I'm currently on 56k dial-up, so are my parents and sister (we all live in the same house, but access the Net at different times).
I want broadband, but that's not feasable as we'd likely have to have a network installed to like all 3 PCs/laptops to the one modem (please correct me if I'm wrong). So I was thinking of getting an ADSL modem for my PC only to speed things up.
Your advice on what to do and what is involved in going ADSL/Broadband would be appreciated (I trust you all better than the guys in the shops).
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Installing a network to share an internet connection is child's play, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Two questions:
1) What ADSL providers are available in your postal area?
2) What's your monthly budget?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
If you don't want to run cable, you could always set up a wireless LAN, though it may not be as fast.
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
The slowest wireless technology is 11 megabits... the most you can get out of DSL is 6 (if you can afford it). Cable maxes out at 3.
Slowness in wireless-land will only become apparent if you do lots of file transfers between the machines.
Wireless is not really all that cheap for three PCs... an access point will be around $100. Then you'll need access cards for each machine, each being around $75. They make USB devices that connect you to the wireless network as well, but those are more expensive. Also available are cards for laptops.
(I'm going wireless at home for the new laptop. Nothing like sitting on the couch and watching TV while surfing the net..)
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
ADSL has a technical maximum of 8 megabits down and 1 megabit up, which really ought to be enough for anybody but often isn't. *cough* Cable can pump much, MUCH more data through, but even the fastest subscription types are typically capped at around 4 megabits down and 2 megabits up since bandwith is still an expensive commodity these days, though it really ought to be a lot cheaper. *cough* Either way, as Charles says, the 11 mbit/sec transfer rate of a wireless LAN is not going to be a problem until you start shuffling porn movies back and forth across your network, so if you can afford the steeper initial cost, go for it. B)
Posted by Fleet-Admiral Michael T. Colorge (Member # 144) on :
Yay, Broadband still sucks in Los Angeles. At least I can use it to get a lot of sex and Star Trek.
On a more technical issue, I just bought the Microsoft Wireless Router (MN-700) but I'm having one hell of a time trying to set up the wireless network. I don't know what the hell I'm doing wrong other than not buying Linksys this time around.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"The slowest wireless technology is 11 megabits... the most you can get out of DSL is 6 (if you can afford it). Cable maxes out at 3."
In theory, sure. But, in practice, if the signal from the router doesn't penetrate well to parts of your house, you're going to end up slower there. We've got the router in our family room on the first floor, and, as soon as you walk up to the second floor, the signal level drops radically.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Wireless is not really all that cheap for three PCs... an access point will be around $100. Then you'll need access cards for each machine, each being around $75. They make USB devices that connect you to the wireless network as well, but those are more expensive. Also available are cards for laptops.
I got a rather good wireless router on sale for $20, and have seen PC cards for as low as $10, and USB for $15. Watch www.techbargains.com and wait for the right sales.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
Thanks for all your replies - I am overwhelmed by the technicalities of it all!
quote:Originally posted by Cartman: Installing a network to share an internet connection is child's play, but let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Two questions:
1) What ADSL providers are available in your postal area?
2) What's your monthly budget?
1) Can't I just plug an ADSL modem in on my existing provider and just get extra speed?
2) a) same as it is now if I can just plug one into what I have or
b) nothing as we I don't want to incur any extra costs. If it costs more money and hastle then I'll grit my teeth and bare it out until I get a place of my own!
c) BT Broadband is at �29.99 and can do the network thing for the PCs. Might twist my parent's arms! Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"Can't I just plug an ADSL modem in on my existing provider and just get extra speed?"
Certainly not. For one thing, unless it's somehow different there, they have to add little connector devices (some sort of filter, I think) to all of your telephone cables. Plus, and this addresses your second point(s), DSL service costs more than dial-up. Surely you didn't think they'd give you all that extra bandwidth for free?
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
1) Can't I just plug an ADSL modem in on my existing provider and just get extra speed?
Erh, no. ADSL is a service, like digital or satellite TV, that may or may not be deliverable in your area. And, as with all public services, there are good ones, bad ones, fast ones, slow ones, cheap ones, expensive ones, but (you thought there wasn't a "but"?) unfortunately no free ones. Which is why, before you subscribe to one and get yourself in a messy legal bind, you should carefully compare ALL the providers that can deliver an ADSL service to you by reading their fine print and studying their connection offers (speeds, monthly fees, installation costs, modem prices, data limits, extras, those sorts of things). When you've done that, you'll know if 2c is a good deal or not.
2) a) same as it is now if I can just plug one into what I have or
b) nothing as we I don't want to incur any extra costs. If it costs more money and hastle then I'll grit my teeth and bare it out until I get a place of my own!
Well, how high is your average phone bill?
[ May 13, 2004, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: Cartman ]
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Most sorts of broadband are geered towards a single modem for the main house computer. Any other computers are going to require networking.
If you want a cheap broadband option (and you like in the UK, don't you?), look at NTL. The speed is only 150k/s for the slowest option, but it's really cheap. In that, it's probably cheaper than the combined total you're paying for your current ISP and phone line.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
LOL! Shows what I know.
Well, on a good note my parents are now considering getting BT Yahoo! Broadband for the home and getting their tech guys to come in and set-up the network for us - provided we can all access the Net at the same time (can we?).
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Yes dear, you can.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by Cartman: Yes dear, you can.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!
Me be a happy bunny now!
(Hey, what happened to the ability to do [H1][/H1]?)
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I wasn't aware that those ever existed as UBB tags.
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Of course they didn't. Why would anyone allow
's in a forum post?
Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
Charles?
As I said, why do you allow <h1>'s?
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Because we allow HTML, as I can generally trust you guys to not do stupid things. Like leave open tags.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
But it didn't work for me!
[h1]See . . . it doesn't work![/h1]
Oh! Now it does! LOL!
Say, since when do we use "<" instead of "["? Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Since "h1" has been an HTML tag.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Pointy brackets are HTML code, which work more or less anywhere that doesn't strip them out when you post. Square brackets are UBB code, which only works on UBBs.
Posted by Toadkiller (Member # 425) on :
quote:Originally posted by Charles Capps: ... as I can generally trust you guys to not do stupid things....
That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about, well, any of us.
*sniff*
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
If you want a wireless router, go to Staples. $10 after rebate.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
�! Not $!
I'm in the UK guys so please quote � sterling
Mmm, we're probably going to go cable as we've heard that people can hack into a wireless one - but parents are still discussing/considering it. Hope to make the transition soon! Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Point. And there are probably security things you can set up to prevent bandwidth theft or general hacking.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Oh, come on, surely you can convert $ to �. We do have to do it almost everytime we watch TV.
$10 = roughly �6 off the top of my head. Go to [url="Currency Converter"]http://www.xe.com/ucc/[/url]. Also remember that things are often massively overpriced over here.
Check dabs.com.
Posted by akb1979 (Member # 557) on :
quote:Originally posted by PsyLiam: Oh, come on, surely you can convert $ to �. We do have to do it almost everytime we watch TV.
$10 = roughly �6 off the top of my head. Go to [url="Currency Converter"]http://www.xe.com/ucc/[/url]. Also remember that things are often massively overpriced over here.
Check dabs.com.
LOL!
I'm only teasing!
HEHE! Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
There were only four smilies in your last post, so it was hard to tell.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Confused]](confused.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)