DSL speed

ToolBoy · Post by **ToolBoy** » Thu Apr 18, 2002 7:53 pm

A while back I remember seeing some websites that told you how far you are from the telephone switching office. That way you could estimat your potential DSL speed. Does anyone know of a site where i can look this up?

Musclemanfu2 · Post by **Musclemanfu2** » Thu Apr 18, 2002 10:51 pm

http://www.dslreports.com/prequal/distance Fill in the blanks
http://www.speedus.com/default.asp Click check your speed now and fill in the blanks

[fastdetect] · Post by **[fastdetect]** » Thu Apr 18, 2002 11:26 pm

also try http://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest

ToolBoy · Post by **ToolBoy** » Thu Apr 18, 2002 11:54 pm

OK, now that I have learned I am 15380feet or about 2.91 miles from the CO is it worth it for me to get DSL? The theoretical limit to ADSL is what 18000feet, right? Maybe I am mistaken. I am almost at the outskirts of 17500feet that PacBell will hook up. If I am not wrong it seems to me that I am pushing the limits, considering DSL gets slower with distance. Does anyone have a guesses as to what my speed will be. My provider will give me "up to 1.5Mbps". Should I go get Cable instead, from Charter, which will give me 786Kbps(I am assuming maximum again).

Thanks,
Tool

DiskDoc · Post by **DiskDoc** » Fri Apr 19, 2002 1:06 am

1.5MB is advertised but NOT given to any users. My classmate living half a block from me has DSL and gets only 48K/sec. HA!! I'm on cable at or around 150K/sec. Personally I think you'll be better off with cable than DSL as cable speed varies from time to time. One night you could be downloading at 120k/sec and the next night you could be up to 180k/sec. But with DSL you get what you get.

Musclemanfu2 · Post by **Musclemanfu2** » Fri Apr 19, 2002 7:58 pm

It's best you call your Telco, PacBell a have them check distance for you, as these sites are sometimes wrong. Also with PacBell, a SBC company, you might be hooked to a RT and your speed will be very good. Charter Pipeline speeds are slow to start and might get slower at prime time. DSL on a RT does not get slower, it's about the same all the time. I would check with PacBell first on RT's in your area.

ToolBoy · Post by **ToolBoy** » Fri Apr 19, 2002 9:23 pm

Well, I keep getting answers so I am going to keep asking questions. RT stands for what? My guesses are Remote Telco or Remote terminal or something. I am thinking of signing up with a provider called DSLextreme (http://www.dslextreme.com) or maybe Earthlink. They go though PacBell. Is this not a good idea? Should I go directly to PacBell does it make a difference in terms of the connection quality or speed? The reason I am probably going with DSLextreme is that hey will give me a Static IP address for the same price. Will DSLExtreme be able to tell me my actual distance or should I just call PacBell? If I call PacBell should I call their customer service or call the line that sets you up with DSL?

Musclemanfu2 is DSL what you do for a living or do you just like knowing everything about it? You seem to have answers and website links for everyone. It's amazing.

ToolBoy

Musclemanfu2 · Post by **Musclemanfu2** » Fri Apr 19, 2002 10:17 pm

RT = Remote Terminal
SBC has put quite a few RT's up so far and this helps you get DSL if you are over the 14,000' mark SBC put as a cut off point for DSL(17500feet that PacBell will hook up)?. Using DSLExtreme as your ISP, you still use PacBell copper. PacBell or DSLExtreme should be able to give you answers on Co. distance or if a RT is in your area.
Here's some DSL reviews on PacBell,
http://www.dslreports.com/comments/311

Just check all options before picking a ISP, like price and what each has to offer for the price. I use SBC-SNET as my ISP and have no complaints. Others use a different ISP and they have no complaints also, but also pay more because SBC owns the lines(copper) they use. Do your home work before you pick a ISP.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark, ... ~mode=flat Don't have much more info on DSLExtreme at the moment.

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Fri Apr 19, 2002 10:50 pm

9570 feet