Internet Provider

[jmarkohio]

My current internet provider is through the land line phone company. I want to drop my land line and I absolutely refuse to use Comcast again. What would my options be for internet connection here in TV.
Thanks

[Tom Hannon]

My current internet provider is through the land line phone company. I want to drop my land line and I absolutely refuse to use Comcast again. What would my options be for internet connection here in TV.
Thanks

I'll keep an eye on this post also. As far as I know, Comcast is a monopoly but I'm hoping Verizon will soon be joining The Villages.

[nkrifats]

I'll keep an eye on this post also. As far as I know, Comcast is a monopoly but I'm hoping Verizon will soon be joining The Villages.
Don't see Verizon any time in the near future from my view so you are limited in your choices.

[Russ_Boston]

CentruyLink provides up to 10mb service in some areas of TV. This was mentioned on another thread somewhere.

Not sure if 4G is an option yet in TV (with Verizon, Sprint etc.). Anyone know?

[logdog]

I currently have Comcast for my internet. I recently switched to DirecTV for my TV service (very glad I did) which caused my internet bill to go from $25 per month to $35 per month for 1.5 mb service.

I went to the CenturyLink store this week and was told that I could get the same service from them for about $30 per month for the first year and $50 per month after that (that is with the $5 per month DirecTV discount). Plus I would have to pay installation and activation charges. Also, several people here have told me that CenturyLink is noticeably slower than cable.

I hate Comcast but guess I'll be staying with them for now. CenturyLink might make sense if you bundle with phone service. I'm keeping my $15 per month cell service.

[English Ivy]

I currently have Comcast for my internet. I recently switched to DirecTV for my TV service (very glad I did) which caused my internet bill to go from $25 per month to $35 per month for 1.5 mb service.

Logdog, is that for the "economy" internet service from Comcast that is $24.99 if you have another service?

If it only went up $10, that's not too bad. Although I've never actually inquired I just thought it would be more expensive to only have internet with them.

My husband wants to switch to DirectTV, but the internet has been holding us back because I don't want to switch to CenturyLink.

[ldj1938]

I think that you can DSL without paying for the telephone service on Century Link. Believe I read that on one of their pubs. Call them b4 you cancel. DSL is the best! Comcast sure is a mess.

[skyguy79]

I think that you can DSL without paying for the telephone service on Century Link. Believe I read that on one of their pubs. Call them b4 you cancel. DSL is the best! Comcast sure is a mess.I have 3 services for Internet access; Roadrunner in our NY home, Comcast here in TV and Verizon DLS at our camp near our NY home. IMHO and experience, I think the following about each:

Roadrunner comes in numero uno. Easy to contact and have gotten satisfactory support and quick response when needed.
Comcast comes in second. Admittedly we haven't had them that long, but so far (knock-on-wood) no real problems except trying to figure who to call or what phone numbers to use. Time though will tell me more!
Verizon DSL comes in last. I wouldn't call the DSL performance that bad, but I find that it is slower than either cable company. And for technical support... that's what really drops them to last. Any time I've needed support it's fustratingly taken me quite a while on the phone to go through their standard routine, support requiring technician action has literally taken days and their service down time could be measured in hours but fortunately does not occur as often as it did in our first year. They're improving in that area.

I don't know if this would all hold true in this area, but as I indicated... this is based on my experience only and others may have experienced otherwise! http://www.testmy.net/ipb/public/style_emoticons/default/nerd_smiley.gif

[Jakel]

I found a way to use my Verizon android based smart phone to tether my laptop using pdanet...worked decent while I was visiting The Villages last week. Not fast like cable, and it was a little tricky, but it is portable, and works wherever you can get phone service. There is a yearly charge, you can check the website, I was using the free trial period, and am now back on Comcast at home. Hope to drop High speed modem and the high costs, and be portable.

[Hawkwind]

Not sure if 4G is an option yet in TV (with Verizon, Sprint etc.). Anyone know?

Russ
Here is something that I found very interesting about 4g or lack of it.

http://www.clickorlando.com/technology/26775454/detail.html

[tumbleweed]

Current choices are limited. Sprint became Embarq (both DSL) which is now CenturyTel. The DSL is fast enough for me and I have been a high-speed ISP user for many years, both cable and DSL. No problems with downloads, file transfers, streaming video (I am not a big user of this). Prices have been jacked up.

Unfortunately, lack of competition and consolidation into mega-ISPs does not bode well for better service/prices. Some of us may recall The Villages ClearLink choice, which was reasonably priced although not always technically stellar. ClearLink was (and may still be) a "The Villages" owned service, but its customers seemed to have been thrown under the bus as a result of some corporate action to spin off the service (to ComCast??) and folded its tent.

There has been modest effort in the past to get support/interest in a Villages community-wide ISP, such as is found in a few other areas around the country, but this idea has not gained "traction" and probably never will unless The Villages sees it as a money-maker and an attraction for prospective house buyers.

And try to get a golf reservation by internet if you don't belong to The Villages endorsed ISP. Weird that one can make internet reservations for thousands of course throughout the land, but here, you have to belong to the right ISP, or pay a monthly service fee. Seems to me trail fees plus monthly amenity fees should entitle access simple/convenient service regardless of the ISP used. Do I hear an Amen??!!

[ajdeck]

Current choices are limited. Sprint became Embarq (both DSL) which is now CenturyTel. The DSL is fast enough for me and I have been a high-speed ISP user for many years, both cable and DSL. No problems with downloads, file transfers, streaming video (I am not a big user of this). Prices have been jacked up.

Unfortunately, lack of competition and consolidation into mega-ISPs does not bode well for better service/prices. Some of us may recall The Villages ClearLink choice, which was reasonably priced although not always technically stellar. ClearLink was (and may still be) a "The Villages" owned service, but its customers seemed to have been thrown under the bus as a result of some corporate action to spin off the service (to ComCast??) and folded its tent.

There has been modest effort in the past to get support/interest in a Villages community-wide ISP, such as is found in a few other areas around the country, but this idea has not gained "traction" and probably never will unless The Villages sees it as a money-maker and an attraction for prospective house buyers.

And try to get a golf reservation by internet if you don't belong to The Villages endorsed ISP. Weird that one can make internet reservations for thousands of course throughout the land, but here, you have to belong to the right ISP, or pay a monthly service fee. Seems to me trail fees plus monthly amenity fees should entitle access simple/convenient service regardless of the ISP used. Do I hear an Amen??!!



Just another question, I see some people have an e-mail address of thevillages. What is that all about???

Just asking...

aj

[skyguy79]

Just another question, I see some people have an e-mail address of thevillages. What is that all about???

Just asking...

ajThis is The Villages's .net dial up internet access. You will find the link to the website, where you can download the application, through the following Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thevillages.net&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=

[nkrifats]

This is The Villages's .net dial up internet access. You will find the link to the website, where you can download the application, through the following Google search:

http://www.google.com/search?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thevillages.net&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=

I only use to get to Tee Time system and various Villages information site.
Cost is 8 per month I believe is what I pay.

[nitehawk]

Amen - Amen Current choices are limited. Sprint became Embarq (both DSL) which is now CenturyTel. The DSL is fast enough for me and I have been a high-speed ISP user for many years, both cable and DSL. No problems with downloads, file transfers, streaming video (I am not a big user of this). Prices have been jacked up.

Unfortunately, lack of competition and consolidation into mega-ISPs does not bode well for better service/prices. Some of us may recall The Villages ClearLink choice, which was reasonably priced although not always technically stellar. ClearLink was (and may still be) a "The Villages" owned service, but its customers seemed to have been thrown under the bus as a result of some corporate action to spin off the service (to ComCast??) and folded its tent.

There has been modest effort in the past to get support/interest in a Villages community-wide ISP, such as is found in a few other areas around the country, but this idea has not gained "traction" and probably never will unless The Villages sees it as a money-maker and an attraction for prospective house buyers.

And try to get a golf reservation by internet if you don't belong to The Villages endorsed ISP. Weird that one can make internet reservations for thousands of course throughout the land, but here, you have to belong to the right ISP, or pay a monthly service fee. Seems to me trail fees plus monthly amenity fees should entitle access simple/convenient service regardless of the ISP used. Do I hear an Amen??!!

[logdog]

Logdog, is that for the "economy" internet service from Comcast that is $24.99 if you have another service?

If it only went up $10, that's not too bad. Although I've never actually inquired I just thought it would be more expensive to only have internet with them.

My husband wants to switch to DirectTV, but the internet has been holding us back because I don't want to switch to CenturyLink.

Yes, the economy service from Comcast is $25 if bundled with another service or $35 if standalone. It's 1.5 mb. I believe CenturyLink offers a cheaper/slower speed but I was comparing prices for similar speeds in my original post. I would not want anything slower than 1.5 mb.

[Bill & Carolyn]

Oh boy. I'm spoiled then. I currently live in Northern Va and purchased a home in Pennecamp in March - to which my wife and I will make a triumphant migration in Jan 2013!

In VA I have Verizon FIOS, which is awesome! I had DTV for years because it had better HD and Sunday NFL ticket, but, I switched to FIOS when it became available because the picture is better and I have had 0 service disruptions in 3 years. Internet is hyperfast compared to what ya'll are talking about (I have the new 35mb FIOS Internet).

I read the 1.5mb speed and almost stroked out -you have to be kidding. I'm an IT Security professional, so I know a good bit about networks and achievable speeds and these speeds of 6 & 1.5 sound almost archaic to my ears.

Anyway , I guess I'll have a big adjustment to make when I come down. *sigh*

[Russ_Boston]

Oh boy. I'm spoiled then. I currently live in Northern Va and purchased a home in Pennecamp in March - to which my wife and I will make a triumphant migration in Jan 2013!

In VA I have Verizon FIOS, which is awesome! I had DTV for years because it had better HD and Sunday NFL ticket, but, I switched to FIOS when it became available because the picture is better and I have had 0 service disruptions in 3 years. Internet is hyperfast compared to what ya'll are talking about (I have the new 35mb FIOS Internet).

I read the 1.5mb speed and almost stroked out -you have to be kidding. I'm an IT Security professional, so I know a good bit about networks and achievable speeds and these speeds of 6 & 1.5 sound almost archaic to my ears.

Anyway , I guess I'll have a big adjustment to make when I come down. *sigh*

Don't worry I don't think you'd gag on Comcast's top speed. Do a search on this site and you'll see that some have posted speed numbers that will suit your needs. I know here in MA I get Comcast speeds of 17 (down) and 6 (up). I would think FL Comcast would be no different. Not quite true fiber speed like FIOS but good enough for 99.99% of all apps.

[logdog]

Like I said, I have the economy stand-alone service. 1.5 mb means waiting about a second to load a page. Since I'm retired, I've got the time.

Comcast has a performance service which is 6 mb for about $60 and performance plus at 16 mb for about $70 per month stand-alone.

[TednRobin]

Is anyone using the mobile hotspot or a USB modem from Verizon? We were thinking of trying that since we are only in TV for 6 mos, we could prepay month to month and not have a 2yr contract.

[Russ_Boston]

I used a 4G LTE Verizon USB during my last visit. Worked great.

You might even be able to use it as a wireless hub but I do not have the equipment to try that. Would be nice though. I think that's the direction of the future.

[ladydoc]

We have Century Link and it is smoking fast.

[buzzy]

We have Century Link and it is smoking fast.

Century Link DSL has about three speeds for different prices. Do you know what level you are on? When I am in TV, I have the basic 1.5 MB service, and it's just adequate compared to my 12 MB Comcast service at home.

[ladydoc]

We pay $5 a month more for 10MB and it is faster than our satellite service was that we had in New Mexico.

[buzzy]

We pay $5 a month more for 10MB and it is faster than our satellite service was that we had in New Mexico.

Sounds good. I'll look into an upgrade.

[doccrocker]

I found a way to use my Verizon android based smart phone to tether my laptop using pdanet...worked decent while I was visiting The Villages last week. Not fast like cable, and it was a little tricky, but it is portable, and works wherever you can get phone service. There is a yearly charge, you can check the website, I was using the free trial period, and am now back on Comcast at home. Hope to drop High speed modem and the high costs, and be portable.

Just a caution, and slightly off topic for this thread, but... the carriers, (verizon especially) are really trying to crack down on tethering. They want you to buy the data package. You might get by if you keep the data use at a low level as it might not trigger their 'flags'. Personally I think that since I have purchased a data package with my phone, it is irrelevant whether I choose to 'display' it on a phone or a laptop , but verizon doesn't see it that way.

[minkus]

Currently a comcast and would love to drop them. However, there is no other game in town. Went to Century Link yesterday and the best they good do was a maximum 1.5 mb. Way to slow for me. Our area does not have any higher speed and no guess when or if they will increase. :sad:

[glwcww]

doccrocker: how does one "tether" our smartphone (droid) to a laptop? Don't suppose Verizon would tell me how....????

[njbchbum]

doccrocker: how does one "tether" our smartphone (droid) to a laptop? Don't suppose Verizon would tell me how....????

i am soooooo very torn between upgrading to a 4g cell phone or an ipad2 that i have further complicated my technical life and just begun to research tethering which is available thru my cell phone provider for $15/mo above and beyond any talk/internet plan. so i googled the topic and came up with this variety of article research:
http://www.google.com/search?sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=tether+a+cell+phone+to+laptop&btnK=Google+Search

i'll plow thru the reading whenever i can't sleep at nite!

[TednRobin]

I can't believe that TV does not have Verizon DSL available. We were hoping to hook up with them in FLA, have it here in PA and happy with it. Having a hard time deciding which way to go, don't want a yearly contract since we will be there only 6mos.

[jblum315]

I have Comcast for phone and internet and Dish for TV. I like Comcast internet because it's very fast, much faster than what I had in New York which was Verizon. And so far I have not had any problems that couldn't be fixed by rebooting the router.