Cable or DSL

[marillionflower]

Hubby and I are looking for ways to save money. We have cable internet now, and there is no way I would ever go back to dial up! Our phone company has a really great deal on dsl but I am wondering how it compares to cable internet for speed etc. Which do you prefer?

[Carla]

I've had both and I prefer cable.

[venus_de_milo]

Cable is faster, but I use DSL and am very happy with it.

[PandaAntiSocial]

I really think it depends on where you live. If you live in a more rural or simply less crowded area, then cable is probably faster. If, on the other hand, you live in a big city and are close to the central location point (central server of the DSL provider, or whatever - sorry, the "technical" words escape me at the moment), then DSL might be faster. You can check what your speed would be online, but I'd have to do a search again myself to find that info.

Edit: Granted, I've never tried cable. I have DSL, and I know that my connection is extremely fast. I've used various connections all over the place, and I'm VERY impatient when it comes to using the internet. :laugh:

Edit again :rolleyes: : I don't know if this still holds true today, but cable has always had the potential to be faster than DSL. I don't know what it's like today. I would think that cable speed depends on how many people are using that line at the same time, and it use to be (still the case? - maybe some technical expert can come and confirm this) that cable had potential security problems. That is, while your computer is on, the line (cable line) is always open, whereas with DSL, you can close your connection. Of course, however, with the proper security measures on your computer or network, you will probably be safe.

[Rokki]

Cable modem for me through Roadrunner. Much much faster then when I had DSL. It does go down rarely, but the tradeoff is worth the speed for all the other time.

[marillionflower]

thank you all for the advice. i am thinking we might just stick with cable.

[Kaelia7]

I've had both and I'm happier with DSL. Its less expensive and our cable internet used to go down sometimes and our DSL never does. Our connection speed is the same for both. My SO is a hardcore online gamer so he would have never shut up about it if it was slower. You could always try it and switch back or if you don't want to switch just call up your cable company and say you are, they may be willing to give you a better deal.

[Defenderofthefaith]

I have never had cable, I have had DSL for the past five months and I am very happy with the speed and the price.

[Rokki]

Also there are two different DSL's. At work we have the A-DSL and there is another one. Ours is assymetric I think it was so its faster than normal DSL, so you might want to make sure and inquire about that aspect if you switch.

Also I love your avatar OP, is it a cat and dog dressed up as Pilgrims?

[Zagnut444]

We have cable at home, and its lightning fast, we have DSL at work, and its painfully slow most of the day compared to home, BUT I don't know what kind of set up they have at work and whether or not so many users on the network bog it down...but I will never give up my cable. Been very happy with it.

[pearlleemay]

Cable is faster but Comcast is a terrible company.

[susan1215]

Cable is faster but Comcast is a terrible company.

Why do you say that? I have Comcast cable and my only complaint is when it my cable modem and/or cable TV goes out which isn't always their fault. They will credit my account for that day if it happens.

[Krystalyn]

comcast fried my internal ethernet card
during one of their power outages.

I had to purchase an ethernet adapter $40
and I also had to purchase the appropriate cables
I "rent" an external modem from comcast.
for my desktop computer

in addition to a router $100

[Krystalyn]

they also say, "once you go cable, you can never go back"