seeking new ISP, cable or DSL?

[mcewen]

So I currently have Bell internet.

I am paying for “up to” 7 megabits/ second (they claim up to 5 mbps… ) but am generally only getting about 1.5ish (plus or minus a little bit). I don’t think it is a throttling issue, because I don’t download stuff and this has been a problem since long before they started “traffic shaping”.

I am sick of it.

I want to change service providers. I will probably do so when I get a new computer (most likely on Boxing Day) so I have lots of time to research my options.

To the computer genius’s out there. If I am on DSL and getting crappy speeds, won’t I get the same speed if I go to a different DSL provider? Is my only option cable? – after all.. I am still the same distance away from Bell’s what-cha-ma-call-it, and the other service providers just use Bell’s lines anyway….

And what is ADSL 2+?
Altima shows that at up to 24 mbts / second. That is amazing! With my luck it won’t be in my area though….

[Dave98]

To the computer genius’s out there. If I am on DSL and getting crappy speeds, won’t I get the same speed if I go to a different DSL provider? Is my only option cable? – after all.. I am still the same distance away from Bell’s what-cha-ma-call-it, and the other service providers just use Bell’s lines anyway….

And what is ADSL 2+?
Altima shows that at up to 24 mbts / second. That is amazing! With my luck it won’t be in my area though….

Do a speedtest
www.speedtest.net

and yes, generally, if your speeds are poor with one DSL ISP, it is likely to be the same for any other DSL ISP. There are exceptions to the rule, like the possibility of being put on a remote DSLAM, but they're not likely to happen.

Rogers cable would generally be faster but then you have the bandwidth caps.

ADSL2+ is a faster version of the DSL you use now but it suffers the same distance/speed issues so if your speeds are slow now, it won't be improved with ADSL2+.

So.. either go with Rogers and deal with bandwidth caps or switch DSL ISPs, which probably won't make a difference in speed but the service and bandwidth caps are much higher. The recommended ones are usually;

Teksavvy - $29.95/month for 200GB of bandwidth
Velcom - $29.95/month unlimited

[cmge]

Teksavvy - $29.95/month for 200GB of bandwidth
Velcom - $29.95/month unlimited

hmmm ive been thinking about getting velcom over teksavvy since its unlimited. anyone tried velcom?

[mcewen]

I don't use any where close to what the bandwith cap would be with rogers... so that isn't a big deal.

anyone here use Electronic Box Inc, or altima.net for their cable ISP?

[Dave98]

hmmm ive been thinking about getting velcom over teksavvy since its unlimited. anyone tried velcom?

I use Velcom and have no complaints.

I don't use any where close to what the bandwith cap would be with rogers... so that isn't a big deal.

anyone here use Electronic Box Inc, or altima.net for their cable ISP?

If you live in a Rogers cable serviced area, you're not going to be able to sign up to any other cable internet provider. Well, there's 3web but they're not even worth considering.

[mcewen]

no competition in the cable ISP sector?

[Dave98]

Nope. In Rogers serviced areas, it's either Rogers or 3Web. That's it with regards to cable internet.

[jpark59]

Velcom - $29.95/month unlimited

I've been with Velcom for almost a year now and I have couple complaints.

First, their pop3/smtp server got frequently shut down and doesn't work for couple hours usually. It happens at least once a month.

Second, they started throttling every p2p port since april or may i don't remember.. They throttle from 4p.m. to 2a.m. just like Bell does.

Third, the maximum speed I've got from Velcom is 2M, I have 5M plan... lol

$29.95 is just for 3 months payment, the price increased to $42 including tax after 3 months.


I HATE VELCOM!!!!

[Tha DraGun]

I want to change my isp as well. I have cogeco cable internet and every month I go over their bandwidth limit. (60gig combined) I've already used 118 % for this month!

I hate the lack of internet options. Either I stick with cogeco or I get dsl and get slow throttled speeds!

[mcewen]

interesting...
I just did a speedtest.. first one in a while... at least since I moved my computer downstairs (and obviously to a new phone jack).

download 2.5 mbps
upload 394 kbps

still no where near what I am paying for....

anyone else in Oshawa on the water that can share their experiences?

[sickcars]

It depends, I have seen many times where a Bell user will be getting slow speeds because bell does not bother to upgrade the speed profile to whatever your line can handle.

So it is possible that your dsl could be able to take 5mbit or even 7mbit but bell is just to dumb and lazy to do anything about it, since they make more $$ this way.

1 thing you should do is get your DSL Line stats from your Modem then post them here; http://www.dslreports.com/forum/teksavvy & they will be able to tell you what type of speeds you should be getting. If bell is screwing you then leave them for a better company like teksavvy. Of course getting a good dsl modem like a speedtouch 516 can improve your line stats to give you better speeds, also running a dedicated Cat6 line to your demarc (where the phone line comes into the house) to your modem will also help since you can bypass all your internal phone lines which could be bad.

Now if it is a line/distance issue and nothing can be done about it then your only option is going to be Rogers or whatever cable company services your area but you got to live with the download caps.

[sickcars]

I want to change my isp as well. I have cogeco cable internet and every month I go over their bandwidth limit. (60gig combined) I've already used 118 % for this month!

I hate the lack of internet options. Either I stick with cogeco or I get dsl and get slow throttled speeds!

You can easily get around the Torrent throttling with a Good router like the Linksys WRT54GL and a 3rd party firmware if thats what your worried about many people do it

[Dave98]

I've been with Velcom for almost a year now and I have couple complaints.

First, their pop3/smtp server got frequently shut down and doesn't work for couple hours usually. It happens at least once a month.

Second, they started throttling every p2p port since april or may i don't remember.. They throttle from 4p.m. to 2a.m. just like Bell does.

Third, the maximum speed I've got from Velcom is 2M, I have 5M plan... lol

$29.95 is just for 3 months payment, the price increased to $42 including tax after 3 months.


I HATE VELCOM!!!!

I don't use their email system so I can't comment on that.

No, they didn't start throttling. It is Bell who started imposing their throttling on all the smaller independent ISPs like Velcom. All DSL ISPs that share Bell CO's are affected. Fortunately, Velcom is one of the few who support the following ability to overcome it;
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=594003

Maximum speed is determined by the quality of your phone lines and, most importantly, the distance from your residence to a DSLAM. This affects essentially ANY DSL ISP you use.

Also, wrong on the price. They've just recently dropped monthly subscriptions to $29.95 as shown here

http://velcom.ca/prices.htm

[Tha DraGun]

If bell is screwing you then leave them for a better company like teksavvy..

By the way, Teksavvy uses Bell's lines.. Different company, same internet. And Bell throttles sub lines more then the ones they sell under thier name.

[Dave98]

By the way, Teksavvy uses Bell's lines.. Different company, same internet. And Bell throttles sub lines more then the ones they sell under thier name.

Yes, they use the same physical lines but it is not entirely the "same internet". Teksavvy and the other ISPs provide their own transits and bandwidth. The actual service itself is entirely Teksavvy's. The data just happens to go over Bell's lines which in turn, really only determines maximum throughput.

and I'm not sure where you got the idea that wholsalers are throttled more. Not that it matters though when their competitors provide services like MLPPP that will overcome the throttling anyway.