You Have Lots Of Options When It Comes To DSL Connection Speed
DSL connection speed can vary greatly. Unlike cable broadband providers, who until just recently would only offer one option with one connection speed to their customers, DSL companies tend to offer an extensive menu of various options. They normally have a price leader type plan which will frequently be similar in cost to the typical dial-up connection. This low cost offering can range in speed from 256 to 758 Kbps for the connection from the Internet to your computer (called downstream). The connection from your computer to the Internet (upstream) is usually 128 Kbps on these plans.
When comparing these lower priced DSL options, be sure to read the fine print, as some companies will require the customer to sign a contract for a year or two in order to get the advertised price. Most of these cheaper plans do include a free DSL modem, but you frequently pay for it up front and have to mail in a rebate form to get the money back.
Moving up from the cheapest plans, many DSL providers will offer a smorgasbord of choices. It can be very confusing to compare all the various options, requirements, and connection speeds among various plans and various providers. But patience and careful research can pay off in the end. Take your time and be diligent in comparing not only what the companies offer, but how happy their current customers are. It's easy to find this information on the web.
A note here about cable broadband options. As mentioned earlier, the tendency of cable companies has been to stick to just one broadband internet access option for residential customers. As technology has improved over the past few years, they've tended to hold price fairly steady and just keep raising the connection speed of that one offer. However, some cable companies have recently begun to offer cheaper plans that, in many cases, compare quite favorably to the low priced DSL options. You may have to do some digging to unearth them, however, they are frequently not widely promoted, and sometimes not even advertised at all. Should you be already have DSL, and are interested in finding a DSL connection test to see if you're actually getting what you pay for, you'll find a number of sites on the web that will give you that information. Some popular ones are located at:
http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_7-0.html
http://www.dslreports.com/stest
http://www.bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/
However, I found one with a really neat graphical interface at http://www.speedtest.net/. You can test your connection to a number of different servers located in various places. This test also includes your upstream, or back to the internet speed, which most other tests don't provide. The site also allows you to see how your connection speed compares with other testers in your state or nation, and also with others who have the same DSL provider. All in all, pretty cool.
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