Sorry if this is too far off topic, but it’s definitely SMAC-related.
I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with the poor quality of my internet connection. I’m using a V.90 dialup account through my telephone company. I’m playing in about eight PBEM’s right now, sending and receiving game files several times a day. Just about every day now, during sending a turn, the email server quits responding. I have to sit there to click on “keep trying” or it will disconnect. Meanwhile, the time is counting against my limited hours per month. Sometimes I can’t connect at all.
I want to upgrade to a high-speed connection. DSL costs $50 per month in this area, so is not an option. I’m looking at cable, at $35 per month.
I have read that the throughput of cable internet depends on how many people in the neighborhood are online, as the bandwidth is shared. Also, the upstream speed of the system here is only 128 kbps, or about double that of V.90. (Downstream is “up to” 2.8 mbps.) But speed is not my primary concern. I want a system that will work reliably.
I’d like to hear from any cable modem users what you think. Have you noticed speed decreasing as more people sign up or at certain times of day? Is it reliable? Is it worth the extra cost?
I would also welcome comments from DSL users, but DSL is out of my reach right now
I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with the poor quality of my internet connection. I’m using a V.90 dialup account through my telephone company. I’m playing in about eight PBEM’s right now, sending and receiving game files several times a day. Just about every day now, during sending a turn, the email server quits responding. I have to sit there to click on “keep trying” or it will disconnect. Meanwhile, the time is counting against my limited hours per month. Sometimes I can’t connect at all.
![Mad](https://apolyton.net/core/images/smilies/mad.gif)
I want to upgrade to a high-speed connection. DSL costs $50 per month in this area, so is not an option. I’m looking at cable, at $35 per month.
I have read that the throughput of cable internet depends on how many people in the neighborhood are online, as the bandwidth is shared. Also, the upstream speed of the system here is only 128 kbps, or about double that of V.90. (Downstream is “up to” 2.8 mbps.) But speed is not my primary concern. I want a system that will work reliably.
I’d like to hear from any cable modem users what you think. Have you noticed speed decreasing as more people sign up or at certain times of day? Is it reliable? Is it worth the extra cost?
I would also welcome comments from DSL users, but DSL is out of my reach right now
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