You like to apply for DSL and you are overwhelmed by the offers?
It is annoying, but a very lucrative marketing strategy of DSL providers, to slay the potential customers with technical terms. We want to unravel this phenomenon for you and make it understandable. Therefore we suggest a range of DSL service providers which we update frequently.
Prerequisite for a DSL connection
You own a PC (or like to purchase one) equipped with operating systems from Windows 2000. Windows XP meets optimal requirements. For security reasons we do not advice to use Windows versions prior to windows 2000 (95/98/Me/NT). Very powerful hardware is needed for the use of Windows Vista and we advice to not use it yet or buy complete packages with Windows XP installed.
For the following offers you need a basic connection of D-Telecom, which costs € 16.37 per month (excluding Phone-rates).
Our favorites in January 2008
The following offers listed are our Top Savings recommendations. But beware! We would like to draw your attention on the hidden mantraps. All offers usually offer Internet security packages which you don't need to buy. Those products are available for free and can be downloaded from the Internet for home users. A telephone flat rate to German landlines can be worthwhile when your daily calls last longer than 10 to 20 minutes. The basic rule for our Model is, you have rates as cheap as 1ct per minute for calls to German landlines*. So simply multiply your average everyday phone minutes times 30 days, and compare whether the flat rate pays off. (Ergo: 10 minutes inner German landline calls per day equals 3€ per month). As the best hardware (router) to order, we have favoured the Fritzbox 7170 because of the most configuration Options. If you want to operate a wireless network we also recommend the purchase of a Fritz W-Lan sticks (up to 20 €) because of this very easy way it can be integrated for the layman. It also has a very good transmitter and receiver performance.
Some packages are displayed on the following page. One notable distinction are the DSL speeds (2000 kbit / s - 16000 kbit / s). A 2000 kbit / s line is generally sufficient for beginners surfing behaviour. The requested website and its route through the internet plays a major role, so for example you choose a website from Taiwan there is usually no advantage with a faster DSL line. With closer lying websites however you often but not necessarily experience a faster connection.
*1ct per minute costs a phone call onto a German landline , via GMX. Actually GMX is a free German Email provider with a bunch of side products. You need to apply for a free e-mail account. GMX overs their minute billing very disceedly. The offer is found after successfully logging in the GMX portal on the left menu under the DSL telephony. The complete price list can be found here.
