Cable Internet Access Can Change Your Whole Life
Sep 06 '00
Remember the days when going online meant connecting to CompuServe at 300bps? If that didn’t work for you, then there were local bulletin board systems running clunky DOS software to access. When Windows took over personal computing, you could actually access AOL (sans Internet) on 2400bps modems. I remember when I was finally able to buy a 14.4 modem. To me the resulting connection improvement was awesome. Within 18 months I was able to move to a 28.8 modem and finally to a 56.6 connection where I languished for over two years. I worked at places with broadband connections, which made my dial-up access at home seem pitifully slow.
Eventually, I found out that my local cable company planned to begin offering access this year. I registered as early as possible and waited patiently as they first implemented the service in the more affluent areas of the state. Finally, Road Runner was offered for beta testing in my community. You can believe that I was the first on my block to get it!
What it Does
Accessing the Internet via a cable connection is different than gaining access through dial-up. When you turn your computer on, you log on to a network comprised of other cable users in your area. Thereafter, all that you have to do is open a browser, email program, or other Internet application and you can access the Internet as soon as the program opens. This gives you an increase in productivity since you no longer have to wait for your connection to dial, re-dial, connect, disconnect etc.
The speed of a cable connection is what entices many people to sign up. My wife despised the Internet before we started using Road Runner. She claimed that WWW stood for world wide wait. Today, she is finally using online resources to her advantage. The frustration factor is no longer present. On sites with speedy servers, moving from one page to another is almost as speedy as changing channels on a television. Of course, if you encounter a site with slow or overloaded servers (like Epinions!) you’ll still have the occasional wait. If you are into downloading, the speed you achieve is phenomenal. If your aim is to pack your hard drive with MP3s, you can do it the first day you have cable access.
The Financial Side
Typical dial-up Internet service providers charge around $20 a month for unlimited access. Cable companies charge roughly twice that amount. There is a hidden cost savings however. If you have a separate phone line for your computer, it is no longer necessary. By having my second line disconnected, I saved $18 a month off my phone bill. Foe an additional $2 a month I was bale to move from dial-up to broadband.
Road Runner did charge a hookup fee. Additionally, the cable modem belongs to them. I saved $50 on the installation fee by installing the network card in my computer and doing the configuration myself.
Other Considerations
To use a cable modem, you must have a cable outlet near your computer. In my case, the installer had to put a new outlet in my office, since there was none there. Thankfully, my office is on the ground floor of my home so he was able to run the line in the crawl space. If your computer is on the second floor of your home, you may have a problem. Additionally, the cable modem will need to be plugged into an electrical source, so you may have to add another power strip or surge suppressor. Finally,
Another issue is service outages. There will be times when inclement weather or cut lines prevent you from using cable access. You should establish an account with one of the many free dial-up ISPs to use as an emergency backup. You’ll also need to leave your modem plugged in if you use personal finance software to access your bank through direct dial-up.
Is cable access for you? If you only get on the Internet to check your email twice a week, probably not. If the Internet is part of your daily routine, what are you waiting for?
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Epinions.com ID:
amerpie
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Member: Lou Plummer
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Reviews written: 176
Trusted by: 151 members
About Me:
Stop the war. Bring the troops home now!
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