My Internet Connection *PIC*

[ThinkPad560X]

Im trying to see what Internet I have speed wise. I use to have NetZero Dialup from 1998-2008 and then finally could upgrade to Broadband or DSL after being informed that it finally came in my area "2009". I have WindStream witch is my only choice where I live, No Verizon or Comcast but they are located eachway from me 1 mile and Im in the middle. I did 3 diffrent speed tests online and they all come to 2.XXMbps So looking at the list they have on WS their is 3,6,12,24Mbps. So Im guessing i have the 3Mbps and Im spending $80 for that where as NZ was only $9.00. Also is this DSL or broadband that I have, I have a WiFi modem box and the phone line still connects to it. I also check online to see if I can go to 6 - 24Mbps and it comes out "Based on the information provided, there are no bundles available" So am I stuck with 3Mbps? Also when I watch YouTube videos it buffers alot and can beraly even watch 720p and hardly 1080p. 420p buffers sometimes too.

Admin edit: Added PIC warning

[BillMorrow]

I moved from AT&T ADSL to the local cable provider.. cost about $89/month and it is much faster than the ADSL.. like 15MBS down and 1.5 up..
and coming soon is some sort or dual or quad channel per cable for much faster speed..

I also see a lot of ads for hughes satellite which would be fast down but i'm guessing slow up..

just FWIW..

[Medessec]

Here's my connection:
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3394044242

That's *Mega*-bits a second, not Kilo-bits.

and for practicality and realism, here's a test to a British server:
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3394042139

I currently reside in Chico, CA where there are two main options for internet: Comcast, and AT&T. Comcast is pretty much the obvious choice, because Comcast offers an economy line for $40 a month at a guaranteed 3 Mbps Down and Up, whereas the equivalent AT&T package has worse speeds with no obvious advantages. I have the Performance line with Blast package, which is the fastest configuration you can get aside from ordering up a business-class line. Blast package means that if a significant download swallows up the bandwidth, Comcast gives me a bit of extra connection speed for up to 10 minutes.

We had reliability issues for the first 6 months, but after multiple tech visits and an Ethernet cable, I'm glad to say my internet has been nothing aside from stellar. So... you can compare that experience to your new broadband connection.

My grandparents live out in a rural location(Galt, CA) and they use a type of Wi-Fi broadband, where their ISP has a couple of towers scattered around, and it transmits a signal similar to Wi-Fi, to each individual house. They get about 9Mbps Download at best, and a 1/3 of that in Upload.

At my family's home in Elk Grove, they currently use Frontiernet, which I've always hated. Their internet's about as good as yours most of the time, except they've had a lot of problems over the whole time we've had them... close to 4 years. I believe they're thinking of going to Comcast, many of my friend's parents moved to Comcast from NetZero, SureWest, and Frontiernet and love the stability and gaping speed.

[Saucey]

I pay about $54 for my cable connection via Charter cable.
I cannot pinpoint the problem but I'll get some connection issues every two hours or so, my guess is that the line my internet connects to is bad.

Should we compare Speedtest results? Anyways here's my result.
Asus N750 modem connected to my router, on the 2.4GHz band, from the X61T.
Nice speeds Medessec!

We have a Verizon DSL line as well but it is horrible, works whenever it wants, but its one of those lock in deals.
The internet would cut out whenever my brother and/or I would be gaming, or even watching videos on the Wii game console.
I think it only applies to my town but the connection will go rampant over a phone call!!
Our phone line has static as well when you pick it up, there are some quiet beeps reminiscent of 56K dial up.
I've gotten used to it, I'll be moving to Los Angeles this summer, hopefully I can afford cable while I am there.
If not I'll just try scanning wifi with a small satellite dish to amplify the router's signal.

Best cases is we got a two smartphones browsing the web, a PC streaming, my brother or I gaming and it works fine for the most part.
There is some bad connections at time, but I think its Charters end, I mean I've went thru 3 modems and 3 routers...

[emeraldgirl08]

My provider for broadband is Cox Communications. I initially used to get at least 20mb/sec down and 5mb/sec up during a 6-month promotion but once the promotion was over my monthly bill shot up to $59/month! It got a little just too expensive for me! I have since changed to a cheaper internet package Cox Communications offers- ~5mb/sec down and ~1mb/sec up (according to speetest) for $39/month (router rental fee included). I am the primary user which means I am not sharing lines with anyone here at my apartment. It works well enough for me and I have no problems streaming high quality video. There are days however where perhaps Cox Comm. is running updates or performing other maintenance and my speeds seem slower but they generally are back to what I am paying for by the end of the day. I live very close to campus (4 blocks from campus) and often wish I lived closer....like right across the street so I might be able to log into my student account with the schools enterprise wifi which would save me $39/month lol.

[ajkula66]

Im trying to see what Internet I have speed wise. I use to have NetZero Dialup from 1998-2008 and then finally could upgrade to Broadband or DSL after being informed that it finally came in my area "2009". I have WindStream witch is my only choice where I live, No Verizon or Comcast but they are located eachway from me 1 mile and Im in the middle. I did 3 diffrent speed tests online and they all come to 2.XXMbps So looking at the list they have on WS their is 3,6,12,24Mbps. So Im guessing i have the 3Mbps and Im spending $80 for that where as NZ was only $9.00. Also is this DSL or broadband that I have, I have a WiFi modem box and the phone line still connects to it.

DSL *is* broadband. The fact that your phone line connects to the modem/router is a part of the setup. Your circuit is delivered via single pair of twisted copper wires, just like a regular dialtone.

I also check online to see if I can go to 6 - 24Mbps and it comes out "Based on the information provided, there are no bundles available" So am I stuck with 3Mbps? Also when I watch YouTube videos it buffers alot and can beraly even watch 720p and hardly 1080p. 420p buffers sometimes too.

Without knowing how far you are from the central office it's impossible to say what the highest speed you can get is.

This site will tell you exactly that, along with listing the options available for your address:

http://www.t1shopper.com

Obviously, you'll be looking into a DSL and not into T1/T3...

Check out the distance and let us know...

[Temetka]

FiOS. Bundled with voice and tv. I could upgrade the speed to 50/50 or faster, but really it's very fast now so I see no need to.

[ThinkPad560X]

From what it says, Im too far away from a central office so I what I have is what I get. Office dis. 15,815 feet. Below is a list of T1 stuff and ranges from $400 -$3,512.00 1.5 to 12, monthly stuff.

[ajkula66]

From what it says, Im too far away from a central office so I what I have is what I get. Office dis. 15,815 feet.

Yep. Not as far as I am, but pretty bad. You're probably on a remote DSLAM, and most telcos limit those to 3Mb...

[ThinkPad560X]

Just got my bill in today and it raised up to $81.55 now. When I first got this it was $75.XX and it just keeps going up. Im going to recheck my resources and see if Verizon or something came yet. I check all these places last year. Or I can see if NetZero DSL came in yet. I didnt mind Dialup but for the ammount of files and flash videos online today it would be impossible to load great . But sure miss the $9.00 a month.

[ajkula66]

Just got my bill in today and it raised up to $81.55 now.

That's including your landline, correct?

[ThinkPad560X]

Yea, I have Phone and Internet only. We have DirectTv for tv but getting rid of it soon. Keeps going up too.

[ajkula66]

Yea, I have Phone and Internet only.

You're paying a couple of bucks more than I am...still quite outrageous. It sucks to live in the boonies when it comes to Internet...

[ThinkPad560X]

Really the towns are coming closer to me with bigger houseing developments. I just check Verizon and still says cant find my address on their search and I contacted verizon about that last time and said their not their then. I did get a free test of their old 3G WiFi box a few years ago but I have somethings that require LAN and they only have a select of plans. 3GB, 6GB 12GB, I think these were the sizes. and I dont like that because you can go over and have to pay a fee. I still have my Verizon PCMCIA card but I only used that kinda of stuff if away from home and its not really a home use thing but for travel.

[ThinkPad560X]

I just check NetZero DSL and its $9.95 too but says its not in my area. Checked Comcast and not in area. So the 3 I know are around here are not in my area still. Verizon, comcast, NetZero DSL. I dont think I would want comcast anyway, 2 years ago I went to their main office in the town 2miles from me and asked if they were in my area since the online finder wasnt showing my address and the person got fussy and said if it doesnt show up then where are not in that area. So all these years and still the same select of ONE service, I feel like Im back iin the day I had dialup and waiting for DSL to come to my area.

[AIX]

100/30 for ~$11/month. I could upgrade to gigabit anytime - 1000/30 for ~1$7/month - but I don't really need it, I should upgrade my Wi-Fi router too. More than $50/month for single-digit speed sounds awful.

[ajkula66]

More than $50/month for single-digit speed sounds awful.

Welcome to the U.S. where the "good ol' boys' club" makes the rules and says what's fair, to paraphrase Neil Young...

[AIX]

Yes, but after all, isn't the "good ol' boys' club" the one who are pushing the U.S. forward? Aren't they the men who built America? At least that's what I have learned on History Channel.

[RealBlackStuff]

Before we had Adams Cable, we were ripped off and mistreated by the unspeakably bad Verizon. NEVER AGAIN!
Adams is not the most modern, but more than fast enough for our needs.
And at least it's affordable and up 99.99%, even all the way during this awful "snowseason" in NE-PA.
It's a cable package of internet bundled with phone and TV, which includes DTA's and a DVR.
We also have a SIP-phone with a Swiss number, to make free "local calls" to our daughter in Switzerland (who also has a SIP-phone).
And our calls "from Switzerland" to 'phone home' (i.e. Ireland) cost a lot less than from USA!
Of course we also use the (free) Skype!

Forgot to tell that we also have ROKU.
It streams wireless and without any hiccups from (downstairs)router->(upstairs)extender->ROKU->TV

[ajkula66]

Yes, but after all, isn't the "good ol' boys' club" the one who are pushing the U.S. forward? Aren't they the men who built America? At least that's what I have learned on History Channel.

The sad part is that some of the entities involved - such as parts of former Bell System - were the ones who gave the world so much in terms of innovation and new technologies. Nowadays their successors are just reaping the rewards and r****g their customer base. The cable companies are not any better in the latter respect...

[ThinkPad560X]

Im up another doller now $82. Seems like it goes up a doller every other month now. I checked with Verizon and Comcast again and even did chat with Verizon and told me their not available in my area still. I may have no choice but to go back to Dialup Netzero $9.99 a month. I added it up costing me $1000 or a hair over, $82.XX a year. I ran dialup to try it again in the summer and some if not more web pages brought a error saying not enough bandwidth to load page. I also still have my PCMCIA Verizon card "not activated" but then I get into that data cap. It be nice to get google fiber. Also the 3mbps DSL I have now I cannot even watch YouTube 720p HD videos without it stuttering or buffering so have to always put on 480p at the highest .

[TTY]

Im up another doller now $82.

It might be that you're on an old, expensive plan. I just checked the Windstream web site and they're now offering high speed internet at 3 Mbps including unlimited phone for USD 49.99 per month. Call them up and ask them whether they would be willing to switch you to one of the new plans.

[ajkula66]

Im up another doller now $82. Seems like it goes up a doller every other month now.

That's a lot of money for what you're getting...I chewed Verizon down *a lot* since I've last posted in this thread. My bill is almost palatable now.

I checked with Verizon and Comcast again and even did chat with Verizon and told me their not available in my area still.

If Windstream is the ILEC for your area, VZ will never become available there...it's really that simple.

Is it possible that there's no cable Internet service anywhere around you?

[ThinkPad560X]

They are around me 2 miles one way and 2 miles the other, I also heard people have comcast 10min from me.

[ajkula66]

I just looked up your location...wow. It doesn't look like any ISP is going to be bending over backwards to improve service over there, given the population.

You're in former GTE area which is now served by Windstream and unlikely to change ownership anytime soon. You could call WS and check:

a) Whether there's any chance of them offering you a bonded DSL or

b) Getting them to lower your current rate.

If I were you I'd be asking the neigbours about whether any of them has cable Internet...

Good luck. You'll need it.

[ThinkPad560X]

I'm getting upset of my internet now, I always like to watch YouTube for new tech and and reviews. All the videos I watch, I put on 360p-480p. I cannot watch 720p-1080p and not going to add 4K. "some videos have the option" Well I keep getting the spinning circle, buffering on 360p-480p, So I moved it down to 144p "The Lowest" since its just one of the talking channels with random game play in background. Later I get the buffering circle again.. So I checked my Internet speed with Ookla, It seems the ISP is limiting my bandwidth, and getting a speed of 1.08Mbps from my normal 3Mbps. So for the heck of it, I connected my dialup cable into my desktop, installed NetZero, connected to the internet and tried to view some webpages. First thing I cannot do is watch any YouTube videos on dialup now. It will load the webpage, but will bring a error up on where the video would play. I visited the Ookla and ran a speed test on the dialup and get a 0.08Mbps. I checked with another option, the family has Dish Network, So I check with them on internet on their site and what do I find, "You can get bundled Phone, Tv and High Speed internet with our partnered ISP WindStream.."

I havnt even played a game online before "XBOX Live, PSN" I here most of my friends talk about it but then forget what internet I have. It be nice to get the google fiber here, but really im not even a heavy internet user, Even 8Mbps would be nice.

[FryPpy]

Im up another doller now $82.

Very sad story. I am far away from you and i thought your country on edge of IT tech for everyone... But all problems are the same for people of the Earth. Big cities have good ISP plans and many options while countryside have no options and monopoly for a single ISP. May be wireless (WWAN, broadband) ISP can help you? 4G networks like LTE or EvDo or may be 3G can get better speed and may be less expensive for you?
Other hint - if you are on the the edge of reception of WWAN signals there are signal boosters on the market (like small satellite antenna but 3G(4G) USB modem is placed in focus of it). This can improve quality of signal and speed. This things is often used in our countryside.

Now i have 3 MBps on DSL at home for less then $2/month (because currency exchange rates And this is ancient plan. Modern plans have more speed but i am to lazy to change something . Now ISPs have moving from copper to fiber networks and this second revolution may blast speed and prices. But i have been shocked when connected to 4G LTE network and get 50MBps over air.

[Puppy]

Getting good and stable internet connection is also problematic over here. If you live in a "good" area you can get cable connection (sometimes there are local fiber providers). Second option is DSL, if there are old telephone wires already built in old communist era before 1989 in your location. Otherwise you are out of luck

If you build a new house, regardless of whether it is located in the city or countryside, no way. No company wire your new house to phone (DSL) nor cable/fibre - they are out of interest. They are intersted in blocks of buildings with 100+ apartments only so new more isolated apartments have no fixed Internet connection and it will not change. You can have a "connected building" 100 meters from your house, no way. Some cable operators wants insane price around $10000 just for 50 meters of new wire/fibre to connect your house.

The only available unlimited connection is a WiFi one. The WiFi protocol is widely "abused" here (over-powered with directional antennas) to build local hobbyist-based outdoor wifi networks that interconnects such abandoned areas. Note that most of (expensive) apartments in Prague centre (the capital city) also uses such wifi networks, there is no DSL/cable connection and never will be. And it is getting worse every year. The more those "wild" WiFi networks are there, the more interferences among them, the connection is far from a reliable one (yes, the wifi protocol was not designed for such use). Again, there is no other option ... even in the capital city ! LTE coverage is still bad with plans limited to 10 GB / month data only including other service/protocol based limitation. And we have another funny aspect here - LTE with maximum download speed 4 Mbps

As a result, there are wifi antenna forests on buildings here and there because phone and cable operators (oligopoly) are not interested to connect "small" buildings or improve existing infrastructure (BTW they got it for free in the wild privatisation after 1989) by adding MicroDSLAMs to get better DSL speed. Look at this building roof (note the picture is 7 years old, now there are two times more). It is located in the centre of Prague and provides (almost the only) wifi connection for this area. Silly ? Yes. It is almost 2015 year and we are stuck with incompetence to lay several meters of cable in the ground

No mobile technology, including LTE, can supply DSL or cable/fibre connection regarding speed, latency, stability and unlimited data

But i have been shocked when connected to 4G LTE network and get 50MBps over air.

Wait as there will be more customers. For good overall user experience of web based interactive applications the speed is almost unimportant. The important parameter is latency and stability, mobile connection suffers from unpredictable latency and micro-dropouts (you have to reload a web page over and over) that affects the user experience. Don't mention if you work over Remote Desktop, it is useless for such task at all. Even "slow" 3 Mbps DSL is better than "fast" LTE because of stability.

[pianowizard]

I haven't had internet service at home for over a decade. I do most internet stuff at work, where I routinely get close to 1,000 Mbps download and 500 Mbps upload speeds according to speedtest.net. At home, I use my smartphone for which I pay T-Mobile $42.50 plus tax/fees each month which includes unlimited phone minutes, unlimited SMS texting, and unlimited data in the U.S. and ~120 other countries. The unlimited data include USB tethering and mobile hotspot, though each month only the first 1GB is at LTE speed, beyond which I am throttled to 128kbps. But 128kbps still feels quite fast for Opera Mini, which is the browser that I use on the phone. 128kbps is acceptable even when I browse this forum or other simple web sites on a laptop over mobile hotspot. That's the cheapest internet access I have been able to find for where I live.

[ajkula66]

No mobile technology, including LTE, can supply DSL or cable/fibre connection regarding speed, latency, stability and unlimited data

QFT.

Even "slow" 3 Mbps DSL is better than "fast" LTE because of stability.

QFT once again.