When comparing broadband speed there is more than meets the eye. In addition
to the monthly charges there could be usage charges, taxes, tariffs, and
other fees. For example, telephone lines are subject to a $5-7 per month
"Federal Subscriber Line Charge" making shared DSL or cable
an attractive alternative to a separate dial-up line.
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Connection Type
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Set-up and Monthly Costs
Connection speeds are shown in Kilobytes (K); the
higher the K the faster the connection. An Internet Service Provider
(ISP) is required regardless of the type of connection.
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| Dial
Up |
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Speed
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Up to 53k with a 56k modem but often slower.
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Setup
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$50-100 for the line, $30-50 for a dial-up modem.
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Monthly
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$15-25 for the line, $5-7 Federal Subscriber Line Charge.
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ISP
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$15-25 per month, cheap or free if you don't mind advertising
or a limit on your usage. Some free services can alter your
system configuration rather drastically to display advertising
to you so beware.
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A dial-up line can take up to a minute to connect. The
modem may disconnect when idle for 5-10 minutes and must
re-connect as needed.
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Residential
ISDN
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| Speed |
56k or 64k (single channel)
112k or 128k (dual channel). |
| Setup |
$100 and up for the line; $100 and up for a
CSU/DSU (sometimes called an ISDN "modem"). |
| Monthly |
$30-90 depending on "free" minutes plus Federal
Subscriber Line Charge and per-minute charges. Daytime rates
may be higher.
|
| ISP |
$15-25 per month, depending on the
carrier. Not all ISPs support a dual channel connection and
some charge extra for ISDN. |
|
ISDN connects quickly and disconnects when idle. You may
be charged for each re-connection. Per-minute charges can
mount up quickly.
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|
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DSL
|
| Speed |
Typically 384k, 768k, or 1,500k
down and 128k or 384k up for assymetrical DSL. Symmetrical
and other forms of DSL are also available. |
| Setup |
Installation is often free with a self-install
kit. If not included, a DSL "modem" will cost $100-200
plus $30 for an Ethernet card. The modem and setup charges
are often waived or rebated. |
| Monthly |
$40-70 and higher, depending on speed and type. |
| ISP |
Included. |
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DSL is not available in all areas or at all speeds. The
quality of service depends on your provider. Maximum distance
from the telephone company central office (CO) is limited,
typically 18,000 feet. If you are too far from the CO you
may need IDSL (very expensive) or another form of service.
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TV Cable
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Speed
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Ranges from .5 Mb to 1.5 Mb and could be higher.
|
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Setup
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Often free. The cable Modem may be rented or purchased
separately. Check with your cable company to ensure your
modem will work on their system.
|
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Monthly
|
$40 and up if you have a cable TV account, more if you
do not.
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ISP
|
Usually included. You may pay more to use your own ISP.
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Cable service can be blazingly fast but can degrade drastically
if many users are on line. If you rent a cable modem
the cable company will maintain it. If you buy a cable modem
you will have to replace it if it fails and you will also
be required to upgrade it if their system configuration
changes.
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| Satellite |
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Speed
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Varies with the satellite company. Can be in the 200-500k
range.
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Setup
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Satellite equipment is expensive, often several hundred dollars,
and installation may be extra.
|
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Monthly
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$50-100 and up, depending on the company and the service.
|
|
ISP
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Usually included.
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Look to satellite if you can't get cable or DSL. There can
be problems with latency (delay) caused by shooting a signal
22,000 miles into space and back. Satellite requires exposure
to the southern sky.
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