Stupid Broadband question

**Capn Graybeard** · 30 April 2003, 10:25

Stupid Broadband Answer

Main thing to check is contention ratio - not sure what you'll get from Telewest but likely to be 50-1 from BT and any ISP's using their lines.

I have heard that the cable guys are capping usage whereas BT don't (yet)

Word of warning - don't get from BT direct if you can as their aftersales service is non-existant. Rather try a reputable ISP.

**AtW** · 30 April 2003, 20:30

I am on Telewest BB for the last 2+ years. They are great - I get 1mbit connection for 35 quid and I _always_ get 120kb -- contention ratio is not an issue for cable modems because they are designed to bring 30mbit to each house, unlike ADSL because cable modem tech is superior to that of ADSL. Telewest is about to intro 2mbit service as well.

Important thing is capping -- BT caps, NTL as well, Telewest is trying to play on it and does not cap and (according to them) not going to. Even if they will, its going to be far more reasonable than BT.

**RobAnt** · 2 May 2003, 20:53

Telewest/Blue Yonder seems like a good deal.

They server every house in our street - except mine - and they won't bring it in!

**AtW** · 2 May 2003, 21:56

telcos are in deep @#%$ with debts and no one is stupid enough to loan them more money -- they cut as much capital investment as they could, ADSL from BT is ebtter than nothing

**Sysman** · 3 May 2003, 13:24

I assume you talking about ADSL here.

ADSL is more secure as you are not sharing the physical connection with your neighbours. You are not sharing bandwidth with them either.

Here at least (not in UK), ADSL gives me the choice of ISP, but with cable I would be stuck with the cable company's choice, an ISP who has had their username/password details cracked in the past.

Easy decision for me!

**AtW** · 4 May 2003, 19:20

> ADSL is more secure as you are not sharing the physical
> connection with your neighbours.

Unencrypted traffic is not secure if it has separate pipe - if you want security then use strong crypto. All proper security analysis assumes that traffic WILL be intercepted and crypto is designed with that in mind, hence there is no practical different in tunneling your encrypted data thru public line.

> You are not sharing bandwidth with them either.

yeah right, and contention ratio of 20 : 1 or 50 : 1 is here why?

Maybe you'd like to read up it here: www.adslguide.org.uk/howi...ention.asp

According to Telewest they can support up to 30mbit per house, ADSL is nowhere near that figure, techologically ADSL is an inferiour technology.

**Sysman** · 5 May 2003, 06:43

AtW, you did not read me correctly. By "more secure" I meant that you use your own private wire to the exchange, not one shared by your neighbours.

The url you posted falls flat on its head too, since it mentions BT. Completely irrelevant where I live, Gott sei dank (thank God)

**AtW** · 7 May 2003, 21:21

err, so you think you have secure connection by having your own wire to exchange? This is like to say that if you lock your car for 1 hour in a day then you are secure -- anything past exchange is as insecure as before! Encryption is the only way to do it, and with proper crypto you dont need dedicated line -- your "benefit" is very weak -aka snake oil security. You really need to read up on security! :rollin

As for contention ratio -- well maybe you are living in heaven where its 1:1 but in almost all places ADSL technology is based on 10-50 to 1 contention ratio.

**PerlOfWisdom** · 8 May 2003, 10:08

You'd be surprised how many companies use strong encryption, and then send the data over an expensive leased line "for security".

Stupid Broadband question