Viewing Thread:
"The internet, Just say no"

I have been using the net since 1997. I have used various ISP’s and 2 types of connection. Access has never been quick, and even now with ISDN it’s still not very fast. But the real issue is reliability. Using modems and ISDN access, it has been unreliable, with dropped connections while in use, and terrible dial up connections over modems which just come up with error messages and allow no further access. When this happens, I switch of the pc and go back and try again early the next morning, and then it works - but if I hang up and try to go back on it at midday - nothing. With ISDN, I tried 10 times this morning to send a simple email - which was need straight away. Eventually, after about 30mins it did go - what a hassle. Lets not hook our game consoles to the internet.

Whitestripes wrote:
> I looked at Pipex but I couldn't figure out the site, if you know the
> exact page it tells you about ASDL on and how much/how to buy and
> stuff then I'll have a look.

http://www.xtreme.pipex.net/ adsl/sales/pricing/solo-index.shtml

I've been able to get broadband for yonks now...

Can't afford it though as £30 a month for internet is too much...

Only got one line too so I'm alway clogging up the line with my net use!

NTL phoned the other day offering FREE installation and no other services included and that I could get 128k for £15 a month.

I'm getting that as it will free up my line and give me faster net for the same price, should get a good rate too as the green box is over there!

*Points finger about 100m down the road*

I know NTL are crap but it's the best I can afford and my dad won't pay £100 to set up ADSL either...

Dave RJR wrote:
(anyone fill this bit in for us)


I think the main option if you can't get hold of a modem with the network connection on the end (just about all are USB) is not to buy the USB modem. You can then buy a router, which works as a hub, a modem and sometimes a printserver. They have about 4 network connections on it (which should be enough for a small home network) which you just connect to the PCs, and log on and off the internet through a webpage it creates.

Simple.

I looked at Pipex but I couldn't figure out the site, if you know the exact page it tells you about ASDL on and how much/how to buy and stuff then I'll have a look.

The problem with satellite ADSL is that the signal is relayed through the satellite and you will still experience lag, which is no good if you want ADSL primarily for online gaming.

Oh and whitestripes i think Pipex are cheap(er) for ADSl.

Our school uses a BT Broadband ariel thingy, I think we get a 2mb connection speed for the whole school.

Except that BT's ariel service screwed up so we've had no internet connection for the past two weeks.

Broadband satellite & Wireless.

2 alternative ways of getting broadband access. Broadband satellite offers great signal coverage (like Sky tv). However, you do need a special dish (a Sky dish is not any good for this). The latest broadband satellite systems are 2-WAY, meaning that the incoming and outgoing data is via the dish - no need for a phone line. The wire from the dish must go into some sort of receiver box which would then connect to your PC (or to your ethernet HUB, then to your PC's - if it's a network). This technology is EXPENSIVE, and is out of reach for most users for now. But as ADSL gets as far as is "financially viable" or "technically possible", there will be area's still without ADSL, thus broadband satellite will be essential.

Wireless broadband is 2-WAY broadband through a special flat aerial mounted on your roof top (normal tv aerials wont pick up the signal). The signal is sent from large groundbased transmitters, then received using the special aerial. A wire then gets the signal into a receiver device which then hooks up to your PC (or to your ethernet HUB, then to your PC's - if it's a network). This system is cheaper than 2-WAY broadband satellite, but the signal is limited to just a few area's at the moment - in other words, most people cant get it.

cookie monster wrote:
> Whitestripes wrote:
> Oh I see, so you still have to activate the connection, but you just
> don't have to wait for it to dial up?
>
> I'm not really bothered about both PCs being able to go on at the
> same
> time, I just don't want there to be any problems.
> ****
> So you are actually going to get it? Nice. We could start playing Snes
> games again, but this time with less lag.

Yep, one day, hopefully by Christmas. I just need to find one cheap enough and my dad will agree to it. I would suggest Freeola but you have to pay £60 just to get it started...

If you know any ADSL services for about £25 a month (or less) then that would do it.

Then we can find some more classic games for me to beat you at ;)

Dave RJR wrote:
> Semajal wrote:
> 70% of the country can get ADSL
>
> Don't believe everything your read - 70% is what they want you to
> think.

So they want you to think that 70% of the country can get ASDL... and to do so, they say 70% of the population can get ASDL... the cads!

(I think its 66%)

Whitestripes wrote:
> Oh I see, so you still have to activate the connection, but you just
> don't have to wait for it to dial up?
>
> I'm not really bothered about both PCs being able to go on at the same
> time, I just don't want there to be any problems.

So you are actually going to get it? Nice. We could start playing Snes games again, but this time with less lag.

Oh I see, so you still have to activate the connection, but you just don't have to wait for it to dial up?

I'm not really bothered about both PCs being able to go on at the same time, I just don't want there to be any problems.