Computer Hope
Internet & Networking => Networking => Topic started by: thehandyman on October 21, 2011, 06:20:07 PM
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I would really like some opinions on what the best internet provider would be for 2 people, and pros and cons if you don't mind? A kind of provider that has a stable internet and a really high/unlimited downloading and at the same time not too expensive, for 2 people who love to download. Thanks.
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Not DSL
Satellite is very expensive.
Some kind of cable. Com-cast is fast. Practically unlimited. Prices may vary
Using a Cell-Pone interface also works good. But read the fine print. It is never unlimited.
In some areas a alternative microwave link is a good deal.
http://www.digitalpath.net/
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I would really like some opinions on what the best internet provider would be for 2 people, and pros and cons if you don't mind? A kind of provider that has a stable internet and a really high/unlimited downloading and at the same time not too expensive, for 2 people who love to download. Thanks.
Are we supposed to guess what country and area you live in?
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A kind of provider that has a stable internet and a really high/unlimited downloading and at the same time not too expensive
Hard to find nowadays. ;D
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Are we supposed to guess what country and area you live in?
Woops forgot to put that sorry. I'm from Montreal Quebec Canada
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You will find in most areas internet service is limited to a few providers. There are good DSL providers and there are bad DSL providers. Just as there are good and bad cable companies. In a few areas you may have a choice of two cable companies. If you have more than one DSL provider all the traffic goes over the same wires, with a smaller company leasing capacity from the local phone company.
Almost all cable companies offer month to month service so if you don't like their service you can cancel with no penalty. Many DSL companies require long term contracts with cancellation penalties.
Geek is right about satellite service being expensive. It was designed for rural areas with no cable or DSL service available.
In short there are no easy answers and you need to shop around. Talk to your friends and neighbors to see what they use, and if they are happy with the service.
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If you lived in Alberta, there would be some news for you.
New satellite to boost rural Internet speeds (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/20/technology-satellite-rural-internet.html)
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You are absolutely in luck. Start off by contacting Distributel . They offer unlimited bandwidth and speed (when compared to Bell Canada's service it is their highest priced package) (Bell's).However their (Distributel's) one size fits all is Bell's top of the line and Distributels's price for it is lower than Bell's price for their lowest service. As you are undoubtedly aware in your part of the country Bell owns all the infrastructure but is obliged under CRTC ruling to make their infrastructure available to competitors. They can charge what ever they decide but they are renting the lines from Bell to provide their service to customers. So the only thing you will NOT get from Bell which you would if you bought from them (besides the higher price of course) is their arrogant attitude towards their customers (which i am sure you are already familiar with given that their local phone service monopoly in your Province). If you bundle your long distance service with Distributel the prices drop even more. Ask them when you call about their various costs and bundled services. truenorth
http://www.distributel.ca/en/index.aspx
P.S. I have no commercial connection with Distributel other than having been a customer since they 1st offered their services.
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for 2 people who love to download.
Download what? Movies, music, all the freeware in the world so that your Programs menu becomes the length of a football field, grizzly bears, or just whatever you can grab just for the sake of downloading?
Re: DSL, it's usually available at several speeds, depending on how much you're willing to pay. My DSL provider's starting speed level is 768Kbps and I believe the highest speed available from them in my area is now 10Mbps. However, I see on http://www.centurylink.com/ that they claim to have speeds up to 40Mbps in "select areas".
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soybean, Obviously you do NOT reside in Canada. largely due to the lack of real competition no such speeds exist here (at least in the eastern part of the country) for DSL.truenorth
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truenorth, what DSL speeds are available there?
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Mine with DSL Distributel with fibre to about 1/4 mile away then copper to the house holds pretty constant at 54Mbps. That is the top speed Bell offers but you can pay less with them and i believe there are 2 slower speeds and/or less bandwidth. There is talk about bringing faster speeds but no definite plans as to when that i am aware of. truenorth
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Mine with DSL Distributel with fibre to about 1/4 mile away then copper to the house holds pretty constant at 54Mbps.
Are you sure about that? That's actually very fast. My DSL service is rated at a download speed of 3.0 Mbps. Can you visit speedtest.net and run a speed test and report the results?
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soybean ,Will do and advise. The speed posted was derived from the window "wireless connection status".truenorth
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The speed posted was derived from the window "wireless connection status"
The network adapter maximum speed capability is the information given by the operating system dependent on your current subscription bandwith.
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So an Ethernet connection will show 100 m bps even when the Internet speed is only 1.5 m bps. Use a speed test from a nearby server over the Internet.
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soybean, as requested here is the result of my ping speed test on Sat Oct. 29th at 2 PM with my DSL provider Distributel.
truenorth
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soybean, as requested here is the result of my ping speed test on Sat Oct. 29th at 2 PM with my DSL provider Distributel.
truenorth
If this is your service:
]Distributel] DSL Internet 5 [...] Download speed up to 5 Mbps, upload speed up to 800 Kbps
Take note of that "up to" before the speed figures; with a quarter mile of copper forming the last leg, I guess those results you posted aren't too bad if you are in a rural location.
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ST, Most certainly rural. Up until relatively recently our most immediate neighbours sported alternating black and white markings and when they uttered anything it was Mooo. Now they have gone and been replaced with corn stalks and/or soybeans. It seems like only yesterday (but actually about 3-4 years) since we went from a 56k modem to DSL. Having endured dial up since about 1995 until then we find our current speeds blazing. I am led to believe that there are other parts of the world that have much faster speeds though--Asian area i believe. truenorth
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This is simply my opinion.
DSL is incredibly inferior to cable in Canada.
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Quantos, Could be but last time i looked "cable" was NOT available in our area (that rural thing). Even if it were though if i am not mistaken in order to purchase cable internet you must already have a cable connection for other services. Starts to get to be appreciably more expensive if that is so. Never really investigated Cable costs over DSL (just for the internet access-not available so why bother) but i believe it is considerably more costly where the 2 services compete. truenorth
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Here is a FCC news item. This issue involved might also have impact to other countries. There is a political problem with VOIP and rural Internet.
...from wired.com today.
Internet Phone Calls Caught in Crossfire As FCC Adopts rural .. (http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/10/voip-future-uncertain/)
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soybean, as requested here is the result of my ping speed test on Sat Oct. 29th at 2 PM with my DSL provider Distributel.
truenorth
Your download speed is a little over half my download speed and your upload speed is the same as mine. Do you know what the company actually states the speed to be for your service? If you know that, then you know how your actual speed compares to the officially stated speed. DSL speed is affected by the distance from the nearest "central office" of the phone company, i.e. your DSL provider.
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soybean, Earlier in this thread a response by Salmon Trout presented this "]Distributel] DSL Internet 5 [...] Download speed up to 5 Mbps, upload speed up to 800 Kbps" which i imagine he got from the Distributel site. As he points out the "up to" is really not very definitive to what one may get (only what they won't get). I do appreciate that a more accurate statement from them may not be possible because of the varied factors that affect it. When performing the speed test it indicated that the site they were using as my closest Distributel location was 50 miles (or it may have been 50km--since we use that system now). Thank you for your input. truenorth
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soybean,Earlier in this thread a response by Salmon Trout presented this "]Distributel] DSL Internet 5 [...] Download speed up to 5 Mbps, upload speed up to 800 Kbps"
I see now what he saw. See http://www.distributel.ca/en/product.aspx?p=DSL_Internet_5&lang=EN&pro=QC
So, yes, they simply state one level of service/speed. As I said in a previous post, I'm accustomed to seeing a choice of speeds from a DSL provider and, of course, the customer pays accordingly. I'm currently paying for 3.0 Mbps download/512Kbps upload and my actual speeds are almost exactly as stated by the company, i.e. 3.0 Mbps download/512Kbps upload. But, I'm in a small city and I'm located I'm located fairly close to the provider's nearest "central office". This brief article provides some explanation of DSL: http://www.howstuffworks.com/dsl.htm
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just a question for everyone. has anyone ever signed up with teksavvy (or someone you know)?
http://teksavvy.com/en/res-internet.asp
i mean im looking at all the links and comparing but like this seems to be the best one for montreal. unless there's better, which im always open to. and for some reason, unlimited downloads doesnt sound believable to me (sounds too good to be true) 300GB monthly limit seems good to me. any competitors?
Edit: I'm not sure if I want to go cable or DSL, but leaning more towards DSL.
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Given this
DSL Internet 5
"For a fast and reliable DSL connection without having to sign a contract, this is the service for you.
High Speed Internet (DSL)
Truly unlimited downloads**"
Which is a direct lift from the Distributel site as Soybean linked within this thread i am puzzled as to why YOU are saying this ", unlimited downloads doesn't sound believable to me (sounds too good to be true)". Have you even tried to contact them to verify what i have been advising you? I have told you i am and have been using their service since it 1st became available to me. Are you suggesting i am not telling you the truth? Why are you still beating this horse. At least pick up your phone and give them a call. truenorth