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More Speed for Less Money

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by Bible Believing Bill, Apr 10, 2006.

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  1. Bible Believing Bill

    Bible Believing Bill <img src =/bbb.jpg>

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    A little over two years ago I signed up for SBC's DSL service at 26.95 per month with a 12 month commitment. After 12 months I renewed at the same price after being told that I didn't qualify for a plan with a lower price. Their current offer at that time was 19.99 a month for 6 months. A couple of months ago I again renewed for 12 months at 26.95 a month. I once again didn't qualify for the now current offer of 12.99 a month for 12 months.

    As I renewed I asked if there wasn't some plan availabe for loyal customers. I told them I understood using promotional rates to get new customers, but that if they were offering 12 months at a lower rate only for new subscribers I felt that was unfair to loyal customers. I was told the only way I could get a better rate would be to purchase a bundle of services including DSL. Of course I didn't need any of the other services in the bundle.

    Now two months later I get an email offer from SBC telling me as a loyal subscriber if I upgrade from DSL Express to DSL Pro I can get a faster connection for only 17.99 a month for 12 months. So I am saving 8.96 a month and the throughput of my connection went from approx. 1.5 Mbps to 2.5 Mbps download. So they won't give me a better price on a slower connection, but I get a faster connection and I get a better price, Go Figure.

    I do have one question. I always thought the speed of a DSL connection was determined by how far you were from the central switch. If that is the case how can I get a faster DSL connection? The faster connection is barely noticable on a web page and I don't do that much downloading so the real advantage to me is the lower price.

    Bill
     
    #1 Bible Believing Bill, Apr 10, 2006
  2. James_Newman

    James_Newman New Member

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    I'm not an expert on DSL, but at my company we install DSL systems (among others) into hotels to provide internet access to guests. The DSL equipment that we currently use is capable of 8mbps download speeds. I'm sure that there is still a limitation of speed due to distance, but I think that the current generation of DSL is just able to squeeze more data onto the wire.
     
    #2 James_Newman, Apr 10, 2006
  3. mnw

    mnw New Member

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    I thought the speed was determined, not so much by distance, but by how many people shared the line.

    So in theory if you are the only one on your street with the connection it would be faster than if everyone on your street was connected.

    I could be wrong...
     
    #3 mnw, Apr 12, 2006
  4. Bible Believing Bill

    Bible Believing Bill <img src =/bbb.jpg>

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    I think that is how cable works, but DSL is determined by distance.

    Bill
     
    #4 Bible Believing Bill, Apr 12, 2006
  5. MRCoon

    MRCoon New Member

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    DSL is determined by distance from a relay station but the increase is most likely due to using other lines previously unused in the phone lines and also adding signal boost equipment.
     
    #5 MRCoon, Apr 12, 2006
  6. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Speed on DSL is eroded by distance (cable feet, not straight line feet), but is set by the speeds set up in the DSLAM at the providers central office, and your modem's capabilities.
     
    #6 Magnetic Poles, Apr 12, 2006
  7. baptistteacher

    baptistteacher Member
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    Distance is a factor in DSL speed, and SBC/ATT has placed a lot of booster stations around the areas that they serve. So now you don't have to be within a couple of miles of the phone company's office to get good speed. These boosters are often just a box attached to the utility pole.

    We have been using DSL for a couple of years now. It has been very reliable, and much faster than dial-up.

    You can negotiate with them for a better rate. My son is paying for ours, and after the first year at the introductory rate, they upped the price to the regular rate.
    After paying that for a while, and the new introductory rate of $12.99 being advertised, he was finally able to get them to lower ours to 15.99. [I think he threatened to switch to cable.] ;)

    Both my sons are good negotiators. The next time I shop for a car, I'm taking one of them with me!!
     
    #7 baptistteacher, Apr 12, 2006
  8. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    What you are offered all depends on how the representative is compensated. If they are credited or paid on customer retention, you can negotiate a better deal. If they aren't, they'd just as soon lose you for their company, and resell you later for full commission. This is due to bone-headed thinking at the executive level of some companies.
     
    #8 Magnetic Poles, Apr 12, 2006
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