What's the speed of your Internet connection?

[Alice Morrison]

Just curious to see what folks here are using.

The local telephone company just laid fiber optic cable throughout my neighborhood, so FTTP (or fiber to the premises) should be coming soon.

That'll mean download speeds of 15Mbps and uploads of 2Mbps in the standard package. It will make cable speeds look pedestrian, which is good, because the cable company charges ridiculous rates.

[llpoolej]

Wow Alice, that would be awesome!! I am on cable, and not entirely pleased. I have speeds around 2.5mb, and if I go back to comcast, it would be 4mb. Comcast is faster, but I like the cable of Knology better. Always tradeoffs. I would love to just use a fiberoptic line like what you are talking about

[Alice Morrison]

With current technologies, my experience has been: DSL reliable but not as fast as cable; Cable not as reliable but faster than DSL.

Here's to hoping that Fiber from the phone company will give us the best of everything.

[metalstorm]

They are testing DOCSIS3 protocol for cable modem in NY area with speeds of 100mbits per second. This is over standard cable believe it or not. It's capable of 200mbits/downstream and 100mbits upstream. If the cable companies can get their act together, this is a huge, gain in speed on their current infrastruture.

Currently I'm on 3Mbit down/512kbit upstream.

[metalstorm]

Originally Posted by Pavel

I remember how awesome 56k first felt. I was flying ... until about a year when content caught up
Hmmmm, how big could we make posts with 100mbits per sec speed??

I would think that with 100mbit speeds, they could easily offer on demand programming, etc. One pipe to the house that offers, TV, Movies, telephone, internet all in one. That's probably where the fiber to the home is trying to lead to. It's probably possible at 15mbit+ speeds

[metalstorm]

Originally Posted by Alice Morrison

That'll mean download speeds of 15Mbps and uploads of 7Mbps in the standard package. It will make cable speeds look pedestrian, which is good, because the cable company charges ridiculous rates.

These are speeds that only acheived in dreams in my area. My work is in the process of getting a fractional OC3 @ 20mbit per second(what were allocated). I'm excited to see the results.

[Alice Morrison]

Originally Posted by metalstorm

I would think that with 100mbit speeds, they could easily offer on demand programming, etc. One pipe to the house that offers, TV, Movies, telephone, internet all in one. That's probably where the fiber to the home is trying to lead to. It's probably possible at 15mbit+ speeds

That's exactly right. The entire tech industry has been slowed due to laggardly implementation of broadband to the masses. We'll have things not yet dreamed of when speeds like that are commonplace.

[Alice Morrison]

http://www22.verizon.com/FiosForHome...netForHome.asp

[Alice Morrison]

* *Maximum Connection Speed* Packages* Monthly Fee* Order Now*
* *Up to 5 Mbps/2 Mbps* $39.95* *

* *Up to 15 Mbps/2 Mbps - Best Value* *$49.95* *

* *Up to 30 Mbps/5 Mbps* $199.95* *


*Actual throughput speeds will vary. Learn more about service speeds. Combine Verizon Fios Internet Service with a qualifying local and long distance package and save.

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by Alice Morrison

Just curious to see what folks here are using.

The local telephone company just laid fiber optic cable throughout my neighborhood, so FTTP (or fiber to the premises) should be coming soon.

That'll mean download speeds of 15Mbps and uploads of 2Mbps in the standard package. It will make cable speeds look pedestrian, which is good, because the cable company charges ridiculous rates.

I've languished in a rural area with a 28.8 modem connection that bursted on occassion to 31.2. About two months ago, I found a rural wireless provider that beams a 2.4Ghz Wifi connection about 3.5 miles to the fringe of my property. I literally have a radio antenna attached to a 200 year old Oak Tree pointing towards a tower (that I cannot see) across some farmland. I also have nearly 300ft of Cat 5e cable running from the tree to my house.

I'm currently subscribed at a 512Kbps download and 256Kbps upload. However, the signal strength will support up to a 2Mps download for twice the money. 512Kbps is fine for now... On occassion it will burst over 600Kbps. Since, installing this system I have learned of another provider that utilizes a 900Mhz system and offers 4Mbps download and 1Mbps upload speeds. My challenge is that I live in the woods, so near line of site was critical for the 2.4Ghz system, but 900 Mhz is almost impervious to trees however it brings it's own set of issues along with it.

Summary: There is hope for those out in the rural areas. Wireless providers are proliferating... and Cell phone companies are also beginning to offer services for internet access to the "sticks" as well.

Kevin