DSL VS ROADRUNNER

I sent e-mail to NBCUG members and River Bend residents last March that compared the two services. Since then there has been a continuous migration of users to both services with RoadRunner currently leading the way.

What's the difference between DSL and RoadRunner? Let's compare:

DSL uses your existing phone line beefed up to become a digital circuit capable of receiving data up to 3 Mb/s instead of the usual 56Kb/s, making it 60 times faster. I say 3Mb/s because Sprint likes to speak of it that way but the higher speeds are only available at higher charges. What they actually offer for residential service is 512Kb/s downstream and 128 Kb/s upstream which isn't bad and it's supposed to be a fixed speed. Your PC becomes hardwired to DSL so you no longer have to dial out. When your PC is using the Internet, your phone can be used simultaneously for voice. Earthlink is the ISP chosen by Sprint for $10/mo. You will need a modem at $200 from Sprint. Full installation including a network card costs $130 but you may be able to do it yourself. Then there's an activation charge of $50 and monthly recurring charge of $40. Your regular phone charges will remain.

RoadRunner service uses the TV cable provided by Cox Communications for data thereby freeing up your phone line for voice. It is capable of receiving up to 3 Mb/s and even higher but you won't get that speed because it will likely be throttled back to max out at 1000 or 1200Kbps. Since the cable is shared as more users are added or as traffic increases the bit rate may drop. Currently in our area the maximum speed may get as high as 1200Kb/s downstream and 300Kb/s upstream only because there are not yet many local subscribers. In more populated areas where thousands of subscribers exist the maximum downstream speed may be only 300-500Kb/s. RoadRunner is the name of the ISP used by Cox so you won't need to subscribe to a separate ISP. Like DSL your PC will be connected at all times to the cable for instant Internet access. You'll need a cable modem that will cost $200 from Cox and a network interface card for $30. Installation will cost $100 unless a special deal is offered (as of 6/11 it was $50). The monthly recurring charge will be $35 or $45 per month depending on whether you already have Cox as your cable TV provider.

Which high-speed service is best? I can't really say. I think the jury is still out. You'll see lots of pros and cons for each service discussed on the net. DSL, for example, may suffer in bit speed if you're not close to a Sprint central office. And if you just happen to be more than a few miles away DSL won't even be available to you. RoadRunner, unlike DSL, is a shared service so we need to see what's going to happen to bit speed as more users are added. RoadRunner is currently faster than DSL but may not stay that way. Of course, we also need to know how both companies will threat their customers when things don't go right since both services are new in our area.

What are my plans? I'm going to just hang in with my 56 Kb/s (actually max 50,600 bps) a bit longer. I'm not into downloading MP3 music, huge video files or large software so I don't need blinding speed. I'm happy with how fast e-mail and web pages display. Besides, I still drive an old '87 car and was never the first one to get new toys on the block. But I recall saying back in the '70s "who needs more than 300 bits per second when you can't read that fast?" And even Bill Gates said in the '80s "640K of memory is enough for anyone" so don't hold me to my word.

Be sure to call Sprint at 633-9011 or Cox at 1-866-999-3278 to check out the latest prices before you decide on DSL or RoadRunner.

All past computer articles that have appeared in the RIVERBENDER are posted at http://www4.coastalnet.com/nbcug/index.htm.