Broadband

DSL or Cable?

So, what is broadband access anyway?  Broadband residential services basically come in two flavors:

1. Cable - Uses the existing coax cable that delivers cable TV in your home.  You'll need a cable modem (that can be purchased or rented from the provider) and an Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) in your PC.  The service can be "self-installed" (the cable company sends you a "kit") or professionally installed for a fee (around $100).  Speeds average around 384 Kbps and up upstream (from you to the network) and up to 3 Mbps and up downstream (from the network to you).
2. DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)  - Uses the copper lines installed by your local telephone company to your home.  Again, you'll need a special "modem" this time a DSL modem (again purchased or provided by the service provider - most often your local telephone company but can also be provided through ISPs like EarthLink or MSN or smaller "niche" providers that "rent" the telephone company's copper and switching facilities) and an Ethernet NIC.  The service, again, can be self or professionally installed.  Speeds average (depending upon availability and how much you are willing to pay) 128Kbps and up upstream 1Mbps and up downstream.

You can then add "accessories" to your broadband services like home networking (wired or wireless) and even voice.  We look at those technologies at products on our Wired LANs, Wireless LANs, Local Voice and Long Distance pages.

How can you use these great technologies?

• Moving big files between you and your customers and business partners - audio, video, presentations, rich documents, you name it.
• Add an IP phone or an analog phone adapter and use it for voice and data too!  Save money!
• Collaborate with your customers or partners (NetMeeting or other collaboration software is required.  See our Software page for more information.)
• Perform video conferences with your customers or partners. 
• Develop and maintain your own Web site - and publish it quickly!
• Shop for all your business needs from the "comfort" of your home office. 

So, now that you understand how you'll be able to use broadband, and your two implementation options, what are the next steps?  What should you consider before you make your broadband service choice?

Web Home Office Reports

1. The big one - is it even available in your specific geography?  Although broadband is becoming more and more prevalent in major metropolitan areas, there are still significant areas of the country where any type of broadband service is still not available.  Why?  Offering broadband services forces service providers (cable or local telephone companies) to make significant investments in their plant (coax and copper, new broadband-specific equipment, operations and billing systems, etc.) and training their people.  With everything else going on in the industry, capital investment dollars are thin and broadband expansion slow.
2. If you actually HAVE options, whose service package actually meets your specific needs (price, multiple network and email addresses, Web hosting space and even service guarantees - will it be available?  what about credits)?
3. Your PC!  This sounds silly doesn't it?  But, if you purchased your PC in 1997 and haven't upgraded it, you could have the fastest network connection in the world and you wouldn't realize any performance gain.  So, make sure your PC can keep up with the service you are buying! (Need something new?  Check out our Desktops or Notebook Computers pages.)
4. Finally, and most importantly, what has been your, or your friends' experience with the proposed vendor?  Ask around the neighborhood.  Interestingly enough, services from the same vendor can have radically different satisfaction levels due to the quality of the copper/coax infrastructures and local support folks in your neighborhood.  So, since "word of mouth" works, ask around.

Broadband Review

Broadband Service Providers*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

Adelphia

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹

The Adelphia software is easy to install.  Adelphia offers, like all broadband service vendors an "easy to install" self installation kit that includes coax, Ethernet and USB cables, a mouse pad, cable line splitter, cable line clips, a wrench and the activation CD. 

Cost - $$$

Adelphia offers two broadband services.  Professional installation (instead of self-install) is priced at $99.95.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Speed and simplicity make this a very "usable" service. 

Works With - YYYY

Adelphia's software and service works in both Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - pppp

The tech support area of Adelphia's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information.  If you need more help, you can contact Adelphia online, using email or call them on their "800" number.

Features - iii1/2

Seven email addresses and 100MB of web storage (10 email addresses and 150MB for PowerLink Premier) is probably enough for most home businesses.  However, we still suggest that you contract with a third party for your web hosting and utilize the included email services from your hosting provider as your business email address.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2

If you're already an Adelphia customer the pricing is cable competitive.  You may however, find that your local telephone company is pricing their DSL services very aggressively - so check both before you buy.  If however, you need the speed - the PowerLink Premier service can easily outdistance most residential DSL services in pure capacity.

AT&T

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

With the merger of AT&T and SBC and Bell South, most DSL plans will now look like the original SBC and Bell South DSL services.  The DSL service includes a self-install kit that includes software and line adapters.  The kit has straight forward instructions and is easy to install.

Cost - $$$$

AT&T offers a number of access plans.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

If you reconfigure your home page to a more "useful" site than the standard AT&T home page, broadband in general can prove usable and business-centric.  (Change your home page by accessing Tools when Explorer is open and then, open Internet Options.)

Works With - YYY

AT&T provides support for Windows systems only.

Support - pppp1/2

AT&T's web site includes an area with a number of topics to help you should you experience problems with your DSL service.  Topics include:  Connection, Browser, Products and Tools, Downloads, Email (Outlook, Outlook Express), Web Mail, Installation, Account and Billing and Security.  If you need more help, you can email tech support, do an online chat with them or call them 24x7 on their "800" number.

Features - iii1/2

AT&T's DSL service includes email anti-SPAM and anti-virus as well as unlimited hours of Internet dial-up service for when you're on the road (or horror of horrors you're having trouble with your DSL connection!).  Through their partnership with Yahoo!, their software package includes integration of the service with Yahoo! Messenger and other Yahoo! services including photos, music downloads, gaming and more.

Overall Rating - %%%%+

A solid performer once you get through possible installation hassles.  We've had the service from AT&T for five years and have experienced only 2 outages during that period.  It works.

Cablevision

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹

The Cablevision software is easy to install.  Cablevision offers, like all broadband service vendors an "easy to install" self installation kit that includes coax cables, cable line splitter, cable line clips, a wrench and the activation CD.  Professional installation is available, pricing is based on the individual requirements of your home. 

Cost - $$$

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Speed and simplicity make this a very "usable" service. 

Works With - YYYY

Cablevision's software is designed for the Windows environment however the service will work in Macintosh environments as well.

Support - pppp

The tech support area of Cablevision's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information.  If you need more help, you can contact Cablevision via email or call them on their "800" number.

Features - iii1/2

Cablevision provides standard broadband access services and adds Anti-SPAM protection and a Pop-Up Blocker to their software and services.  The "Boost" service adds speed and ten additional email addresses to the standard Optimum Online service for an additional $9.95.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2

If you're already an Cablevision customer the pricing is cable competitive - and the speeds provided by Optimum Boost are terrific.  You may however, find that your local telephone company is pricing their DSL services very aggressively - so check both before you buy. 

Charter

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

The Charter software is easy to install.  Charter is currently offering a promotion with two months free service and free professional installation (saving you from dealing with a self-installation kit).

Cost - $$$1/2

Charter offers a single access service and markets as an add-on using/keeping your current AOL account.

Charter also offers bundles that include cable and Internet services at prices from $69.99 per month to $109.99 per month.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Speed and simplicity make this a very "usable" service. 

Works With - YYYY

Charter's software is designed for the Windows environment however the service will work in Macintosh environments as well.

Support - pppp

The tech support area of Charter's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information.  If you need more help, you can contact Cablevision via email or call them on their "800" number.

Features - iiii

Charter provides standard broadband access services and relies upon the AOL add-on for virus protection, SPAM filtering, firewall, pop-up blocker and parental control features.  You can also subscribe to "extras" including video and music downloads as well as online gaming.

Overall Rating - %%%%

A robust service if, especially the 10Mbps service if you're into gaming or transfer large files on a continuous basis.

Comcast

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

The Comcast software is easy to install.  Comcast offers two installation options - Basic, for $29.95 includes a Comcast technician verifying that the outlet is working or will install an outlet if needed, connect the cable modem to the outlet and provide a self-install kit; Professional, for $59.00, the technician will verify that the outlet is working or install an outlet if needed, connect the modem to the computer, load the software, set up the Comcast Home Page and email and demonstrate how to use Member Services and email.

Cost - $$$

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Speed and simplicity make this a very "usable" service. 

Works With - YYYY

Comcast's software and service works in both Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - pppp

The tech support area of Comcast's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information.  If you need more help, you can contact Comcast via online chat, email or call them on their "800" number.

Features - iiii

Comcast offers basic high-speed connectivity as well as Firewall, personal web space, parental controls and video email.

Overall Rating - %%%%

Comcast has a good basic broadband service and is a solid choice.  A growing portfolio of "extras" (like the ability to add voice) are also available.

Covad

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Covad gives you installation choices.  You can use their "self installation" kit - very simple for anyone with the most basic computer skills (especially if your computer already has an Ethernet NIC [Network Interface Card]) or you can have the service professionally installed by Covad for $175.00 to $225.00 depending upon the service.

Cost - $$$

Covad has a variety of DSL plans to choose from - all focused on the business owner.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹

Depending on your willingness to buy a higher speed package, the performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

All broadband services are highly usable.  Covad's is no exception to that rule.

Works With - YYYYY

Covad's DSL system is operating system agnostic.

Support - pppp1/2

Covad offers service level agreements on their higher cost TeleSpeed services that are competitive (99.9% uptime, 24-hour mean time to repair) and useful for your business.  The tech support area on the Covad web site includes account management capabilities as well as a wealth of technical information to help you solve service and/or system problems.  If you need more help you can contact Covad via email or through their "800" number.

Features - iiii1/2

Covad offers a number of features tailored to meet the needs of the business owner - 10 hours free dial access (for times when your service is down or you are on the road), 15 email addresses (versus the more standard 5) and a minimum of one static IP address (useful if you need to connect to a customer's VPN - Virtual Private Network).  Additionally, the priority routing and service level agreements incorporated into the TeleSpeed services ensure that your connection will be there when you need it.

Overall Rating - %%%%

If your DSL connection is your business' lifeline, then spending the extra $$'s with Covad is more than worth it!

Cox

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

The Cox software is easy to install.  Cox offers two installation options - you can use their "self installation" kit (Cox does the outside work - you get a splitter, lots of coax, a cable modem and installation CD to do the inside work) or you can have Cox do it all (pricing dependent upon your specific requirements).

Cost - $$$1/2

Cox offers three Internet access services.

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹¹ 

The performance (if your PC can keep up) of the network connection allows you to maximize your time whether you're surfing the Web, downloading files or sending and receiving electronic mail.  This means significant time savings for you and your business.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Speed and simplicity make this a very "usable" service. 

Works With - YYYY

Cox's software and service works in both Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - pppp

The tech support area of Cox's web site includes some basic technical (and installation self-help) information.  If you need more help, you can contact Cox via email or call them on their "800" number.

Features - iii1/2

Cox offers basic high-speed connectivity - a free downloadable security suite is available with firewall, anti-virus, pop-up blocker, SPAM blocker, anti-phishing and parental controls.

Overall Rating - %%%1/2+

Cox has a good basic broadband service and is a solid choice.  Downloadable security tools - and you will get speed.

EarthLink                                                               

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

EarthLink offers broadband capabilities based on their alliances with local telephone companies, cable providers and DirectTV to offer broadband cable, DSL and satellite services.  All of the services allow you to install it yourself or contract with EarthLink for professional installation (pricing is dependent upon the service and your personal technical requirements).

Cost - $$$

Even though EarthLink is reselling other companies' access services, pricing is comparable.