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Digiweb Packages

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  • 16-02-2009 1:19pm
    #1
    Amateur
    Registered Users Posts: 135 ✭✭


    I ma looking to get broadband and looking at the packages supplied by Digiweb.

    I am confused what is the difference between Metro and DSL?


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    #2
    watty
    Registered Users Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    DSL involves most of the money going to eircom and the overhead of Line Rental as it uses a real phone line (copper pair of wires to an exchange). Beyond 1km of telephone wire the speed drops rapidly. Beyond 5km it may not work. Some lines simply don't work at all or work erratically.

    Metro uses a small two way Microwave radio in a plastic box (aerial is internal) on a wall or chimney pole connected by a coax cable (like TV aerial or satellite or Cable TV coax) to an indoor Modem. There has to be LOS (Line of sight), virtually a clear view between the household part and the Metro Mast. The distance can be over 12km with no change in speed. Metro can give an equal or better "ping" (latency for VOIP or gaming or remote desktop) than DSL.

    At the at the same package speeds, Metro can have a much faster upload speed. The higher Metro packages give a very reliable 780k to 1Mbps speed, excellent for uploading photos, databases, backups, websites or streaming your home video /satellite to your own mobile gadget when away from home. Metro comes with one phone number and you can get a 2nd. Though it's a VOIP system it's built in (ordinary plug in phone or DECT cordless) so virtually ordinary phone line quality. If the mast has no interference and not too much contention the VOIP is good enough for Faxes, Sky Digiboxes and analogue Modem applications. You get a real phone number and can buy a 2nd one and/or transfer existing eircom number and ditch eircom line saving over 26 Euro a month (line rental + calls are cheaper).


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