robertuk111

Hello all, just moved to Boulder, CO on a computing scholarship. I love the Internet speeds and availability of Wi-Fi and broadband, ie around 10-20Mbs. Is this normal for other states? Do eg other states' Internet cafes offer similar speeds and facilities? Is there Wi-Fi/broadband at your local Starbucks?

nejicano

Starbucks question, that's my expertise. Starbucks finally offers free Wi-Fi. I know in the UK, you have to use your Starbucks card to sign in, but here in the US, you just go. It's great! A lot of places offer free Wi-Fi as well. I even passed a hair salon the other day advertising their new free Wi-Fi.

TimNiceBut

Several of the Starbucks I've encountered will (still) charge for Wifi. Some of the local coffee shops that also serve better coffee don't, so they'll get my business when I need my coffee fix (which admittedly is fairly rare).

The main issue with Internet access here is that you tend to get it from near-monopoly providers; if you're lucky, the phone company will be able to supply DSL and the cable co usually supplies and Internet connection at higher speeds. All that depends very much on where you live, out here in my area it's cable or dial-up...

Jscl

dsl where I am maxes out at about 2.5Mbs. Too many people, too old structure. But yes, Starbucks have free wifi, but you have to get a code.

tonrob

While traveling about I've been able to take my laptop to the pub, coffee shop or (more likely) pub next door to a coffee shop and download TV programmes via BitTorrent to watch in the hotel later. I've generally found public Wifi reasonably fast (apart from in airports - 45 minutes to download Eastenders at Boston Logan!)

Manc

45 minutes isn't wasting your time.


the half hour to watch Eastenders is.

Jerseygirl

We have DSL at the moment but in 9 days time we are hooking up to Fios....35 MB.

nejicano

We've got FIOS at mine. It's wonderful, you'll love it! If you don't already, you'll get BBC America. Hello, Doctor Who and Top Gear! <3

Jerseygirl

I've stopped watching BBC America...the programs are so old and I've probably already seen them.

nejicano

Fair point; I haven't seen all of Top Gear, so it works for me. How fast to they generally get the new programmes aired in America after the UK?

Jerseygirl

I'm not interested in Top Gear.

Some of the programs are decades old and they just keep showing the same old same old. TBH it may have changed now because I've not even bothered with BBCA for around 2 years.

nejicano

HA, I remember before I left, there were some shows on there that (to this day) I've not heard of. I think it's changed though; Doctor Who is totally up to date, but beyond that they don't play a lot. Star Trek, which I found a bit odd, Doctor Who, Top Gear, BBC World News, Being Human, and that's about all I can remember. I think I managed to find Newsnight on another channel (one of the news ones), and that was quite exciting. Jeremy Paxman is a legend.

Michael

I have comcast cable which typically indicates about 14 mb.

You can use the following link to determine different connection speeds in areas around the world. Click on "World Results" and then "Search All" to select different regions.

http://www.speedtest.net/

In "World Results" at the bottom of the page, it lists average speed in different countries and the US ranks 28th.

Derrygal

I miss Eastenders!!!

Hubcaps

I still watch it. If we hadn't moved over here in the summer when every single US TV channel was on hiatus and just showing endless repeats of repeats, I wouldn't have bothered.