#TCP/IP via Cable?
16 messages in this thread
I was wondering if anyone knows about the available bandwidth of cable systems,
as in cable TV. Specifically, if my local cable company would decide to provide
TCP/IP service over their cable.
1. How high speed a connection could be obtained? 2. Could this be done without
interfering with existing cable tv service?
Of course this assumes the proper equipment exists on both ends of the cable.
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
They get Ethernet speeeds, but that isn't guaranteed bandwidth to your door —
it is shared with the whole neighborhood, so what your neighbors are doing
matters a lot. In general, it is probably much faster than ISDN, but in
theory, it could be slower.
dale@iam.com, http://www.iam.com Intangible Assets Manufacturing
> They get Ethernet speeeds, but that isn't guaranteed bandwidth to your >door
— it is shared with the whole neighborhood, so what your neighbors >are doing
matters a lot. In general, it is probably much faster than ISDN, >but in
theory, it could be slower.
Interesting. I have looked into leased line operation for this mysterious
business idea I have. The best deal seems to be a frame relay T1 system for
$1,200 a month (including USWest fees). As I anticipate it will take some
months for the idea to catch on, this figure may be too high for me to bear. I
don't think I really need T1 either. A guy from Sun gave me some ideas for
other things I could use the system for, but I would still like to get my
monthly rate down. My local cable company was purchased by TCI and I know they
are making a strong move to expand the services they offer. I have no idea if
they plan to offer TCP/IP service, but they might. At least I know it is
feasible though. I guess I will give them a call and see what they say.
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
Don't know what you need in terms of bandwidth, but in the Pentagon we have
installed ISDN lines in packages. If you limit yourself to two B channels and
a D channel (a BRI combination), you get 128 K bandwidth with each package.
The cost goes up with each package. What you pay depends on your location and
its provider. Theoretically, you should be able to install four packages to
operate up to 512K bandwidth at much less than a full T1 line. You can also
get a PRI (Primary Rate Interface) which has 28 B channels if you need more
bandwidth, but want less than T1. Again the cost is between several BRI
packages and the full T1 cost.
Chip,
Humm. I though ISDN channels topped off at 56K. Are you saying you use ISDN
lines in parallel for increased bandwidth?
What I need is a reasonalbly fast connection for a WEB and FTP server. For one
business idea I have, I won't really need to have a lot of images so that
decreases the need for speed somewhat for the WEB server. Some ideas I got from
the Sun guy for additional services I could provide would require lots of
images in the Web documents though.
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
Michael,
You're obviously in the Denver area. Don't depend on ISDN service, it
is not available in a large portion of the metro area and won't be for quite
some time.
Don
Don,
Actually, I am in Tucson. What made you think Denver?
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
Michael-
You just have that mile-high attitude, I guess! <BG> Seriously, though, I
wish you luck.
Paul (aka Mr. Zombie)
Michael,
Because you mentioned TCI for the cable company and USWest for the
phone company. Oh well.
Don
Put simply, it is almost always silly to start a Web and FTP server with a
dedicated line. Lease the Web and FTP server space from any of the hundreds of
ISPs who lease server space cheap.
dale@iam.com, http://www.iam.com Intangible Assets Manufacturing
If you are reselling any IP services, the cable agreements probably won't allow
it. In fact, your 1200/mo. T1 probably doesn't allow you to resell (although
the prices have been comming down and I haven't priced anything in about 6
months). dale@iam.com, http://www.iam.com Intangible Assets Manufacturing
> In fact, your 1200/mo. T1 probably doesn't allow you to resell > (although
the prices have been comming down and I haven't priced anything > inabout 6
months).
Well, I told them I wanted to set up an internet business. I did tell them I
wasn't planning to be an ISP (by that I meant I do not want to have modem bank
to have others come in via SLIP/PPP. The other business idea the Sun guy me was
to do what your doing, ie lease Web and ftp space to others, as well as writing
the WEB documents for local clients. I will be sure to check out the resell
issue.
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360
I would think that anyone could set up an IP service via a leased access
agreement, which service is mandated on cable systems under federal law. The
technical setup and negotiated fee would be more a problem than the legalities.
Let me amend that: What I said is what is supposed to be true; in many cases,
cable operators resist such agreements, even when the law theoretically forces
them to do business with VARs.
It is necessarily more expensive to give an IP reseller service than to give an
end-user service. Routing alone can be a big headache. Charging more for it
is completely reasonable, and I'm sure that it is completely legal.
The cable modems are bandwidth-limited such that it would be completely
reasonable to not allow them to be used for IP reselling.
dale@iam.com http://www.iam.com
Intangible Assets Manufacturing
FYI, Continental Cable (I think) already offers Internet service to regular
cable subscribers in some locales. Then there is the X*Press computer
information service offered by some other cable systems.
The Internet link has the capability to be much faster than a modem; it all
depends on how much bandwidth the operator reserves. With packet switching, not
much bandwidth would be needed to serve multiple users, at least compared to
the digitally uncompressed 6 megahertz of bandwidth needed for an ordinary TV
channel. It's the return signal from your computer moving upstream which is
most problematic.
I haven't heard any actual user reports on Internet via computer. The company I
work for installs metropolitan wide area computer networks on cable systems for
institutional use by businesses and local governments. We did one cable network
at Chicago O'Hare airport that had everything but the kitchen sink: Security
cameras, telemetry, computer data, phones, etc. Such technology is well
understood and very workable if done correctly. Running computer services over
a subscriber cable network is a bit different but not grossly so.
Thats good to know.
._ _ _ INTERNET: mshea@math.arizona.edu
| | |ichael _>hea COMPUSERVE: 76665,3360