What's the best Internet / TV Service in The Villages

[vsbk23a]

Hi Everyone –

We are scheduled to move into our new home around April 1st.

We are in Dunedin – south of 466A and would appreciate any recommendations regarding the best Internet and TV providers that service that area.

Not a big fan of Comcast (hated their service).

High seed internet is high on our list as well as HD TV.

We will be in TV approximately 7-8 months per year and head to our lake cabin in the summer months so the ability to use “vacation mode” would be a plus.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[2BNTV]

Brighthouse is an option.

I prefer DISH that uses CenturyLink as their phone /internet option. Dish is now offering Vonage, as a phone choice. I am going to try Vonage as my CenturyLink phone service, is not crystal clear.

If your a big sports fan, Directv. They have a good product and uses CenturyLink for their phone and internet provider. I'm not a fan of their customer service as they are a storehouse of misinformation and don't know their product well. IMHO

A lot of people will say that all customer service stinks but I have been happy dealing with the DISH store on 441, opposite of Walmart. DISH has a new promotion where the rate stays the same for 3 years and their new Hopper recording device, records up to 16 programs at a time.

All satellite options will go out for a few minutes, when thunderstorm hit the area. Overall, not a big deal.

[UpNorth]

If you are paying for a cable service in your other house, keep it on and send it down here via a Slingbox. Just get a good high-speed internet connection down here and you will have more TV than you can watch in a day. Comcast internet will work fine if you get a deal and own your own modem. I have absolutely no need for any satellite or cable tv providers. Fire TV is great if you have an Amazon Prime account, and Roku will let you stream some other stuff. Put an antenna on your roof or inside your attic if you want blocal channels from Orlando. The tv packages offered by cable and satellite providers are a ripoff IMO.

[Polar Bear]

...The tv packages offered by cable and satellite providers are a ripoff IMO.
I know you stated it is your opinion, but still pretty harsh words. Others have different preferences.

[dbussone]

I'd recommend BrightHouse. Fabulous high speed internet and no contract. The cable selections are more than adequate.

[Dynsol]

Here three years and with Brighthouse....No Problems , GREAT Service, Great Picture, Fast Internet, One Bill, NO CONTRACT...........

[Jakel]

Sent you a message

[fred53]

I know you stated it is your opinion, but still pretty harsh words. Others have different preferences.

the cable companies are a ripoff. I watch perhaps 10 channels so I get about a 100 I don't have any interest in watching. You pay to much for what you get and have no choice if there are stations you like only offered on cable/dish.

Eventually someone will offer you the choice of channels and you'll pay for those only. A company(Starry.com)is soon to offer much faster internet at reasonable pricing so the oligopolies will lose many customers and be forced to lower prices considerably. I love free enterprise and unlike our lousy train systems it won't be gov't funded.

[Polar Bear]

the cable companies are a ripoff. I watch perhaps 10 channels so I get about a 100 I don't have any interest in watching...

So why do you subscribe?
...You pay to much for what you get...

No I don't.

[tuccillo]

Regarding internet access, it is actually reasonably priced and more bandwidth than you can use is available. For example, CenturyLink provides us with 40 megabits/sec download and 20 megabits/sec upload for $35/month via fiber optics to the house. They also offer 100 megabits/sec and 1000 megabits/sec. Comcast has some first year intro rates that are less than that. Hi-Def streaming via Netflix only needs about 5 megabits/sec. We have had broadband internet access for 20 years (DSL for 15 years and then fiber optics to the house for the last 5 years) and I have noticed that the cost per month has remained essentially constant at around $40/month.

the cable companies are a ripoff. I watch perhaps 10 channels so I get about a 100 I don't have any interest in watching. You pay to much for what you get and have no choice if there are stations you like only offered on cable/dish.

Eventually someone will offer you the choice of channels and you'll pay for those only. A company(Starry.com)is soon to offer much faster internet at reasonable pricing so the oligopolies will lose many customers and be forced to lower prices considerably. I love free enterprise and unlike our lousy train systems it won't be gov't funded.

[Bosoxfan]

Brighthouse is an option.

I prefer DISH that uses CenturyLink as their phone /internet option. Dish is now offering Vonage, as a phone choice. I am going to try Vonage as my CenturyLink phone service, is not crystal clear.

If your a big sports fan, Directv. They have a good product and uses CenturyLink for their phone and internet provider. I'm not a fan of their customer service as they are a storehouse of misinformation and don't know their product well. IMHO

A lot of people will say that all customer service stinks but I have been happy dealing with the DISH store on 441, opposite of Walmart. DISH has a new promotion where the rate stays the same for 3 years and their new Hopper recording device, records up to 16 programs at a time.

All satellite options will go out for a few minutes, when thunderstorm hit the area. Overall, not a big deal.

We've had Direct TV since 1999 and absolutely love it! We are big sports fans and couldn't imagine not being able to watch The Patriots, Red Sox & Bruins.
Also we have had nothing but good communication with their customer service.

[HimandMe]

Bright house has a special for Internet for new customers for one year to try it out no contract.

[2BNTV]

We've had Direct TV since 1999 and absolutely love it! We are big sports fans and couldn't imagine not being able to watch The Patriots, Red Sox & Bruins.
Also we have had nothing but good communication with their customer service.

I'm happy you have had no problems with Directv csr's.

I agree we disagree, as many people have told me they have had problems dealing with Directv. They do have a good product.

I'm a sports nut myself but I won't be going back to Directv for the foreseeable future.

[Polar Bear]

Another satisfied DirecTV customer here. I also liked Brighthouse when I used them in the past.

[dewilson58]

I'd recommend BrightHouse. Fabulous high speed internet and no contract. The cable selections are more than adequate.

And they have a "Vacation Mode"......you can shut off for a few months.

[dbussone]

And they have a "Vacation Mode"......you can shut off for a few months.


DW - I thought everything in TV was already on "Vacation Mode."

[dewilson58]

DW - I thought everything in TV was already on "Vacation Mode."

:bigbow:

Everything by property taxes and amenity fees.

[JBWms]

Thank you.

[JoMar]

the cable companies are a ripoff. I watch perhaps 10 channels so I get about a 100 I don't have any interest in watching. You pay to much for what you get and have no choice if there are stations you like only offered on cable/dish.

Eventually someone will offer you the choice of channels and you'll pay for those only. A company(Starry.com)is soon to offer much faster internet at reasonable pricing so the oligopolies will lose many customers and be forced to lower prices considerably. I love free enterprise and unlike our lousy train systems it won't be gov't funded.

It's nice to dream :)

[princesspat]

Brighthouse customer service is the best, even though after 2 years of using them we haven't had any problems at all in our Charlotte home. In our first house, we had internet issues and they were the same day we called. Also, call Lysander. He is great to work with and will get yu a good deal. Welcome to The Villages.

[TimeForChange]

If you are South of 466A there is none better than Brighthouse. Reliable, great service, and the best cable provider for internet and TV I have ever had.

[garrywheeler]

We ended up going with a combination of DirecTV and Century Link Fiber.... so far so good for the most part and pretty affordable, but we've noticed a degradation in internet service in the evenings when we try to watch Amazon Prime and/or Netflix. We had Century Link come out and they couldn't find anything.

[biker1]

What level of internet service do you have? Netflix will chew up about 5 megabit/sec of download bandwidth for Hi-Def. What symptoms are you experiencing?

We ended up going with a combination of DirecTV and Century Link Fiber.... so far so good for the most part and pretty affordable, but we've noticed a degradation in internet service in the evenings when we try to watch Amazon Prime and/or Netflix. We had Century Link come out and they couldn't find anything.

[Chatbrat]

Charter Communications is taking over Bright House, keep your fingers crossed.

[Shadow8IA]

You can get very fast Comcast Internet for $20 a month for up to one year and resign up when you come back every year. We used this last year along with sling tv thru Roku for $20 a month and it was all we needed. Tom at the Villages AV can help you if needed.

[Aloha1]

Hello Fellow Villagers,

If you live south of CR 466A, then Brighthouse Networks is available for your Internet/TV/Phone & Home Security options. I am the local rep assigned to The Villages.

As a new resident we do offer plenty of campaigns there are available exclusively through your local sales rep. In most cases when you bundle your TV & Internet, you can get most of your first month credited (excluding equipment rental).

Brighthouse offers speeds on your internet as high as 300mbps. We are also offering specials on Internet only packages for those residents that would like to keep their current providers for TV services.

For those of you that would like to add home security to your bundle, we are now offering a free install on any new home security systems, plus for a limited time you get a indoor day/night camera includes. Some restrictions apply.

For more information on all of Brighthouse Networks services and bundles feel free to call or email me to schedule a free no obligation home visit.

When I go on your website, it says top speed for Pine Ridge is 40 MB. What gives??

[JoMar]

Charter Communications is taking over Bright House, keep your fingers crossed.

:agree: