rcn compared to xfinity

[phpanda.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen a post on this recently and I originally had Comcast (now xfinity), prices went thru the roof and switched to RCN a couple of years ago.  My internet connection is not as reliable (both speed and dropped connection) as I like so I am considering an offer from xFinity. I know I need to ask specific and detailed questions to figure the true price.  Any thoughts on digital tv, higher speed internet and reliability for either provider.   If I am going to do this, I want to do it before the September rush!

Comments

RCN is the best

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

RCN's one of the best ISP's I ever had. I have their fastest service (140 Mbps Down, 20 Mbps Up), and it's been reliable, and their customer service is top notch, if not always readily available. When my service slows down, I always had to call, and it's mostly because Comcast or Xfinity or some cable company comes to setup a service for new student neighbors, and they mess with my settings. RCN came to check it out and always fixed it. It happened maybe 4 or 5 times the last 10 years, but it hasn't happened in the last 2 years. They also gave me some free upgrades (I started with 40 Mbps Down / 2 Mbps Up, and never paid extra for my current speeds). I would keep giving them a call, because the more problems you have, and the more times you call, they end up compensating for your years of service.

Both equally poor

[gmg-1.livejournal.com]

I would just pick whichever provider is cheapest and switch every year if necessary.

RCN used to have fewer pricing gimmicks and better service, but they have gone way downhill and feel about the same as Comcast now. Make sure you get the final price including "taxes and fees" for either provider.

If you are sure that your connection problems aren't related to your modem or router(s), you should have RCN come take a look - a lot of times, the connection at the utility pole or at your house (particularly in a multifamily) is old or a total mess of cables. I had a really poor RCN install at my old place because the first person to come out didn't bother to measure the signal strength. Once they sent someone else out and replaced the entire line from the utility pole, everything was fine.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

In my experience after having Comcast for 8 years and then switching to RCN, RCN provides equally good internet service (not that I have made an attempt to quantify that) and was cheaper for the same bundle even after intro period. As another person wrote, make sure you isolate the problem first.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

With RCN now after years of Comcast. Still saving about $80 a month, still faster, still much, much, much better cable box equipment, and MUCH better phone support and service.

[fefie.livejournal.com]

I'm joining the chorus as another satisfied RCN customer. I've had them as my ISP for over 16 yrs and find them to be reliable, responsive, and competitive priced.

[lilaia.livejournal.com]

I recently switched to RCN because I moved and friends said they really liked the service at RCN. I am saving about $10/month from what I paid Comcast. Initially I thought it would be more but once you add things you would expect it's not as much less as it first looks. I bought decent internet (not superfast and not the lowest) and it's fine. The TV service however, is inferior. TV itself is fine but the DVR I signed up for turned out to be Tivo, which is not the same as DVR. I called to ask about that and I could get real DVR for more, I think $5-10. I don't care that much about DVR so I'm not going to change but to get Tivo when I expected DVR felt rather deceptive. On Demand is awful - ugly, clunky interface that looks like 2003 and not nearly the selection you get from Comcast On Demand; for example there is no PBS On Demand.

Everyone I've interacted with from RCN has been very pleasant and the guy who set us up made an effort to clean up all the cables in our house. When I had Comcast I had good experiences too, I had service people come several times (I was in a big building with new wiring that I think had problems) and they were usually fine. I am considering switching back.

TiVo pretty much invented the DVR

[best1968]

So it's kinda funny to see someone say TiVo is not the same as a DVR