Re: Napster/MP3/Cable Modem

From: simon booth (sgbooth@eos.ncsu.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 01 2000 - 03:34:05 MET

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    I'm sure there are really good FAQs about this stuff. I'm going to
    cover a lot of stuff not covered in these FAQs because I'm on the
    bleeding edge of bandwidth because I can't get enough either.

    1) Cable Modems
    Bandwidth: 40 Megabits per Second total throughput
    Benefits: Works if you have a cable connection and your carrier is
    offering service.
    Disadvantages: Cable modem works a lot like ethernet, whoever is
    on your local loop (say your neighborhood) shares that 40 Mbps
    connection. What happens when you get 400 people downloading
    the newest and greatest Internet Exploder? That 40Mbps is
    shared, and thus you don't really get that much bandwidth. Cable
    Modems are also less secure because the information can be
    "sniffed". I'm not a network security expert, but thats what I do
    know about it.
    Advantages: This is the best service to get if you need bandwidth
    because most likely you'll have plenty of bandwidth. Cable
    modems generally do not have upload restrictions and a better
    choice if you want to run a server for say....um....music reviews.
    Cost: I don't know.

    ADSL
    Bandwitdh: 1.5 Megabits per second down, 128-384 kbps upload.
    Future ADSL standards will support up to 8 Mbps total bandwidth.
    Benefits: Works over POTS (plain old telephone service). Its much
    more secure because the network between you and the provider is
    only shared by you.
    Disadvantages: Because it works over POTS, there are a LOT of
    problems with it. You have to be 2 miles to a local office. A local
    office can also be a local switching box outside your neighborhood.
     ADSL works best when you live in a high density residential area.
    I'll forego all the details why this is.
    Advantages: More secure. If you don't POTS service, then what
    are you doing on the internet? ADSL is generally cheaper too.
    The connection and bandwidth are only shared by you and the
    phone company, so you've always got that 1.5 Mbps.
    Cost: Varies. Here in NC, 200 for installation and 60 per month.

    DirectTV
    Bandwidth: 400kbps download, upload is all done via modem
    Benefits: It works in most of the Continental US
    Disadvantages: There service costs $$$$ for only 40 hours of
    service at that speed (per month I think). Upload is done via a local
    ISP. So you really pay a lot. I'm not 100% certain of anything on
    this service, but I know its rather expensive.
    Advantages: If you can get DSS, you can get this. I highly doubt
    you could use this off the US shore.

    Future Highbandwidth Stuff.

    Cell Phones
    Bandwidth: Specs keep changing, but a provider in the UK is going
    to offer service at 100kpbs fairly soon. Practically all the major cell
    phone makers (the big 3) are working on phones with even higher
    bandwidth. I'd say a practical limit is going to be under 4-500
    kbps. The 3G cell phones will have even higher data rates ... and
    all kinds of crazy stuff.
    Benefits: None right now because its not available.

    VDSL
    Bandwidth: Lots. I think 40 Mbps total throughput.
    Benefits: Fast.
    VDSL is based on ADSL but is the next generation when
    residential areas have fiber drops right there. VDSL is still a long
    ways away from practical use. Maybe 5-10 years from now.

    Satellite Service
    I keep hearing stuff on this, but I don't have any real concrete info
    on it. Supposedly the DirectTV competitor (I don't know the name)
    for the next generation of satellite TV has much more bandwidth to
    offer and is rumored to have some stuff in development. I'm not
    sure, and I won't believe this until I see it.

    Bottom line - at this point in time, you have to get what is available
    in your area. Prices will vary, but the basic rule is the more
    bandwidth you want, the more you pay.

    Hope that helps,
    Simon

    > I've been going insane downloading MP3s from napster
    > (http://www.napster.com/) and I'm realizing that I need a faster
    > connection.
    > Could somebody please advise me on the best options out there? I keep
    > hearing about cable modem and using Direct TV to use the net and all sorts
    > of stuff. Can somebody point me in the right direction? Prices?
    > Benefits vs Drawbacks? Etc...
    >



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