Do you want Comcast to start offering faster internet here?

Comcast doesn't do their job on internet service very well at all. And when it comes to HiDef, Direct TV is eating their lunch!

Your speed depends on how many people are connected to your node. My speed drops like a rock about this time at night because everyone is pulling bandwidth. If I didn't get it for free, I wouldn't have it at all.

With HiDef, Comcast is actually hanging in there. DirectTV counts several channels twice. Some networks share one channel because hi def content is still limited. DirectTV counts that as two in their ads even though it's only one actual channel.

James,

16/2 is available on Florence Blvd. It's coming. Just not fast enough!

What is 16/2 18/2
I am in Killen, Mountain Brook area, my only choice is Bellsouth fast access extreme. Charter is a joke out here. Does not even offer HD or internet.

quote:

Originally posted by RickyC31:
What is 16/2 18/2

The number/number is your download/upload capacity. 16/2 would be 16Mbps (which is pretty stinkin' fast) worth of download pipeline, with your return pipe able to handle 2 Mbps. Mbps stands for megabits per second, which will likely mean little to anyone who didn't already know that.

But Nash is correct: with cable, you're on a shared pipeline, and the more people who are connected in your area (node), the slower you're going to be. If you're the only one on your node at any given moment, you have the full potential of that 16Mbps pipeline all to yourself. If 20 other people are on at the same time as you, your speed will slow significantly. DSL, on the other hand, doesn't offer quite the same potential speed as cable, but you're getting a dedicated line - no sharing bandwidth with your neighbors.

What I want is Comcast to quit dropping connection every time it rains.

Ping my router? No problem.
Ping the modem? No problem.
Ping the outside world? No dice.

It's annoying when it happens during most rainstorms, but during the heavy ones, when the sirens are going off, that Internet connection is my lifeline to get weather information. It's more than a little upsetting when that goes away.

I hate commiecast w/ all my heart and soul, but it's my only choice right now. Bellsouth is less than a block away but they won't bring it to my place. I would like an unbiased opinion from someone who has satellite internet (hughes net, I think)or that wireless local IP.

I researched Hughes.net when I was considering relocating from Florida to Alabama. Unless they've changed drastically in the few months since then, it's HUGELY overpriced, with mediocre (at best) download speed, and your upstream connection is actually done through your phone line. S-L-O-W. Epen$ive. No, thanks.

The local Comcast is always later in getting things than the larger markets.

In some cases - like doing away with the cable box - they are at least 20 years behind, and no upgrade in sight.

quote:

Originally posted by GoFish:
James,

16/2 is available on Florence Blvd. It's coming. Just not fast enough!

awesome! i'm checking into it now.

Very informative,Thanks

With all of you quoting these numbers of speed, can someone tell me how to know at what rate your computer runs? I have high speed internet from Comcast and al of my internet friends can't believe how fast my computer is. But, can I make it faster? I need some help on this one. Will somebody please tel me how to find out exactly what I have here on my computer? Thanks, I need all the advise and help that I can get.

quote:

Originally posted by Ed@Bama:
What I want is Comcast to quit dropping connection every time it rains.

Ping my router? No problem.
Ping the modem? No problem.
Ping the outside world? No dice.

It's annoying when it happens during most rainstorms, but during the heavy ones, when the sirens are going off, that Internet connection is my lifeline to get weather information. It's more than a little upsetting when that goes away.

call them and have it looked into. you are paying for 24/7 connectivity, rain or shine. they owe you a fix! my channels over 100 were pixelating, and I called to see what was up. they came the next day and hung another drop from the pole. now I have my internet on one drop, and the TVs on an second drop. problem solved.