Cable vs xDSL vs 56K (*gulp*)

[Supreme Cmdr]

Seeing that we took this thread off-topic, I figured we might as well continue it here.

Anyway...

I recently moved from Sunrise to Weston. New location is bigger (and I have a separate office!), better, nicer, more exclusive and more secure - now that the baby is growing up faster than I'd first anticipated .

Weston is about 15 mins from Sunrise. And about 75% of the city's communities are without DSL service!!!

For awhile after I moved, I was on a 56K connection.

Lets put it this way, being on 56K DialUP felt like I had a perpetual dental appointment. For a root canal. With a plumber. Who does landscaping on the side. While on toffee flavoured crack.

Now am back on cable (Advanced Cable finished the install yesterday morning) while waiting for Mindspring to bring xDSL to this area (they're threatening to get it up by the end of the year).

When I first moved to Sunrise from Miami, I was on cable (was MediaOne now ATT Broadband). Then I moved to DSL (was Mindspring now Earthlink) because I didn't want to share bandwidth with anyone. Now am back on cable (1.5 Mbps / 128 Kbps) and have no choice. The good thing is that I'm the only geek on my street, so I'm probably OK for awhile.

The tests I ran over at www.dslreports.com show that my up/down stream are very very fast for my new zip code (33331), so, I'm happy. But as soon as DSL comes here, I'm switching again.

Whats odd is that this is a fairly new housing community built in 1999 and this entire Weston city is a pretty upscale and exclusive neighborhood. As such, you'd think that it would have all the high-end works - seeing that a lot of large companies have their home offices (and employee housing complexes) here (and in Sunrise).

The Weston HOA tells me that because some of these developments are new (built in 1999) and because the residents have not put in DSL requests, that is why Advanced Cable (the only cable operator in this territory) has the monopoly on cable TV and NET connections.

Now they're telling me that the phone company (Bellsouth) is going to speed up their DSL initiative by installing stations within range of all newer communities (which is why only some of the older ones have DSL while others in newer communities, don't). Once the phone company does this, they too can offer DSL (via www.bellsouth.net) and third-party companies (e.g. www.earthlink.net) who lease lines for selling, can also get on the bandwagon.

Until then, if I want DSL, I have to go with Earthlink's DirectWay DSL satellite service which only offers 144 Kbps / 144 Kbps. I passed on that one - especially since it would have cost me upwards of $300-$500 in installation costs.

For $49.95 and about $50 in installation costs, I've got broadband cable. Dunno how they [Earthlink] figured that getting me to switch to DirectWay (when I called up to cancel* my DSL service prior to my move) was something I'd do. Talk about clueless.

* I still kept my dial-Up service as backup though. You never know when you'd need to get online if the cable service is down.

[Guest]

Thnx for the dslreoport link Derek, its very helpful.

I have RoadRunner now getting cable and the internet connection in 1 package. But since the connect is a screwed pooch now, I'm looking for alternatives. I've been considering maybe the directTV TV/DSL combo.. but the dslreport says

"YEP!, your CO is wired for DSL from one or more DSL networks.

Unfortunately, Since you appear to be more than 18000 feet from the CO, your option may only be slower, IDSL service, if IDSL is available.

'

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tac:

"YEP!, your CO is wired for DSL from one or more DSL networks.

Unfortunately, Since you appear to be more than 18000 feet from the CO, your option may only be slower, IDSL service, if IDSL is available.

'

---

...and that there is exactly my problem. Which is why am waiting for the phone company to build and install new CO units where I live.

[Commander Elio Jason]

hey SC that's cool ythat you got a new connection.

watch out for the driving though.

i have DSL also....but my ping in multiplayer games likes to....."jump."

[Soback]

Congratulations with the move. I know how that can be a pain, packing, unpacking, ugh..... Anyhow, whens the housewarming party?

[Epsilon 5]

Ran the test, both servers (which are in CA.. far from home). This is what I got. Both show similar results.

-----

2002-06-11 15:17:56 EST: 932 / 132

Your download speed : 932828 bps, or 932 kbps.

A 113.8 KB/sec transfer rate.

Your upload speed : 132912 bps, or 132 kbps.

-----

Nice.

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Soback:

Congratulations with the move. I know how that can be a pain, packing, unpacking, ugh..... Anyhow, whens the housewarming party?

---

I *hate* moving. With a passion.

As for house warming; if think I'm looking forward to anyone coming to piss in my pool, you've gotta be joking

[Supreme Cmdr]

Something to keep a close eye on. These two buzzards have found a way to wave ride the 802.11b protocol. Boy, are the ISPs going to be pissed.

[ 06-12-2002, 16:15: Message edited by: Supreme Cmdr ]

[Guest Remo Williams]

quote:

---

As for house warming; if think I'm looking forward to anyone coming to piss in my pool, you've gotta be joking

---

LMAO!! SC now we wouldn't do that. Well except for Tac maybe.(j/k) The rest of us wouldn't though!

[Parias]

quote:

---

Lets put it this way, being on 56K DialUP felt like I had a perpetual dental appointment. For a root canal. With a plumber. Who does landscaping on the side. While on toffee flavoured crack.

---

*Sniff*

Truer words were never spoken. When I got cable, I sacrificed my modem to the mighty demons of the underworld in a satanic ritual involving a really, really large fire and multiple AOL coasters. I've never looked back since

[Fendi]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Soback:

Congratulations with the move. I know how that can be a pain, packing, unpacking, ugh..... Anyhow, whens the housewarming party?

---

I *hate* moving. With a passion.

As for house warming; if think I'm looking forward to anyone coming to piss in my pool, you've gotta be joking

---

Everyone pisses in the pool once in a while (not me). Unless of course if there's this piss detector thingy that changes the colour of the water to red if any urine is found. I forgot where I saw that.

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fendi:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Soback:

Congratulations with the move. I know how that can be a pain, packing, unpacking, ugh..... Anyhow, whens the housewarming party?

---

I *hate* moving. With a passion.

As for house warming; if think I'm looking forward to anyone coming to piss in my pool, you've gotta be joking

---

Everyone pisses in the pool once in a while (not me). Unless of course if there's this piss detector thingy that changes the colour of the water to red if any urine is found. I forgot where I saw that.

---

What about sweating? I mean, sweat is similar to urine, except its much less concentrated.

quote:

---

Something to keep a close eye on. These two buzzards have found a way to

wave ride

the 802.11b protocol. Boy, are the ISPs going to be pissed.

---

Only 7% in the US has broadband??? Boy, it's around 40% here in Quebec, and more than 75% of the population have acess (but aren't actualy using it)

[Steve Schacher]

quote:

---

I recently moved from Sunrise to Weston.

---

Ahh... moving on up!

I've made several trips to WPB to visit my family these past few years, but they were solemn occasions so I couldn't venture far (except for the week on-site at WDW, but that's another story). I always thought about stopping by Sunrise, since I went to high school there, but never did find the time to visit.

Now that you're in the exclusive part of town, I'll have to look you up next time!

[Guest]

"LMAO!! SC now we wouldn't do that. Well except for Tac maybe.(j/k) The rest of us wouldn't though!"

That may be closer to reality than you think.

It so happens a cousin im quite fond of actually lives in Weston. Now I got a REAL excuse to "drop by" and "visit" the family *grin*

Besides, its florida, derek should be used to warm pools by now. Right?

[Kevin Trotter]

SC,

Congrats on the move. Personally I'd never piss in your pool, but I am concerned the chlorine would play havoc with my colostomy bag. I'll be waiting for my invite as me and the brood are on our way to the Keys for a little R&R. By the way no longer in Sunrise? how bout updating your profilesig yer hypocrite!!!!!

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve Schacher:

Now that you're in the exclusive part of town, I'll have to look you up next time!

---

Sure thin....oh wait!! what are you trying to say!? That you did'nt come to visit me in Sunrise because it wasn't an exclusive area? You bastard!

To tell you the truth, I moved because we ran out of space and the equity helped in getting a bigger place. Nothing major really, since I don't get out much anyway.

Besides, it wasn't my idea. I was lazying about (as usual) minding my own business, when a woman and a toddler sauntered into my office, complete with plans they had drawn up to evict me from one of the rooms my stuff occupied, because they needed it. That and a list of questions as to why did I have two rooms with my crap? Oh, and something about women's rights and all that jazz.

...a month later, their plan came to fruition and I found myself signing papers, talking to movers etc etc. heh, now we know who calls the shots around here - and it sure as hell doesn't look like its me, does it?

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Race Bannon IV:

SC,

Congrats on the move. Personally I'd never piss in your pool, but I am concerned the chlorine would play havoc with my colostomy bag.

---

aha, thats how the excuses start!

quote:

---

I'll be waiting for my invite as me and the brood are on our way to the Keys for a little R&R.

---

Send me email. Can't promise anything, since my home is my private sanctuary....that and the fact that we've still got boxes everywhere

quote:

---

By the way no longer in Sunrise? how bout updating your profilesig yer hypocrite!!!!!

---

heh, thanks for reminding me

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tac:

"Besides, its florida, derek should be used to warm pools by now. Right?

---

Warm?? heh, not this one, pal. Last time I was in it, the first plunge in felt like my entire brain had frozen and taken my limbs with it.

...then again, maybe that because it was Sunday morning and the breeze was blowing from the lake (the house+pool are on the lake front) ? Dunno, but I remember looking for a blow dryer when I finally came out.

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tac:

"Besides, its florida, derek should be used to warm pools by now. Right?

---

Warm?? heh, not this one, pal. Last time I was in it, the first plunge in felt like my entire brain had frozen and taken my limbs with it.

...then again, maybe that because it was Sunday morning and the breeze was blowing from the lake (the house+pool are on the lake front) ? Dunno, but I remember looking for a blow dryer when I finally came out.

---

..or maybe your wife was trying to make iced tea in the pool... didn't you noticed the floating ice cubes?

[Steve Schacher]

quote:

---

To tell you the truth, I moved because we ran out of space and the equity helped in getting a bigger place...

Besides, it wasn't my idea. I was lazying about (as usual) minding my own business, when a woman... sauntered into my office...

---

My wife is looking at doing the exact same thing. We've been out looking at houses. However, it is a LOT more expensive here in the Bay Area than in South Florida.

quote:

---

Sure thin....oh wait!! what are you trying to say!? That you did'nt come to visit me in Sunrise because it wasn't an exclusive area?

---

There was a time when that area was exclusive. You had Inverrary just down the road (Jackie Gleason lived there and hosted his annual PGA tournament there).

I've been back to Florida mostly to visit ailing relatives. I will look you up the next time I'm out, probably in November.

[Guest]

"Warm?? heh, not this one, pal. Last time I was in it, the first plunge in felt like my entire brain had frozen and taken my limbs with it."

man you're a wuss

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Steve Schacher:

There was a time when that area was exclusive. You had Inverrary just down the road (Jackie Gleason lived there and hosted his annual PGA tournament there).

---

heh, I know nothing about neighborhoods. Not a damn thing. When I moved from Miami back in 1998 to Fort Lauderdale (we can blame hurricane Andrew and congestion for that one), my realtor told me that Sunrise would provide to me all the privacy I needed (since I worked from home). It was either there or Plantation.

Naturally, as soon as I moved, it seemed like a few months later, everyone else moved! Before I knew it, there were new strip malls where dense vegetation used to be!! I swear, the intersection of Flamingo Rd and Sunrise Bld was literally empty when I moved up here. Before long, two malls became totally developed and then Best Buy, CompUSA, Computer City etc, expanded.

Now, Bellsouth and a bunch of developers have constructed hotels, buildings etc from that intersection all the way down to 136th Ave where the Sawgrass Biz Park is (where I later moved to).

So I moved further West into Sunrise (and behind the Sawgrass Mills Mall) in early 2000. Though this particular move was primarily because one of my Usenet stalkers happened to find out where I lived and actually posted an accounting of a much discussed sighting of me. Seeing that he was supposedly given this particular assignment (to find out where I lived) by the leader (Huffman) of the pack, I came under pressure (by my attorney, family etc) to just move to a more secure location.

So, I moved further West to a more secure location, complete with fence, security gate (unmanned) etc.

Before and after the baby (now a toddler), we weren't particularly pressed for space - except for the fact that since I moved from Miami, I ceased to operate a separate office space. Seeing that we needed to share the baby's duties, I had to be home too (though I do have external office space where I go for peace and quiet, hosting biz visitors etc).

Now that the toddler has discovered more inventive ways to expand, her room has become too small. Naturally, since I occupy two of four rooms ( ) all to myself, I got ousted. We couldnt' switch because I literally had to tear down the wall shared by these two rooms, in order to create a wider space.

So, the only option was to move. And this time, even with more space in mind, security and exclusivity also became a priority. So, where I moved now, the security gates are manned by humans (Wackenhaut no less), it is a lot more private and you can't get on my property (at all) without having security personnel (and the Weston police, if you trip the perimeter alarm I had ADT install prior to the move-in) bear down on you.

And the design of the house (this time, it is two floors instead of one) gives me a completely separate section as a work area and completely cordoned off.

I think I'm set....at least until the next time I get ousted by a woman, a toddler and a baby.

Did I mention that I hate moving?

[Supreme Cmdr]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Tac:

man you're a wuss

---

Yeah, I know

[Kevin Trotter]

My definition of Hell on earth , moving every month. That said , SC I can relate to the ouster by the women folk thing.When we bought our home we were DINK's (Double Income No Kids) and life was good. Three bedrooms a family room with a fireplace , space galore. One room was quickly

converted to den.Complete with a mini fridge , tons of video games and consoles , three humidors crates of LP's and a big sign on the door that read "He-Man Woman Haters Club no broads allowed"

A refuge for my poor friends who had children , displaced from thier own homes they came in droves to sit and stare in awe, slack jawed. Man it was great.....

Until the birth of the evil one. My den is now

pink covered with Barney wallpaper,smelling of a combination of A&D ointment , baby wipes and oon some occasions things worse than that. Gone are the Humidors now relagated to the basement. The Mini fridge now holds the beverages of the evil one.My computer , xbox PS1 ,LPs all sit in one small cornerof the basement where I now dwell

pale from lack of sunlight and startled by loud noises , my wife asks me everytime I come upstairs "what do you want up here?" So as much as I hate moving I've taken up the gauntlet! I want to be a man again! I want to live above ground!

Oh and by the by SC I would'nt presume to invade your privacy on our trip to Keys. I appreciate your graciousness but a man's home should be his castle, I was only yankin your chain. However , I'd be happy to buy you beverage

should I run into you somewhere.

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

---

So, where I moved now, the security gates are manned by humans (Wackenhaut no less), it is a lot more private and you can't get on my property (at all) without having security personnel (and the Weston police, if you trip the perimeter alarm I had ADT install prior to the move-in) bear down on you.

---

Whoa! nice

Man I wish we had a bigger place to live... we are 4 at home (mom + 3 kids), and share 2 bedrooms. My brother always listen to heavy metal and hard rock so I go in my room only to sleep and get clothes My computers and stuff are in the living room, and I have to bear with the fact that there's a tv which the rest of my family unfortunately use and that blowing stuff with mines, detpacks and rocket lauchers, emptying mg mags and flying bombers for half an hour (bvvvvvvvvvvv.....ad nauseum) isn't much appreciated

Hey, the thread has gone off-topic once again!