ISP - internet shopping again... advice on DSL vs Cable?

[morkys]

Ok, so I spent a few years with DSL, a few of them with Bell and a few of those years with Access Vantage. No major problems but I honestly can't remember an aweful lot about those years. For the past 2 or 3 years or more I have been on Rogers cable. Works ok. I like that I don't have to do anything with my PC. It just connects. Now I am moving from Ajax to Pickering so we need to set up new internet. So I guess it's a time to reflect and make another choice. Our condo has cable tv in the maintenance fees, so not sure how it would work if I wanted rogers cable internet, but I am sure it would work somehow.

So share your experience of late and lemme know what you think I should go with and why. Price, performance, caps, issues, good experience, bad experience...give me what you've got :)

[Frankie3s]

Ok, so I spent a few years with DSL, a few of them with Bell and a few of those years with Access Vantage. No major problems but I honestly can't remember an aweful lot about those years. For the past 2 or 3 years or more I have been on Rogers cable. Works ok. I like that I don't have to do anything with my PC. It just connects. Now I am moving from Ajax to Pickering so we need to set up new internet. So I guess it's a time to reflect and make another choice. Our condo has cable tv in the maintenance fees, so not sure how it would work if I wanted rogers cable internet, but I am sure it would work somehow.

So share your experience of late and lemme know what you think I should go with and why. Price, performance, caps, issues, good experience, bad experience...give me what you've got :)

Bell has been great except for some of their surprise account changes/fees. If you do sign up for Bell, make sure you get an uncapped service if that is what you had paid for. To make things easier if there is a problem, record all of the details of your conversation with Bell such as the agents name and agent number, time you had called, etc. Verify your understanding with them before you hang up the phone. Especially about caps!

[Dave98]

With DSL, you just never know how well it performs until you actually install and try it out because of possible distance or line issues. With cable, you USUALLY get pretty close to the advertised speed. So going by this, it's hard to determine which is better for you in your new location.

Both Bell and Rogers internet services are bandwidth capped now. You can check out third party DSL providers like Teksavvy and Acanac that are cheaper per month and don't have bandwidth caps.

Another thing is, most newer DSL modems do PPPoE authentication by themselves now. You don't have to login every time you turn your computer on anymore. So, in a sense, it's "always on" like cable now.

[morkys]

Fair enough. That's good feedback so far. This week we will research the costs of each at our location and go from there.

[morkys]

Anybody in a Rosefield townhouse in Pickering (or in the Rosefield and Finch area?) with Rogers? DSL? How is it working for you?

[morkys]

Went with Rogers. 20% off for the first year.