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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