Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

We are moving into our new TV home within a month and would like to hear other resident' ideas on
options for new services to provide for phone, TV (HD), and Hi-Speed Internet.

We currently have Comcast for TV/HSI and local phone coverage, but am researching other options and would appreciate any advise you can provide (costs, good/bad experiences, cable vs dish, etc.).

I have looked at Embarq with Dish Network (~ $134/month with unlimited long distance).

What do you have, and how do you like it? Roughly what are the monthly costs?

Thanks in advance! I will appreciate any advice or comment.

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One thing that I found that disappointed me is that there is no competition in TV for land-line phone service! Embarq (AKA Embarf) has a monopoly here on landlines. I've asked the people at Verizon why they don't compete, and was told TV developers didn't allow them in, except for cell phone service. Isn't that illegal?

Doesn't anyone remember back in the 80's when the gov't broke up AT&T and ruled against monopolies? Maybe TV dev didn't hear the news about that.

I love living in TV, but would appreciate open competition for everything, including land-line phones. More options, lower prices, etc. would be good IMO.

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Unfortunately, not much competition is available in TV and I think also due to developer choice.

We had comcast cable and internet and Embarq local phone service with cell phone Verizon for long distance. Did not like comcast.

We now have Dish for television; earthlink/embarq for internet; Embarq for local/land line and Verizon cell service which we use for long distance. This is a bundled package except for cell service.

I don't think one is really better than the other but my husband prefers Dish for the television because of the channels it offers.

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This is disappointing since I'm a Verizon retiree

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We have Vonage for our phone service and are pleased with it. We pay about $15 / month for 500 outgoing minutes per month. I think it s about $25/ a minute for unlimited minutes. Barb

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Does anyone know if service from Sprint works in The Villages?
It would be nice to know that my cell phone will work when I visit for two months...
Thanks,
Lynn

Re: Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

We signed up for Vonage when we moved in. We pay $15 per month for 500 outgoing calls a month. That is plenty for us. It is a little bit more for unlimited calls. Have used is 60 months and are very pleased. Barb

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DitzyFitzy, We have Sprint land line (new name is Embarq) and also Sprint at our store which is located on the Northern end of the Villages. We pay for a basic package and then pay $15/month for unlimited long distance calls. We have not had any problems with them for 4 years (3 of which we rented out the home to others)

Also, for staying in contact with some others around the world - we use skype and googletalk which are both free services as long as you are speaking from computer to computer. Sound is very clear too.

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Thanks...but, I was asking about my current CELL PHONE.
Hopefully, Sprint will work in TV--because that is my service...and I am only visiting for two months!
Lynn

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Lynn,

If you check on the Sprint website, it looks as if Sprint cellphone coverage is very spotty in the area. Based on this, I was contemplating switching to Verizon wireless when I come down later this year.

Pat

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Thanks so much.
Unfortunately, I am under contract with Sprint for a bit longer.....It is fine everywhere else I go---(I even made a call to the US when I was in AFRICA!). Just hope that TV isn't too "remote"!
Lynn

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you may need to go wirh a pay as you go at & t cell phone for your brief stay in tv. although someone mentioned tracphone.
tv is is plopped down in a fairly rural area.

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Has anyone had difficulty using Tracfones in TV? Could they be used to replace the land line? Thanks.

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I use tracfone for my occaisional cell phone need; if you are much of a talker, it's probably not cost-effective to be your primary phone line. I have had no problems placing, receiving, or maintaining calls with tracfone.

Landline...embarq (nee Sprint) is the only game...their lowest end, no frills service (unlimited local calls) is $15/month...but the taxes bring that up to $26/month.

It all depends on how much you use the phone...

Re: Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

I have sprint for our cell phone and although I've only been at TV a short time I've not had any issues to date........

Re: Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

You can add Dish for a full bundle $178.. Plus a DVR FREE

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I visited TV for two weeks in June, and had good reception with my Sprint phone, at least in the locations I were in when I made the calls.

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:)

Have had Sprint for many years.

Works just fine here.

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Just one item of note - the next time I move (which will hopefully be to TV) I'll be making a decision whether to go completely 'cell' for phone coverage or go 'landline ' for a piece of it. What I've experienced living up here in Western NY, is when a winter storm comes thru and knocks out the electricity, your land line will still be working, while your lo-charged cell phone and/or Vonage like connection will be out of order!!! While I wont be worried about winter storms, those late summer/ early fall Fla. storms could hurt. Decisions, decisions, decisions ,......

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Living in SE Florida for many years, and going through one or two hurricanes and associated power failures, we found that land lines where you are only using cordless phones are useless - no power, no phone! :dontknow: We went to a thrift shop and found an old "corded phone" which does not require that the electricity be on - just the phone lines to be operative! Just something to consider - even though we will NEVER have hurricanes in TV - THAT'S why we bought here (as well as all the great neighbors and the :2cool: TOTV'ers). :)

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I have had good results with my Sprint cell phone while down seasonally in the Villages. More of a problem is getting service in some wings of Orlando airport with sprint.

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NO problem with Nextell or using its Direct Connect system !!

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Hi again,
Sorry to be a bother--but, I wondered if someone could send me the local number for the telephone company as well as the cable company.
I need to do the research, on cost, for getting high speed Internet for two months while I am renting in THE VILLAGES in Nov/Dec.
Thanks,
Lynn

Re: Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

TSK TSK If you had rented from me, I have free internet service with the rental.
Handie :joke:

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Would you have taken my dog????

ANYHOW--do you have the numbers that I need to make the inquiry?
Lynn

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Hi Lynn,

We would have... we have to lil ones ourselves.... If you are considering renting for Jan let me know we have Jan open... 3 bdr 2ba 2 car garage on golf course

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Although we own in Caroline we do not have a land line and the Direct Connect is great for us. I travel all over from Glenwood CC, Savananah Center , Spanisih Springs, and down south of Mallorry Hills/ Never had a problem connecting

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Since I just finished paying my bills, the numbers were handy.

Embarq is the local phone service (1-800-339-1811 for customer service) They offer DSL service, but not sure of the short term rates.

Comcast is the local cable service (352-787-7875) for Assistance. No toll free number on the bill.

Good luck.

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Thanks!
I already called Embark....
They are putting in high speed Internet for the two months that I'll be there....sending me the modem and will activate for $30 and then a price of $34.95 for each month.
Great thing is that I get to keep the modem.....and can always bring it with me if I rent again....
Thanks for thinking of me.
Lynn

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May I ask who installed your dish? I am coming down in November and want to have an installer who will put in the dish and wires to 2 rooms for my FTA receiver. (Its called free to air), its cardless and receives channels that are free. Does not require or demand a subscription to DISH NETWORK.

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Kenmac: I'm assuming you have now made your decision on TV/phone/internet. Do you mind sharing what you decided? We need to hook those services up as well.

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We have had Comcast for cable and for Hi-Speed Internet in West Palm Beach and decided to keep both of these in the Villages.

Apparently the phone co is going to be offering a "special package" of all three services (with a discounted rate), but they could not tell us when (I believe they use Dish Network for their "Cable" offering) - so, in lieu of any special deal we just got basic phone from them.

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FTA (Free to air) Is a receiver you buy that compromises dish network (USA) & Bell Express Vu A.K.A as Bev (Canada.) They are not illegal to own because they come without the card thats required to receive signals from those networks. They were and are designed to pickup sat signals that are free. However they can be modified by using bins from various INTERNET sources that you can d/l and send to your receiver from your PC, using a cable or a USB stick. Of course both of these networks try counter measures to try and stop people from getting all the channels that include all PPV's and Sports.

For example you can receive all the channels from USA stations that Dish Network lists and many,many, local channels from around the USA using sat 110 & 119. Also using the same dish thats modified can get all programming from Canada that includes the NFL Package that DTV has. They don't own the Canadian Sat's 82 or 91, which these channels come in on.

So with the right dish 500 antenna and 4 LNB'S which are secured together on the dish and pointed in the correct direction can receive these signals with whats called a Diseqc switch (similar to a cable splitter 4 ways to 2) One cable split 2 times into the switch for port 1 & 2 and the other cable splits into 3 & 4. So with one dish you can receive 4 Sat's and so on is how it works.

Now please go and find me an installer.

Re: Advice on options for Phone/TV/Internet
 

Bubbalarry,
Check your private messages. I sent you a name.

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hmmm :cop:

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Called and never got a response. Still looking.

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bubbalarry, that's interesting about the free service, if you get that installed and working, please post