[junebug7]

What do people do who only live in their TV home occasionally, but want to be able to watch television while they are there. We have DirectTV up here in IL, but have recently closed on our TV home. We won't be living there full-time until June, 2010. We will be coming down for occasional weeks, but not long enough to transfer our DirectTV service. Is there a very basic cable service that isn't too costly? We hate to keep paying for services we will only be using infrequently. Just wondering if anyone had any ideas for us. Thanks!

[coach]

Basic cable service is about $11 per month. You get ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, VNN, several religious stations, Villages club listings with WVLG radio in the background and a weather channel. For the $11 a month I think it is a pretty good deal.

[steaknife]

We are in the same situation. I leave it on all the time with the most basic of service. Granted, we don't get all the extras we have up north, but we are not in TV to watch tv!

[Becky]

I also have the basic cable but also wanted internet access. Internet for 1st year was $24.95. After 1st year it went up to 40 something. I called Comcast and was able to put internet on "hold" and not pay for it. They said to just call them before I come down and they would start it up again.

Becky

[JohnN]

becky, comcast did the same to us on the internet,
there is a slower speed that is/remains $24/month, but somehow you need to ask for it, they don't automatically offer it. Just another way they rip you.

The $12 or whatever for basic cable is a good deal for just the main networks and a couple of others.

[Halle]

For internet while in TV I would contact Handie. through this forum. I'm not sure of the price but I know that wireless is available in Amelia and Mallory. We use it when we are there, it works great and is very fast. I believe you can pay by the day or month so it would work well for short visits.

[Becky]

JohnN, I did know about the slower speed and ask them about it. They said when I call I can get that. Do you know if there is a big difference in page loading? Not a gamer. Just a surfer. Thanks!

Becky

[jkomoros]

Originally Posted by Halle

For internet while in TV I would contact Handie. through this forum. I'm not sure of the price but I know that wireless is available in Amelia and Mallory. We use it when we are there, it works great and is very fast. I believe you can pay by the day or month so it would work well for short visits.

Sorry for the dumb question, but we have just bought a new home in Amelia and so are new to TV. Who or what is Handle?? If it's a person, how do I contact him/her? Wireless would work perfectly for us and I appreciate the suggestion.
Janet

[legendlake]

We have a home in Wisconsin and TV. We just take our receivers
back and forth. Saves a lot of money. Easy to change local channels
if desired. Oh ya we have Direct TV.

[JohnN]

jkomoros, handie is "handieman" here on TOTV, he's set up a free wireless within a local area (he may charge later, but talk to him).

becky,
I phoned Comcast (lack of) customer service, they said there was nothing they could do to reduce my cost. I was NOT a happy camper, so I took a visit down to the Comcast office in Summerfield across from the WalMart on Hwy 27/441 ready to drop 'em.

INSTANTLY, the service rep says, "well, I can lower your speed and it's $24/month". I had asked for the lowest cost to begin with, so I found it incredible they had upped the speed on their "special" for 90 days.

Anyway, I don't do a lot of videos, mostly just email and stuff. I've not noticed any slowdown at all. So my Comcast cost is $24 internet and $12 basic cable

[tghoul]

We heard about a "vacation package" one time on "Talk of the Villages", but have not been able to track it down. We only live here about 6 months out of the year. Does anyone have any information about a "vacation package" from Comcast?

[dgammon6]

With Direct TV, you can bring your receivers from your current home down here, have a dish antenna installed and it won't cost you anymore. I understand you can have local channels installed down here. We use a Sprint Aircard for internet access. Works ok in our home and when we travel.

[JohnN]

tghoul, I think the extent of Comcasts vacation package is that for a $50 service fee, they'll let you discontinue it for some amount of time and then restart when you come back down. Not a good deal if you make frequent trips here, but if just once or couple times a year, might be something to consider.