Cable or ADSL Broadband?

hedge2004

Hello all.

Hoping to get some help on this subject. I've been looking at the best broadband deal at the lowest price (not just the cheapest) for my friend. He will be new to the internet and not really to sure what he will use it for. But he will use it for browsing and he likes music, so will properly be on myspace listing to new bands, also listening to internet radio and downloading via itunes. He may also watch stuff off youtube. So I have been looking at usage allowance that are around 40Gb for peace of mind. What actual happens if you go over this allowance? Do they charge you extra or restrict internet connection?

Right, gone off subject I have told that cable broadband is better as its internet network is over a fibre optic network verse ADSL that is through BT's copper telephone network. So with cable there are no download limits, I know there are adsl ISP providers that have no download limits but they are expensive compared to virgin. Also that the advertise download speeds with adsl can vary with the distance that the person live from the local exchange. Can anyone correct me if I got any thing wrong? So is Virgin Media better?

kat21

yes as long as virgin is available in your area and the first year is usually cheaper. Not sure about the fibre optic if its been rolled out or not?
there is a fair usage policy
kat

viv0147

Hi I have Virgin and I am more than happy with it if you go for download speeds with adsl they do vary with the distance that the person lives from the local exchange it may be advertised at 8gb but it could work out at 2gb I have with Virgin 4gb and my download speed is on average 470k= a movie in about 45 minutes.

weegie.geek

viv0147 wrote: »

Hi I have Virgin and I am more than happy with it if you go for download speeds with adsl they do vary with the distance that the person lives from the local exchange it may be advertised at 8gb but it could work out at 2gb I have with Virgin 4gb and my download speed is on average 470k= a movie in about 45 minutes.

mb, not gb.

Virgin do some pretty heavy traffic shaping if you download more than they like during peak hours, so be careful for that.

True, lots of DSL ISPs do as well, but you at least have a choice with DSL of whether you want to go with someone who limits you in this way.

Cable offers faster potential speeds than DSL - up to 30mbit as opposed to up to 24mbit.

DSL is dependent on your distance from the exchange. The farther you are, the slower it is.

Not all ISPs are created equal, and not all DSL ISPs are available at every exchange, so do your research to see what you can get for whatever your budget is, what you NEED in terms of speed and download limits, and check reviews and see what people are saying about them.