[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

My recommendation to everyone with a contract for cable is to find out the date your contract is up. Then mark your calendar. The prices we are given includes their “discount packages” which expire at the end of the contract. Then you could see an increase of over $100! Renegotiate your contract prior to that date and they will work with you. Once your contract renews, you are stuck. I began with CenturyLink which was a nightmare. I currently have XFinity (Comcast) and found that they do not raise my bill every month like CL did. I wish Verizon’s FIOS was available here. It was THE best service I have ever had.

Yes, it is very important to know when your contract expires and to set up a new contract before that date. But, to clarify, the Xfinity contract does not automatically renew for additional 2 years. However, you will lose the contract discounts and go on a month to month basis unless you set up a new 2 year contract. Unfortunately, Xfinity doesn't notify you of this, and the bill goes up and people think that Xfinity arbitrarily raised their prices.

[John_W]

...

[bfarmer3]

Originally Posted by whamrick

Speedtest.net

I got 723.02 Mbps with Comcast just now.

[kathyspear]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

I wish Verizon’s FIOS was available here. It was THE best service I have ever had.

I'm with you, Donna. Verizon FIOS is one of the few things I miss from up north.

kathy

[RoadToad]

Originally Posted by jedalton

depends on what you want to watch. for streaming you need 35-50 mbs. Remember your speed is almost 1/2 when connected by wi-fi. you only get the advertised speed when connected by ethernet cable with 1 device connected to internet. your speed is also reduced by the number of devices connected to your internet. I usually have 5 devices and 2 of them are streaming.

Streaming to a single 4K device is easily supported by 3 to 7 Meg.

Been there, done that (DSL @ C link).

We are running BASIC Comcast internet (28 Meg max) and have absolutley no issues running a 4k stream and numerous 720P Ip cams viewing remote properties.

People paying for "Blast" are wasting money; unless they are running Servers for other services.

[tuccillo]

The Netflix estimates are about 3-5 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed for 1080p and about 15-20 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed for 2160p (aka 4K). I have measured about 15 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed with 4K videos on YouTube. I agree that most people have much more bandwidth than they require.

Originally Posted by RoadToad

Streaming to a single 4K device is easily supported by 3 to 7 Meg.

Been there, done that (DSL @ C link).

We are running BASIC Comcast internet (28 Meg max) and have absolutley no issues running a 4k stream and numerous 720P Ip cams viewing remote properties.

People paying for "Blast" are wasting money; unless they are running Servers for other services.

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

The Netflix estimates are about 3-5 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed for 1080p and about 15-20 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed for 2160p (aka 4K). I have measured about 15 megabits per second of bandwidth consumed with 4K videos on YouTube. I agree that most people have much more bandwidth than they require.

I also agree. I do this kind of thing for a living or at least for another month .

Unless you are downloading massive game patches or pushing large videos around, a 30mbit connection is all a retired couple would probably ever need for streaming and web browsing.

Don't get me wrong, I love when I'm at work and on two 5gbit pipes. I cap out to my 1gb NIC speed unless I do a file transfer from one of the servers. It's great.

We used the starter 25mbit Xfinity for a year at our TV house and it was plenty for what we do there, which is streaming Hulu/Prime/Netflix and youtube. On the 100mbit plan now because that was the next minimum. Even when I remote out to my job, it's plenty. The only time it's somewhat of an issue is when I push up my BBQ videos and such to my youtube channel.

People just way over buy bandwidth just because it's a bigger number.

[bobdeb]

Try not to moan over this one.

My xfinity bill (tv & wifi) in TV is a killer... groan

We own and rent a second home in Pennbrooke Fairways just next to TV and our high def gazzion channels and 400 mbs wifi Spectrum is... wait for it...

$52 a month (including all fees.) in our HOA.

The entire community (1200 homes) committed to a 5 year contract.

3 br 2 bath on golf course, all top upgrades, if you're interested...

[END OTT]

Originally Posted by mrf6969

Bought my Arris modem which is the same one Xfinity recommends. Obviously buying your own will save you a lot of money over time. I pay for 200 MBPS and always tests out at 200+. Bundling Xfinity TV, internet 200 and home phone is a fair price at $175.00 a month total. Looked into doing YouTube TV and then getting internet service and home phone service separately and it came out about the same price. People get all revved up about cutting the cord but I see no advantage as of yet.

testing

[Sherry8bal]

Originally Posted by johndar

Fellow Villagers,
Many of you like myself have Comcast as our tv and internet provider. Also many of us are paying extra to Comcast for their Blast internet service, which provides speeds up to 300 mbps. I recently tested my internet speed and found out to my amazement that I was only getting 36 mbps. I called Comcast Internet repair and was told by their technical support person that my Comcast supplied modem was capped at 100 mbps. The Comcast technical support person arranged for a Comcast installer to replace my modem with a new up to date Comcast modem. Once this was completed my internet speed went from 36 mbps to 237 mbps. I called Comcast customer support and asked for a refund for the price of my monthly Blast service back to when it was installed. They refused a refund so I filed an FCC complaint, which is easy to do online. A Comcast senior customer service representative called me and said that their own internet technical support person was wrong about the modern being capped at 100 mbps. But she could not and would not admit or explain why my internet speed increased from 36 mbps to 237 mbps. Something is very wrong here and I believe Comcast does not want the expense to change out these old modems for new a new one unless the customer complains. I encourage all Comcast internet customers to check the speed of their service, which is free and if it is ridiculously slow like mine was to insist on a new modem and ask for a refund and if denied go and file an FCC complaint. If the FCC sees enough of these complaints and there is enough public exposure then Comcast maybe forced to do the right thing by its customers. I have included pictures of my old Comcast modem.

Comcast is the WORST EVER!!! We definitely recommend Dish Network. You pick what programming you want to pay for.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by xcaligirl

What do you use for internet?

Century link contracted with dish. So, I have century link fiber optics internet.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by detch

Who is your internet service with?

Dish Tv, they contract with century link for internet service. Got two cell phone plan from singular cellular at target, 45 bucks unlimited.

[HJBeck]

Originally Posted by arbajeda

It's not the modem. They throttle Internet service through software at their Network Operations Center. The CSR on the phone may not (probably not) have the technical expertise to know how it is provisioned or his/her script is written to offer the new modem while they correct the programming error. Get your own modem at Amazon or Best Buy and stop paying their monthly charge. The standard id DOCSIS 3.0 and the compatibility is written on the box. Your prices will raise after two years because you are out of the initial contract. Contact them again and see what deals they can offer. You can also try the other providers in the area, and find out what really bad service is all about.

Totally agree with getting your own modem and router. Comcast charges you more per year then the one time cost of your own modem with DOCSIS 3.1 capability.

[Lyn Wagner]

What should the speed by?

[Lyn Wagner]

What should the speed be?