Opinions on your internet service?

SirenSongWoman

SirenSongWoman

Cathlete
If you know me you know I'm on a mission to seriously cut costs from now until the end of next March. My cable/internet bill are going under the ax because the Road Runner cable-internet is about $44 and the cable tv/dvr is running $55. I'm probably getting rid of the cable/dvr altogether but need to find much cheaper internet service. I originally got Road Runner because I have no patience with a slow connection but things have changed and I can't be paying $110 for cable AND internet anymore. I'd been annoyed by the cost for a long time but had been too busy to think about it. Now, though, I HAVE to make cheaper choices - or ditch cable and internet, altogether, for now. BTW, are cable and dsl internet different? Thoughts? I really appreciate everyone's input on this. Thanks.
 
I was surprised at how much we saved by switching to a "package" that includes our cable, dsl, land line phone. Last year we did cost comparisons because all 3 of them were out of control.

We ended up wth an AT&T Basic Package. Our total for 1 month is now 202.00 ~ FYI: Basic Cable w/ AT&T here is Dish Network - they partnered with them but I still have only one bill. Basic Cable is over 100 channels now.
Ala carte with various services it was almost 300.00 per month. (1200 per year diff!)

I think these prices vary greatly from area to area but it is worth looking into.

Just a note- we found the "best deal" w/ AT&T via the web...It was called a Web Only Special so when we called for installation we had to mention that. The prices havent gone up in over a year but you will want to ask if your "deal" is a temporary offer that goes up in cost after a few months.

DSL & Cable are indeed different....Your area has to be set up for DSL and not all areas are.... other than that I cant explain the diff!;)
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6536_7-726601-1.html explains & compares the two.

So~ Bottom Line.... I'd do some web searching on your top 3 companies in area and then compare to a la carte of others you have available.

Best of luck to you- the costs are so high now!
 
We just switched to the TimeWarner triple package. We have RR hi speed internet, TV with DVR and telephone for $154 a month. I just started this so we will see. I tried to save by cutting out my Verizon phone service. Supposedly they cannot change this price for two years. That also includes an HBO charge of $13 a month. Now that was one I was thinking of dropping but we like too many things on HBO. I could have cut down further by choosing a slower internet connection but decided not to. I think the cheapest package is maybe $110 a month.
 
PhyllisG said:
We just switched to the TimeWarner triple package. We have RR hi speed internet, TV with DVR and telephone for $154 a month. I just started this so we will see. I tried to save by cutting out my Verizon phone service. Supposedly they cannot change this price for two years. That also includes an HBO charge of $13 a month. Now that was one I was thinking of dropping but we like too many things on HBO. I could have cut down further by choosing a slower internet connection but decided not to. I think the cheapest package is maybe $110 a month.
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hi phyllis. did you have verizon? we just moved and this is what we got as well but have not received a bill yet. i was paying $110 for cable and internet and another 37 for vonage phone. we had an issue with comcast when we moved so we had to switch. we have the second up basic package,phone with caller id and long distance, and dsl. is that the $110 package? i think i can live with that for now. i mean i NEED phone but phone alone was costing me over $50(needed the long distance) which is why we went to vonage at the time. dh won't live without internet and honestly i need my new channels.

kassia
 
We have AOL & pay 9.99 month. I'm sure there is a faster service out there but I'm not paying for it. Our cable bill runs 84.00 a month & I'm honestly thinking of cutting back to basic which would be 13 channels for 1/2 price.
 
Hi! We just broke down and signed up with ComCast (we've been using free dial-up till now). Our package is high-speed internet plus all phone, including unlimited nationwide long distance, for $70/month. We've never had cable TV, so don't miss it or know what it would add to the package. But we're pleased with this new plan -- SO much nicer than slow dial-up!

Allison
 
Yes we had Verizon. I had gotten a package from them for phone service for 49.99 a month and when I got my bill it was $ 63 with taxesand surcharges. Tw Cable is $154 for hi speed internet, digital cable, and phone. That includes nationwide calling, caller ID and call waiting. Before I was paying $132 a month for just internet and cable plus the Verizon bill. Now I got the whole thing for $154. Hopefully no problems when the bill arrives.
 
We've had Comcast cable and Internet for a little over two years, and just recently added digital voice because I was tired of paying AT&T ridiculous amounts of money for a land line we barely use. My bill per month for all three (and that includes digital cable in two rooms and regular in another) will be approximately $170/month. I was paying AT&T nearly $100 for the phone alone. RIDICULOUS!! I would imagine rates differ from area to area, and of course companies run specials all the time. This is actually a very good price for us based on what we've paid for cable, internet, and phone service in the past from other companies.

If we didn't have cable, we would have no channels at all as we're too far from Nashville to get decent signals on the local channels. The Internet is LIGHTNING fast and rarely goes out. So far, the phone is very crystal clear and problem-free as well.

Carol
:)
 
HI - we used to live in an area that had Time Warner, so we had that for cable and AT&T for phone and internet. We moved and Time Warner isn't offered so we did Dish Network - with two dual DVR HD receiver that cover 4 TVs, America's 250 pkg (they have 100, 200, 250 and 500) and the HD package, DSL internet and our home phone. We pay under $200 per month for all and received 3 months of free programming. So far it's okay. I thought Time Warner had better pricing/service, but we can't get it. I do not like how the TVs go out in bad rain or weather though.

HTH
 
Man, I am disgusted by the costs of all this. There is no way any of this stuff is worth anywhere near what we're all paying. Heck, even the cable/internet guys who've been out to the house say it's a rip-off (those guys hate their employers, which really makes you wonder). I'm seriously considering just canceling everything and giving my library card a nice workout. I'll warn you all before I actually follow through, though, so you don't think I died or something ;)

Did any of you guys catch that Oprah show several months back that featured families cutting out the fat in their homes? The big objective was to cut back on electricity and learn to not rely on tv and computers (I think they got one hour usage of one or the other every night). They had cameras all over the house. At first, the kids threw hissy-fits and everyone was miserable, like they were all going through withdrawl. After a while, though, the cameras showed everyone laying about reading in a quiet house and they all adjusted. After the experiment was over, they decided to keep going with it because the house was more peaceful, they saved a bunch of money, and the kids grades went up. It really got me thinking. I feel like what smokers must feel like, all addicted to tobacco to the point that the tobacco companies could charge $20 per pack but the addict STILL can't give it up. That's how I view my addiction to cable. They're always raising their prices and I always get mad but I keep paying. If I could just give it up until the end of next March... But Burn Notice starts back up again in January! You can practically HEAR me whining...
 
hey when your right your right. its almost a monoply b/c they know you can't go anywhere else so you will either pay the price or not have it at all. viola has been more into her dvds anyway or watching shows on internet but there is NO way i can convince dh to give up tv. internet will not be a fight b/c i refuse to give it up to. i read alot on the internet so even if i don't watch my news i still catch up. plus i keep up with distanct friends and family.

dh is 'suffering" b/c he was the one who loved the a/c almost 24/7 but they just increased rates(here they can do that until the final approval comes in then usually they have to refund alot of money) so i told him to bad so sad. its one or the other buddy. this is something i always fought him on not just when there is a "crisis". i am a cheapskate anyway LOL so now i my thoughts on the subject have been respected.



kassia
 
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ldy_solana said:
dh is 'suffering" b/c he was the one who loved the a/c almost 24/7 but they just increased rates(here they can do that until the final approval comes in then usually they have to refund alot of money) so i told him to bad so sad. its one or the other buddy. this is something i always fought him on not just when there is a "crisis". i am a cheapskate anyway LOL so now i my thoughts on the subject have been respected.

kassia
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I hear you. I've always been kind of down on wearing sweats and bulky stuff around the house because I think if you do it long enough you kind of risk becoming a-sexual (dressing shabby is a real relationship killer). Still, unless we have a mild winter, I'll make an exception this year. Yea, I'll be sitting on my sofa in my chilly house dressed like that kid in A CHRISTMAS STORY who couldn't put his arms down!
 
I'm not sure where you live, but I can get DSL in Michigan for $10 a month.:) I use www.cynergycomm.net. I had to pay $80 for the initial installation of the modem and at first I paid around $20 per month I think, but I love the service. Also, if you have DSL I think NBC and maybe others run their episodes online. So, maybe you wouldn't have to go completely cold turkey as far as your TV shows go. But, I've never watched an episode of anything online so I don't really know much about that.
Cynergy also required us to use them for our basic phone service, but they beat the deal we were getting from our previous service provider. Long distance was 2.9 cents per minute and around $20 for basic phone with caller ID and call waiting. My monthly bill (DSL included) is under $50 per month for phone and DSL.:)

I rarely watch Oprah, but I did see the episode you are talking about. I know that when I grew up things were much different in our household, but TV has always been an evening staple. I should do that experiment here at home........but I'm so scared!:eek: LOL!

Angie
 
angie_nrs said:
I'm not sure where you live, but I can get DSL in Michigan for $10 a month.:) I use www.cynergycomm.net. I had to pay $80 for the initial installation of the modem and at first I paid around $20 per month I think, but I love the service. Also, if you have DSL I think NBC and maybe others run their episodes online. So, maybe you wouldn't have to go completely cold turkey as far as your TV shows go. But, I've never watched an episode of anything online so I don't really know much about that.
Cynergy also required us to use them for our basic phone service, but they beat the deal we were getting from our previous service provider. Long distance was 2.9 cents per minute and around $20 for basic phone with caller ID and call waiting. My monthly bill (DSL included) is under $50 per month for phone and DSL.:)

I rarely watch Oprah, but I did see the episode you are talking about. I know that when I grew up things were much different in our household, but TV has always been an evening staple. I should do that experiment here at home........but I'm so scared!:eek: LOL!

Angie
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I'm going to check out Cynergy. Are you satisfied with the speed of DSL? I don't know how it differs (if it differs) from cable internet. But you're paying less than half what I'm paying and that REALLY appeals to me. I know, I'm scared, too!
 
SirenSongWoman said:
I'm going to check out Cynergy. Are you satisfied with the speed of DSL? I don't know how it differs (if it differs) from cable internet. But you're paying less than half what I'm paying and that REALLY appeals to me. I know, I'm scared, too!
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don't know about anybody else but cable was much better to me then dsl. this is my second time at dsl and the first time it was the same issue. lots of slow loading. but i am suppose to get a deal with the package through verizon but we will see. the house wasn't cable ready(which we never bothered to look we just loved the house) so i just couldn't argue with these ppl on wiring up the house. i am just happy to be online though and since i no longer keep netflix i don't watch movies online so i don't need a heck of a lot speed. just checking email and message boards right now. well the occasional LOLcat site LOL

ETA:i gave up netflix and a few other deals when we got the house. it was a big jump but landlords will only raise rates while mine is a fixed mortgage. oh sure taxes might change but its still better then paying somebody elses taxes.
kassia
 
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SirenSongWoman said:
I'm going to check out Cynergy. Are you satisfied with the speed of DSL? I don't know how it differs (if it differs) from cable internet. But you're paying less than half what I'm paying and that REALLY appeals to me. I know, I'm scared, too!
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I don't know how it differs from cable internet. I had dial up before this, so I am just thrilled with the speed. The speed is 54Mbps....if that means anything to you (b/c it doesn't to me). I'm not a computer expert at all!:confused: I think it also has to do a lot with the computer you use. I have a dell inspiron that is kinda slow but my other laptop has a duo intel processor and is fast!:D
 
You know, those computer guys like to act if you're so dumb when you don't know what's different about DSL and cable modems but I'm finding NOBODY really knows. My laptop is a Mac and it seems Apple products function in a separate universe so different rules always apply. I can tell you everyone I've talked to seem more than satisfied with DSL... WHATEVER it is!
 
I would rather give up the television then my Internet. I rarely watch TV anymore because its so dang violent. I have Comcast cable, we use to have Road Runner which was so awesome until Comcast bought them out. Since I have a bundle, I pay $60 a month for cable Internet and Basic cable television. And, there are plenty of shows that you can watch on the computer through ABC, NBC, CBS on their websites, but I suppose it would be limited compared to regular television.
 
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