DSL to cable internet

[Dane]

Alright right now through our phone company, I am to get 10Mb down, and 512kb up. I don't get close to that. We're switching from Dish to cable (much cheaper where we are). They have 5Mb/512kb up. Compared to dsl, will cable be better?

One thing I will NOT miss is going to facebook and looking at pictures and having to reset my router because it doesnt like websites with lots of pictures for some reason, or it random stops working and needs reset.

This is what I get now

Now any other day, i get only 100-110kb upload.

Once I get cable (tomorrow sometime) is there anything that I can do to max out the connection, so I get what I pay for? Someone told me to check out opendns

[+BudMan MVC]

Resetting your router due to sites with pictures has nothing to do with your ISP.. If your router is crap then put in a better one.. Its possible the reason you were not seeing your full down is your router. Since you were dsl, I assume you had a gateway device, ie a modem/router combo.

What are you going to be using for cable as your router.

Opendns has nothing to do with your bandwidth. its a replacement nameserver vs using the one your ISP hands you.. Provides filtering, etc. Its quite possible it might be better than your ISP dns, but has nothing to do with if you will see 5MB down from speedtest.net.

I show comcast as blowing away that 5mb your saying.. And they sure are faster than the ISP your currently using. Are you going getting some different ISP?

I always get close to the stated speeds.

[Dane]

When I first this DSL, the phone company came out because the internet would go out three to five times a day, they replaced the router they gave me the first time...Still did it, just not as bad. They came out again, replaced it again, still did it. They came out the third and last time, replaced the phone lines, and the router again. Two techs that came out could find no reason why I was getting such slow speeds, it took four-five mins for them to load yahoo, they blamed it on some in their office but didnt know why. So I am finally giving up on them. For some reason though if I goto like facebook is something with alot of pictures it will either A load very slowly, or B just sit there and do nothing, and just freezes my internet. Two different computers as well, both of which are fully updated.

[+BudMan MVC]

Well nothing against you going to cable.. But your router locking up should have nothing to do with your ISP.

What router were you using.. And what router will you be using with cable.

Cable is normally 2 devices, a modem and then a router. With DSL its normally a combo device (gateway) that has both the modem and router in one device.. IMPO these devices SUCK ;) I would always suggest just a modem and then a router.. But in DSL land this can be difficult to find, most of the devices out there for DSL/ADSL are combo.. You can quite often put your gateway into just bridge mode where now just acts as a modem, ie it does not do NAT.. Just provides the connection.

With DSL you normally have to use a lower MTU as well, since quite often its a PPPoE connection.

If you were having crap service with your DSL provider, its quite possible you will see much better performance with cable.. But again the router in use can make a big difference. Especially when you have a higher speed connection. Some routers have issues with being able to keep up with the higher bandwidth.

So do you know what device(s) your cable provider will be putting in as the modem and router? Quite often they just provide the modem, and its up to you to provide the router.

[Dane]

Right now the modem/router I have now is a Speed touch (dsl).

The cable modem they will be giving me will be either a Scientific Atlanta, or a Motorola.

[+BudMan MVC]

Well most of the motorola stuff they give is just a modem.. So what router will you be using?

[Dane]

Well most of the motorola stuff they give is just a modem.. So what router will you be using?

Nothing really, just the modem, only one computer will be hooked up to it (this one).

[aussiefloyd_fan]

I always get close to the stated speeds.

I get more than the stated speeds.. i am paying for a 5mbit down and 512 k upload with COX and i got this

[+BudMan MVC]

i am paying for a 5mbit down and 512 k upload with COX and i got this

Yeah I get always get faster than I am paying for as well ;) Im suppose to be on the 6mbit plan.. Im grandfathered in I assume, I have called them a few times about it.. But to make changes would cost me like $20 more a month.

I have been with them for years.. But don't have the TV portion of it, since I have DirecTV for the Sunday Ticket option ;) There pretty much don't offer just internet now without paying a premium.. I could get faster speeds, but will live with what I have for the savings.. ehehhehe

As to just using the modem and not a nat router -- I would highly suggest against that.. For security alone I would suggest you put even just your 1 computer behind a nat.. There is little reason to have your machine directly connected to the public net.

[Dane]

As to just using the modem and not a nat router -- I would highly suggest against that.. For security alone I would suggest you put even just your 1 computer behind a nat.. There is little reason to have your machine directly connected to the public net.

I do have a Linksys Cable Router, not sure on what to do with it, could I use that?

[+BudMan MVC]

Sure you could -- whats the model number of the router?

In a nutshell you connect it to the modem, then your computer to it.

[Iian K]

If Comcast is in your area, I'd get it. But I would also like to warn that there are bandwidth limits on some ISP's connections, such as Comcast's. Keep an eye out when moving to cable.

[Dane]

Sure you could -- whats the model number of the router?

In a nutshell you connect it to the modem, then your computer to it.

Uhh not sure

wait,

Model No, Linksys Etherfast Cable/dsl router with 4 port swith BEFSR41 ver. 3

That help?

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c...FVisitorWrapper

I dont have the manual, so I got a link to it on their site, i'll have to try setting it up tomorrow after the guy leaves

Edited January 7, 2009 by Dane

[+BudMan MVC]

Yeah that will work, its a bit old.. But I use to have one of those -- ran for years before it gave out ;)

You can grab the manual from the linksys site.

edit: just keep in mind when you change out the device connected to the modem, more than likely you will have to reboot the modem before connecting the new device to clear is association with the previous mac.

Just disconnect your device, then unplug the modem for a bit.. Then plug it back in, once you have all the lights that the modem is reconnected then connect your router -- let it boot up, and then connect your device to the router.. You should then get a private IP 192.168.1.?

You can then access the routers web interface on what is normally 192.168.1.1, default username is normally admin and blank or password.. You can get the details from the manual.

[Dane]

Yeah that will work, its a bit old.. But I use to have one of those -- ran for years before it gave out ;)

You can grab the manual from the linksys site.

edit: just keep in mind when you change out the device connected to the modem, more than likely you will have to reboot the modem before connecting the new device to clear is association with the previous mac.

Just disconnect your device, then unplug the modem for a bit.. Then plug it back in, once you have all the lights that the modem is reconnected then connect your router -- let it boot up, and then connect your device to the router.. You should then get a private IP 192.168.1.?

You can then access the routers web interface on what is normally 192.168.1.1, default username is normally admin and blank or password.. You can get the details from the manual.

Let me swing this by you so I know if I will be doing it right.

So hook up the cable modem, let all the lights come on, connect the router, let it boot, then connect my pc? Since my MAC ID with the modem and the router will be different, does that hurt anything?

I just have to make sure i have the options set as "automaticall detect IP address" for the router, right?

[+BudMan MVC]

Now the different mac is why you need to reboot the modem before connecting the router.

Yes your internet connection on the router should be set to dhcp, and if comcast the other thing you may need to do on the internet connection of the router is disable STP.

[Dane]

Now the different mac is why you need to reboot the modem before connecting the router.

Yes your internet connection on the router should be set to dhcp, and if comcast the other thing you may need to do on the internet connection of the router is disable STP.

Ahh ok.

Sorry I thought I posted before about the Provider but I didn't. Here in my part of Lancaster County, our Borough has blocked Comcast from providing any service. We get Blue Ridge Cable, and they get their cable internet from Penn Tele Data.