Jason Clinton wrote:

> 
> 
> All DSL service is the same at the hardware level. 

Only up to the DSLAM

> After all, SBC is 
> mandated to sell their DSL system to resellers and that's all that AT&T 
> is providing.

SBC has a reputation of overselling their bandwidth -- thus you can get 
much better performance IF you use someone who has better 
backbone-connectivity or just a better pipe out of the DSLAM.  There can 
be other huge differences based on how the service is capped - for 
example if they are selling 1.5/768 they mostly try and provide 768 and 
my tests on a SBC serviced friends computer would seem to suggest that 
they configure a cap at 768. The folks I use now, hypervine, with 
similar tests often gives me tests that get up to 1.1.

It is very hard to run these tests - I find a few places (using 
traceroute) running a bandwidth test on the same back-bone that the ISP 
uses and then run several tests. Doing the same test using SBC service 
gives very poor numbers.

At peak usage time (late afternoon) I could not get over 150kb with SBC 
while hypervine would run in the 700s.

I also need to check sure that I don't have to use PPPoE with the new 
provider (shouldn't have to with a static IP) as it cuts real bandwidth 
with a 10%protocol load.

> The only thing you should be asking yourself is if you 
> like AT&T's customers service; all else will be the same.
> 
I would have to disagree.

-- 
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Karl Schmidt EMail    Karl@xtronics.com
Transtronics, Inc.    WEB http://xtronics.com
3209 West 9th Street  Ph(785) 841-3089
Lawrence, KS 66049    FAX(785) 841-0434

Merchandise offered without price,
is sure to cost more than it is worth.  -kps
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