GMP cable internet vs. Verizon DSL

[Railroad]

I'm going to have to go the Direcway route when we move to our new digs. Pricey at start up but man it does fly...btw I'm smoke signals er I mean dial up now.

I'm a DirecWay customer and I've decided I've got the best. The only complaint I have is that when weather is really bad, i.e. very thick clouds or precipitation, I lose the satellite (and consequently all service). But that seldom lasts for very long and I can usually wait it out.

 

[alex]

Hate DSL. Used to like DSL. But, every night (from when I get home from work until I go to bed), the service goes down the toilet. It's been like this most of the time since February.

I had similar problems do you have a wireless/cordless phone near the modem? If so try moving it out of the room, it may be interferring with the modem. I had the base for my cordless phones in the room. When I moved it out and then just put one of the individual phone units in the room all problems went away.

Also, have your ISP contact Verizon and check out the line. I found that my provider - Earthlink - has a different unit to contact about dsl problems that my calling them about did not solve.

Also, how old is your modem? It may need to be replaced.

I just noticed that Verizon DSL has upgraded to 3MB from 1.5 for about $30 a month. I have always had 3 mb with Earthlink and they just lowered their prices to match Verizon. They provided the modem and installation was a snap.

 

[willie]

Do you have to have Verizon telephone service to get DSL? I have a landline but it is sub leased through Verizon.

 

[Warron]

Just plugs in...and the setup instructions are almost too simple.

DSL doesn't just plug into the back of your pc. You need to have a modem just like with cable. Verizon provides it as part of the service, but I dont know if there is an additional charge for it. It has been a few years since I had their service and I think they changed things a bit.

The way GMP used to do cable was that they would cap all users at 500k down so there was no problem with one person in a given area sucking up all the bandwidth, but recently they upped the speed to 1.5M and they are planning to increase it to 3M soon according to my latest bill. I dont know if this means I now have to share my bandwidth with my neighbors or what, but I have not noticed any speed drop in any tests I have done.

Also, if any of you live in the hickory hills area and use a wireless router/modem. Make sure you are using encryption. 3 of the 4 networks I can pick up from my apartment (other then mine) are completely open. Which means you are offering free internet access to anyone with a wireless network card.

 

[Suz]

I much prefer DSL, however that was in philly, down here I cant get DSL in our new house so im stuck wih cable. I think DSL is a bit slower but consistant, cable slows depending on the community your plugged into, someone correct me if im wrong... but i guess it dont matter, im stuck with cable!

Your not stuck with cable.... We use Dish network for internet and tv.

 

[Tonio]

I'm going to have to go the Direcway route when we move to our new digs. Pricey at start up but man it does fly...btw I'm smoke signals er I mean dial up now.

We have dial-up, and on our phone lines we can't get any faster than 28.8K even though we have a 56K modem.

Directway is about $60 a month. If we had GMP Broadband as a stand-alone service (since we don't subscribe to cable TV), it would be $50 a month. Those are our only two options for broadband in our neighborhood--DSL and wireless aren't available here.

 

[alex]

Do you have to have Verizon telephone service to get DSL? I have a landline but it is sub leased through Verizon.

You might want to check with Earthlink and see if they can provide DSL service to you.

 

[STL_RAMS]

Also, if any of you live in the hickory hills area and use a wireless router/modem. Make sure you are using encryption. 3 of the 4 networks I can pick up from my apartment (other then mine) are completely open. Which means you are offering free internet access to anyone with a wireless network card.

How far do the signals go? I dont live in apartment, but could your neighbors use your signal? (about 100 feet between houses)

 

[DoWhat]

but could your neighbors use your signal?

Yes

 

[BA in SoMD]

I live in St. Leonard (Calvert) and we use Verizon DSL. Neighbors of ours use Cable. I've heard cable is more expensive, and from what I've seen, nothing worth the price difference of cable vs dsl.

HTH!

 

[Warron]

How far do the signals go? I dont live in apartment, but could your neighbors use your signal? (about 100 feet between houses)

The signal would probably be pretty weak at 100 feet, but if your connection is not encrypted, anyone with a wireless network card on their computer who is in range can use your internet service.

 

[Nickel]

DSL doesn't just plug into the back of your pc. You need to have a modem just like with cable. Verizon provides it as part of the service, but I dont know if there is an additional charge for it. It has been a few years since I had their service and I think they changed things a bit.

I misunderstood the question, my answer was in response to the modem...it plugs into the back of the computer, which I guess all external modems do.

We got our modem at no charge, but I'm not sure if it was part of a promotion, and I'm sure we have to return it when we cancel.

 

[kom526]

We have dial-up, and on our phone lines we can't get any faster than 28.8K even though we have a 56K modem.

Directway is about $60 a month. If we had GMP Broadband as a stand-alone service (since we don't subscribe to cable TV), it would be $50 a month. Those are our only two options for broadband in our neighborhood--DSL and wireless aren't available here.

Cable internet isn't even an option on our other property, they just got cable in that area within the last 5-6 years.

 

[pooty_smack]

I have comcast at home(charles county) and dsl at work (right beside a Verizon station in PG County) Comcast is much faster than dsl as for downloading. You can get a faster dsl service, but it is much more expensive than what they advertise on tv and more expensive than comcast for the same service speeds.

 

[joedancer]

Both cable modem and DSL performance vary from one minute to the next depending on the pattern of use and traffic congestion on the Internet. This means that both services will rarely -- if ever -- reach peak performance.

Furthermore, cable modem technology delivers shared bandwidth within the local neighborhood while DSL delivers dedicated local bandwidth. With cable, performance at any given time depends on how many cable subscribers in the neighborhood are currently actively using the network as well as load on the Internet generally. This "double whammy" suggests that cable modem will perform relatively slower during peak usage periods.

Keynote Systems completed a benchmark test [1] that backs up this assertion. Keynote showed that a very modest ADSL service (offering 384 kbps downstream and 128 kbps upstream) actually outperformed cable during the "peak personal hours" of 5 PM to 11 PM. While bandwidth on the Net is ultimately always shared at some point, it seems that cable services remain more susceptible to the phenomenon than DSL services.
You can find out more here:
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/l/aa111200a.htm

 

[911Carrera]

I think Cable modems are the way to go over DSL.

GMP just upgraded the cable system in St. Mary's County. All new electronics, more fiber optic cable, improved reliability. GMP is now owned by Harron Communications. They are aggressive with excellent marketing offers for customers.

GMP is currently offering 1/2 off for 6 months of high speed Internet service. Regular price $39.95 //// 1/2 price is $19.98. This offer expires 4/15/05.

This offer is good for new cable customers or customers who upgrade to cable modem Internet service.

GMP also offers a DSL "buy back" offer. $100 paid over 12 months if you turn in your DSL modem when signing up for GMP Internet service.

GMP also doesn't require a 1 year contract.

GMP's standard Internet service is $39.95 for 1.5 Mb down/ 512 up. In the near future (May) GMP will be boosting the standard speed to 3.0 Mb down for the same $39.95 price.

Try GMP and if you don't like it switch to DSL.

Call 301-373-3201 and ask for more details.

Some of my best friends work at GMP!

I had a total outage with my Verizon telephone (their problem). It was Tuesday. I called and they told me they would be there on Sunday (all day appointment). I complained to no avail. They said sorry, Sunday They did show up Friday afternoon and fixed my phone.

Go with GMP for your Internet service.

 

[pappascw]

I agree with 911, cable is the way to go unless you live a block from Verizon's central office. The biggest problem with DSL is the distance factor, as distance increases then the speed decreases, cable isn't bound by any distances. DSL's price is attractive but only if you can get the higher speeds. Since the cable company upgraded the system my modem has been rock solid. Aside from power outages I can't think of a time it's been out. One thing 911 left out is that if you don't already have cable you will need the basic package at 15.55 on top of your internet pricing. Not sure if you get 1/2 off both for 6 mo, I'm pretty sure you do. Also as far as the modem goes GMP offers a rental fee @2.95 now, much cheaper then before and at that price it would take you over a year to pay for one, may be worth the piece of mind of not having to buy one if yours goes bad.

Good luck in your decision...

 

[renegadeslave]

GMP is currently offering 1/2 off for 6 months of high speed Internet service. Regular price $39.95 //// 1/2 price is $19.98. This offer expires 4/15/05.

How much is it to buy/rent a modem? The main thing I need is a wireless modem, and I'll have to buy that if I go with cable. Anyone know how much wireless modems are and where I could get one?

 

[911Carrera]

How much is it to buy/rent a modem? The main thing I need is a wireless modem, and I'll have to buy that if I go with cable. Anyone know how much wireless modems are and where I could get one?

I would suggest calling GMP for the details (301-373-3201).

GMP doesn't offer wireless modems at this point but a person could buy one from a retail location like Best Buy or Circuit City.

Go with Cable!

 

[CableChick]

Some of my best friends work at GMP!

I had a total outage with my Verizon telephone (their problem). It was Tuesday. I called and they told me they would be there on Sunday (all day appointment). I complained to no avail. They said sorry, Sunday They did show up Friday afternoon and fixed my phone.

Go with GMP for your Internet service.

I think you do too!