Internet Provider - E.g. DirectTV vs. Comcast

[mikeyman13]

As I have just passed my promotional 12-month rate with Comcast, I am looking around for other internet/HDTV providers.

Question: For gaming, let's say WoW for example, I am wondering how DirectTV service stacks up against Comcast. Obviously, I understand that there will be a big difference in times of bad weather, but I am more interested in whether or not I will lose performance generally, weather conditions aside.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

[crazzyeddie]

DirectTV internet service is actually DSL provided through whatever companies provide DSL in your area. You need to determine who the provider is locally, and what speed of service they will be offering you for anyone to begin to answer this question.

In general, Comcast has faster peak rates than DSL. However, in some areas, Comcast has lower reliability in general.

 

[yoda13]

unless you were talking satellite vs. comcast...in which case there will be some lag involved with satellite, that you will not have with Comcast....and the satellite provider is hughes net....but if you weren't talking about that, my apologies...I just hear people talk about directv internet all the time, asking questions about it, and they are actually asking about hughes net...

 

[Blair230]

I am a DirectTv subscriber and I cannot say I recommend their service. ALthough I get internet through RCN, DirectTV customer service leaves something to be desired.

Not going into too much detail, DirectTV charges their own customers upwards of $220 to upgrade from SD to HD (and extends their contract) even with only "leasing" the boxes.

It took 6 days of arguing and threatening to cancel service to finally get some satisfaction. I also know that in my area (SE PA) if you purchase internet through them it is through Verizon.

Verizon now has FIOS (which my GF got) and she is quite happy with their internet speed and TV service.

 

[Zortrium]

I've heard good things about FiOS, which should be very fast, but unless you're one of a select few who lives on select blocks in select cities, you can't get it.

I've presently got Comcast. While I've got a generally negative opinion of the company, my service has been generally reliable and speeds of what was advertised. The one thing that is noticeable is a significant degradation of speed at peak hours (usually around 7-9 pm when everyone is online), but that may be particularly bad in my case because I live in a densely populated apartment complex presumably served by a single cable conduit.

DSL is much more of a situational thing. If you're close to one of the DSL hubs (I forget what constitutes close -- maybe half a mile?), then your service should be solid and not subject to interference. As you move further away, your speed quickly gets crappier, but that won't generally stop the DSL company from trying to sell you their service, so do your homework beforehand. I've never had DSL myself so I only speak from my own research and secondhand accounts.

 

[Snoball]

I have DSL and it's fine. With most flavors of ADSL, service speeds drop considerably after the line loop reaches 15,000 feet or more.

Satellite service (ie, hughesnet) equals 1.5 seconds up to the satellite and 1.5 seconds back to earth. Minimum of 3 seconds delay on everything, which may work fine for surfing and email, but it would be horrible for Wow.

Cable service like Comcast can indeed be very good. But unlike DSL, you share bandwidth with your neighbors, and if someone on your block happens to be a bandwidth hog, your speeds could suffer.