ISP Recommendations? [Vanity]

June 3, 2006 | my_pointy_head_is_sharp

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I've searched extensively online for a new ISP. No luck. I think I'll have better luck with recommendations from my FReeper FRiends. Requirements: 1) It must be cheap. No more than $140-$180 a year ($15 a month max) or not much higher. 2)It must be faster than 46.6 kbps. (That's the fastest speed I can log on at now.) Would prefer 50.6 kbps or higher. Thank you for any recommendations.

[gotribe]

Verizon runs me $15.95 a month and I haven't had any problems with it. It's DSL, so high speed. Not the highest available, but certainly fast enough for me.

[Jet Jaguar]

Walmart Connect worked for me when I was on business. If it is still around, go to Walmart and pick up a free disk.

I always got a good connection.

(This was before I upgraded to cable modem)

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

That's interesting. I have Verizon cell phone service now. I didn't know they offer ISP service. Thanks.

[upchuck]

FWIW, I use Earthlink. They've got more dialup numbers scattered all over the nation than anyone else. (I travel a lot so that's important to me. But becoming less important thanks to WiFi :)

I usually can get at least 49.2 on the connection. Sometimes I can get 50.6 although you'd never know the difference.

I pay $15.95/month.

You might check Netzero.com. Their dialup is under 10 bucks but I don't know anything about their reliability, speed, etc.

[Beagle8U]

If you have a satellite service, like Direct TV, I think they offer DSL for $14 a month.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Thanks for the recommendations. I just got the renewal notice for my current ISP, and I definitely need a change, as their customer service is seriously lacking.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I don't have satellite, but I would like to. A package deal would be worth looking into.

[red-dawg]

It must be faster than 46.6 kbps

The telephone lines in your neighborhood are what determines the speed you connect at. All ISP's now use
V.90 or V.92 modems, which are rated at "56k".
If you want any faster you will have to go DSL or cable.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

OK. I just called Verizon. They said they offer broadband, and said you need to insert an Aircard into the side of your computer. Is that what you have? I don't seem to have a slot for a card on my computer; just a DVD compartment.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Thanks. I didn't know that.

[gotribe]

No. You don't need an Aircard - I'm not sure what that is unless you're going wireless internet which is what it sounds like.

Ask for straight up DSL service - they'll send you a DSL modem which you plug into your phone jack for the transmission. A modem cable is provided for the connection to the computer.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I'm not going wireless. I just happened to call Verizon Wireless' number. They gave me a couple of other numbers, which I am going to call right now.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Bah, they're closed.

[ThreePuttinDude]

Log on to the Verizon/DSL. There will be a box for you to
enter your phone #. They will run a check to see if you
are in an area that has DSL.

They will instruct you what to do next. You will have to sign
a years contract, and you will be sent a modem box and disc.
Itsa pretty easy, but you have to give credit card # for
modem box.

[martin_fierro]

A propos of nothing -- speed test here (partially a function of your CPU speed)

[ThreePuttinDude]

Forgot to mention, Verizon DSL is the best ISP I've had.
Tons better than Comcast Cable.

[stuartcr]

I doubt you could really tell the difference between 46.6 and 50.6K

[ThreePuttinDude]

Forgot to mention, Verizon DSL is the best ISP I've had.
Tons better than Comcast Cable.

[Echo Talon]

YAY! in 2 weeks I'm moving from DSL to Cable Internet! WHOO HOO! I had cable before but moved and then they didn't have it in my area... Now I'm gonna be able to cruise again! :)

[Cedar]

I've got RoadRunner--normally very fast, but even with my enhanced-speed wireless router, it tests much slower (almost 1/2 as slow as RR capability).

I sure enjoy wireless, but feel cheated!

[ThePythonicCow]

Do you live in the eastern U.S. Verizon has land line phone service there, if I recall recorrectly. In California, where my_pointy_head_is_sharp lives, according to his Freeper home page, Verizon is for cell phones, and SBC (now AT&T) is for land lines. I really doubt that you will find cheap DSL service from Verizon in California.

[ThePythonicCow]

as their customer service is seriously lacking.

Ah - so is that another requirement - besides being cheap and a little faster than what you have?

The combination of cheap and good service could be a difficult one to meet. You might want to be clear in your own mind which of these matters more to you.

And the place to check for DSL recommendations is DSLReports - also known as BroadbandReports: . Enter your zip code in their search page, and see what looks good.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Why do you prefer cable internet? Is it faster?

[Echo Talon]

heck ya! my DSl only downloads ay like 46Kb/sec the cable i used to have would download anywhere from 200K-300Kb/sec

standard dial up 56k modem downloads at about 4.6kb/sec

[ThePythonicCow]

That's an unfair comparison. Some DSL lines get upto 600 KBytes/sec.

And DSL lines are not shared the way cable lines are, so you don't have to compete with everyone in your neighborhood for that bandwidth. And you can get symmetric up/down lines and fixed IP addresses with DSL if you are providing a server for others.

The current installation rates across the nation are actually a little higher for DSL than for cable.

The main reasons I use DSL are:

• Unlike cable, there are multiple competing ISP's for DSL, so I can get a smaller, high service ISP, as I choose not to deal with the big no-service cable or phone companies. I can get a highly knowledgable and patient technician on the phone in a few minutes, 24/7. The big guys just can't do that.
• I only need a $20 basic service phone land line to get DSL, whereas I'd need a $30 or $40 TV cable to get internet over cable. So the total package is cheaper, especially given that I want a phone land line anyway, but don't want TV.

[Echo Talon]

I had cable internet in very populated area and actually I was in a pretty large apartment complex at the time... Still would download fast. I live out(sort of in the boonies now) and the DSL is only 48K/sec I could get faster DSL IF i spend like $200 a month... :\ the Cable i just got is like $21 a month or something like that. I don't have a server so the static ip is worthless to me.

[Echo Talon]

OH, also I only got the cable internet NOT the Cable TV, I have Direct TV(satellite)

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I use ATT/Yahoo DSL. Haven't had any problems and it's only $24.00 for the Elite Package. I know they're liberal but I ain't paying $60 bucks a month to Time Warner.

[ThomasThomas]

DSL extreme is in most of california a gives 1500/384kbps for about $15 a month.

[Echo Talon]

how fast does fiefox say you download at? kb/sec

[Echo Talon]

download this here and tell me how fast it says.

[Echo Talon]

downloading the file i listed with DSL i started at 124KB/sec and towards the middle of the download it was at 51KB/sec and remained there until it was done.

[Not now, Not ever!]

After Charter cable dropped the rates on their Pipeline service, I got it last week, Downloads are at a reliable 3.0 mb, almost twice as fast as T-1.

The change from earthslink dial up is not to be beleived. It will change the way you use the internet.

[ThePythonicCow]

Yes - if you are in the boonies, then cable wins, as the speed DSL over phone lines drops off pretty bad at longer distances.

I didn't realize you could get cable internet without cable TV - good deal.

And yes, for most folks, static IP addresses aren't useful.

[Echo Talon]

wow, I ordered my cable but don't get it for 2 weeks, hopefully its fast since I'm not in a really populated area. I can guarantee it will be faster than the DSL im currently using is :\

[Echo Talon]

well in not really in the boonies.. hard to explain... im only
about 1 mile from the ISP's office.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Which DSL service provider are you using?

[Echo Talon]

And yes, for most folks, static IP addresses aren't useful.

really easy to be tracked that way. :\

[Echo Talon]

im about 45 miles north of Minneapolis.

[ThePythonicCow]

I'm using Speakeasy - they probably won't qualify for your requirement of "cheap". According to their web site:

Speakeasy delivers reliable, high-performance connectivity with unbeatable Seattle-based customer support.

» Download speeds up to
   6.0Mbps.

» Prices starting at $49.95

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

they probably won't qualify for your requirement of "cheap"

you're right

[ThePythonicCow]

really easy to be tracked that way.

If you don't want to be tracked, use one of the annonymizer services, such as Anonymizer, the onion router (tor.eff.org), or various others. Dynamic IP addresses provide thin security.

[Echo Talon]

What about online games, if they ban your ip address for whatever reason then you're screwed.

[Echo Talon]

My DSL from the link you provided..

Last Result:
Download Speed: 374 kbps (46.8 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 371 kbps (46.4 KB/sec transfer rate)

[martin_fierro]

Mine:

8736 kbps up
354 kbps down

< |:)~

[martin_fierro]

er, reverse those.

8736 kbps down
354 kbps up

[Echo Talon]

thats DSL or Cable?

[martin_fierro]

Cable.

Once you try it you'll never go back to dialup.

< |:)~

[Echo Talon]

Yep Cable rules! DSL is for the dogs(hehe) thats why i cant wait till my cable internet arrives in 2 weeks!