Broadband recommendations?
Feb. 11th, 2010 10:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuLast year, when the FCC mandated the analog->digital cutover, Comcast made a big deal about how we wouldn't have to do a thing because they were going to continue to provide analog signal.
Now they're pulling that plug. By the end of this month we need to get converter boxes (at no additional charge) from Comcast if we wish to continue to receive anything beyond the basic broadcast channels.
Well, if we need to go through that hassle anyway, it's time to look into our alternatives. Currently we have a bundle of internet and basic cable; historically I've been leery of combining our phone service with our internet service but now that cell-phone coverage in Newton is no longer abysmal we're willing to treat our cell phones as backups for our landline.
We want real bandwidth; especially downstream but also enough upstream bandwidth to telecommute and send large files to the corporate server and to Skype with my folks. We don't have any HD TVs and are not looking to buy a new set; we don't watch that much TV. On the other hand, BBC America and National Geographic would be a plus but not worth shelling out extra for; ditto a DVR. We don't use the landline much so included long distance, for example, is not a big deal (and we might even consider a bundle that doesn't include phone and then separately switching our phone service to one of those online-only ones, if any of them are any good).
It's really hard, looking at the different providers, to get a real apples-to-apples comparison. There are all sorts of hidden charges (installation; equipment rental) and some providers bury the bandwidth numbers.
So: Anyone out there have experiences, positive or negative, to share with us regarding Verizon Fios, RCN, or any other providers? Any corporate customer-relations departments who scan RSS feeds and who stumbled on this posting want to chime in and tell us why your service is best?
Now they're pulling that plug. By the end of this month we need to get converter boxes (at no additional charge) from Comcast if we wish to continue to receive anything beyond the basic broadcast channels.
Well, if we need to go through that hassle anyway, it's time to look into our alternatives. Currently we have a bundle of internet and basic cable; historically I've been leery of combining our phone service with our internet service but now that cell-phone coverage in Newton is no longer abysmal we're willing to treat our cell phones as backups for our landline.
We want real bandwidth; especially downstream but also enough upstream bandwidth to telecommute and send large files to the corporate server and to Skype with my folks. We don't have any HD TVs and are not looking to buy a new set; we don't watch that much TV. On the other hand, BBC America and National Geographic would be a plus but not worth shelling out extra for; ditto a DVR. We don't use the landline much so included long distance, for example, is not a big deal (and we might even consider a bundle that doesn't include phone and then separately switching our phone service to one of those online-only ones, if any of them are any good).
It's really hard, looking at the different providers, to get a real apples-to-apples comparison. There are all sorts of hidden charges (installation; equipment rental) and some providers bury the bandwidth numbers.
So: Anyone out there have experiences, positive or negative, to share with us regarding Verizon Fios, RCN, or any other providers? Any corporate customer-relations departments who scan RSS feeds and who stumbled on this posting want to chime in and tell us why your service is best?