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General discussion

Broadband speed test help

Nov 11, 2008 4:22AM PST

I have been using Comcast Cable broadband for a few years. For several reasons but mainly to save money. I recently subscribed to the Verizon's 3 MB/s service. I still have my Comcast service connected. Before my 30 day trial on on Verizon is up I wanted to make sure that it is at least close to the speed of Comcast. I have been comparing the 2 services using various online speed testing web sites. I switch the ethernet cable to my desktop system from one modem to the other to compare. The problem is that some of the speed test web sites show Verizon with a faster connection and others with Comcast. I do not understand that. Is there a better testing site that I should try? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Normal . . .
Nov 11, 2008 6:45AM PST

Advertised speeds are gestimates, and are done in perfect laboratory conditions. For the same reason a 100 Mb LAN will never reach 100 Mb speed. It's all hype.

Here is a pretty reliable link http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ Pick a server close to you. My Road Runner advertised speed is 15 Mb and I get real close.

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Slow DSL
Nov 15, 2008 8:24AM PST

Thank you for your reply. I tried that speed test and it is more consistent than the others. I also found a good one at http://2wire.com The Verizon speed has improved some but still significantly slower than Comcast Cable. The Version people say that my modem's connection speed is over 3mb/s but that is not what the online test are showing.

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Advertised speeds, again . . .
Nov 15, 2008 11:12AM PST

The modem and the facilities are capable of 3 Mb/s. But getting it another story. Back to hype. Because DSL is an analog signal it is susceptible to line noise and metallic faults inherent in all telephone cable. Because of this, and because DSL is distance limited, you'll never get advertised speeds. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

Wayne (IBM freak - 7)

Click here to see the CNet faces, learn a little about analog and digital data, Internet connections, Spyware removal, and download free software (and a GREAT chocolate-cherry cobbler recipe).
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Thanks Wayne
Nov 16, 2008 12:03AM PST

That makes sense. When I had dial-up a few years ago I could never achieve anywhere near the top speed of the modem. I guess DSL is the same. All of the utilities in my development run underground. There are no poles. Sometime I wonder if that has an effect on the line quality. Yesterday I tried running the same YouTube videos on both Cable and DSL. On DSL the videos would constantly stall while buffering. On cable all the videos ran smoothly. I really wanted to like DSL. I'm tired of being gouged by Comcast but it looks like I'm stuck with it. Thanks again.

~eddie

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Are you being gouged?
Nov 16, 2008 12:39AM PST

probably not when you consider DSL is useless to you at any price (free even). Beside..we are talking about a difference of about..maybe $10?

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Are you being gouged?
Nov 18, 2008 9:49AM PST

Well considering I pay Comcast over 180.00 per month for Cable TV and broadband I feel like I'm being gouged. It seems like they keep raising their rates every couple of months. Comcast broadband is around 43.00 per month. With Verizon the first 6 months are free and the following 6 months are 30.00 a month. I also tried going with DirecTV for TV programming but because several tall trees block a clear path to the satellites it was a no go. So I'm stuck with Comcast for TV and probably will end up stuck with Comcast for broadband. Fios is not available in my area and probably will not be available for years if ever. Thanks.

~eddie

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About 6 months ago,
Nov 19, 2008 1:37AM PST

I checked with Verizon; if you are not a verizon telephone customer, a 1.5g bps service is $42 (and the reliability isn't that much better). My guess is that you will change ISP after the first year.

$120 for TV is pretty high of course if you have lots of premuim stuffs. My DirecTV is about $50..but nothing special though.

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Verizon Vs Comcast
Nov 19, 2008 3:19AM PST

I am Verizon telephone customer. I also have Verizon Wireless. My wife is the TV person. She needs to have all of the channels. It's actually over 130.00 for TV. If it were up to me I would have a much cheaper TV package. Another reason I'm considering staying with Comcast is that I would have to change the email address I have been using for years. It would be a big pain trying to get the new email address to everyone I deal with online. I wouldn't mind it as much if the Verizon connection was better. I do have a couple of other email addresses I sometimes use that are not Comcast. One thing that is better with Verizon its the modem/wireless router. It's an all in one unit that sends a stronger signal to 2 laptops and a desktop in other parts of the house. With Comcast I have my own two piece Linksys modem and router that is much bigger in size but doesn't send as strong a signal. Thanks.