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  • From: "David R. Matusiak" <matusiak AT hotmail.com>
  • To: internetworkers AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: DSL/T1 providers in Raleigh?
  • Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 11:40:13 -0400


www.dslreports.com
-has up-to-the-minute reviews (from actual customers). you can search on your area -or- via provider name.

strangely enough, speakeasy.net consistantly outperforms covad, yet they are really a re-seller of COVAD's (read: CO-BAD) sDSL service. i think they provide their aDSL/RADSL services outright, tho. also, they support users running services (servers) out of their homes. and they are linux-friendly.

i just got speakeasy 384K sDSL hooked up a week ago. so far, the service has been very good. they were a little dorky with the install, but thats pretty much what you get in this industry. they offer many packages and all of them can be upgraded to premium service (static IPs, dial-up acct, email accts, web space, etc). i would say this extra ~$10.00 per month is worth it.

the last DSL i had was Rhythms. they were very good as well (same exact service level). support was always a chore (for the few times it was needed), but again i mention that this is part of the fun with "today's broadband!"

i've heard reems of bad things about (but no personal exp. w/):
telocity
bti
bellsouth/verizon
earthlink
and i really couldn't (in good conscience) recommend things that are named "Number 1 DSL provider" and "GreatDSL.com" or any other friggin' name that sounds like a russian kid running an ISP off of someone elses hacked connection.

most of the problems with "lesser" broadband is the phone conglomerates (LECs). once they drop that copper pair to your house/office, they only make a maintenance fee from the DSL provider. thus, they have little incentive to make you happy (i.e. fix things, etc). also, this is why bell$outh likes you to use their lame DSL service.

addendum to last sentence: bell$outh is running a pilot program in atlanta, GA to offer business class service with static IPs. this is not here yet. they want to examine viability. you can get B$ business class up here, but the extra $$ only gets you a tad bit more service. a tad bit...

i hate TW/AOL cable modem service, but that is for religious reasons. the performance WILL dip as more people get on the circuit. and with the way cable modem is hammering DSL in the open market (hello DSL providers -- f***ing advertise!!), soon every tom, dick, and freeta will have cable modems in their house (and ted turner & that tard from aol will own your soul). other than that, all reports of performance i've heard are good. again, i reiterate -- EVIL!

now, concerning your desire to have a T1 dropped to the house/office. word to that! they will be out their fixin' it fast like a mothe--shut-yo-mouth! only problem -- they average around $1,500/mo. this may not be within the price point you are seeking.

i'd say go with a strong sDSL provider. iffin' yer close enough to the CO (central office) then you can get up to T1 speeds (1.5 MB up/down). the ranges are typically -
aDSL - ~128-144KBdown, who-knows-what-up (56K?)
sDSL - ~384K, 768K, 1.1MB, 1.5MB
RADSL - ~384Kdown/128Kup, 1.5MBdown/384Kup

cable - (supposedly) ~2-3MBdown, ~35K-256Kup

does this help any?
dave ;)
p.s. if you don't know how much pipe you plan on using, start with a lower grade sDSL (~384K) and as you need it, request upgrades. once you have the sDSL hardware, it is really easy for them to scale you up or down on the speed. this could potentially save $$$.

--
"when something breaks it makes a beautiful sound."
-david berman
--
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