smartfarmer,
No one has mentioned this but you have another broadband option which is a cellular modem. We use the ones by Verizon all over the country for work so if you have cellular phone service at your new address, you will more than likely have this service available. Cingular also offers it but I believe Verizon has better coverage. There also may be a Wi-Fi network that could offer the same, but at a lower price which is $60 per month for Verizon for unlimited service. I currently have cable modem service from Comcast which is the best but I previously had DSL service from SBC which was also very good, just not as fast. SBC offers a bundled local, long distance, DSL and satellite TV service through Dish in the Chicago area. They might also in Tennessee so check it out.

[thesmartfarmer]

I am not sure if anyone remembers but a while back there was a thread started and within the thread was a link to check and see how fast ytour computer is transferring files, Does anyone remember that link?

[MowHoward2210]

Here's the one I prefer to use: http://www.dslreports.com/stest

[thesmartfarmer]

Here is what I got Your download speed : 2886 kbps or 360.8 KB/sec.
Your upload speed : 239 kbps or 29.9 KB/sec. and that is with cable internet that claims to be 3 gig. What could I expect to get if I switched to something like cingular or satellite?

[MowHoward2210]

Depends on what tier of service you are paying for. Rule of thumb for DSL is under normal conditions you should consistantly be getting 80% or better of the speed you are paying for. I'm not sure what percentages apply to the other types of services. I don't think the speeds you are getting on the cable modem are available on the the cellular modems or satellite services, but I could be wrong. I've had DSL 768/128 for over 5 years and those are satisfactory speeds for what I do. It would be nice to subscribe to the higher speed tiers of DSL someday, which I might.

[Keweenaw4310]

For 49.00 / month starband satellite connection I get 500 kb/sec down and 100 kb/sec up.

Pay more with starband and get more. I believe it can get 3 times as fast if you are willing to pay over 120.00 / month.

[gwill]

Interesting - I live 8 miles from the phone hub in the middle of nowhere. The local (and I mean LOCAL) phone company got me DSL, cost me $15 to install, $44 a month.

You guys really pi$$ me off... not at you, but at !#$%^ SBC. I can look out my back window at the county court house, which is a block from the hub and I have to be a second rate citizen without DSL service! :eck16: The distance is well under 2 miles. !#$%^& I can't have cable either because it is about 800 ft. away.

Please don't tell me how badly dial-up sucks... I already know. :banghead3

[Keweenaw4310]

The setup cost of 15.00 for DSL is amazing. Satellite cost me 700.00 for just the hardware. It would have cost another 200.00 for install minimum but my install with pole mount and trenching and long cable runs would have probably been more like 700.00 to install - add that to 700.00 for hardware and you're at 1400.00 just to get up and running. Then you start paying 70.00 / month to start on top of that until you work it down to 60 then 50 over the next 3 years.

[ducati996]

The home number now is 865-674-8905 but the business number is 865-604-9815


not sure if this link will work but its from AT&T which is now part of SBC..

http://businessesales.att.com/products_services/dslinternet_available.jhtml;jsessionid=X4YZ003ZMCL JTQFIHOICKT4AVA3ZCJLW?_requestid=35656

AT&T DSL Internet is available at this location.
The following speeds are available at this location. Choose the speed for your business needs.

AT&T Business Class DSL
Learn More
Download/upload speeds
(users/monthly price)

No plans available.

AT&T Small Office/Home Office DSL
Learn More
Download/upload speeds
(users/monthly price)

Standard ADSL 768-128Kbps ($46.71)
Enhanced ADSL Up to 1.5Mbps / Up to 384Kbps ($49.95)

[thesmartfarmer]

THat is so weird becasue bellsouth states that DSL is not available but AT&T has it? Also what does ADSL mean when compared to DSL?

[old_nodaker]

The $15 was for the time and material involved in inside the house work. When I signed up, they said I might need a modem for $100, turned out I didn't need one, which I don't understand but didn't argue.

[MowHoward2210]

THat is so weird becasue bellsouth states that DSL is not available but AT&T has it? Also what does ADSL mean when compared to DSL?

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is variation of DSL where one side of data can flow faster than the other. This is why you see the speed ratings like 1.5MB down / 256KB up.

[MowHoward2210]

The $15 was for the time and material involved in inside the house work. When I signed up, they said I might need a modem for $100, turned out I didn't need one, which I don't understand but didn't argue.

old nodaker, are you sure you are subscribing to regular DSL?