Internet Connection, How do YOU connect to the internet? Options

[JET88]

Hi:
As a pre-newbie to the wonderful world of the MAC, I'd like to find out...
HOW ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET?

Seems to me that a hardwire connection, directly to the cable modem or DSL, is the best way to go.

Some people swear by the wireless Airport Extreme route.

Let me hear your views, ok?
JET...

[lancet]

yea but..... that all really depends of the flavor of broadband you happen to have.

24 Mbps DSL is ADSL2 and you would need to be <2 Km from the CO (Central Office in US telco speak) . Greater that 2 and less than 5.5 Km you'll get ~15 Mbps or less . If you're further out from the CO than that, you can't have ADSL2. All flavors of DSL are slower the further you are from the CO.

Most places in the world that have broadband do not have ADSL2 yet.

most locations in the US have broadband between 6 Mbps and 15 Mbps.

ADSL2 in the US is being used for longer line runs, similar to "fiber to the neighborhood" and is usually < 15 Mbps.

Cable modem services in the US are around 6 Mbps. Some are rolling out services between 30 and 50 Mbps, in select areas.

802.11b is 11 Mbps , 802.11g is 54 Mbps.

An Airport extreme/ express is 802.11 b or 802.11g.

Your ethernet card can be 10Mbps, 100Mbps or 1000Mbps, newer Macs are 1000Mbps.

So , taking all that into consideration. If your broadband is < than 54 Mbps then an 802.11g Airport extreme would work just fine. If it's less than 11Mbps than any old wireless router will be faster than your internet connection.

or you could just use a wire and not worry about any of this

This post has been edited by lancet: Sun 16 Apr 2006, 16:34