Satellite/DSL in condos?

[enko]

Anyone have any information on it? I'm moving into a condo. They have satellite and DSL. Basically you have a satellite receiver. And it has an ethernet "out". I'm wondering what kind of speeds are possible with this thing and if I'll have any issues :(

[Emancipated]

I believe satellite technology still suffers from latency, enough to render gaming impossible.

Most complexes have Look Communications provide them with DSL service. They're on par with Bell, imo.

[Igor01]

Anyone have any information on it? I'm moving into a condo. They have satellite and DSL. Basically you have a satellite receiver. And it has an ethernet "out". I'm wondering what kind of speeds are possible with this thing and if I'll have any issues :(

If you are referring to the ExpressVu for Condos by Bell it's pretty good, I've been using the TV+DSL standard highspeed package and my download averages around 5 megabits/sec. The service used to have a problem with bittorent downloads causing the ExpressVu box to restart and drop the DSL connection but it seems to have been fixed now. There are no issues with latnecy since you're not using the actual satellite for downstream but the copper phone line so you get the same speeds and latencies are any other highspeed DSL service.

Here's more info on it: http://expressvu.logient.com/condoTV;jsessionid=8188C3A6E3DE556C1CBF3F3D46023BE C

[JustMike]

I believe satellite technology still suffers from latency, enough to render gaming impossible.

If it's satellite + DSL, then the Internet is over DSL not satellite...

Most complexes have Look Communications provide them with DSL service. They're on par with Bell, imo.

Well, they're using Bell's copper if it's DSL :)

[Emancipated]

If it's satellite + DSL, then the Internet is over DSL not satellite...



Well, they're using Bell's copper if it's DSL :)


That's correct, but the quality of service depends largely on the provider's peering partner and how often they do "maintenance". It's rare when Bell has a massive outtage affecting everyone on DSL. I havne't heard of satellite over DSL (phone lines) before. A misnomer if I ever heard one.

[JustMike]

Bell does have at least one VHDSL trial going on in downtown where TV, Internet and phone go over a DSL connection. Maybe this is what the original is referring to?

[enko]

Aha, yes, it would seem "VDSL" is what I'm talking about.

So, do you have a DSL modem as well? Or is it built in to the TV receiver?

Yeah, Bit Torrent issues was one of the things I was concerned about :-)

I'm guessing I'll just plug in my router to the receiver, and configure things like I normally would with an ADSL modem?

[Igor01]

Aha, yes, it would seem "VDSL" is what I'm talking about.

So, do you have a DSL modem as well? Or is it built in to the TV receiver?

Yeah, Bit Torrent issues was one of the things I was concerned about :-)

I'm guessing I'll just plug in my router to the receiver, and configure things like I normally would with an ADSL modem?

You don't need a DSL modem, Bell will give a vDSL box made by Motorola which will handle both the TV stream and the internet traffic. The box is hooked up to your TV like a regular digital TV or a satellite receiver, you control the channels and volume with the box's remote. It also has an ethernet port to which you connect your computer. I believe Bell also gives a free wireless router with the service (you may have to ask for it though) which you can use as an wireless access point for shared internet access.

I didn't have to configure much, if you were on Bell's DSL already your existing PPoE connection settings should work, at least mine did when I recently reloaded my machine, just had to recreate the PPoE connection profile and got on the net instantly.

The bittorent problem which was very annoying seems to have gone away, I haven't had a single box self-restart and dropped internet connection for months now and I download gigs of stuff every day. Overall the service seems very reliable and the internet connection is good and fast, files download at a pretty steady ~500 kB/s rate.

[enko]

Does your download speed depend on some sort of plan? Or does everyone with this setup have the same speed? 500kb/sec would suggest 4 or 5 megabit connections. I'm assuming you get the regular 800kilobit upstream.

[Igor01]

Does your download speed depend on some sort of plan? Or does everyone with this setup have the same speed? 500kb/sec would suggest 4 or 5 megabit connections. I'm assuming you get the regular 800kilobit upstream.

I'm on a regular Sympatico High Speed service which is rated at 5 megabits, can't remember the upstream speed. This seemed like the most cost-effective option for me since it carries no download cap and still has a great speed, besides I pricematched it to 3Web and pay only $29.99 a month. You can probably get any other package offered by Bell to its DSL customers, the vDSL line can handle 27 megabits downstream if I remember correctly (that includes your TV stream too of course).

[enko]

Nice, that's sweet, that's what I wanted to hear. I'm pretty sure my future-roomate is on the HS regular.