[DEETAMAC]

WE WILL BE MOVING TO TV SOON. MEANWHILE PLANNING AHEAD..."GETTING ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW".... ANYONE HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, PREFERENCES, PROS, CONS FOR ANY TV - INTERNET - PHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS? IS IT BETTER TO GO FOR A "BUNDLE" FROM A PROVIDER OR TO BREAK UP INTO BITES FROM EACH?
WE HAVE VERIZON HERE IN MASS AND AM HAPPY......SWITCHED FROM COMCAST...CHEAPER AND BETTER. HOW IS IT IN TV?
THANKS
MAC
SEABEES - VIET NAM 64-68 / RETIRED ARMY


P.S............FORGOT TO ASK ABOUT CELL PHONE PROVIDERS ALSO.........

[Mudder]

We have Comcast for internet and TV. Bought an OOMA phone so that works thru our Comcast. OOMA, you buy the phone and never have any more phone bills.
I taught in Lincoln .......yeah, nice area but Villages is more fun !

[DEETAMAC]

Thanks for the info. Never heard of ooma.....sounds interesting. I'll check that out. What is used for cell services? We have the fios bundle here. With no fios in tv, have to start the learning curve all over again.

[logdog]

Welcome to TOTV. We use Comcast for internet and DirecTV for TV service. The other options available are Century Link DSL for internet and Comcast or Dish for TV.

Comcast customer service is terrible but their internet service is faster than DSL and cheaper. We had Comcast for TV but are very happy we switched to DirecTV. Much better picture, better DVR and more HD. HD service does go out during very heavy rains but that doesn't happen very often nor does it last more than a few minutes. When it does go out we can still watch all the channels in SD.

We bought an ooma box from Amazon.com but it doesn't work. Still waiting for a replacement from ooma. Cell phones work okay most of the time but we do get dropped calls which is why we are going with ooma.

[swimdawg]

MAC
SEABEES - VIET NAM 64-68 / RETIRED ARMY

Mac,

Love your Avatar! I am the Navy Seabees Mascot - Island X-8 in Western New York. I hope to meet you when we get down to TV.....hopefully in the fall.

Lexi

"Can-Do" - Seabee motto

[wesmin]

We have comcast service is OK but customer service and billing are poor.
We have T-Mobil and do have droped calls in our home sometimes due to metal in structure. We have upgraded to smart phones which are wi-fi capable we have netflix and the phone uses the wi-fi. We hope this will prevent droped calls when we return. The internet use on our wi-fi is not charge to our phone usage. If you are in a wi-fi area and acess no charge over phone.

[JohnN]

majicjack, $20 a year for phone service, works great.

comcast basic basic is about $15 a month
we also get their internet (which is just ok) for about $25 a month,

so with taxes, about $50 a month for all 3,

it's basic (we're here part time for now) but meets the need

there's also a bunch of free over the air channels

[DEETAMAC]

Thanks to all for the information. Looks like it boils down to direct tv, comcast internet, ooma phone. Comcast leaves a lot to be desired, even here in the northland.

[ncr2482]

Originally Posted by DEETAMAC

WE WILL BE MOVING TO TV SOON. MEANWHILE PLANNING AHEAD..."GETTING ALL THE DUCKS IN A ROW".... ANYONE HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS, PREFERENCES, PROS, CONS FOR ANY TV - INTERNET - PHONE SERVICE PROVIDERS? IS IT BETTER TO GO FOR A "BUNDLE" FROM A PROVIDER OR TO BREAK UP INTO BITES FROM EACH?
WE HAVE VERIZON HERE IN MASS AND AM HAPPY......SWITCHED FROM COMCAST...CHEAPER AND BETTER. HOW IS IT IN TV?
THANKS
MAC
SEABEES - VIET NAM 64-68 / RETIRED ARMY


P.S............FORGOT TO ASK ABOUT CELL PHONE PROVIDERS ALSO.........

During our 6 years in TV we have used Comcast/Sprint. Comcast Triple play, Embarq/DishTV and now have CenturyLink/DirecTV. We were happy with each service but after the contract periods the prices increased significantly. Each switch went seamlessly. DirecTV is great, DVR extremely user friendly. The last switch to DirecTV was because we wanted the NFL package.

[Gongy]

Originally Posted by ncr2482

During our 6 years in TV we have used Comcast/Sprint. Comcast Triple play, Embarq/DishTV and now have CenturyLink/DirecTV. We were happy with each service but after the contract periods the prices increased significantly. Each switch went seamlessly. DirecTV is great, DVR extremely user friendly. The last switch to DirecTV was because we wanted the NFL package.

How does Sprint work for you for your cell phone service? I have them now and we are closing in 2 weeks in St. James, and my contract is up with them, so I am not making any moves on that right now. I have Sprint now for 10 years and never had a problem with their service, both coverage and customer service and we are in Virginia.
Thanks for an info you can give me.
Linda

[robertj1954]

Originally Posted by JohnN

majicjack, $20 a year for phone service, works great.

comcast basic basic is about $15 a month
we also get their internet (which is just ok) for about $25 a month,

so with taxes, about $50 a month for all 3,

it's basic (we're here part time for now) but meets the need

there's also a bunch of free over the air channels

I can vouch for this information with Majicjack. I am sure there are others like it on the market but we see no difference in phone quality since going to this type phone. You must have a high speed internet to have it. They provide a phone number (352) area code, answering service, all for $20.00 a year and when you purchase it (Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Radio Shack) the $20.00 purchase price includes the first year's service!

[rhredd1654]

Sorry, have to disagree about MagicJack. Used the trial a few years back, did not like the fact that I had to leave my computer on ALL THE TIME. Experienced delay in signal, ended up talking over the other party. Returned it during the trial, but a year later they billed me for an annual fee. Apparently they put everyone on an auto bill basis, and don't check for cancellations. Was promised a refund TWICE. Finally got my credit card company involved in order to secure the refund. Using OOMA and don't have to leave my computer on.

[asianthree]

have comcast but for basic at almost $60 a month is stinks.. i use vontage for phone because your computer does not have to be on for vontage phone use. with all the hacking of computers last thing i want to do is leave my compter on line for some 10 year old to hack into it (nothing against 10 year olds but at 60 i don't have enough knowledge to hack anything, but all of our grandchildren can rule the world with internet by 5)

[rhredd1654]

I have used Vonage in the past and was happy with it. But why pay a monthly fee when you can purchase an OOMA modem and be done with it? For the same reason I purchased a Motorola modem for $50 rather than pay $4.95 (or more) per month to Comcast for internet service. OOMA and Vonage work the same...off the internet and not off your computer like MagicJack. OOMA is portable...don't remember if Vonage is.

[DEETAMAC]

FROM ALL THE INFO SO FAR, I AM LEANING TO CENTURYLINK FOR A PKG DEAL. I TEND TO BE "SKEPTICAL" OF THE INTERNET BASED PHONE SERVICES. WHETER OR NOT I LEAVE THE COMPUTER ON I STILL FEEL VULNERABLE. I DO USE A FIREWALL, I DO "SLEEP" MODE WHEN NOT IN USE TO HELP IN PROTECTING............BUT I STILL USE KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY SYSTEM. AS WAS STATED........ "with all the hacking of computers last thing i want to do is leave my compter on line for some 10 year old to hack into it (nothing against 10 year olds but at 60 i don't have enough knowledge to hack anything, but all of our grandchildren can rule the world with internet by 5)"
STILL, I AM PUZZLED THAT THE VILLAGES DOES NOT HAVE FIOS OR MORE CHOICES FOR SERVICES.
THANKS TO ALL SO FAR FOR THE INPUT AND INFO.....GOOD STUFF !!
MAC