High Speed Dilema

[viellen]

One more question, since you guys have been so helpful (sorry to post twice in one day)...I just found out Verizon DSL isn't available in my new place (ugh!), so what do you guys use for high-speed? Am I stuck with paying up the nose for Comcast?

Comments

[bigrock.livejournal.com]

RCN is an option.

www.rcn.com

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

Yes, it seems as though most of Somerville gets the shaft when it comes to DSL. I had to give up my wonderful Speakeasy (http://www.speakeasy.net/) service moving from Arlington to the Davis Square area.

IMHO, the lesser of two evils is RCN (http://www.rcn.com/)—still cable, but I think it's quite good.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I use Comcast...I don't have a problem with them. I started with them when they were AT&T Broadband...no, wait! They were something else, before that...in San Francisco, then went to Atlanta, then came here...nearly 10 years, now...they're not so bad.

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

MediaOne?

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

That's it! Yes! Thank you!

I should have remembered that. I still dial 1-800-MEDIAONE to reach Comcast...and it still works.

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

And before it was MediaOne it was Cablevision.

That storefront on Holland Ave has had all four logos over the course of the last seven years.

[ursamajor]

heh, a friend of mine in north cambridge just had the same problem - verizon dsl at his old place, no verizon eligibility in the new, and comcast's fees being insanely extortionist. i think he finally ended up going with cable modem from earthlink, which pre-tax is $30/month for the first three months and then $46/month after that; after taxes it's closer to $55 but still less than the $70 comcast wants for just-cable.

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

I pay only $65 for cable TV and internet.

[viellen]

Wow, that's way cheaper than anything they've quoted me...may I ask what package you use?

[cutieperson]

that's about what it is (with taxes) if you get basic cable & internet. they'll try to sell you on other things, but if you insist you just want basic service they'll eventually give in.

[viellen]

Sweet...$65 is what I pay for Verizon right now (phone + DSL) and I never even use my land-line...right now Comcast quoted me $70 for just internet so I thought that was insane, but I guess if I can get that *and* basic cable for $65 that wouldn't be bad. Thanks for the tip!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

basic cable is $8 (yay!); cable internet is $70 (boo!); both together gets you a $15 discount (yay!)

mind you, basic cable is just the networks and shopping channels :)

[viellen]

It's so stupid that when you get the two together it's cheaper than just internet...however basic cable is more than I get right now, even if it is just the networks :) thanks!

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

Actually it makes sense for them. It costs them nothing to give you the basic cable once they've set you up for internet, and adds to their subscriber headcount -- which adds to the resale value of advertizing time.

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

We get everything from channel 2-70. So All the network plus stuff like TBS, TNT, CNN, etc. And a couple in the 200's. Nothing in the way of the cool movie channels. Over all, it's not a bad deal. You do have to insist that you really only want basic cable though. They don't advertise the fact that they do have really cheap cable.

[viellen]

Is 2-70 considered Basic Cable or Standard Cable? I thought basic was just the networks (i.e. the same stuff I could get with bunny ears if I didn't live in a brownstone).

Standard

[jmaynardg.livejournal.com]

Back when I had cable internet in Somerville, Comcast was unable to filter out the standard cable channels while also providing internet. So you could order "basic" cable and still get all ~70 channels of standard cable. I've since switched to Verizon DSL, which frankly was a mistake. It regularly times out and disconnects, which only calling my landline with my cellphone (to generate ring) will fix. Calling Verizon tech support is a nightmare run-around. I can't recommend DSL... go with cable if possible. Hell, spend the bucks and get a real fractional T1. :)

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

ha, my gf had the same deal in her first apartment in boston--you don't have basic cable, you have standard cable and are paying for basic. so keep a hush on it :)

[ursamajor]

*nod* he has satellite tv, though, so absolutely no desire for cable. and it's tough to find reasonably priced, non-bundled services. i went through the same thing three years ago because i don't watch a lot of TV so saw no need to get cable, and i already had a cell phone, so didn't really feel the need to bother with a landline, but would do it if it made things cheaper. it didn't.

[jmspencer.livejournal.com]

If your place already has the cables coming into it, comcast isn't that bad, to be entirely honest with you. I've had it for over a year and have had no issues, and it hasn't been nearly as expensive as a lot of people seem to be saying.

[ah42.livejournal.com]

Don't listen to them!

I'm assuming you don't have a landline installed to the apartment yet? It may seem silly, but I've heard of that before: Until you have an active phone line, they'll say there's no chance for service on your phone line, because (IIRC) their computers measure distances by the address associated with the phone number :)

I assume the place is relatively close to the intersection on the Craigslist ad you mentioned in your LJ? A DSL capable CO is less than a half-mile away from there.

Honestly, Verizon used to suck for DSL anyway (I assume they still do). If you can get someone else who doesn't use Verizon's hardware in the CO, you're better off. I used to use Cyberonic (http://cyberonic.net/). They're based out of Worcester, and I never had any problems with them (for like ... a year).

[viellen]

I just called Comcast and they were able to give me the basic cable+internet=$65 deal..which is what I pay for Verizon anyway and I never use my land-line (although I never watch tv either so it's still kinda dumb). I have to say though, I've gotten really good service from Verizon and it's nice to be able to install it all myself (and not wait around for the cable guy), but oh well. I dunno if the new place doesn't have a phoneline already installed...I don't even know if it doesn't have cable installed. Weird.

[ah42.livejournal.com]

A ha.

Personally, I'd fight for the right to get DSL over Cable, because you have so many more choices for providers and plans.

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where you are, but the CO that covers my area (close to teele square) isn't even wired for DSL. Speakeasy tried really hard to get me DSL in Somerville, but failed. I am on the waiting list for verizon, so I should know when they get around to upgrading the facility...

[ah42.livejournal.com]

At the time, I lived on Alpine St. (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&location=BiW0hvXOCQolI9ymFT9JGrK6SsSKtnKPSStU7pVBXHlkgxNvNWSNYoYZntnpMW9kC3%2fs6T3bZ%2fcSA7dAXXCH3ydqaRZ4g7Dk9CIOg4oH5dcKNIUgJQMSCJaA8TT%2bjrswIKzneERS5xyt5%2f%2bb1Ag%2fBQ%3d%3d) The CO for that area is on 111 Central St.

From what I can tell, the only CO in Somerville is the one on Central St. Teele is closer to the one in Arlington. Both the Arlington and Somerville COs are wired for DSL (http://www.dslreports.com/coinfo/clli/SOVLMACE/)

[uberjay.livejournal.com]

Hmm, at the time I was told that my location was covered by the medford CO, but looking on the coinfo page there doesn't seem to be a CO listed in Medford. Perhaps things have changed for the better?

[four-thorns.livejournal.com]

RCN?

or pirate wireless from your neighbors.

(no, don't do that.)

[mistypen.livejournal.com]

well I work for Comcast, the price is 45.95, and its waaaay faster than any others, and good customer support . You can get basic cable, if your not wanting anything more. Always look for ads, there are always promos. RCN kinda stinks, they make you put a deposit down for the modem for 50 bucks.

[fidgetmonster.livejournal.com]

Some of the reps don't bother looking up the promos unless we know to ask, so some of the quotes can be outrageous. it's nice when someone knows how to 'work the system' from the inside. unless we've gone through it or learned the hard way, the average consumer has trouble dealing with a conglomerate as big as Comcast.

[mistypen.livejournal.com]

that's cause we arent allowed actually. Promo's arent allowed to be openly offered. Comcast is not an conglomerate actually. We are also doubling the speed to 4 mps in the next few months.

[standingtallnow.livejournal.com]

Woohoo, but that's not exactly doubling considering that some areas already get 3mbs now.

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

ok so are there any promos? and if you can't say, where to find out about them? you say internet is $46, but other people were quoting $70? i'm trying to set stuff up soon too... looking for basically internet, tv might be nice, but basically looking for the cheapest deal.

grazzi.