DSL Monopoly
Jan 1st 2006, 10:42 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Encino, CA. Via: Brighton, Norwich, Harlow
Posts: 101
DSL Monopoly
Moving into a new place, regular apartment complex type-thing.
Now, I've a list of utilities and I'm told that the internet service is 'Ygnition'. They've a special offer at the moment, but like most things it's one of these 'cheap for a few months', then whacked up to some high price with a contract that you can't break without forking over a big sum.
Thing is this 'Ygnition' is a bit pricier than a lot of other DSL deals I've seen out there ($50 a month for 1MBit!). Now, I haven't a phone number yet so these 'checker' pages I can't really reliably use. I've tried the 'reception' phone number of the complex and it passes some DSL guys check pages, but not others.
Now, my question is I guess is whether DSL here is a monopoly, and I can only get service from Ygnition at my apartment... Or whether it's like the UK, and if my exchange is DSL enabled, I can go with pretty much any ISP?
Cheers.
Now, I've a list of utilities and I'm told that the internet service is 'Ygnition'. They've a special offer at the moment, but like most things it's one of these 'cheap for a few months', then whacked up to some high price with a contract that you can't break without forking over a big sum.
Thing is this 'Ygnition' is a bit pricier than a lot of other DSL deals I've seen out there ($50 a month for 1MBit!). Now, I haven't a phone number yet so these 'checker' pages I can't really reliably use. I've tried the 'reception' phone number of the complex and it passes some DSL guys check pages, but not others.
Now, my question is I guess is whether DSL here is a monopoly, and I can only get service from Ygnition at my apartment... Or whether it's like the UK, and if my exchange is DSL enabled, I can go with pretty much any ISP?
Cheers.
Jan 1st 2006, 11:14 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Encino, CA. Via: Brighton, Norwich, Harlow
Posts: 101
Re: DSL Monopoly
Originally Posted by fatbrit
I'm pretty sure my complex though uses Ygnition DSL rather than Ygnition Cable (the company offer both types of broadband), and I think some of the comments about 'no alternative' may be the cable guys'.
Sounds bollocks as well as far as P2P downloading goes. I was used to caning my ADSL in the UK.
Jan 1st 2006, 11:39 pm
#4
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: DSL Monopoly
Originally Posted by Drebin
Ah, not good.
I'm pretty sure my complex though uses Ygnition DSL rather than Ygnition Cable (the company offer both types of broadband), and I think some of the comments about 'no alternative' may be the cable guys'.
Sounds bollocks as well as far as P2P downloading goes. I was used to caning my ADSL in the UK.
I'm pretty sure my complex though uses Ygnition DSL rather than Ygnition Cable (the company offer both types of broadband), and I think some of the comments about 'no alternative' may be the cable guys'.
Sounds bollocks as well as far as P2P downloading goes. I was used to caning my ADSL in the UK.
Generally, cable rules here! No contract, $40/month gives a 6Mbs/512Kbs here in Phoenix. The up's a little slow for maintaining your ratios on membership bittorrent sites but livable with.
Look to see if the Verizon wireless broadband is available chez tu. It's not a cheap option but it's nice and fast. One problem is that it is intended for laptops and, AFAIK, the only interface is a PCMIA card, something that would prevent you doing a few things such as using VoIP for your home phone. Maybe worth a look anyway.
If you're just using it for browsing occasionally, just hang a wi-fi antenna nice and high and you'll get a non-secure signal from some local idiot. Wouldn't use it for my banking, though!
Jan 2nd 2006, 12:57 am
#5
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Encino, CA. Via: Brighton, Norwich, Harlow
Posts: 101
Re: DSL Monopoly
Look to see if the Verizon wireless broadband is available chez tu. It's not a cheap option but it's nice and fast. One problem is that it is intended for laptops and, AFAIK, the only interface is a PCMIA card, something that would prevent you doing a few things such as using VoIP for your home phone. Maybe worth a look anyway.
If you're just using it for browsing occasionally, just hang a wi-fi antenna nice and high and you'll get a non-secure signal from some local idiot. Wouldn't use it for my banking, though!
Jan 2nd 2006, 2:34 am
#6
You Are All Diseased
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Farnham, UK
Posts: 4,511
Re: DSL Monopoly
Get to meet the neighbors and speak to them about who they use.
With any provider, you will have a group that love it and a group that hate it.
My ride with Bellsouth was rough at first but I'm actually enjoying their DSL Xtreme now.
With any provider, you will have a group that love it and a group that hate it.
My ride with Bellsouth was rough at first but I'm actually enjoying their DSL Xtreme now.
Jan 2nd 2006, 4:31 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 14,577
Re: DSL Monopoly
I used to use dial-up in my apartment because Comcast were the only company who could provide broadband and they were expensive.
You could perhaps get to know the neighbours and setup a little wireless community, say 3 apartments all using one connection and sharing the cost.
That might be against the ISPs usage policy but its unlikely they'll find out.
You could perhaps get to know the neighbours and setup a little wireless community, say 3 apartments all using one connection and sharing the cost.
That might be against the ISPs usage policy but its unlikely they'll find out.
Jan 2nd 2006, 7:46 am
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Nevada b4 California b4 Colorado b4 Valley of plastic and sand, b4 London
Posts: 2,025
Re: DSL Monopoly
Have you tried sonic.net?
Originally Posted by Drebin
Moving into a new place, regular apartment complex type-thing.
Now, I've a list of utilities and I'm told that the internet service is 'Ygnition'. They've a special offer at the moment, but like most things it's one of these 'cheap for a few months', then whacked up to some high price with a contract that you can't break without forking over a big sum.
Thing is this 'Ygnition' is a bit pricier than a lot of other DSL deals I've seen out there ($50 a month for 1MBit!). Now, I haven't a phone number yet so these 'checker' pages I can't really reliably use. I've tried the 'reception' phone number of the complex and it passes some DSL guys check pages, but not others.
Now, my question is I guess is whether DSL here is a monopoly, and I can only get service from Ygnition at my apartment... Or whether it's like the UK, and if my exchange is DSL enabled, I can go with pretty much any ISP?
Cheers.
Now, I've a list of utilities and I'm told that the internet service is 'Ygnition'. They've a special offer at the moment, but like most things it's one of these 'cheap for a few months', then whacked up to some high price with a contract that you can't break without forking over a big sum.
Thing is this 'Ygnition' is a bit pricier than a lot of other DSL deals I've seen out there ($50 a month for 1MBit!). Now, I haven't a phone number yet so these 'checker' pages I can't really reliably use. I've tried the 'reception' phone number of the complex and it passes some DSL guys check pages, but not others.
Now, my question is I guess is whether DSL here is a monopoly, and I can only get service from Ygnition at my apartment... Or whether it's like the UK, and if my exchange is DSL enabled, I can go with pretty much any ISP?
Cheers.
Jan 3rd 2006, 5:42 pm
#9
Never right in the head!
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,465
Re: DSL Monopoly
Just got off the blower with Verizon, got DSL at home for $14.95 p/m (1 year contract).
Also bought a wireless router for $14.95 so no more wires running around the bedroom.
Could of had the Fios (fiberoptic faster than shit off a shovel) service for $34.95 but I'm a tight wad!
Also bought a wireless router for $14.95 so no more wires running around the bedroom.
Could of had the Fios (fiberoptic faster than shit off a shovel) service for $34.95 but I'm a tight wad!
Jan 3rd 2006, 7:01 pm
#10
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: DSL Monopoly
[QUOTE=
Could of had the Fios (fiberoptic faster than shit off a shovel) service for $34.95 but I'm a tight wad![/QUOTE]
WORTH EVERY PENNY MATE!!!
Could of had the Fios (fiberoptic faster than shit off a shovel) service for $34.95 but I'm a tight wad![/QUOTE]
WORTH EVERY PENNY MATE!!!
Jan 3rd 2006, 8:11 pm
#11
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: DFW
Posts: 125
Re: DSL Monopoly
Originally Posted by izibear
WORTH EVERY PENNY MATE!!!
Jan 15th 2006, 6:42 am
#12
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Encino, CA. Via: Brighton, Norwich, Harlow
Posts: 101
Re: DSL Monopoly
Managed to get service through SBC in the end (same company that does my phone). So I guess if you've DSL, it doesn't matter who you go with... Cable is probably a different case though!
Was $34.99 a month (once the 6 month much lower rate has passed anyhow), that's for 1.5Mbps, compared to Ygnition who were $49.99 for 1Mbps!
Was $34.99 a month (once the 6 month much lower rate has passed anyhow), that's for 1.5Mbps, compared to Ygnition who were $49.99 for 1Mbps!
