Contributor
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63 Messages
Ever going Symmetrical?
In my area, I now have options for high speed. Besides it being cheaper than Xfinity the speeds are Symmetrical. I have friends that are using the options and they are very happy. The set-ups in my area are all new, no using past existing systems not up to par with what is available today. I get good service from Xfinity but it is hard to hang in there when I see Symmetrical performing as well as my Asymmetrical Xfinity Blast and it is also cheaper. Sure right now the people are paying promotional pricing which is less than half what I pay Xfinity but even after a year at promotional pricing, it is going to be a good amount cheaper than Xfinity when it goes up.
Hard to stay faithful even after 18 years as a customer and my costs keep going up.
Accepted Solution
Andyr1
Gold Problem Solver
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8K Messages
4 years ago
As noted, there are many technical reasons. Upstream has traditionally been limited to a very limited bandwidth between 10MHz and about 40MHz (analog TV channel 2 is at 42MHz). Below 10MHz is too noisy. This is called "low-split".
There is work on moving to mid-split or high-split, which increase the highest frequency available, but it involves having to replace alot of equipment as many have physical filters to split downstream and upstream at the low-split frequency. There is also something called Node+0 where there are no amps between your home and the node. That is also expensive as it means putting in more and more nodes closer to homes.
You can search Google or elsewhere on some of the above terms for more detailed info.
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realyc
Contributor
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24 Messages
4 years ago
From what I read, I think symmetrical vs asymmetrical is a limitation of the cable infrastructure. Basically, some of the low frequencies are allocated for upstream signals, and many many more higher frequencies are allocated for downstream signals. Trying to insert upstream signals in the higher frequencies is very difficult technologically.
Fiber internet does not have this limitation.
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FredEx
Contributor
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63 Messages
4 years ago
Good answer Andy. I get it. Hard to see reliable highspeed coming and cheaper. It being symmetrical just adds to the frustration. Xfinity is top of the line in my area as far as their equipment. Techs I know in my area tell me things and they are not bsing. Just so happens one tech can look out his front door and see our local node, which is 5 blocks from me. I keep hearing thanks for being a customer since 2003 and my net is costing me about 4 times as much as it first cost me. I'd of been a Comcast customer sooner but they didn't get into my neighborhood until 2003. Guess I'm getting frustrated seeing these well-performing lower-cost options coming to town.
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FredEx
Contributor
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63 Messages
4 years ago
I read that last year Comcast was working on symmetrical, 1.25 Gig to be exact.
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