TV/Internet/Phone Package Advice Needed

[Knottscott]

Hi gang - I'm a bit miffed at Time Warner and am looking for alternatives to their services, but am a bit confused by all the new digital changes, internet access, etc., and have some questions if you don't mind. Frontier has some attractive offers going locally, but the fine print is glaringly bold...two year contracts, steep early termination fees, large installation fees, etc.

We've currently got Roadrunner internet, basic tier cable TV ($10/mth for about 8 channels), and digital phone with unlimited local and long distance. We're not married to any of these if there's a better deal going...anyone know what the hottest deals are on decent performance? We're not fussy, I just want it to be acceptable and fair. What's good, what sucks, etc? This could be opening up a bag of snakes, but thought I'd ask.

1. Does the fastest dial up service have reasonable speed compared to highspeed cable connection like Roadrunner? Meaning, are the improvements they claim real, or is dial up still a turtle service? Can you still use the phone if the internet is up?

2. Who's offering the latest deals on cable TV, and what's the hot setup at a bargain price?

3. Anyone know how good Cricket's wireless broadband is?

[crokett]

Dialup is still a turtle service as compared to cable/DSL.

See if your telco will bundle DSL and satellite service. Mine here does. Since you have VOIP for phone anyway, another option is DSL and Vonage.

Wireless broadband is still expensive as compared to DSL or cable modem+wireless router. Unless neither of those are options and/or you are mobile enough to need it during the work day it is probably too expensive.

[pierhogunn]

+2 to what david said

[JimD]

In my area, Windstream (used to be Alltel) offers two packages that I think are pretty good deals. I use a 3MB/sec DSL (mid level) with local and unlimited long distance package that is $50/mth. They also have these same features plus a "family" dish package for, I think, $90/mth. We did not like the channels in any of the dish packages so I still have cable for the TV. In bigger cities, you can probably do better. I am in the Columbia, SC area. I could have 6MB/sec DSL for $5/mth more but the 3MB is OK for my son and me.

Jim

[cabinetman]

We're on a plan with AT&T/Bellsouth, and Direct TV. We have free long distance landline and cell (3 phones), and DSL. LOML arranged the deal, and knowing her, there wasn't a better deal.
.

[LinuxRandal]

As to using the phone when on dialup, you can't without a second phone line.

[jackellis]

As the others have said, dialup is pretty slow and obsolete at this point. Even ISDN (no longer available) was far better and it was limited to about 128 kB per second. I pay something like $50/month for DSL at one place including a fixed IP address but only 1.5 MB/second speed. It's $35 at Tahoe with no fixed IP but a bit more speed.

I have a landline, unlimited LD, and a package of services that includes voice mail and caller ID for $50/month from AT&T at Lake Tahoe. We pay around $50/month for cable even though we don't watch much TV other than te news and occasional college sports.

[vaking]

See if Verizon Fiber (FIOS) is available in your area. It is faster than cable and, more importantly, it works reliably.

[430752]

Fios.

Sure, it'll cost. But it is blazingly fast on the computer. I signed up for their triple play, but would recommend you do the math to see what cost savings you get by getting only internet and tv, then using VoIP for phone. When I signed up the math came to about free for the phone service, and it was unlimited, traditional phone service (even if not over copper wire), with all the options, etc., etc. But I didn't count on the traditional tack ons for phone service, like universal fee, unlisted fee, fed and state tax, etc. I had been using VoIP for at least 5 years, forgot abotu those. So in the end I'm happy, just think that 2 of the 3 with VoIP might save about $10 a month. And since we don't use the land line but to order pizza, it woulda been worth it.

Oh, and for what its worth, I do prefer the Comcast cable on demand selection and menu set-up than verizon's on demand system, but that's nitpicking, and I can say Fios has never dropped a movie whereas comast used to about 1 for every 20. Also, Fios won't compress HD signals the way cable has done in order to cram more HD over their liimited pipeline.

[Knottscott]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your insights. Lots of info to digest!

I made some calls, and apparantly Verizon does not offer any of the FIOS services in our area. Have not checked for Comcast yet, but will.

Can anyone tell me what Direct TV is, relative to cable TV? Is it a satellite deal? Pros and cons, etc....

THanks again!

[germdoc]

I have Charter's package with 3MPS internet, expanded basic cable and telephone for $80/mon. Internet is plenty fast, even for streaming video and movies--new dual-core processor with at least 2 MB RAM makes a BIG difference in speed, BTW.

I'm happy with cable and phone, though truth to tell I don't really need the phone with my cell service.

Charter may be going the Chapter 11 route, but I doubt this'll affect services. At least I hope not.

[cabinetman]

Can anyone tell me what Direct TV is, relative to cable TV? Is it a satellite deal? Pros and cons, etc....

THanks again!

We've had Direct TV for about 9 years. It's satellite, where you get a box and a dish. I set it up myself and get a very strong signal (96%). We're happy with it and don't lose a signal unless there is a bad storm. Even then it's for a short period. If you get a bundle package like ours, you can get DSL (through your existing phone line). Catch a package special and they might install for free.
.

[atgcpaul]

I thought I would weather the digital transition fine. I had regular cable and
a non-HDTV. My setup was perfect. I had a good picture and I could record all my broadcasts with my DVR. Cable all over the house and watchable from
any TV.

Then my cable company decided to go all digital. We got one box free (took
me almost a month of arguing with them to make them honor their coupon).
I could only watch from one of my TVs, and if I wanted to record, I
couldn't watch another channel. It really ruined the whole experience for me.

So I got a HDTV and installed an over the air antenna. We ditched cable 2
weeks ago and I don't miss it. I get a ton of HD channels for free over the
air--including PBS channels I didn't even know about. I paid a little extra for
faster internet speed. Now I can stream pretty much anything I want to
watch through my computer from the network sites, HULU, or Netflix.

In the end, I'm saving almost $50/month without cable. I like all the new
PBS channels I get and I'm a lot more selective of what I watch.

Paul

[LinuxRandal]

There are very few area's, where you can choose between Comcast, and Time Warner. They are a regulated monopoly (kind of like the phone company of old).

As for satellite, there are latency issues, as well as maximum bandwidth issues (check limits, and do you do a lot of downloading?). I did think about Cricket for a bit, for me, but they have less maximum limit (5gb a month for their advertised service), and things like You Tube (downloads and plays on your machine) and my Linux distro's/freeware/etc, would eat that up in a hurry.

[aggrex]

I made some calls, and apparantly Verizon does not offer any of the FIOS services in our area. Have not checked for Comcast yet, but will

FYI: I had internet/cableHBO from ComCast for approx $95/month for the past 2 yr with no issues to report. Initially Fios was not available in my area until this year and I am switching at the end of this month @95/month because of the current promotion for triple play (150 rebate) or double play (100 rebate) and waived activation. Fios claims to have faster internet and similar channels to my ComCast. I eliminated my landline because it became a telemarketer chat line exclusive........Its been eerily quiet at all hours, actually quite nice at dinnertime

In the current market conditions you may find similar deals with other companies...maybe ComCast