Service Providers (Internet, TV, Etc)

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Folanlron

Folanlron

Trakanon Raider
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Remit_sl said:
Suddenlink and AT&T arent much for competition. You in Washington? I'd be happy to do a little WISP consulting or get you hooked up with someone in the area.
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No Northern Cali.

i was seriously considering it for a long time, but with the way things are going now, I've kinda given up on the idea.(I don't plan on staying here that much longer)

The sad part is that MegaPath ran a new fibre line right in front of my house a cpl years ago.(suppose to be setup as a reduncy line were I am) found out that no one is really on it at all, except the county services which is just weird, + at the same time they did a fibre to the cabinet for my block, but no one can get on the damn line, seems like a waste of my money really.
 
R

Remit_sl

shitlord
521
-1
Folanlron_sl said:
No Northern Cali.

i was seriously considering it for a long time, but with the way things are going now, I've kinda given up on the idea.(I don't plan on staying here that much longer)

The sad part is that MegaPath ran a new fibre line right in front of my house a cpl years ago.(suppose to be setup as a reduncy line were I am) found out that no one is really on it at all, except the county services which is just weird, + at the same time they did a fibre to the cabinet for my block, but no one can get on the damn line, seems like a waste of my money really.
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I used to do IT work for a Washington county port. They laid fiber all over the place, and lease it all as dark fiber. I have no idea what it's purpose is, other than wasting tens of millions of dollars.

If something changes though hit me up. Ncal is too far for me, but I can find someone in the area to get the ball rolling.
 
Sludig

Sludig

Potato del Grande
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Fucking Century Link. So like I said internet up and running finally. Aside from the mb/mbit/whatever controversy, running alright with no hickups. Will see what happens with netflix on tv and me gaming.

However, 2 weeks ago or whatever when I went in and paid the bill including late fee. Because with the move and no net, didnt get a chance to go in, and via phone wasn't working. Now I've got 2 things in the mail, another showing a 170$ some dollar bill like I didnt pay and more, and another one saying welcome to century link, thanks for my order, shows a different # now as the account number. Big thing is on the side it lists the services including just a up to 7mb speed vs the original 40. (unless on the bill they say the real speed so to speak vs the bigger number advertised speed.)

So when they transfered my service looks like they somehow failed to get the bill I paid to show and/or split my account or doubled me up on accounts with one not being the fastest net I had signed up for?
 
Folanlron

Folanlron

Trakanon Raider
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Ya there is a bunch of dark fibre about 30mins east of me, it was all from the first Internet bubble, and it just sits there wasting away, sense no one wants too use it(except Google, it's honestly in a bad area, but it's good for google sense it runs south/north)

My biggest issue with that new fibre line is that it was my damn property tax that paid for the damn thing, and too be told by, megapath and att that I can't be on it just pisses me off.
 
Oldbased

Oldbased

> Than U
28,424
67,392
So earlier this year TWC offered me a package for internet/tv/phone that basically had everything for ~$170 a month. It was more than I was paying and I didn't need the phone( still have not hooked it up despite having it since march ) but all the prem channels + fast internet was appealing so I took the offer. It was for 12 months, no other conditions applied( was done over chat and phone ). 3 months later I get a letter saying thanks for being a awesome customer, currently you pay 158.65 per month but my "promotion" was ending and my next bill would be $214.65 , but since I am so awesome we are only going to charge you $183.64 +fees/taxes which comes out to $202 a month.

Now when I signed up for this shit I was told it was a 12 month package, apparently they left off the part where all prem channels expired in 3 months. I called back and the dude was rude and said we can give you another $5 off a month.

So basically fuck TWC. I'm going back to Satellite. $69 a month for everything for 3 months and then $104 after for the next year. Even get a prepaid gift card for it. Can't wait to call TWC back tomorrow and let them know to fuck off.
 
Armadon

Armadon

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Looks like cox is going to start laying fiber down. They are starting to promote something called giglife. Doesn't say when or what cities though.
 
Joeboo

Joeboo

Molten Core Raider
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Olebass_sl said:
So earlier this year TWC offered me a package for internet/tv/phone that basically had everything for ~$170 a month. It was more than I was paying and I didn't need the phone( still have not hooked it up despite having it since march ) but all the prem channels + fast internet was appealing so I took the offer. It was for 12 months, no other conditions applied( was done over chat and phone ). 3 months later I get a letter saying thanks for being a awesome customer, currently you pay 158.65 per month but my "promotion" was ending and my next bill would be $214.65 , but since I am so awesome we are only going to charge you $183.64 +fees/taxes which comes out to $202 a month.

Now when I signed up for this shit I was told it was a 12 month package, apparently they left off the part where all prem channels expired in 3 months. I called back and the dude was rude and said we can give you another $5 off a month.

So basically fuck TWC. I'm going back to Satellite. $69 a month for everything for 3 months and then $104 after for the next year. Even get a prepaid gift card for it. Can't wait to call TWC back tomorrow and let them know to fuck off.
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They're probably going to try to hit you with an early termination fee for ending the 12 month contract early. Just be prepared. Good luck :/
 
darkmiasma

darkmiasma

Trakanon Raider
860
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Flipmode_sl said:
Ok I live in Chandler, AZ and have cox for TV and internet. I was browsing the internet at work and stumbled across a bundle with price guarantee for 24 months for TV with like 240 channels including HBO/Cinemax for 2 years and Starz free for 12 months, the premier tier of internet (100 Mbps down/10 up), and phone (which I'll never use) all for like $128 a month. I currently pay like $150 a month for just TV and internet. No premium channels and 50/5 internet speed.

Cox will not let me get that package as a current customer. Can I cancel and have my wife signup for the new package? She's not on my acct now. Do they have anyway to check that?
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Verizon FiOS let's you do that that way.
 
Arative

Arative

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Remit_sl said:
You might want to check out their annual reports. Breaking even is not the same as making money. And they are 4.1+ million in the hole from last year. Just running some quick totally arbitrary numbers, assuming a 50% profit margin on 3300 customers (which is high and unlikely) puts them at over 5 years just to pay off year 1 debt, let alone build out costs over those 5 years. So, if they are still chugging along in 10 years, I'll eat crow.

Municipal ISP's are like hard drives. There are those that have failed, and those that will.

EDIT: I'll add a little more here. With the current cost of build outs and customer pricing expectations, you are left with two options. The build outs are going to generate MASSIVE debts. The kind of debts that can only be absorbed by 1. the govment 2. Google (temporarily)

Or, customers can get more realistic, accept 50-100mbps for <$100/month and have fiber to the block, not fiber to the home. If you want FTTH, expect ~$200/month for internet in 5-10 years. Which really you should be fine with, because you were already paying that for TV + Phone + Internet.
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If they are breaking even, then they should be servicing the debt they took on to do the build out. The first two quarters of this year, they turned a profit. Salisbury spent $33 million to do a build out, they lost money due to start up costs but they are now likely to break even this year. That should tell you how strong their financials are.

If these things always fail, why did the State Legislature of North Carolina pass a law that prohibits other communities from building out their own fiber network? It was passed at the behest of ATT and Time Warner to stifle competition in these areas so they can keep their monopolies and screw their customers. More and more laws are being proposed in States that are stifling competition among internet providers in the US so those that do service communities can keep their monopoly or duopoly and continue to bilk their customers. We're stuck with poorer service at a higher price than the rest of the developed world and their is absolutely no reason to be passing laws that ban municipal ISP's other than to prevent competition.
 
BrutulTM

BrutulTM

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Flipmode_sl said:
Ok I live in Chandler, AZ and have cox for TV and internet. I was browsing the internet at work and stumbled across a bundle with price guarantee for 24 months for TV with like 240 channels including HBO/Cinemax for 2 years and Starz free for 12 months, the premier tier of internet (100 Mbps down/10 up), and phone (which I'll never use) all for like $128 a month. I currently pay like $150 a month for just TV and internet. No premium channels and 50/5 internet speed.

Cox will not let me get that package as a current customer. Can I cancel and have my wife signup for the new package? She's not on my acct now. Do they have anyway to check that?
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You probably won't even get that far. Call and tell them that your service has gotten too expensive and you want to cancel. Don't blink and they will send you to a retention person who will offer you shit to keep you from canceling. At that point tell them that you will stay if they give you the new customer package and they probably will. I don't have direct experience with Cox, but it works every time with Comcast and DirecTV. Worst case if they call your bluff you can just call them back and say you changed your mind and they will probably put you back on your old plan if you really don't have any other options that would be acceptable to you.
 
Noodleface

Noodleface

A Mod Real Quick
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Flipmode_sl said:
Ok I live in Chandler, AZ and have cox for TV and internet. I was browsing the internet at work and stumbled across a bundle with price guarantee for 24 months for TV with like 240 channels including HBO/Cinemax for 2 years and Starz free for 12 months, the premier tier of internet (100 Mbps down/10 up), and phone (which I'll never use) all for like $128 a month. I currently pay like $150 a month for just TV and internet. No premium channels and 50/5 internet speed.

Cox will not let me get that package as a current customer. Can I cancel and have my wife signup for the new package? She's not on my acct now. Do they have anyway to check that?
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Don't call customer service, call the customer retention center (might have to ask to be transferred). Tell them you want this new deal or you're planning on cancelling. Usually if they want to keep you they will hook you up with the deal or something very close to it.

At our old apartment we had myself cancel and then my wife sign up at the same address. No one gave two shits about it. They don't care about the address.
 
Oldbased

Oldbased

> Than U
28,424
67,392
So operation Anus and Fed Up is complete today. I went from $213 a month for TWC to $65 a month for 12 months on Dish and 30 mbs internet only from TWC for $55 a month for 12 months. Going to use the $73 a month saved to buy hookers.
 
Oldbased

Oldbased

> Than U
28,424
67,392
Oh and while I am at it for those with TWC. When I switched to Dish then called TWC's special number here are the other packages I was offered to stay( but I had already decided internet only and fuck them ) they may offer you...
20mbs internet, phone, 2 hd/dvr with a $300 visa prepaid card for $150
20mbs internet,phone, basic cable( no hd no digital ) $74
30mbs internet,phone, hd channels/2hd $125

Keep in mind this was a special department to retain customers and I had proof I had been screwed/lied too, but basically they will go far to keep you. I could have as well lied that I had gotten Dish, they never asked for proof to offer those deals.
In the end I was offered 30mb $55 month for 12 months ( same as new customers I think ).
 
Joeboo

Joeboo

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Google Fiber can't get here fast enough(my town gets it in 2015)
Google Fiber Hardware Refresh Detailed | Zatz Not Funny!

New hardware refresh coming, basically your TV set-top box will now also be your router, and routers will have the 802.11ac standard built-in.

Sweet! I definitely wouldn't mind having a 802.11ac wireless signal beaming from every room in my home that has a TV. That's going to be some seriously nice wireless speeds throughout your home.
 
R

Remit_sl

shitlord
521
-1
joeboo_sl said:
New hardware refresh coming, basically your TV set-top box will now also be your router, and routers will have the 802.11ac standard built-in.

Sweet! I definitely wouldn't mind having a 802.11ac wireless signal beaming from every room in my home that has a TV. That's going to be some seriously nice wireless speeds throughout your home.
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That is a good idea, but is it going to be on every set top box or one per house? Going to drive the noise floor down to -60db if not, with 80mhz wide channels blasting everywhere. That will totally swamp any WISP competition, but not that a WISP could compete with google money flush anyways. Might have complications with business links though, as there are lots of 5ghz commercial PTPs out there.
 
Sludig

Sludig

Potato del Grande
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So in figuring out best provider, anyone have anythoughts on the extra little services that make one better or another? Fiancee in new house wants tv back since she refuses to use a computer/ipad and just uses her phone. I may be confused though and what I'm thinking of are more from the specialty channels and not the provider? Like HBOGO or whatever? I was interested in just whatever would give me more options for watching stuff on my computer. (Like catching up on game of thrones since netflix so far behind.)

I'm sure I should really just get a roku/chromecast, but I'm a dinasaur that way too and just like using my computer despite the huge plasma. The tv already can do netflix on it's own anyways.

Already stuck w/ century link for a while net wise.
 
K

Kedwyn

Silver Squire
3,915
80
IMO, HUGE difference in watching shows on a computer or tablet vs a TV. Much less a high quality set with good surround sound. Not even close.

Roku works well if you stream. Plex or the myriad of other DLNA servers / software work very well for getting ripped / downloaded content to your TV from your network drive. Most of the newer TV's already have the Roku style apps and work well enough where even the Roku runs the risk of being obsolete. I certainly don't miss mine but they are clutch if you only have dumb TV's or early gen not so smart tv.

If you have Cable / Tv Service and a DVR I don't see much point in Hulu or Netflix unless you need that for on the go type content and don't want to bother dropping some files in a folder on your PC for viewing. The way I see it is most of the stuff on Netflix is old and outdated so you might as well just grab the files as you want them and not deal with their library. We do use Netflix in a pinch at times but for the most part I'd rather download the season I want and not have to use data or sub to netflix. Hulu, with commercials, is useless to me. I'll just DVR it or torrent it. I'm paying for the content anyway so fuck them.
 
Sludig

Sludig

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Guess it's relevant. I don't really like torrenting stuff, though for something I cant get otherwise I'd do it. (Thrones) Hulu/netflix are still relevant for me since I havnt run out of content on them I want to watch. Spent a month doing breaking bad in one big kick. So guess it works since I dont stay super up to date with tv.

From a couch sure the screen is bigger and I have a decent 7.1 Onkyo system, but I also love the freedom of watching in one big monitor while in the other I randomly browse web or play low attention needs games.

Sounded like if the network themselves dont have different online streaming perk options ( thought if it wasnt hbo itself, then comcast had good hbo show watching options if you are a subscriber?) Who has the better equipment setup? Ie rather than using century link, worth it to go for comcast, or someone else for their current big fancy media boxes? Might have to teach girlfriend to actually use a dvr well to get any advantage for her. Right now shes just sad not being able to watch friends reruns and trashy reality shows. So basically saying we are not power users, just would like to find an option that at least benefits my lifestyle a bit.
 
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