Talk of The Villages Florida
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Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   The CenturyLink Debacle—need modem recommendations , please (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/centurylink-debacleneed-modem-recommendations-please-327173/)

retiredguy123 12-13-2021 06:50 AM
I have Xfinity cable internet service with a speed of 600 Mbps. No issues. Is it possible that the OP's issue is related to the 40 Mbps speed?

Travelhunter123 12-13-2021 07:00 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote (Post 2038806)
The Roku stick you recommended worked out great, and I thank you again. However, ...

The CenturyLink modem constantly drops the signal briefly, allowing watching for only a minute or so, and then it reboots which takes a couple of minutes, and then the same pattern repeats.

When my Internet speed was hiked from 20 to 40, they provided a different modem that I've had problems with since day one.They hiked the bill $10, and I was told I would never again see a rate increase. I finally got through to them on a chat line, where the agent offered to provide a different modem/router and raise my bill by only $10; by the time she was finished upselling, it was up by $23. When I said I needed to look at other options, her tone suddenly changed. She said that I can get my own modem and replace theirs.

I'm not about to spend $300 on their modem. Since 40 mbps is the maximum available on DSL, which is what we're essentially stuck with (package with phone service; we don't want only cell or VoIP), can anyone recommend what basic modem would work with CenturyLink as an ISP via DSL?

I suspect I would need a separate router which would have to be both Mac and Android compatible. Any suggestions for this? If there isn't a router that will do both, then I'd have to stick with the Apple/Mac compatible one (if this is even an issue, which I don't know).

Your thoughts and ideas, please? I know I can count on you. Thank you all once again!
I just signed up to century link but now it’s called a.com
$65 A month including all taxes and the router fee
970 mps speed.
Free installation and a $200 gift card for signing up
It’s very fast and reliable

Villages Kahuna 12-13-2021 07:42 AM
Switch to T-Mobile….
 
…immediately!!

PoolBrews 12-13-2021 08:02 AM
The real issue here is DSL, not CenturyLink. DSL is the oldest, slowest, and most unreliable technology for internet access. Speed and reliability are directly related to the distance you are from your nearest hub. Both cable and fiber are far superior to DSL - fiber being by far the best choice of the two.

Don't struggle with DSL - change to a service that uses either cable or fiber (Highly recommend fiber), get your own modem, and you'll have far less issues.

The other branch of CenturyLink, Quantum Fiber, is extremely reliable, and depending on the speed you get will give you a modem (not lease you one).

Sunflower33 12-13-2021 08:08 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote (Post 2038806)
The Roku stick you recommended worked out great, and I thank you again. However, ...

The CenturyLink modem constantly drops the signal briefly, allowing watching for only a minute or so, and then it reboots which takes a couple of minutes, and then the same pattern repeats.

When my Internet speed was hiked from 20 to 40, they provided a different modem that I've had problems with since day one.They hiked the bill $10, and I was told I would never again see a rate increase. I finally got through to them on a chat line, where the agent offered to provide a different modem/router and raise my bill by only $10; by the time she was finished upselling, it was up by $23. When I said I needed to look at other options, her tone suddenly changed. She said that I can get my own modem and replace theirs.

I'm not about to spend $300 on their modem. Since 40 mbps is the maximum available on DSL, which is what we're essentially stuck with (package with phone service; we don't want only cell or VoIP), can anyone recommend what basic modem would work with CenturyLink as an ISP via DSL?

I suspect I would need a separate router which would have to be both Mac and Android compatible. Any suggestions for this? If there isn't a router that will do both, then I'd have to stick with the Apple/Mac compatible one (if this is even an issue, which I don't know).

Your thoughts and ideas, please? I know I can count on you. Thank you all once again!
I have spectrum and I have 400 speed and have great reception. It’s a lower price to start but after a year it does go up but your modem and router are in led in their price. Have had for 3 years price hasn’t changed since after my first year.

OrangeBlossomBaby 12-13-2021 08:31 AM
OP I get that you want to continue dial-up service in your house. So here's what I suggest: Get POTS. That stands for Plain Old Telephone Service. It's normal phone, that goes into a phone jack just like normal phones do, that you use to make and receive phone calls, and nothing else. It is NOT "magic Jack." It's the same phone service that you had before cable was invented. You can get that for around $10/month (or less if you're a low-income senior or on medicaid).

Then, get xfinity internet, the cheap package. Buy a low-end modem of your own that will be compatible. You'll want it to work with the current package PLUS at least 2 upgrades. So - you want it better than the service requires, but not the latest and greatest.

Then, get a similar-quality router.

Your initial expense will be around $300 for modem, router, the actual telephone if you don't already have one, and any wiring Xfinity has to do, in order to get cable into your house. You do NOT want an Xfinity TV package. You just want plain internet.

Then hook your roku up to the TV, configure it, and your total monthly cost will be around $20/month plus the cost of any pay TV packages you choose from Roku (such as YouTubeTV or Hulu etc).

RoadToad 12-13-2021 08:42 AM
Here .... We have a spare one ....
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote (Post 2038806)
The Roku stick you recommended worked out great, and I thank you again. However, ...

The CenturyLink modem constantly drops the signal briefly, allowing watching for only a minute or so, and then it reboots which takes a couple of minutes, and then the same pattern repeats.

When my Internet speed was hiked from 20 to 40, they provided a different modem that I've had problems with since day one.They hiked the bill $10, and I was told I would never again see a rate increase. I finally got through to them on a chat line, where the agent offered to provide a different modem/router and raise my bill by only $10; by the time she was finished upselling, it was up by $23. When I said I needed to look at other options, her tone suddenly changed. She said that I can get my own modem and replace theirs.

I'm not about to spend $300 on their modem. Since 40 mbps is the maximum available on DSL, which is what we're essentially stuck with (package with phone service; we don't want only cell or VoIP), can anyone recommend what basic modem would work with CenturyLink as an ISP via DSL?

I suspect I would need a separate router which would have to be both Mac and Android compatible. Any suggestions for this? If there isn't a router that will do both, then I'd have to stick with the Apple/Mac compatible one (if this is even an issue, which I don't know).

Your thoughts and ideas, please? I know I can count on you. Thank you all once again!
PM me .... We had CL DSL and went to Xfinity when it became available
our DSL Modem is available

TNLAKEPANDA 12-13-2021 08:47 AM
It’s not your Modem
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quixote (Post 2038806)
The Roku stick you recommended worked out great, and I thank you again. However, ...

The CenturyLink modem constantly drops the signal briefly, allowing watching for only a minute or so, and then it reboots which takes a couple of minutes, and then the same pattern repeats.

When my Internet speed was hiked from 20 to 40, they provided a different modem that I've had problems with since day one.They hiked the bill $10, and I was told I would never again see a rate increase. I finally got through to them on a chat line, where the agent offered to provide a different modem/router and raise my bill by only $10; by the time she was finished upselling, it was up by $23. When I said I needed to look at other options, her tone suddenly changed. She said that I can get my own modem and replace theirs.

I'm not about to spend $300 on their modem. Since 40 mbps is the maximum available on DSL, which is what we're essentially stuck with (package with phone service; we don't want only cell or VoIP), can anyone recommend what basic modem would work with CenturyLink as an ISP via DSL?

I suspect I would need a separate router which would have to be both Mac and Android compatible. Any suggestions for this? If there isn't a router that will do both, then I'd have to stick with the Apple/Mac compatible one (if this is even an issue, which I don't know).

Your thoughts and ideas, please? I know I can count on you. Thank you all once again!
Generally when you are getting drops it is not the Modem… It is your wireless router. I am guessing the Century Link uses an all in one Modem/Router. Those are never the best option. One other thing the Roku Stick does not have as strong an antenna as the Roku Box. We use Roku and have gotten away from using the Stick because of dropped signals. No problem with the Box.

On a side note I have never heard anything good about Century Link Cable.

PoolBrews 12-13-2021 09:20 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TNLAKEPANDA (Post 2039221)
Generally when you are getting drops it is not the Modem… It is your wireless router. I am guessing the Century Link uses an all in one Modem/Router. Those are never the best option. One other thing the Roku Stick does not have as strong an antenna as the Roku Box. We use Roku and have gotten away from using the Stick because of dropped signals. No problem with the Box.

On a side note I have never heard anything good about Century Link Cable.
I don't believe there is a cable offering from CenturyLink, so not sure how you could have heard anything good or bad about it. CenturyLink offers DSL and Fiber. DSL is old and is slowly being phased out. I would never recommend anyone to get DSL.

Their fiber, on the other hand, works extremely well. I've had both Comcast cable and CenturyLink Fiber for several years (at different times of course), and both have performed very well. I was able to work remote with either - no issues. I'm on CL fiber now because it's faster, cheaper, and fiber is far more reliable speed wise than cable.

jfkilduff 12-13-2021 10:27 AM
Seem all the internet providers are pulsing the signal to discourage streaming. I travel during the summer months and experience pulsing internet signals daily.

Carla B 12-13-2021 11:15 AM
[QUOTE=PoolBrews;2039234]I don't believe there is a cable offering from CenturyLink, so not sure how you could have heard anything good or bad about it. CenturyLink offers DSL and Fiber. DSL is old and is slowly being phased out. I would never recommend anyone to get DSL.

Their fiber, on the other hand, works extremely well. I've had both Comcast cable and CenturyLink Fiber for several years (at different times of course), and both have performed very well. I was able to work remote with either - no issues. I'm on CL fiber now because it's faster, cheaper, and fiber is far more reliable speed wise than cable.[/QUOTE

There are many suggestions here, such as "get fiber," "get Spectrum." But the truth is you are limited by your address in The Villages. Our house can only receive CenturyLink DSL @10 mbs, Xfinity cable, and maybe T-Mobile.

Consider yourself lucky if you live where there are other options.

EdFNJ 12-13-2021 11:31 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malsua (Post 2039156)
This is not the case. The router does matter, much more than the Modem.

The modem is a translator. It handles one stream. It connects to either the cable or the DSL line and provides a single ethernet connection to the router.

The router on the other hand may be connected to a dozen things and has to have enough of a processor in it to segment the traffic and be smart enough to provide quality of service to higher demand devices.

Cheap routers simply give a time slice to each connection. They also have really terrible radio chips. Combine the two, add in poorly optimized FiFo buffers and you get a router that needs rebooted every day.

You don't need a $300+ WiFi 6 router, but buy once cry once. You do need a router that isn't built to the lowest cost spec available and those start about $100.

One of my professional hats is commercial networking, I have designed and installed Wifi in 200,000+ sq ft manufacturing facilities in North America, Central America, Europe and China. I'm not blowing smoke. Routers do matter.

Just as an anecdote. I have a $29 router that was picked up a few years back as we needed to get an office going in a facility and our main container hadn't arrived yet. It was yanked out 2 days later.

I used that router in my other Villa that we are renovating and don't live there yet. I turned on the internet a few months ago. The garage door opener is WiFi and connects to the router, and has been running on the lowest signal possible. We are moving into the Villa this week and I bought an Asus AX6000 router and installed it last week. The signal is pegged, the router is in the same spot. The TV also now connects at 5g which has more bands available so as not to step on the neighbor's wifi either since the cheapo router was only a 2.4g.
When you run a 10Mbps or 20Mbps or 40Mbps DSL tier the router makes no difference to someone using 1 or 2 devices. Like putting premium gas in a car that doesn't need it. On a 100Mbps+ tier I'd agree in most cases. You don't need 16 channel router capable of over a gig to run on a 20Mbps pipe to watch Netflix or YoutubeTV and text the kiddies on your phone. We're talking about a 20Mbps DSL service in this thread.

10 years of my life (20 yrs ago) was configuring and installing IBM AIX servers and office networks for the wholesale fashion industry in NYC. That being said, my opinion on a 10-20Mbps DSL connection remains the same wrt a router. :D

kathyspear 12-13-2021 11:44 AM
We had DSL in the house we bought in 1996. That tells you how antiquated the technology is. Please listen to the previous posters who are urging you to switch providers and join us in this century. You won't regret it.

Good luck.

kathy

New Englander 12-13-2021 11:46 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2039161)
I have Xfinity cable internet service with a speed of 600 Mbps. No issues. Is it possible that the OP's issue is related to the 40 Mbps speed?
To get 600 mbps are you using a docsis 3.0 or docsis 3.1 modem?

EdFNJ 12-13-2021 11:50 AM
/// Never mind, wrong info.


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