Internet Service Provider
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Internet Service Provider
What's the most cost effective internet provider that you use or you know of?
I am currently shopping around for something a little cheaper than $49 a month and looking for the best but cheapest possible.
I am currently shopping around for something a little cheaper than $49 a month and looking for the best but cheapest possible.
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Internet Service Provider
I am currently shopping around for something a little cheaper than $49 a month and looking for the best but cheapest possible.
Ian
#3
Re: Internet Service Provider
FiOS is the service to get if its available, its a Verizon product and is as fast as it comes in the USA.
Depending on needs, users, budget and location as to what many would recommend. Give us more info and I am sure we will be able to steer you in the right direction.
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 34
Re: Internet Service Provider
Yes you are very much correct sorry for not disclosing the info. I reside in Rhode Island, I currently have cox communications as my provider. I know FIOS is not currently in my area and I believe also Armstong is not in the area either. I have looked into AT&T which is my cell phone network but they are not in my area yet either they seemed to offer a really good rate of $14.95 for a 12 month deal with not contract and not activation fee using 3 Mbps.
#5
Re: Internet Service Provider
Comcast? If you dont' have FIOS, probably your best bet for speed, especially if you get a bundle deal.
Earthlink for cheap, shit, dial up.
Cox and Charter aren't that great, but will get you going I guess.
http://www.internetserviceproviders.org/ and see who provides service in your area. There probably isn't much choice anyway.
Earthlink for cheap, shit, dial up.
Cox and Charter aren't that great, but will get you going I guess.
http://www.internetserviceproviders.org/ and see who provides service in your area. There probably isn't much choice anyway.
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 174
Re: Internet Service Provider
try Time Warner, we pay 14.95 for a 10 mg connection and so far its pretty good!
#7
Re: Internet Service Provider
Time Warner...and pretty good....
They were marginally better than what Adelphia were plopping out back in the day when they were still around though
They were marginally better than what Adelphia were plopping out back in the day when they were still around though
#8
Re: Internet Service Provider
Comcast? If you dont' have FIOS, probably your best bet for speed, especially if you get a bundle deal.
Earthlink for cheap, shit, dial up.
Cox and Charter aren't that great, but will get you going I guess.
http://www.internetserviceproviders.org/ and see who provides service in your area. There probably isn't much choice anyway.
Earthlink for cheap, shit, dial up.
Cox and Charter aren't that great, but will get you going I guess.
http://www.internetserviceproviders.org/ and see who provides service in your area. There probably isn't much choice anyway.
I get much faster using my t-mobile phone as a hotspot. If it wasn't such a hassle setting it up and losing connection every time I have an incoming call, I'd ditch comcast in a hearbeat....
#9
Re: Internet Service Provider
The system is somewhat monopolistic in that there are basically only two options for wires coming in your house, telephone or cable TV.
By law, telephone (but not cable tv) companies have to make available their copper lines for other ISP providers to offer their services, but they do so rather grudgingly. That means the physical line into your house and the connection at the street corner is going to belong to the phone company and you might get service off the back of those wires. But since the phone company also offers you service, they are really not in the mood to allow others to use their system if they don't have to. Here is an example of a phone call to customer support for a non-teleco ISP
"Hi, my Internet is down."
"It's not our problem, you need to call the phone company. they have a problem"
"Hi phone company, my Internet is down"
"It's not our problem, you need to call your ISP. They have a problem."
"Hi again ISP, my Internet is down"
"Call the phone company, again"
etc, etc.
So really you can basically just shop between the big two providers in your town (phone or cable, or if you are lucky, FIOS fiber) and see what is offered. Adding a secondary ISP over someone else's lines really isn't going to save you that much money and might lead to some customer support nightmares.
By law, telephone (but not cable tv) companies have to make available their copper lines for other ISP providers to offer their services, but they do so rather grudgingly. That means the physical line into your house and the connection at the street corner is going to belong to the phone company and you might get service off the back of those wires. But since the phone company also offers you service, they are really not in the mood to allow others to use their system if they don't have to. Here is an example of a phone call to customer support for a non-teleco ISP
"Hi, my Internet is down."
"It's not our problem, you need to call the phone company. they have a problem"
"Hi phone company, my Internet is down"
"It's not our problem, you need to call your ISP. They have a problem."
"Hi again ISP, my Internet is down"
"Call the phone company, again"
etc, etc.
So really you can basically just shop between the big two providers in your town (phone or cable, or if you are lucky, FIOS fiber) and see what is offered. Adding a secondary ISP over someone else's lines really isn't going to save you that much money and might lead to some customer support nightmares.
#10
Re: Internet Service Provider
We're in the process of moving and I've ditched Comcast, I've been paying roughly $180 a month for the tv/phone/internet, but their service has been crap in my opinion. We're in Connecticut and don't have FIOS, so I too, am looking for a better deal. AT&T is about the only one available from what I can see, but I don't know much about speeds. We watch a lot of BBC etc through our VPN and Comcasts speed was good, so it's a kind of catch 22. So, I have the option of DISH for TV and internet, DIRECTTV for tv, AT&T for internet and phone or go back to Comcast......... spent the day researching it yesterday and its mind boggling, especially when you read the small print if they're holding you to a 2 year contract
Hope you get something sorted out, I started driveling on there as per usual
Hope you get something sorted out, I started driveling on there as per usual
#11
Re: Internet Service Provider
We didn't have FIOS at our old place, they put the line in only as far as the house next door and we didn't want to pay extra to install, plus we were able to poach some extra's off Comcast for free such as a bunch of movie vouchers as the chap upstairs at the time used to work for them.
#12
Re: Internet Service Provider
We're in the process of moving and I've ditched Comcast, I've been paying roughly $180 a month for the tv/phone/internet, but their service has been crap in my opinion. We're in Connecticut and don't have FIOS, so I too, am looking for a better deal. AT&T is about the only one available from what I can see, but I don't know much about speeds. We watch a lot of BBC etc through our VPN and Comcasts speed was good, so it's a kind of catch 22. So, I have the option of DISH for TV and internet, DIRECTTV for tv, AT&T for internet and phone or go back to Comcast......... spent the day researching it yesterday and its mind boggling, especially when you read the small print if they're holding you to a 2 year contract
Hope you get something sorted out, I started driveling on there as per usual
Hope you get something sorted out, I started driveling on there as per usual
The in-laws are with DirectTV I think, the only option for TV where they are in Maine, and the old dish would die whenever it snowed, so you can imagine, they didn't have much tv during the winter Anyway, they were given a new dish, installed else where on the roof and they hooked something to it that's basically a little heater I think that stops the snow build up, so works much better in the winter.
Comcast/Verizon do have options for not going on contract if you ask, but you usually don't get the best advertised rates they put on the tele, nor the extra freebies, with FIOS, we're getting a $300 gift card after 90 days if we go on a 2 year contract, but there's no disconnect fee if we move to an area that they don't offer service, other wise there is a $200 cancellation fee.
#13
Re: Internet Service Provider
If you go satellite, ask them about the snow coverage...because depending on where they have to put the dish, it might get knocked out with a little bit of snow.
The in-laws are with DirectTV I think, the only option for TV where they are in Maine, and the old dish would die whenever it snowed, so you can imagine, they didn't have much tv during the winter Anyway, they were given a new dish, installed else where on the roof and they hooked something to it that's basically a little heater I think that stops the snow build up, so works much better in the winter.
Comcast/Verizon do have options for not going on contract if you ask, but you usually don't get the best advertised rates they put on the tele, nor the extra freebies, with FIOS, we're getting a $300 gift card after 90 days if we go on a 2 year contract, but there's no disconnect fee if we move to an area that they don't offer service, other wise there is a $200 cancellation fee.
The in-laws are with DirectTV I think, the only option for TV where they are in Maine, and the old dish would die whenever it snowed, so you can imagine, they didn't have much tv during the winter Anyway, they were given a new dish, installed else where on the roof and they hooked something to it that's basically a little heater I think that stops the snow build up, so works much better in the winter.
Comcast/Verizon do have options for not going on contract if you ask, but you usually don't get the best advertised rates they put on the tele, nor the extra freebies, with FIOS, we're getting a $300 gift card after 90 days if we go on a 2 year contract, but there's no disconnect fee if we move to an area that they don't offer service, other wise there is a $200 cancellation fee.