High Speed Internet

[jnieman]

Hi:

I am looking around at high speed internet providers. I am currently paying $77 per month through Comcast and the price keeps going up. I'm not interested in a bundle deal as we have Direct TV and love it. We also do not need a home phone. Anyone out there have a good deal that is equal to the high speed internet :wave:I get from Comcast? I'm sure hoping so.

Thanks!

[hotrodgirl]

I have a MiFi from Verizon. It's 4G, portable, ad you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. It's 50 per month. Wireless, and you could connect a printer, IPad, computer, IPod, netbook all at once! Have had it a year, no problems so far...

[buzzy]

10 megabit DSL from Century Link is satisfactory here. It's bundled with the phone for about $80 with taxes, but I think the price has gone up since I was locked in.

[CaptJohn]

I have a MiFi from Verizon. It's 4G, portable, ad you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. It's 50 per month. Wireless, and you could connect a printer, IPad, computer, IPod, netbook all at once! Have had it a year, no problems so far...

I've been considering one. Thanks for the report. Does it work well almost anywhere? I'd be mostly using it with a laptop out and about different towns.
How long is the contract?

[73Goat]

Hi:

I am looking around at high speed internet providers. I am currently paying $77 per month through Comcast and the price keeps going up. I'm not interested in a bundle deal as we have Direct TV and love it. We also do not need a home phone. Anyone out there have a good deal that is equal to the high speed internet :wave:I get from Comcast? I'm sure hoping so.

Thanks!


Is that just Internet Service or Land line Phone and Internet bundle?

I agree that broadband Internet in this area is outrageously priced compared to other, umm, more developed areas of the country with more competition.

I use Century Link and I have Directv (I get a small discount on my Directv because it is 'bundled' Century Link) as well. My Internet (10mb) and land line phone cost a total of $79/mo. I could lower that about $20/mo if I dropped the Internet speed to 3mb, but, I'm spoiled from FIOS in Northern Va where I was getting 35mb 9and could have had 75mb down/35mb up if I wanted to pay for it), I like my 10mb speed.


Century Link also has an offering similar to Verizon FIOS TV/Internet/Phone but I have about a year left on my 2 yr contract with Directv. I may give it a try when the contract with Directv expires. I do love my NFL Sunday Ticket though. :024:
You'd have to check to see if it is offered in your area.

[jnieman]

Is that just Internet Service or Land line Phone and Internet bundle?

I agree that broadband Internet in this area is outrageously priced compared to other, umm, more developed areas of the country with more competition.

I use Century Link and I have Directv (I get a small discount on my Directv because it is 'bundled' Century Link) as well. My Internet (10mb) and land line phone cost a total of $79/mo. I could lower that about $20/mo if I dropped the Internet speed to 3mb, but, I'm spoiled from FIOS in Northern Va where I was getting 35mb 9and could have had 75mb down/35mb up if I wanted to pay for it), I like my 10mb speed.


Century Link also has an offering similar to Verizon FIOS TV/Internet/Phone but I have about a year left on my 2 yr contract with Directv. I may give it a try when the contract with Directv expires. I do love my NFL Sunday Ticket though. :024:
You'd have to check to see if it is offered in your area.

Hi all:
I'm the OP on this thread and thought you'd all want to know what happened when I called Comcast. Firstly, don't call in the evening. I was on hold twice last evening once for 25 minutes and the second time 45 minutes and then finally hung up. I called this morning and spoke with someone right away. I have a basic cable/hi speed internet package for $77 per month. I never wanted the basic cable and don't need it but was told that I had no choice that it was the same price as just internet. I told the lady on the phone that I was paying too much and didn't need the basic cable and how much was it without the basic cable. She wasn't too straightforward with me but finally said $56.00. I told her to drop the basic cable. She said to do that she would have to transfer me. She transferred me and of course no one came to the phone and I waited 45 minutes. Today I repeated my story to a new person and she insisted that I had to carry the basic cable that the price was the same. I was stern with her and told her I was dropping Comcast. Suddenly she came back to the phone after checking with someone else and gave me internet blast which is 8 mbph and basic cable for 6 months for $29.95. After the 6 months it goes to $57.00. I shouldn't have had to go through all of this heartburn to do this and it is just ridiculous.

[TomH]

Hi:

I am looking around at high speed internet providers. I am currently paying $77 per month through Comcast and the price keeps going up. I'm not interested in a bundle deal as we have Direct TV and love it. We also do not need a home phone. Anyone out there have a good deal that is equal to the high speed internet :wave:I get from Comcast? I'm sure hoping so.

Thanks!

Are you in an area served by Verizon 4G? If so, you may want to look into Verizon Home Fusion. They install an antenna setup outside your home and a router inside. The cost, I think, is $49.99 per month.

[jnieman]

Are you in an area served by Verizon 4G? If so, you may want to look into Verizon Home Fusion. They install an antenna setup outside your home and a router inside. The cost, I think, is $49.99 per month.

After the initial $29.95 deal is up, I may still switch. I'll check out the Verizon deal. Thanks for the tip!:wave:

[mikeandnancy1112]

We have had Century Link Prism and internet for a couple of months and hate it, too confusing to us. We have cancelled and Comcast is coming today. We were with Comcast for 3 years and didn't really have any problems but a representative caught us outside leaving to go out in our golf cart one night and stopped to tell us about Century Link. Like idiots, we were impusive and signed up. She said we wouldn't have a contract and could cancel anytime. Well, today I called them to cancel and the representative said we had a contract with the internet and we would have to pay a penalty for cancelling early. I asked to speak to a manager and finally after much conversation and some words she gave me a confirmation number. The problem is we sent a check for the balance which was due Oct. 23 along with a form with our bank tracking number. Citizens Bank does not honor this company and will not block our account with this draft. They only recognize Comcast so now we have to either cancel our account number and get a new one or go to a different bank. We are not taking any chances on this company arbitrarily taking any money out. Also, they are sending boxes for us to send back the equipment or we would have to pay $100. We are so happy to get Comcast back and we won't change again. What a mess!

I'm sure people like Century Link but we just don't. The picture would freeze at times and do stupid things and they kept telling us different reasons why.

[Ripcord13]

Hi all:
I'm the OP on this thread and thought you'd all want to know what happened when I called Comcast. Firstly, don't call in the evening. I was on hold twice last evening once for 25 minutes and the second time 45 minutes and then finally hung up. I called this morning and spoke with someone right away. I have a basic cable/hi speed internet package for $77 per month. I never wanted the basic cable and don't need it but was told that I had no choice that it was the same price as just internet. I told the lady on the phone that I was paying too much and didn't need the basic cable and how much was it without the basic cable. She wasn't too straightforward with me but finally said $56.00. I told her to drop the basic cable. She said to do that she would have to transfer me. She transferred me and of course no one came to the phone and I waited 45 minutes. Today I repeated my story to a new person and she insisted that I had to carry the basic cable that the price was the same. I was stern with her and told her I was dropping Comcast. Suddenly she came back to the phone after checking with someone else and gave me internet blast which is 8 mbph and basic cable for 6 months for $29.95. After the 6 months it goes to $57.00. I shouldn't have had to go through all of this heartburn to do this and it is just ridiculous.

Standard operating procedure with Comcast.

[Bavarian]

Standard operating procedure with Comcast.

So, you need to also watch for costs. Many of the newer 3G and 4G have MByte limits, you pay more per extra MegaB. I am not yet there, have DirecTv and Casble Internet. But I use streaming video and audio. watching Rush right now. And have Roku box on one TV and can watch many channels on it via Internet. Also, besides land line from Verizon, have Vonage VOIP. Plan on using it only in the Villages house. So, need good, high speed INTERNET. You must decide how much you use, and figure out if low price is wiped out by overcharges.

An EE from MD

[Ohiogirl]

I have a MiFi from Verizon. It's 4G, portable, ad you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. It's 50 per month. Wireless, and you could connect a printer, IPad, computer, IPod, netbook all at once! Have had it a year, no problems so far...

I've looked into this, especially as we are now snowbirds, but am concerned about overuse charges. We don't stream much - the occasional you-tube video, and don't download music, but do spend, between us, probably 2-5 hours a day emailing and surfing the web. Would the 4G MiFi be sufficient?

[keysbabe]

Hi:

I am looking around at high speed internet providers. I am currently paying $77 per month through Comcast and the price keeps going up. I'm not interested in a bundle deal as we have Direct TV and love it. We also do not need a home phone. Anyone out there have a good deal that is equal to the high speed internet :wave:I get from Comcast? I'm sure hoping so.

Thanks!

I have had Century Link for 2 months, just internet, 10 megs and it is $40 a month. I called Comcast but, they did not offer any better "deal" as their hi speed is much slower. I stream on mine (no TV) so need it but, if you just want email & surf, the slower speed would be fine. I think it was about $20 from Century Link.

[sonny&karen]

I just renewed with centurylink internet service today no phone ,just internet . It cost us 38.58 amonth i have to call them every year to renew ,so it does not go up by $20.00

[jnieman]

Do you know what speed that is? With Comcast I have 8 mbps I think it is. They call it blast speed. (high speed)

[Lbmb24101]

We have a love/ hate relationship w Ccast
Here in Atlanta friends have left CCast to use other services , but, end up returning to Comcast
I think service problems, unfortunately, are not only in TV....my sis in PA, relatives in NYband CT and Md have had issues
Once we are spoiled w high speed, even as retirees, i can not imagine going back to a slower internet....
The saga continues...

[wendyquat]

We have had Century Link Prism and internet for a couple of months and hate it, too confusing to us. We have cancelled and Comcast is coming today. We were with Comcast for 3 years and didn't really have any problems but a representative caught us outside leaving to go out in our golf cart one night and stopped to tell us about Century Link. Like idiots, we were impusive and signed up. She said we wouldn't have a contract and could cancel anytime. Well, today I called them to cancel and the representative said we had a contract with the internet and we would have to pay a penalty for cancelling early. I asked to speak to a manager and finally after much conversation and some words she gave me a confirmation number. The problem is we sent a check for the balance which was due Oct. 23 along with a form with our bank tracking number. Citizens Bank does not honor this company and will not block our account with this draft. They only recognize Comcast so now we have to either cancel our account number and get a new one or go to a different bank. We are not taking any chances on this company arbitrarily taking any money out. Also, they are sending boxes for us to send back the equipment or we would have to pay $100. We are so happy to get Comcast back and we won't change again. What a mess!

I'm sure people like Century Link but we just don't. The picture would freeze at times and do stupid things and they kept telling us different reasons why.

Nancy, we had the same problem with Prism last year but were lucky enough to cancel within our 30 days with no penalty. We got Directv and kept centurylink Internet. The introductory rate is over and we are paying entirely too much for no more than we watch tv. We will go for the cheapest basic and Internet At our first opportunity!

[cologal]

I've been considering one. Thanks for the report. Does it work well almost anywhere? I'd be mostly using it with a laptop out and about different towns.
How long is the contract?

I have had one for over a year....no problems. You can buy it cheap with a contract or at list with no contract. I choose the latter as I am a snowbird and only use it in The Villages but this allowed me to turn it off for up to 6 months and not pay a dime for that time.

Works well in TV..... I live up north by Lopez

[CFrance]

We had Verion MIFI for a while as we traveled a lot. Be careful of the overages. Ours was 5mg/month at $60. One month I downloaded a one-hour documentary and watched a hockey game online. Along with the two of us using our laptops and those two items, We had $60 in overages. The overages cost a lot more than the initial mbs. Just be careful. It worked well, though it didn't seem to be real real fast.

[Realitybreak]

We have had Century Link Prism and internet for a couple of months and hate it, too confusing to us. We have cancelled and Comcast is coming today. We were with Comcast for 3 years and didn't really have any problems but a representative caught us outside leaving to go out in our golf cart one night and stopped to tell us about Century Link. Like idiots, we were impusive and signed up. She said we wouldn't have a contract and could cancel anytime. Well, today I called them to cancel and the representative said we had a contract with the internet and we would have to pay a penalty for cancelling early. I asked to speak to a manager and finally after much conversation and some words she gave me a confirmation number. The problem is we sent a check for the balance which was due Oct. 23 along with a form with our bank tracking number. Citizens Bank does not honor this company and will not block our account with this draft. They only recognize Comcast so now we have to either cancel our account number and get a new one or go to a different bank. We are not taking any chances on this company arbitrarily taking any money out. Also, they are sending boxes for us to send back the equipment or we would have to pay $100. We are so happy to get Comcast back and we won't change again. What a mess!

I'm sure people like Century Link but we just don't. The picture would freeze at times and do stupid things and they kept telling us different reasons why.
The Century Link equipment can be dropped off at a Century Link store after you get the boxes.

[hotrodgirl]

I use my MiFi all the time. At home for my IPad and when away for everything else I need to connect such as a PC and wireless printer and netbook. I have not had any problems with it, LOVE that it is portable for use anywhere. I have just one time had a weak signal while traveling, in the mountains in Oregon. It is quite small and lightweight and less expensive than most decent Internet service in the Chicago area at 50 bucks. I have never gone over any limit and I use it daily for quite a number of hours. It's just so convenient for those of us who are away from home or just for use in daily life...

[CaptJohn]

I I choose the latter as I am a snowbird and only use it in The Villages but this allowed me to turn it off for up to 6 months and not pay a dime for that time.


Thanks for the info.
Could you explain this further? Isn't there a minimum charge for those 6 months you turn it off? How do you turn it off? (moneywise not airwise). I'm missing something! :shrug:
Every time I go to one of the websites for stuff like this it's more confusing and I can never find the prices people mention on here as they're all over the place, pricewise. I don't want a bundle of this or that, I just want a simple, reliable, fairly priced (ok, low priced!) internet connection!

[Ohiogirl]

I am with you CaptJohn. Just got our Centurylink bill and it went up almost $15! Apparently our 2 yr contract is up (I lose track of dates as we have put it on vacation one time when we were up north for a couple of months. I am trying to research what to do but very difficult to compare apples to apples (maybe impossible because I don't think anyone has the same plans).

Now, we will be regular snowbirds and will need internet service in both places. Down here probably mid-Sept to mid-May, but we go back for 2 wks in Dec. and might come down here sometimes in mid-summer for 2 wks or so. That really screws up putting stuff on "vacation," plus there is still a minimal charge.

Am really considering the mifi device - I think it was Hotrodgirl that says she has no issues with overage charges but someone said to be careful, especially with downloading video.

My latest questions - to use it regularly, as your only internet connection, do you just plug the mifi into a power source? Then use your computer either wirelessly or plugged in with a USB cord? Can you use a smartphone with it without a separate data plan for your smartphone? For instance, if you are traveling and don't want to take your laptop?

I'm not trying to have the latest and greatest (and expensive) technology, just want a reasonable, reliable and easy connection.

[joycesmith2320]

we have 2 MiFi devices from Verizon - If you sign up for the "10 Devices" plan you may add that many devices - We love Verizon - The Mifi's get great reception and the cost is 20.00 per month - We kicked Comcast to the curb a long time ago - no more aggravating
phone calls to India !!!

[buzzy]

we have 2 MiFi devices from Verizon - If you sign up for the "10 Devices" plan you may add that many devices - We love Verizon - The Mifi's get great reception and the cost is 20.00 per month - We kicked Comcast to the curb a long time ago - no more aggravating
phone calls to India !!!

Is that a promotion? I thought Mifi was $50 a month.

[ugotme]

I probably should not be putting my 2 cents in on this but . . .
I currently live in So. Fl., my neighbor just hooked up to a new service called OMGFAST. According to him it is excellent. AND it is only $29.95 supposedly forever. Don't ask me - this is what he tells me.

Don't even know if it is available up there yet ! You can Google it and put in your address and zip code to see if it is.

I will try to find out more about this and will let you know.

Wish I could be more helpful!

[Ohiogirl]

just checked omgfast.com. Our house (and probably all of TV) not in their coverage area. And at least right now, Verizon Mifi is $50/mo. and it appears you would need to watch your usage - I would become an internet nag - no thanks!

[MSG@TV]

Didn't Dallas win this past weekend? So, perhaps you can drink to celebrate instead of drowning your sorrows. :bigbow:

[CaptJohn]

Verizon - The Mifi's get great reception and the cost is 20.00 per month -

How are you getting it so cheap? The least I could find is about $50. monthly.

[CFrance]

How are you getting it so cheap? The least I could find is about $50. monthly.

Check this Verizon plan out. Verizon shared plans to connect 10 devices, cap data at 10GB | Electronista (http://tinyurl.com/9v7dks9) Someone who can mentally multitask (not me) might be able to break this plan down and see if it's $20/month for internet. I'm wondering if it's $20 per device. If so, in our house, that would be two laptops, and then adding two ipads at $10 each would bring that up to what we're paying Comcast.

It sounds like you have to have your phones on Verizon, and then add other things for an extra charge. Still, it might be worthwhile.

Our experience with Verizon hotspot, though, was that it was slower than our Comcast, plus limited to 5g between the two of us. That caused problems because my husband watches a lot of Netflix online.

But maybe it's different now.

[CarGuys]

I have a MiFi from Verizon. It's 4G, portable, ad you can connect up to 5 devices simultaneously. It's 50 per month. Wireless, and you could connect a printer, IPad, computer, IPod, netbook all at once! Have had it a year, no problems so far...

Ours was taken back for a full refund. System and device burned data trying to search between 3 g and 4 g. It also overheated trying to search towers. This area is near Brownwood.

Bottom line is anyone from out of state used to real high speed be prepared to go back to dial up speed. They call it high speed but it's a joke.

Just call tech support for Century link or Comcast. They give up when you tell them you came from 100 mpbs
That said we are learning to adapt.

[ladila2]

Yea, just visit the ONLY local Comcast store in The Villages....if you haven't got at least 12 to 15 customers in front of you waiting for service you can count your blessings.

[rubicon]

I have bundle all services with Comcast. My experience with customer service has been good overhaul but lately there seems to be more unintentional hang ups, etc.

My routewr went so my laptop is down, I ordered a new modem with an internal router. When it arrives, I'll relate the benefit of my experience.

My personal view is that no one company is free of criticisms. So far comcast has offered me all I need at a reasonable price with less confusion.

Good Day

[Villages Kahuna]

Their are several providers out there peddling high speed internet service. But when you quiz them on the actual speed of the signal, the standard answer for everyone other than Comcast is "up to 10 megabytes per second". I just ran a speed test on my Comcast line while writing this response and I got 25.18 Mbps downloading and 3.75 Mbps uploading. Obviously, that's way faster than the service promised by Verizon, Embarq, Brighthouse, etc. When they call, I listen and then ask the querstion on speed. Their sales pitch is usually over very quickly.

Believe me, unless all you do is e-mail, you will notice the difference between 10 and 25 Mbps speed.

I'm no great fan of Comcast, wishing they had some competition with truly high speed internet. But so far, they have the really high speed market to themselves.

[red tail]

comcast blast will deliver 25mbps to 50 mbps....make sure you have the updated modem to deliver it.

[ROCKETMAN]

We cancelled our home phone and now just have century link for our computer. Moderate speed-$39.95 per month with 1 year contract. $6.95 extra for insurence for lightning strikes taking out your computer.

[Walker]

I've had excellent service for the past 5 years here in Hadley with Comcast, but it ain't cheap. It's been fast and always working. One way to save, it was $3 now I think it's $7 a month, is to buy your own modem. Comcast is fine with it. Best Buy has them for under $100.