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onlydarksets · 01-03-2008, 09:53 AM

Download speed isn't everything. Also consider features, upload speed, and price.

Features - FiOS locks down all inbound ports, meaning you can't Sling or Orb, or access your home PC as a webserver (e.g., WebGuide for Windows Media Center). Cable tends to leave a broad range of ports open, although some will lock down the email ports. I don't know what DSL does.

Download Speeds - As far as speed goes, there are two bandwidth speeds that are important - upload and download (latency really isn't a factor between fiber/cable/dsl). Download speeds on FiOS are silly - 5Mbs/15Mbs/30Mbs+ depending on how much you want to pay. Cable speeds are equally adequate for nearly anything the average person is going to do (6Mbs/16Mb in my area without PowerBoost, depending on the package). DSL is still fine for most websurfing, (at around 1.5Mbs).

Upload Speeds - Upload speeds, however, really depend on the cable provider. DSL is only 256Kbs, which is little better than dial-up. Comcast in Arlington is only 768Kbs, which is good, but not good enough if you are doing extensive online backups (I backup 150GB, which could take a week the first time with Comcast). However, my in-laws have upload speeds of 2Mbs in VA Beach. FiOS is king in Arlington, with 2Mbs upload speeds.

Price - I've had them all (currently I have FiOS and cable - don't ask), and the best balance of features and speed is Cable. However, it's more expensive ($43/month) than comparable FiOS service ($35/month). DSL is dirt cheap by comparison (~$20/month, or less for really slow downloads).

01-03-2008, 09:53 AM	#11
onlydarksets Playmaker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: all up in your business Posts: 2,693	Re: Dsl ? Download speed isn't everything. Also consider features, upload speed, and price. Features - FiOS locks down all inbound ports, meaning you can't Sling or Orb, or access your home PC as a webserver (e.g., WebGuide for Windows Media Center). Cable tends to leave a broad range of ports open, although some will lock down the email ports. I don't know what DSL does. Download Speeds - As far as speed goes, there are two bandwidth speeds that are important - upload and download (latency really isn't a factor between fiber/cable/dsl). Download speeds on FiOS are silly - 5Mbs/15Mbs/30Mbs+ depending on how much you want to pay. Cable speeds are equally adequate for nearly anything the average person is going to do (6Mbs/16Mb in my area without PowerBoost, depending on the package). DSL is still fine for most websurfing, (at around 1.5Mbs). Upload Speeds - Upload speeds, however, really depend on the cable provider. DSL is only 256Kbs, which is little better than dial-up. Comcast in Arlington is only 768Kbs, which is good, but not good enough if you are doing extensive online backups (I backup 150GB, which could take a week the first time with Comcast). However, my in-laws have upload speeds of 2Mbs in VA Beach. FiOS is king in Arlington, with 2Mbs upload speeds. Price - I've had them all (currently I have FiOS and cable - don't ask), and the best balance of features and speed is Cable. However, it's more expensive ($43/month) than comparable FiOS service ($35/month). DSL is dirt cheap by comparison (~$20/month, or less for really slow downloads). __________________ Stop reading my signature.