OT Internet Access

In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month but gave me an introductory rate
of about $30 a month...so maybe you can just get them to switch you from
DSL to their so called U-verse service.

I just did a speed test a few minutes ago and my actual download speed
was about 3.9 Mbps. For my purposes it works great and I have no
problems streaming video.

OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I think you mean 200 Kbps (kilo *bits* per sec for AT&T DSL,
NOT 200 KBps (kilo *bytes* per sec)

NOTE: b stands for bits, B stands for bytes (one Byte = 8 bits), so there
is a factor of 8 difference here, which is significant.

And thus 200 Kbps = 0.2 Mbps (since Meg = 1000 Kilo).

Think of it this way: one million dollars equals 1000 thousand dollar
bills.

So I think you have:

200 Kbps (or 0.2 Mbps) VS 50 Mbps, giving a clear advantage to TWC
But I'm assuming the latter (TWC) is over cable, and not phone lines, like
DSL, which accounts for the big difference. Phone lines are more bandwidth
limiting than cable.

I just looked up more on DSL on the net, and one article said residential
DSL
service can vary between 128 Kbps to 3000 Kbps (or 3 Mbps) depending on the
service. Again, these are bits per sec ratings.

On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month but gave me an introductory rate of
about $30 a month...so maybe you can just get them to switch you from DSL to
their so called U-verse service.

I just did a speed test a few minutes ago and my actual download speed was
about 3.9 Mbps. For my purposes it works great and I have no problems
streaming video.

Every PC here talks in KBps so Mbps has no meaning to me.



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

On 12/30/2013 10:42 AM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

As stated by Philo, the choice of service depends on one's need. But I
will also add that DSL might not be as stable as cable. DSL's capability
will vary, depending on the condition of the telephone line and outside
environmental conditions impacting on what is essentially an unshielded
cable. I have monitored a DSL connection that can fluctuate from a low
of around 300 kBps to a high of around 1.8 MBps, typically averaging at
around 800 kBps. OTOH, TWC cable at this same location remained stable
at around 15.6 MBps with minor fluctuations. Testing was done using
www.speedtest.net.

GR

On 12/30/2013, OldGuy posted:
On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T
phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month but gave me an introductory
rate of about $30 a month...so maybe you can just get them to
switch you from DSL to their so called U-verse service.

I just did a speed test a few minutes ago and my actual download
speed was about 3.9 Mbps. For my purposes it works great and I
have no problems streaming video.

Every PC here talks in KBps so Mbps has no meaning to me.



--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ---

1000 Kbps = 1 Mbps.

In engineering and science, K, kilo, is a thousand and M, mega, is a
million.

Sometimes in computers K can be 1024 and M can be 1048756, because they
fit binary values quite well.

There's much more, but that should get you started (and me stopped).

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 12/30/2013 02:24 PM, OldGuy wrote:
On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA



I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month but gave me an introductory
rate of about $30 a month...so maybe you can just get them to switch
you from DSL to their so called U-verse service.

I just did a speed test a few minutes ago and my actual download speed
was about 3.9 Mbps. For my purposes it works great and I have no
problems streaming video.

Every PC here talks in KBps so Mbps has no meaning to me.




1 Mbps = 1000 Kbbs


so your present speed of 200Kbps would equal 0.2 Mbps (or only about
4x the speed of dial up) Even the economy version of cable would be a
nice improvement.


Conversely 3Mbps service would translate to 3000 Kbps ... or 15 times
your present speed. That's why I sort of implied that Time Warner would
very well be more than what you would actually need.

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 10:42:05 -0800, OldGuy wrote:

In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.

How has that speed been working out for you? If it's been fine, there is no
way I would suggest upgrading to 50 Mbps service. See below.

TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

There are 8 bits in a byte, so just multiply 200 kilobytes per second by 8
to get 1600 kilobits per second. Now divide by 1000 to get around 1.6
megabits per second (Mbps) and suddenly you're using the same measuring
stick as TWC. Comparing 1.6Mbps to 50Mbps, I would say that 50Mbps is
extreme overkill (and at a much higher monthly cost, I assume) compared to
what you have now.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

It sounds like a plan from the lower end of the service offering will suit
you just fine. Definitely no need to go for the 50Mbps service!

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?

Both options exist. You can get phone service through TWC or you can save
some money by using a third party. I used to use Vonage, but they aren't the
cheapest. Super reliable, though. I don't remember having an outage for the
7 years that I used them, except for a couple of times when my entire
Internet connection was down. That's the rub, of course. Services like
Vonage, and there are lots to choose from, use your existing Internet
connection to route calls. That's why you also have a cell phone, though.

Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

I'm partial to the Motorola SB61xx models for straight DOCSIS3 compliance,
but I don't think they do voice (if you're going to use TWC's voice
service). If you use a 3rd party like Vonage, then any modem is fine. By the
way, you actually don't need a DOCSIS3 modem. The older DOCSIS2 standard is
fine for what you're doing and may be cheaper.

--

Char Jackson

On 30/12/2013 20:24, OldGuy wrote:


Every PC here talks in KBps so Mbps has no meaning to me.


There are 8 bits (b) in a Byte (B) and 1000[1] kilo anythings (k) in a
Mega anything (M)

So 1Mps = 1000kbps = 125kBps

HTH!

[1] Strictly, 1024 since everything is in binary. 1024 is a round number
when expressed as powers of 2, whereas 1000 is not!

--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

On Mon, 30 Dec 2013 10:42:05 -0800, OldGuy wrote:

In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA


To comment only on switching from AT&T to Time Warner, I did that a
year ago and went with TWC TV, Internet & Phone. Dumping AT&T was
very satisfying and TWC has been great.

Consider one of their special promotions to do that and you'll be
glad. My first year (recently concluded) cost was about $114/month
for TV with DVR, 10Mbps Internet and Nationwide Unlimited calling.

Good service and good support if/when you need it and the price is
right. Adios AT&T!

DC

OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).

.... but what levels of DSL or cable speed are available in any
particular 'non-metropolitan' area such as Marfa are individual.

I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?

50 megabits/sec = 6,400 kilobytes/sec

Also, the speeds are expressed as 'up to' as opposed to guaranteed.
TW's 100 Mbps is available only in Kansas City. TW's lower 'up to'
numbers are such as 3 or 2 which are 384 and 256 KBps.

Some packages at the top levels of 30 or 50 also include free wireless
modem/gateway which they are currently advertising as about $9/mo extra
for the lower plans.

I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?

TWC ads show a phone plan.

Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?

Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

The current TWC ads I see seem to want to provide the modem and charge a
monthly fee.

I've had TWC for many years and my cable modem belongs to TWC but I'm
not charged a monthly fee for it. It is included in my internet service
charges. There isn't an option to own my own modem for a lesser monthly
rate.




--
Mike Easter

On 30/12/2013 19:31:09, philo* wrote:
On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA

I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month

Wow, thats expensive. In the UK $41 = £25
You could get 60Mb + a load of tv and other things for that, but then
our gas is $10 a gallon :-(
http://store.virginmedia.com/bundles...llections.html

--
mick

On 12/30/2013 04:56 PM, mick wrote:

TIA

I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month

Wow, thats expensive. In the UK $41 = £25
You could get 60Mb + a load of tv and other things for that, but then
our gas is $10 a gallon :-(
http://store.virginmedia.com/bundles...llections.html




Right now gas is about 3.30 USD and a while back it had been up near 4 USD

I still see tons of people driving huge gas hogs...you just would not
believe it.

On 12/30/2013, mick posted:
On 30/12/2013 19:31:09, philo* wrote:
On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T
phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA

I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month

Wow, thats expensive. In the UK $41 = £25
You could get 60Mb + a load of tv and other things for that, but then
our gas is $10 a gallon :-(
http://store.virginmedia.com/bundles...llections.html

But don't forget your gallons are bigger than ours - and size matters
:-)

I don't think I could live with the speeds that OldGuy seems to be
accepting :-(

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 30/12/2013 23:22:06, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On 12/30/2013, mick posted:
On 30/12/2013 19:31:09, philo* wrote:
On 12/30/2013 12:42 PM, OldGuy wrote:
In my area I have a choice of AT&T DSL or Time Warner (TWC).
I now have AT&T with a download rate max of about 200KBps.
TWC rates there speed in Mbps.
It TWC has a 50Mbps rate, what is that in KBps real data speed?
I do not think FIOS is available here.

I would be getting only internet (no TV as TV over the air is just
great). And internet TV is fine too.

But what about phone service? I would want to disconnect my AT&T phone
and DSL. I have a cell phone.
Would a TWC (buy my own) modem allow phone?
Or do I use some service through my PC or laptop?
Any suggetion on a version 3 cable modem?

Please help me understand.
TIA

I recently went with AT&T U-verse's cheapest plan

they have 3Mbps service for $41 a month

Wow, thats expensive. In the UK $41 = £25
You could get 60Mb + a load of tv and other things for that, but then our
gas is $10 a gallon :-(
http://store.virginmedia.com/bundles...llections.html

But don't forget your gallons are bigger than ours - and size matters :-)

So they are, but thats still $8.75 US gallon. You get short changed on
beer as well, thank goodness we have bigger pints :-)

I don't think I could live with the speeds that OldGuy seems to be accepting
:-(

Been there with dial up and we thought that ws fast, but back then we
had more time or so it seemed.

--
mick