Getting broadband Internet at home

I am wanting to go to broadband now. But being computer illiterate and also not speaking the best German, I wondered if anyone here can help.

What is the difference between ISDN and DSL? What company would you recommend? etc etc etc? I have heard bad things about Arcor and Deutsche Telekom.

Traditional telephone line = analogue = T-Net, in Deutsche Telekom speak.
This is a regular phone line on which you can use an analogue modem (the type that makes daft tones as it connects) and the maximum connection speed possible is 56K. Usually, you get less than this, say 48K.

Deutsche Telekom don't do caller id for analogue lines - i.e you can't tell who is calling when the phone rings.

ISDN = digital
With this setup, the connection to the exchange is entirely digital. You have two channels, meaning you can have two calls going at any given time (it can be any mix of incoming or outoing, voice or data). For Internet use, you need an ISDN modem (like the Fritz cards) - this will give 64K and you can still use the other channel to make or receive calls. You can also connect both channels to the Internet and get 128K.

You get caller id with ISDN but you have to have an ISDN telephone or an ISDN basestation, if you want to go cordless - these tend to cost more than analogue phones.

The deals for Internet access are similar for both ISDN and analogue lines. You can get packages for pay by the minute or pay a fixed fee for a set number of minutes access per month and so on. This is not broadband but ISDN with a suitable Internet package allows you to be online more or less as much as you want.

DSL
DSL (or ADSL) is a system where the phone line is shared between the phones (analogue or ISDN) and a special digital circuit, DSL. The two services are separated by a filter known as a "splitter" (nothing to do with Monty Python!). You can use your phones as usual while a DSL modem provides Internet connectivity for your PC.

There are two parts to the DSL Internet. The DSL line itself is provided by your Telco (usually Deutsche Telekom but could be Arcor). You pay a monthly fee for the DSL line (in addition to the phone line charge) to the Telco - the amount depends if you have 1000K, 2000K or 3000K. On top of this, you have the Internet service - this can be with the Telco (like T-Online) or could with GMX, Arcor, etc. You pay the Internet Service Provider for the type of Internet service you want - per minute charge, monthly charge for minutes, monthly charge for volume of data or flat rate (no limits).

To have DSL, you have to live within a certain distance of a DSL equipped exchange.

Cable
Another possibiity for broadband Internet is cable, from cable TV or electicity suppliers (e.g. HEAG). The technology for these services may vary but essentially, they supply a cable modem to which you connect your PC for Internet access.
Packages are usually in line with DSL offerings.

Personally, I have ISDN phones and DSL but many people find ISDN alone is quite sufficient.

Ciao
JG

I forgot - if you want to do a LOT of downloading, many providers do Flat Rate but then have a monthly limit (say 20 or 30 GB). T-Online Flat Rate has no limit, which makes it popular with people who like sharing...

JG

And do not be fooled into thinking that you need ISDN to have DSL -- that's what Telekom etc. would like you to think, but I used to have DSL (2000) with a bog-standard T-Net analogue connection. All you need then is your splitter to separate your DSL connection from your phone line. I've now upgraded to ISDN for the comfort of number recognition, separate fax line, etc. etc., but downgraded to DSL 1000 as the speed is perfectly adequate for my standard internet needs.

yeah, I have DSL (Hansenet 1200) with an analog phone..no probs at all...

I also have D Telekom & no problems, I have ISDN & DSL with a flat rate & no time or download limits, though I don't know if they still do this package??
Anyway Telekom have a deal right now where all the equipment (modem etc) is free. They also have a DSL finder (or whatever it's called) somewhere on there website, so you can put in your address & it will tell you what's avail in yr area.

Thanks you guys - that is super! I actually went into Telekom today and she told me about the offer, so that will save me a few euro!

Don't touch Arcor with a barge pole. They are absolute complete rubbish. As I write I have been without a telephone line at home for the past 5 weeks, thanks to Arcor. And my husband is a doctor on call.

How much do you have to play for flat rate including service provider?

Even though I have my Telekom bill in front of me I cannot see what I pay for my connection, I think it is about 26,00€. The price however for DSL Flat 1000 is 25,81€. So you will be paying a little over 50€.

Well here's my two-penneth.

I have T-DSL Business from Telekom and I get a 1500 connection flatrate but with a 2GB download limit per month. Now I download ALOT from the net, music and stuff, and I never exceed that limit.

I pay 24,99EUR a month + 24,99 for my ISDN connection for my phone.

I have to say that for once in my life, I'm very pleased with Telekom. Of course, I never pay Telekom prices when phoning abroad, I use the cheapo provider numbers.

I have T-DSL 2000 and it costs 19,90 a month and have a volume tariff for 9,95 a month from Deutsche Telekom.

I got it a few weeks ago they a really good deal on

Moved here three weeks ago and don`t really speak the language. I don`t have an existing phone line in our flat so have no idea how to start up broadband service. I guess I have to have a home phone (is that Deutsche Telecom) and then have no idea about the providers.

Has anyone been through this ?

Topics merged by admin

Try the forum on Telecoms and TV.
There should be several topics on how to go about getting DSL internet. Deutsche Telekom is one provider but not the only one and definitely not the cheapest one.