What is the real score pros and cons of each DSL provider?

[Macmon]

As I plunged into the DSL connection, I thought it was just an easy application. As you have seen in my previous posts I was looking for DSL companion subscribers for Bayantel DSL.

But within the 5 day trial which expires today, I have come to realize the complexity of having a setup for such connections.

So now my question is. Aside from the SPEED which of course we all want to have in a DSL, what are the differences between each DSL company in terms of the following.

1. IP address: Bayantel or SkyDSL has a static one
Does PLDT, Globe and Eastern have static ones too?

2. Proxy server: Bayantel/Skydsl has its proxy server proxy.skyinet.net
Does PLDT,Globe and Eastern have proxies too?

3. Use of email via MS outlook and Mail (OS X). using pop and SMTP on bayantel/skydsl is a pain for me for the past 5 days. They have given me the configurations etc and still all I can get are incoming but NO GO to outgoing mail.
How about for the 3 other DSL providers?

4. Use of modem. Bayantel/DSL uses ethernet cable. Who among them use usb and/or ethernet?

5. Service support: Bayantel/skydsl has a fast response in their hotline but unfortunately the technical expertise needs improvement. One tech will say a different explanation from another regarding the same problem

Please give your inputs. thanks

The reason for these set of questions is not only for a better decision to make but also serve as a reference for others in their choice.



[Edited on 5-28-2004 by Macmon]

[Jumbo]

Hi, im using NOW Cable DSL by infocom. if i remember the monthly bill is 1680. but in recent months the connection has been slooow, is anyone experiencing this as well? I often get booted out of my Warcraft games. Just recently, my friend brought his laptop over to my house and hooked it up with my internet connection and suddenly his norton antivirus pops up saying their is a high risk intrusion.. giving an ip address as well. That kinda spooked me. I'm also looking for a new dsl provider.

[mikaelrules]

I have PLDT myDSL, it has a dynamic IP address and no proxy server. The speed goes up and down at times but at least I get decent latency, little or no packet loss and p2p performance doesn't seem limited. When I had destiny, while the downloads were fast, latency and packet loss we're so bad that I couldn't play online games. Downloading from p2p networks were also slow as hell on destiny.

[Macmon]

@mikaelrules

do you have problems in getting and sending email via outlook/mail or any email software?

[ruger]

pldt mydsl

1. pldt dsl uses dynamic ip address (on personal subscriptions)
2. none that i know of
3. email (webmail.epldt.net) is quite reliable
4. pldt uses ethernet dsl modems
5. non-existent haha.. their service support really sucks

[El CaMOTe]

Globe DSL uses lousy bluegreen froggy looking Alcatel USB modems !! Choked down to max of 128 you hope !!!

Get cut off, when no activity, or at times you think you are connected but cannot surf or do anything, so I disconnect and connect after 10 secs or so.

Globe help phone answers right away, and the techs (?) seem to get it right most of the time.

Thing is I am paying for a 384 line and am getting only 128 max but much lower most of the time. If i can change, I will change. Waiting for myDSL and I know the problems with them also. :dry:

We PhilMuggers ought to unite and teach these DSL types can't kick us around.

[El CaMOTe]

Maybe the moderators of this thread ought to compile and put all these comments into an easier read format !

And explain to us el CaMOTes what a proxy server has to do with the price of mangoes...

and what is a static/dynamic IP address and its consequences etc., ...hmmm maybe we can get a Mugger's monthly meet on just this DSL thing !!

Mugger's unite and be counted, lobby for cheap, reliable & fast DSL !!!

[mikaelrules]

Originally posted by Macmon
@mikaelrules

do you have problems in getting and sending email via outlook/mail or any email software?

Sending and receiving email works fine on Mail.app.

[elbert]

I know Destiny is not DSL, but I'd like to contribute the information anyway.

1. IP is dynamic (DHCP).
2. Proxy Server. I'm not sure if this counts as a proxy, but Destiny uses Akamai servers. This is the redeeming factor of Destiny.
3. Email is POP/SMTP, with 5 MB allocation per address, a total of 5 addresses per subscriber. Works flawlessly with Mail.app
4. Cable Modem, specifically the Motorola CyberSurfer Wave, which I now own thanks to a lease-to-own plan. Rather pricey at P12k. Sakit to think that you could get one at eBay today for just $10.00
5. Service support = crappy. First of all, you'll be lucky if they answer the phone within 5 minutes. When you do get through, they're unable to give you the answers you are looking for.

[Henjie]

PLDT myDSL:

• Dynamic IP.
• No proxy server.
• POP/SMTP for emails. 5MB per address. Works great with Entourage and Mail.
• Ethernet. I'm using a relatively old (circa 2001) but excellent Nokia M5122 DSL modem. I prefer it over the newer Nokia, SMC, and Zyxel modems currently being provided by PLDT.
• What ruger said. Non-existent for residential subscribers. Nobody's around to answer the 173 and 171 numbers.

Dynamic vs. Static IP Addresses:

Static = fixed. Same IP address every time you connect. Needed if you're running web, mail or FTP servers so the users will know where to "find" your servers.

Dynamic = changes each time you connect. Not an issue if you're just using your internet connection for regular browsing, email, etc.


Proxy Server:

If you're using a proxy server, then all your browser requests are filtered through that server instead of you being connected directly to the internet. As far as I'm concerned, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages which is why I'm okay with PLDT's setup.

One advantage is if the proxy server is also set up as a cache server (and if it's fast). This setup may improve the load times of more popular sites because the contents of more frequently accessed web pages are oftentimes stored in the cache server, and "pulling" pages from your ISP's cache server will be faster than accessing the pages from their own web servers.

In short, your browser is actually requesting the pages from the proxy server, and not from the internet per se. The proxy server then look for the web pages in its cache. If the pages are already cached, they're immediately returned to you. If they're not there, the proxy server will request for the pages you want from the actual web servers then pass on the pages to your browser. The latter can be a disadvantage because it has the tendency to slow things down.

Instead of your browser communicating directly with web servers on the internet (well, not really directly, but the analogy will suffice), using a proxy server will mean that there's an extra server to "call". Browser -> proxy server -> internet. The slowdown is more evident if you access frequently updated sites (or forums) 'coz there's a big possibility that the proxy server won't have the updated pages in its cache.

Another disadvantage is that the ISP can use the proxy server to block certain sites or P2P services as well as limit the bandwidth. Which is why proxy servers are popular in places like China and some countries in the Middle East. Censorship on a national level. ;-)


~Henjie

[Edited on 5-29-2004 by Henjie]