DSL FAQ

256 Select vs. 256 Deluxe

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Qwest offers a variation of the DSL connection called Select. In their own words, this service is "for customers wanting a higher Internet speed than is currently available with dial-up service, but do not require that the service be 'always up' or guaranteed availability."

As far as the technology and basic connection, Select is the same as the other DSL offering (called "Deluxe"). The difference is that Deluxe is a dedicated, guaranteed connection (or "always on"). In other words whenever you need to use your DSL connection, you can. Also, you can use it for as long as you want--24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Select does not offer this dedicated connection. There are the following limitations:

1. You are not guaranteed a connection.

Qwest may oversell Select circuits. This means that there will be more DSL users than Qwest's equipment can handle. Qwest says there will be a ratio between 1:1 and 10:1 of users to available connections.

That means if there are 100 people with Select on a particular phone switch, there might be as few as 10 available ports (i.e. 10 of those 100 people could use their DSL at any given time).

If you are using Windows 95/98/NT or a Macintosh and there is not a port available, you will receive a message saying that all the lines are in use and that you should try again later (the digital equivalent to the "All circuits are busy" message).

Note: If you get this message, it means all the ports on Qwest's end are in use. It has nothing to do with StarNet's ability to take connections.


2. There is an idle timeout.

Just as in a modem connection, if you don't actively use the connection (i.e. pull up a web page, check mail, etc), the connection will be dropped. It is a necessary "feature" of the Select service since only so many people can use it at any given time.

For the moment, Qwest has it set for 20 minutes. So if you walk way from your computer for 20 minutes (and don't have it downloading anything), the connection will be dropped.

If you are using Windows 95/98/NT or Macintosh, a window should pop up warning you the connection is about to be dropped.


3. There is a "fixed connection window"

In other words, Qwest limits the amount of time you can be connected. Currently, Qwest has the limit set to two hours. That means once you connect, you can only use that connection for the next two hours. After that you will be disconnected and need to reconnect again (assuming there is an available port). You will not be able to reconnect for another 10 minutes, even if a port id available.


4. The monthly price from Qwest will be $19.95.

Qwest offers Select for $10 less than the monthly price of Deluxe (the dedicated DSL connection).


5. You must use the Intel 2100 internal DSL "modem"

You cannot sign-up for Select and order the Cisco 675. This means you cannot share the connection with multiple computers.


This variation of DSL should only be considered for the casual Internet user for the following reasons:

  1. You may not always get connected when you want/need to.
     
  2. There's no saying how long you will have wait until you can get connected.
     
  3. If you do not use the connection for 20 minutes, then you will be disconnected and then might have to go through both problems above before getting connected again.
     
  4. You can only use the connection two hours at a time. After two hours, you need to reconnect, again possibly facing the first two problems before getting reconnected.
     
  5. The connection can only be used by one computer. You cannot share the connection over a network or easily change the computer that has access.

There are additional reasons why this service should be considered just for the casual user. These are covered in more detail in the "StarNet and Select" section of this FAQ.

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