TelstraClear's cable network is capable of faster speeds than most current ADSL connections, and the technology is arguably superior. TCL have suggested it can scale to 100Mbit/s without requiring a complete network overhaul.
However, I do have friends with severely underperforming cable connections (as well as friends with very good cable connections). As with all technologies, YMMV. Myself, I'm on Xnet, and my ADSL2+ [1] modem syncs at 13Mbit down, 1Mbit up. I can hit 1MB/s from servers connected to the APE, and usually 300KB/s or so from overseas. That's in the central city - YMMV. [1] Yes, ADSL2+ is largely deployed - it just hasn't been publicly launched yet. Some ISPs will let you get the full speed you sync at, others don't. It appears Xnet do. If you've got an ADSL connection with good line quality, try hooking up an ADSL2+ modem and see if you sync at ADSL2+ speeds! On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:13:35PM +1200, Matthew Whiting wrote: > Why do you say Telstra Cable is way better than ADSL? Telstra have upped > their prices for the plan we are on (4Mbps and 5GB/mth) and I was > thinking maybe XNet would be a better deal. The XNet plan I was looking > at would limit upload to 128kbps though, I hadn't noticed that before. > I've been a bit disappointed by the speed I'm getting with Telstra > (usually only around 1.6-1.8Mbps, I just checked and it it was just > under 3Mbps now, so not bad I guess). I guess I wouldn't expect XNet to > be better than that, was more a cost thing. I'm interested that you say > Telstra is /way /better than ADSL. If you could elaborate, that'd be cool :) > > On Thu 17 Jul 2008 09:44:15 NZST +1200, Matthew Whiting wrote: > > > > [...] > > > > Stick with Telstra Cable. It is way better than ADSL. > > > > Warning: the Telstra cablemodem runs in transparent mode (good!) and does > > *NOT* provide any firewall functionality (irrelevant, as I would always > > provide my own anyway). > > > > For a suitable and very good firewall, get an old PC with 128MB RAM. CPU > > speed is irrelevant, but you need the memory. The stick either ipcop or > > pfsense on it. Both are turn-key appliances - or rather the software part of > > it. You don't need anything else. The PC must have 2 network interface. Add > > a cheap card if necessary. > > > > In one of the interfaces (the WAN one), plug the cable modem. In the other > > (the LAN one) plug a $30 8-port Ethernet switch. Plug all your computers > > into the switch too. > > > > As for ipcop vs pfsense - pfsense is clearly the more professional and > > better designed product, and I wouldn't run a server with ipcop, but in your > > case pick whatever takes your fancy. Which one is easier to operate is open > > for debate. They both install in 5 to 10min and do your job. > > > > Volker > > > > > > > -- > Matt (Matthew Whiting) > +64 (0)3 377 6290 | +64 (0)21 033 7181 | www.interactingorganisms.net >
