Local alternatives for ISP/wireless

[leafshimmer.livejournal.com]

Dear Square,

I just bit the bullet and got a MacBook, and want to set up wireless in my apt. I was going to get it via the same Evil Empire through whom I have my cell service, but my initial attempt to do so got snarled in bad phone menus and bureaucratic kabuki.

I'm wondering if there are any good local alternatives out there anyone would recommend?

Comments

RCN works fine for me

[wardv.livejournal.com]

I've got RCN - internet only, can't speak for TV/voice. I'm pretty happy with it - the service is very reliable. One the rare (once, twice a year) occasion that the connection goes out, there's usually a message on their voice menu that says they are having problems in the area and are working to fix it, so there's no need to even wait in line and talk to a human.

They offer fixed IP service (for an extra $20/month which is kind of steep) which means running servers is ok, and they don't mess with your traffic.

RCN is definitely cheaper than Comcast. They are also a much smaller company.

My only beef with them is that they play the same stupid game as Comcast with promotional rates - the first year is cheaper and you have to call and threaten to switch to the competition to retain your promotional rate beyond that. There should be a law against that ;)

Re: RCN works fine for me

[cedarst.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Very helpful info. I have Comcast's 6-month promo rate and wanted to switch to RCN's promo rate after that but had qualms about their service from stories from a few grad school friends. Might just go for it now then!

Re: RCN works fine for me

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

I've found both RCN and Comcast relatively reliable and faster than Verizon DSL. I got about 18MB on Comcast and currently get 10MB with RCN. But RCN is cheaper.

I had good luck with Verizon FIOS when I lived in the burbs, but FIOS is not available in either Cambridge or Somerville -- and not likely to be offered anytime soon.

Re: RCN works fine for me

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Yep. Not sure why Verizon does not get FIOS here ASAP. There are a lot of high-tech customers who would get it... Unless the competition has a better product already in place.

Re: RCN works fine for me

[fefie.livejournal.com]

Count me in on the "RCN works fine for me" chorus. I've been a satisfied RCN cable model customer for 10 yrs.

Re: RCN works fine for me

[smammy]

they don't mess with your traffic

At least on the non-static-IP service, I have experienced two kinds of traffic tampering:

One, their DNS servers return an ad-laden search results page for domains that don't exist, rather than returning NXDOMAIN as they should. If you "opt-out", you don't really -- they just switch to faking your browser's "server not found" page. See also: An outrage - RCN now senses your User Agent and fakes a 404 page that looks like your native browser one (even when opted out) [Pics Inside].

Two, all web traffic goes through a transparent proxy. The proxy detects Firefox quick search requests (the kind you get when you type some terms into the address bar) and redirects them to another ad-laden search page. There does not appear to be a way to opt out of this, but you can modify the URL that Firefox uses to avoid it.

These are both pretty standard (if shitty) practices for consumer ISPs, and I still prefer RCN to Comcast on the traffic tampering front.

Re: RCN works fine for me

[witzwurst.livejournal.com]

RCN actually applied a discount to my account this year after my promo ran out -- I was surprised, as I was getting ready to call to "cancel." Still higher than the promo, but about $35 less than "standard" rates.

They do have an annoying redirection system for failed DNS queries that was screwing up my VPN for work. Calling and asking them to turn off "PaxFire" will get it switched off free on your account.