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Cable/Internet

NullSmurf

NullSmurf

Das Bruce
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
7,858
Location
Aurora, CO USA
Comcast is up to $200/mo. I knew it would eventually, but I've finally snapped. I have the Uber, super dooper ultra premium Internet - can't seem to downgrade it. Digital cable with 2 premium channels. Fockers always want to arm wrestle and dicker when I bitch about the bill. I want to fire them.

So...I've heard some bitches about satellite and DSL. I've never had either. I need a meg or two up/down on the Internet, and basic frigging channels on TV. I'd like to hear from you satellite guys to see what you think.
 
I had the same problem with Comcast, my bill was hitting the $250 level and did the following:

Verizon DSL - It is pretty fast but I think it is because I am pretty close to the local hub. Saving about $20/mo there.

Direct TV - I got the whole big deal, uber package,etc and it is great. Only problem I have from time to time is the freezing/pixelation of the HD channels when it is raining out. I think it is an easy fix but I am not sure. I will throw it out to the crowd if they have any ideas on how to fix it. I am saving about $80/mo there and get a lot more channels and a lot more HD channels too.

Good luck.
 
I'm not sure if it is available in your area or not, but you should also look into Verizon FIOS or AT&T U-Verse. I have friends with both of these services and they love them. I just signed up to have U-Verse installed in early January...more channels, better service and cheaper than my cable service.
 
Both depend on your location.

Cable modems are like a jillion-lane superhighway. DSL modems are like a thousand-lane superhighway with traffic lights. At least this is how it was explained to me. The cars (bytes) on either are not going any faster than on the other, but on the DSL line, when it gets overcrowded they have to start taking turns.

I have DSL, and when I lived in a massive apartment complex, it would occasionally stutter on me during peak use periods . . . get stuck for a second while it waited on the "traffic light." Now that I've bought a house in a new subdivision out on the edge of town, that NEVER happens anymore.

Another downside is it HAS to come with phone service. So my phone/DSL bill is $61 a month, now that I'm a year or three past all the "introductory offers."

Also, you have to factor in your 'puter itself. My old iMac on dialup was noticeably faster than my work PC on T3 lines, and my new iMac on DSL is faster than my buddy's top of the line notebook on cable.

~Boar
 
Get out of Qwest or L3 territory and maybe you'd have other options, LOL.
 
I have Directv for all my channels except the locals which I pick up with an antenna. I also have Hughesnet for internet since it is that or dialup. We pay $70 a month for the internet alone so you can see that it isn't a great deal if you have DSL/cable/fios available. Directv however, beats any cable package that I've seen advertised. Not that it matters for me since there is no cable where I live. I have the "extra" package with HD and 3 recievers for under $80 a month. No premiums like HBO or Showtime although they are available. I do get some rain fade with it and I could put up a bigger dish to eliminate that but who needs a 1.5 or 2 meter dish on their roof?
 
AVB said:
I have Directv for all my channels except the locals which I pick up with an antenna. I also have Hughesnet for internet since it is that or dialup. We pay $70 a month for the internet alone so you can see that it isn't a great deal if you have DSL/cable/fios available. Directv however, beats any cable package that I've seen advertised. Not that it matters for me since there is no cable where I live. I have the "extra" package with HD and 3 recievers for under $80 a month. No premiums like HBO or Showtime although they are available. I do get some rain fade with it and I could put up a bigger dish to eliminate that but who needs a 1.5 or 2 meter dish on their roof?
Click to expand...

Thanks, Ray. What will you do for DTV conversion in Feb?
 
Three of my TVs are already HD and the fourth that isn't hooked up to Directv I have a converter box on. I've had HD for as long as they have been broadcasting HD. So to answer your question, I'm not doing a thing.

NullSmurf said:
Thanks, Ray. What will you do for DTV conversion in Feb?
Click to expand...
 
AVB said:
I have Directv for all my channels except the locals which I pick up with an antenna. I also have Hughesnet for internet since it is that or dialup. We pay $70 a month for the internet alone so you can see that it isn't a great deal if you have DSL/cable/fios available. Directv however, beats any cable package that I've seen advertised. Not that it matters for me since there is no cable where I live. I have the "extra" package with HD and 3 recievers for under $80 a month. No premiums like HBO or Showtime although they are available. I do get some rain fade with it and I could put up a bigger dish to eliminate that but who needs a 1.5 or 2 meter dish on their roof?
Click to expand...

I have Dish Network and DSL. My satellite experience is about the same as Ray's except it's about $65/month. I have the top HD DVR package except for the premiums and one receiver that works 2 TVs (one HD, one not). The rain fade isn't very frequent here, but we're far enough north that a very thick blanket of clouds can hurt the HD channels at times. The regular SD channels hardly ever go out. Snow doesn't seem to be a problem.

I'm all set with the DTV conversion. The DVR receiver I have is digital and my TV is too. If you get satellite and get your locals with them you have no worries. If you use an antenna you may need a box, but I think most sat receivers will act as a converter for you.

My DSL is pretty slow even for DSL, but it's a hell of a lot faster than dial up and it's less than $25. My BIL has satellite internet and he HATES it. It always craps out on him, but that could be him. He's not the sharpest tack in the box.
 
Bruce - If FIOS is available, get it. For $ 165/mo, I get extreme hd package with hbo and movies package, home telephone and 5/20 wireless internet speed. The service is great.
 
Two cans and a string and talk to your wife.

Who needs the internet and what did you do before the internet?
 
tone-ny said:
Two cans and a string and talk to your wife.

Who needs the internet and what did you do before the internet?
Click to expand...

I can actually do some good stuff with the can, some duct tape, and a few lantern batteries. :laugh:

Before the Internet? Funny, I can't remember. Go outside and play?
 
I ran into a problem with Comcast and while 'explaining my extreme frustration' i told them that my building had just recieved the FIOS hook up and they needed to do something in a hurry to keep me from switching over. Their first response was to tell me that they checked to see if i had phone with comcast and since i didn't, i could not get FIOS. I'm still proud of what i told that guy :angry: . Their second response was to actually fix the problem, though that is another story for another time. I hate comcast. They know it and they are paying for it too. Ray, go with anything but comcast. I have heard good things about FIOS
 
I have Dish Network and Bellsouth DSL. I have 6 meg down and 2 meg up. I am close to the DSLAM so I acheive those speeds. The thing with DSL is, the further you are away from the site the slower it will go. This site has a lot of good info.

DSL reports

there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Cable is the one where performance degrades with the more users that share the connection. Theoretically the more people who have Cable internet in your neighborhood, there is more potential for you to have performance issues as all of you basically share one line.

Dsl, is not shared it is dedicated, however the speed is limited by the cabling type.

I have been please with Dish Network especially because of their HD content. However us on the East Coast have difficulty with Line of Sight issues with the 129 satellite where HD channels are housed. In the spring/summer when my trees leaf out I lose some channels. I will either have that tree cut down or Dish has recently launched a new satellite called "Eastern Arc" that is supposed to remedy this issue. In Denver I don't think you will have this issue.

There is nothing that can be done about rain fade except making sure your dish is pointed to obtain the strongest signal and this could reduce the potential.
 
DePasta said:
However us on the East Coast have difficulty with Line of Sight issues with the 129 satellite where HD channels are housed. In the spring/summer when my trees leaf out I lose some channels. I will either have that tree cut down or Dish has recently launched a new satellite called "Eastern Arc" that is supposed to remedy this issue. In Denver I don't think you will have this issue.
Click to expand...

I was told it was because of my "northness" (I'm not kidding, she actually said the word :D ). I wonder if the new sat will help us out.
 
After years of having a hodge podge of a set up, I converted to Fios.

I had Verizon as my phone carrier, CableVision as my internet and NYC station provider and DirecTv for Philadelphia stations and all other TV services. Well all three where getting me so close to that $300 mark and I was getting pissed off.

I called DirecTv to upgrade my service to include DVR in HD. Well after several on holds telling them that I was a long term client they disconnected me from the phone call. As chance would have it Verizon was in the neighborhood making me an offer I couldn't refuse and in writing no less. Net difference to me is close to $120 a month in my pocket. I hear additional cigar purchases, LOL. Regrets, one DirecTv had more HD content and was easier to navigate. I know Verizon and DirecTv have ties so if things dont work out I'll keep Verizon for the phone and internet and I still have the dish on the roof.

Bruce, good luck with this as most cable companies suck big time. I'd call them and tell them you are getting an awesome deal from DirecTv and before you disconnect you want to give them the opportunity to keep your business. I did receive several call from DirecTv and Cablevision seeing if I would come back and they would pay any cancellation fees for me. YMMV
 
We're still paddling the Comcast boat. I haven't identified a better overall solution, but this is one of those cases where YMMV a lot depending on what's available. We have HD-DVR TV with two premium channels, first tier internet (which seems hella fast 99.9% of the time) and the home phone service. With all the federal, state, and local taxes and tariffs we're about a Padron 2000 (on sale) short of $200.00 / month.

Comcast's residential phone service, for us Luddites that still have a phone on the wall that works, is a pretty darn good deal once you get the other two (Internet, HD) services. Was paying about $60.00 / mo to Qwest and that went to about 10 bucks a month with Comcast with free long distance nationwide, unlimited. With parents that live a state or two away, it's a pretty good deal. Qualifies you for other discounts on the other services so the adder is almost zero. If you don't have it, give it a go. The audio quality is actually a bit better than we were used to getting and the fancy new modem that came with it (handles Internet and phone) seems pretty cool. It includes battery back up so your phone keeps working in the event of a power outage.

I've got a buddy that's a true bargain hunter who is in the same boat as we are. He's looked at the satellite guys, the DSL guys, the FIOS guys (which we can't get here) and the long and short of it is that while you may save a few bucks here or there you seem to give up something. We're not unhappy with the service we're currently getting other than the price so for the time being, we're staying put.

One guy's opinion - B.B.S.
 
FTA or free to air..... at least for tv, can't help ya on the internet. Toooo easy to get many many channels for a small investment.

It takes some research, but once you find out a good source for info you will be pleased.
 
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