Cable internet access

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

My housemate and I are thinking about upgrading to cable modem. (Yes we're still using dial-up modems...sooo slow!) Any recommendations? Any ISPs to avoid? He's looking at web sites right now, and we were gagging over how expensive AT&T Broadband is.

We live in Somerville.

Comments

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

If you think AT&T is expensive in Somerville, you should see how much it costs in Cambridge. (They don't have any competition here, so they can charge what they like.)

And if you think AT&T is expensive in Cambridge, you should see how much a comparable Verizon DSL service costs...

Seriously, though, AT&T comes out to around $35-40 a month, compared to $25-30 for a dial-up ISP that doesn't suck.

[ex-meta.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, and don't forget that AT&T's standard offering would include separate web space and e-mail accounts for you and your roommate, at no extra cost. Some other ISPs make you pay extra for multiple users.

[on-reserve.livejournal.com]

my boyfriend got fucked up the ass repeatedly while working for at&t. plus rcn tech support has always been really helpful (and i can actually get through!) and we've had great service.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I've had AT&T for almost 3 years...I also have digital cable TV and phone in addition to the cable modem...I think this is the way to get the best deal, having all three services...

[hyperliminal.livejournal.com]

I think RCN is cheaper than AT&T, especially if you get a package. We've got the "bronze" package which includes local phone; there's a package for cable TV too.

I think RCN and AT&T are your only choices, tho.

As dykeprincess mentioned above, AT&T tech support sucks ass, while RCN tech support is not only tres helpful, but very very friendly and have always gone above and beyond. Of course, what'd be even cooler is not needing tech support, but what do you expect with only 2 companies in town to choose from.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

In our experience, they've all been lame, but Verizon has been spectacularly lame, to the extent that I had to swear to badmouth them for all eternity, so there ya go.

I've heard good things about SpeakEasy, but never gotten to try it.

In practice, the service you end up with may be limited by exactly where you live; DSL coverage areas are extremely random (based on your distance from telephone central offices, the wire conditions over that distance, and how the phone company is feeling that day), but often the only way you can find out if you're in a service area is by attempting to order the service. (Of course, that doesn't apply to cable modems; not being TV owners, we've generally preferred DSL when we can get it.)

[ranger1.livejournal.com]

Don't go with Verizon. You'll regret it.

[wicketgate.livejournal.com]

AT&T is worth it, especially compared to the others. I've had no problems with AT&T and have been quite happy with the service.

[tla]

You'll find people that love AT&T, and people that loathe AT&T. You'll find people that love RCN, and people that loathe RCN. The cable modem thing is a crapshoot. My advice would be to go with the one with the best deal. And the less support you're likely to need, the better.

Since you're in Somerville, DSL is probably right out for you. (There's only one CO in Somerville, and they've been switching their phone circuits over to a non-DSL-compatible kind. Pre-qualification won't tell you this; you'll only find out after you've placed an order.)

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'm in Somerville and happily using Speakeasy DSL.

[tla]

Yeah, I've known a few people in Somerville with DSL, but it's getting rarer. The digital circuit thing was the answer I got when I tried to sign up with Speakeasy.

[pir.livejournal.com]

Some people love AT&T and loathe RCN.
Some people love RCN and loathe AT&T.

I've come across just as many of both (and I've been using AT&T/mediaone/name-this-week for about 4 years with no real problems and I expect them to stay in the business longer than RCN who have already sold off their DSL section).

[azaz-al.livejournal.com]

We have at&T. Out in the boonies where we live it is $61 a month. Is it really only about $30 in Boston? (we're going to move there soon)