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View Full Version : Recommendations for Phone Service, Cable & Internet Access


Golf-Tinker
01-23-2008, 08:52 PM
After three house-hunting trips, we bought a new stretched Gardenia last Saturday in Hadley, overlooking the fourth hole of the Hemingway course. Wave as you play by. We'll close in mid-February and move later this spring with occasional trips in between.

Many thanks to all for suppling the multitudes of information we found here. When we needed to learn something new, a TOTV topic seemed to pop-up or I could do a search.

We have to select companies to provide phone service, cable and Internet access. Not certain what choices we have. It appears that Embarq has a lock on landmine phone service. We could go with a VoIP, such as Vonage (I used them in Mass.). And Embarq DSL competes with Comcast for the Internet.

Recommendations?

Many Thanks

Jim

KathieI
01-23-2008, 10:19 PM
Bump,

I'm interested also. Please Help!!!!

Kath

Dutchman
01-23-2008, 11:12 PM
Also interested. Not sure of need for landline. I use nationwide cell service. How is cell reception in the area? What carriers?

jime
01-24-2008, 12:00 AM
If you want the fastest possible internet service provider (ISP), Comcast is the way to go; they are the more expensive than Embarq DSL, but in my opinion they are worth it. Comcast gives you a discount if you have their cable TV and Internet service. Embarq likes to say that they have high speed internet service also, but it's at a slower rate unless you pay a fair amount more than the "cheaper" rate that they like to advertise.

You're pretty much stuck with Embarq for local landline telephone service unless you want to use an ISP based service like Vonage. As for cell phone service, I've had Nextel and Sprint cellular service and their coverage is excellent in the area.

redwitch
01-24-2008, 12:12 AM
I'd definitely get Comcast. Much faster than Embarq. I don't have a landline. Haven't for years. I've found Verizon to cover all of TV so far.

noleguy
01-24-2008, 12:34 AM
We also have no landline and use AT&T cell service. No problems with coverage thru out the area. We use Comcast for our cable and internet service.

gonzy
01-24-2008, 03:47 AM
We use comcast for cable and internet and Phone Power (voip) for tel. Have had no problems with any of them. Used to use Embarq for local tel and phone card for long distance but Phone Power is cheaper than the Embarq local service and we get unlimited L.D. and all normal VOIP features.

beady
01-24-2008, 04:45 AM
We use Comcast for TV and internet, Vonage for phone. No complaints yet!

gfmucci
01-24-2008, 10:26 PM
In north Florida we have Cox Communications which provides cable, internet, AND NOW also phone service via cable - I think it's VOIP. Do you know if Comcast also provides phone service as part of a package?

redwitch
01-24-2008, 10:59 PM
I tried to get Comcast phone but they said they don't have it here yet and not sure when (or even if) they ever will.

lm01
01-25-2008, 02:23 AM
I did a comparison If you are looking for all 3 services TV Phone and Internet
I would suggest that you go for a bundle and stick with it. The difference in pricing is not great.

I have Comcast Internet and Comcast HD w/Vonnage phone. (Comcast does not have phone service yet.

But I also had Embarq landline phone, with Dish HD network, and Embarq DSL.

Pricing was about 4.00 difference for services I wanted.

Go figure about competition.

Golf-Tinker
01-25-2008, 06:59 PM
Thanks all for the feedback. Now, we have to shop for furniture and a golf cart. Need to slow down. It's all happening too fast, but we can't wait to get there.

bamafan
01-26-2008, 09:43 PM
Im01, Why did you change from embarq? were you not happy with their service, or did you change to get Vonage? Could you eleborate a little on how Vonage is hooked up and how it works. Also what is your bill for Comcast Internet and Vonage Any info would be helpful as I am about to have to make these decisions. I know that I want Direct TV, and like redwitch we may just use or cell phones and not have a landline. Thanks so much.

schotzyb
01-26-2008, 11:37 PM
For land line phone service we just purchased the "Magic Jack" phone system that allows you to plug your land line phone into a USB outlet on your PC . Free local and long distance. This phone system is discussed further in another thread. Website= www.magicjack.com. No issues with it so far.

lm01
01-27-2008, 02:58 AM
Hi Bama- I had Embarq in Pa before my move to the villages. Embarq was ok I just wanted to have faster internet service. Using a cel phone as your main phone is not a bad idea. Kills 2 birds with one stone as they say. If you go with Embarq there may be static on your phone as a result. The tech may need to come back and run another wire seperating your phone and internet services.....keep that in mind.

There are a lot of VIOP services to consider most work about the same. usually you have 2 options for hooking up your phone. 1 you could hook it up to internet line and then use wireless phones around your home. You can get bundles of 4 phones at Sams. or you can hook it up to your internet and use your current hard phone wires in the house as normal. If you do this you need to open the box outside your home and disconnect the wires coming into the house.

For me I just went wireless and it is working just fine.

Direct tv with high definition runs about 67.00 a month
Comcast digital with on demand 64.00 a month
Dish network about the same but the HDdvr is very easy to use.

Depending where you are located Wireless phones have generally good service in the Villages

OHHHHHHH decisions to be made

Good luck

captain1202
01-27-2008, 09:30 AM
Comcast cable & inetrnet with Vonage.

We currently have 3 Vonage lines working flawlessly. Also, we were able to keep our old phone numbers and had new virtual FL numbers assigned so a s not to confuse the locals.

Vonage: $14.95/no for up to 500 minutes or $24.95 for unlimited minutes. NO charge for U.S. long distance, small charge for overseas.

You can also install Skype phone on your computer for PC to PC calls at no charge.

No problems with Comcast service.

TIP: When installer comes to hookup yor cable they will ask how many sets you want. Lets say you have 5 outlets in the house, there is an "installation" (pronounced "RIPOFF" charge) to hook up each outlet. It cost me an additional $95 on the install.

At the time I asked the installer why I was being charged to use MY wiring. She just said it was "company policy". Well even though my policy is not to pay someone else for using my own things I agreed, not knowing the setup (I thought the connections might be from a central terminal box).

I later found out that the cable comes to MY box on MY house and that if the installer had not connected the additional 4 rooms all I would need to do is re-connect MY wires to MY terminal block. It's your choice but knowing what I do now I would NOT have asked them for more rooms than the basic one (no charge for the first one). I am now in discussions with Comcast to see if they will refund the install charge.

It's also worth noting that the "Comcast" we have here is NOT the same national Comcast from the northeast and other areas. It is a local outfit that CC bought and is running under the CC flag but apparently they don't communicate, (e.g. transferring account information).

Re: Comcast Digital phone: I believe Comcast did a rollout of digital phone service before VOIP had really taken hold. Because of VOIP's many pluses, they have withdrawn Digital Phone in many markets in favor of VOIP. They are currently working on VOIP in New England with New Hampshire being a test market.

richman
01-27-2008, 01:45 PM
So Captain, does that mean using VOIP that if the internet goes down, my phone is out as well?

Avista
01-27-2008, 02:58 PM
We also have Vonage. We pay $15 per month for 500 minutes of outgoing calls. Never use all of these minutes. Yes, if electricity is out, so is phone service. BUT, I feel what with cell phones, that isn't a big deal. One nice thing about Vonage is when we are traveling we get an email when someone leaves a message on our phone. I just go to Vonage and listen to it.

Bernie
01-27-2008, 03:50 PM
Captain
One clarification on Skype. Although Skype to Skype is free, now any non-S-S calls (to businesses, incoming non-Skype etc) have a charge. It used to work great for Skype to Skype international calls to friends.
Also with the new digital house phones you only need one connection in your house (unless you want multiple phone numbers). The connection to your phone s/b where you want your base phone with the recorder. The new phones use wireless extensions back to the base phone. You can have an extension wherever theres an AC outlet at anytime you want.
Panasonic works fantastic. Some of the others have serious interference, clarity or distance issues. You can get a 3-4 phone combo at Sam's for $80. Not worth running the additional wiring and you have the connivance of relocating extension (yes event to the patio or bathroom) any time you want.
Also works great as intercom, speaker phones and transfers all your phone numbers to every extension.

captain1202
01-28-2008, 06:43 AM
Re: Power Outages

Yes, there is the possibility of an outage but you can keep both your internet and phone running with a battery back-up pack. fortunately, the comcasts, etc. have good power backup. As is said in the last post, you always have cel as a backup.

jime
01-28-2008, 07:33 PM
To comment a little more on the question that was aksed earlier - if you're using Vonage (or any other VoIP service) and Comcast (or whoever your ISP is) cable service goes down, yes - you also lose your telephone service for the duration of the outage.

My experience is that ISP outages seem to occur much more often than landline or cellular telephone service outages, which is why I would not rely only VoIP telephone schemes.

(From a former telecommunications systems senior technical support engineer)

bamafan
01-28-2008, 11:20 PM
jime, I would assume that from your comment that you have Embarq at your home. Are you satisfied? I talked to one of the Embarq installers and he told me that south of 466 (we are in Duval) all of the lines were all copper and performing with few problems. I thought that copper lines were old technology. What happened to fiber optic? I realize that you cannot run everything in fiber optic. I was thinking of going with comcast for internet with the voip phone, but have reservations. My tv service will be with Directv. My next door neighbor has Embarq phone and internet. I used their DSL internet and it seemed as fast as my ATT DSL internet here in Birmingham. Thanks for the help

jime
01-29-2008, 01:55 AM
Bama -

I do indeed have Embarq for landline telephone service; I have had no problems with it either north of 466 where I first lived (Polo Ridge) or south of 466 where I now live (Belvedere).

Copper lines are still good current technology; it is the condition of the copper lines combined with what electronics they are connected to enroute back to the central office that mainly determines the quality of service that you will have. As the wiring and equipment installed in The Villages is new, I wouldn't expect problems. Fiber to the Curb is the newest technology, but is not often installed as yet (to my knowledge) due to cost.

I know several people that use VoIP via their ISP and are relatively happy with the service; however, as I mentioned earlier, landline or cellular service is more reliable which is why I chose not to use Vonage or any other ISP based service. As for the DSL service, I know of no reason why one service provider (ATT or Embarq) woud be any better; they are all using similar equipment back at the central office. There are different levels (speeds) of DSL service that you can obtain, with faster speeds being more expensive. I don't know that any of the DSL offerings are as fast as a Comcast cable modem, but the difference may not be important to you.

I am considering dropping Embarq landline service and using my cell phone at home; this would be just a cost saving change, not because of any problems I have encountered with Embarq.

bamafan
01-29-2008, 04:31 AM
jime, thanks for the info it helps. We too have considered just using our cell phones. It would save some $$

Hope2b
01-29-2008, 12:08 PM
Embarq could not figure out that I moved within TV. I changed my address twice and twice after getting a bill it reverted back to the old address. DUH, I did not get my bill and when I tried to use the phone was sent over to a representative to pay my bill. This happened twice so I dropped Embarq and started using my cell. Before dropping Embarq I had my phone number transferred to the cell. Only problem I have found is I can't use my fax machine.

bamafan
01-29-2008, 02:03 PM
Plan2 I would assume that internet is with Comcast? If so are you happy with them. I just do not like cable companies. They are always raising your bill.

bamafan
01-29-2008, 09:50 PM
Barb, I assume that you would plug your voip box into the wall outlet. This would send signal to the outside box thereby energizing the rest of the outlets. You would want to disconnect the landline coming into the house to prevent signal from going outside your home and to wherever. I have a question. Does Vonage or voip have a dial tone like a conventional phone? What is Magic Jack? Is that another service like Vonage? Thanks

MikeH
01-29-2008, 11:42 PM
Recommend Cable (Comcast) for TV and Internet. I use VOIP through an independent company---Packet8 (www.Packet8.net).
Been with them several years and am pleased with service.

another Linda
01-30-2008, 12:46 AM
Embarq could not figure out that I moved within TV. ...


And Embarq can't figure out that if they want their bill paid in a timely fashion they need to send it to the billing address and not the service address. I started the service in August and have yet to get a bill. Funny how 2 disconnect notices have reached me though. In their defense, they have canceled all fines and late charges, but really! Is that any way to run a business?

bamafan
01-30-2008, 02:17 AM
Magic Jack certainly looks interesting. Whats to loose. The price is right $19.95 year.

travelstiles
01-30-2008, 03:02 AM
We just signed up for Embarq DSL and land line with unlimited long distance, and Dish TV.
Back in NY we had cable, and were ready to go with Comcast, but after 9 phone calls (3 hours over 2 days), and conflicting information, we finally had an appointment and THEY NEVER CALLED OR SHOWED UP! We had waited from 8 am till 4 pm, called them, were assured someone would be there before 5, but no show.
AND they had the nerve to send us a bill for $89! I spoke with them today and they will give us a full credit for our phantom service, thank goodness.
The Embarq DSL 3.0 is just about as fast as the cable I had previously in NY, and I download lots of photos, so check it out. They have various package deals. Good luck!

Bubbalarry
01-30-2008, 03:20 AM
I got a package from Comcast and Vonage recently and so far although they work I have had a rough experience especially with Vonage.

First I went Thur TV and signed up for Digital HD cable with 2 DVR's and HBO. As a resident of TV I get for free access to the villages.net which allows me to get my tee times on line for free. Not the usual fees they charge. Seems Comcast has a deal with TV that discounts anyone signed up for broadband gets it for free.

So TV and Internet is fine.

Embarg I heard from friends just plain sucks for internet and is expensive at $49.00 a month so I didn't go with it but instead chose Vonage as they were giving me unlimited calls and nationwide service for free the first 2 months, and then $ 24.00 after that.

Now comes the nightmares. Upon signing up for Vonage I mentioned to the sales rep who are from the Philippines that I have wifi on my laptop and need to make sure that the modem/adapter they sent will allow me to get internet service and the phone to work without hooking up the ethernet cable from the adapter to laptop.

She assured me that was a problem that I would not need a special adapter. Now all this time I was using my cell phone and put on almost 60 minutes of a 500 minute plan.

Well 10 days later got the adapter and after 2 hours on the phone waiting for a rep got from level 1 support to level 2 and was told to go buy a different router/adapter from Circuit City. Now I am at the Villages now and had no phone except my cell. So I could not get the device here at Rolling Acres CC, but had to order it on line and as I wanted it ASAP paid for 3 day delivery. It arrived and and after spending another 3 hrs on the cell going from level 1 to level 2 and finally to level 3 and a tech in New Jersey who told me I still had the wrong device for WIFI.

That bestbuy was the place closest to me and I spent to have it delivered fast again.

After arrival I had to again wait for level 3 tech to run the mac address off the unit to get it to work. That was another 3 and 1/2 hours waiting on hold on the cell.

Finally after so many hours of wasted time on the cell I am up and running. My fear is when and if I go down will I need over 4 hours on my cell to get back up.

BTW, I had t upgrade my cell from 500 to 700 minutes or end up paying .45 cents a minute.

Avista
01-30-2008, 11:59 AM
When we moved in we had a great Comcast man for installation. We hired him on the side to set up our computers (4) and set up our Vonage. We also have WiFi. It only took him an hour.

LovinItAtTheVillages
02-01-2008, 11:32 PM
I have Comcast Cable...
and Vonage phone...
I have a Massachusetts number for my Vonage and also a Virtual number for the Villages
I take the box with me back to Cape Cod in summer and use it there as a 2nd phone line..
have had it for 3 yrs and love it

HPIERCE
02-03-2008, 07:55 PM
I currently have the Embarq for the landline and Comcast for TV & Internet. Reading through the posts, you might want to see about the Comcast Digital Voice. I had the old Comcast Digital Phone (which was the old ATT broadband product that is currently being phased out) in our Condo in Vancouver WA. I had talked to a Comcast tech here, about a month ago regarding the Digital Voice product and he said it would probably be rolled out in the spring. He told me it is a part of the On Demand which was started in November 07 and he expected the phone service in 4-6 months. I have the Digital Voice service in WA and very happly with it. There is one thing you have to bear in mind with "bundling" all the services with one provider, should the cable go out everything goes.

Sidney Lanier
02-09-2008, 03:24 PM
We've heard of too many problems with VoIP (Vonage, etc.), at least in upstate New York, that we would never give up a land line, at least at this point, so we went with Embarq in TV. However, because we're snowbirds and intend to rent our house at times that we're not using it, we subscribed ONLY to unlimited local service ($15.55 + tax) and a long distance block ($3.50 + tax), both per month, with zero access to long distance. Of course, 800 numbers are no problem, so we (and renters) can use a calling card and/or cell phones, and all incoming calls are similarly no problem.

In addition, we've been using Skype for nearly three years--and finally used up the original $10 that we put into opening our account; terrific value, in other words, considering we travel all over the world (my wife is a travel agent) and I have family all over the world. Skype is now offering a 'Skype Pro' plan for $3/month for unlimited calling with zero additional charges within the U.S. and Canada, which seems to be a reasonably good deal. I figure that if our average long distance call is, arbitrarily, ten minutes, it would cost about 25 cents on Skype's pay-as-you-go (3.9 cents connection charge + 2.1 cents/minute) rather than their Pro plan, so 12 calls a month would roughly equal the $3. (No, I'm not an accountant....)

I did look over Magic Jack and suggested it to one of our sons who lives away from the rest of the family and thus makes more long distance calls than the rest of them. We both agreed that, except for the convenience of using a conventional phone rather than a headphone (although on my laptop with its built-in microphone and speakers I don't have to use ANY device--and this is likely true for other computers), the Skype Pro plan seems a better and more flexible arrangement. In the case of both plans you have to be computer accessible, meaning neither would work if the power is out (except possibly for a short while on a laptop battery power), and of course the cell phone would fill in the gap.

Hope our experience helps....

l2ridehd
02-09-2008, 03:47 PM
Just a comment on skype and magic jack. I have used both, skype extensively and magic jack a lot in the past 3 weeks. The biggest difference between the two is skype I can use across the world, but the quality is not great, magic jack is limited to NA, but the quality is excellent. So some combination may be the best answer. My plan is to just get internet in TV and use magic jack at least until I am there more full time.