posted on June 10, 2004 04:26:03 AM new
We switched from DSL to Adelphia PowerLink a while ago. Our reasoning was that cable Internet is faster than DSL and as long as we had Adelphia cable TV, we may as well use their Internet service - the convenience of one bill. It was great for a while. It was speedy and convenient. Then we noticed a trend. If it rained too much, the Internet went out. If it stormed, the Internet went out. If we were two days late in paying our bill (we just got a bill 5 days ago and they shut us off 4 days after receiving the bill - they said it wasn't their fault the mail was screwed up), the Internet went out. We have to reset the router every other day.
About a month ago, we couldn't get the Internet to work to save our lives. We reset the router, checked the main connections and called Adelphia. Their response was that they'd have to send someone out. We would need to make an appointment and if they found no problem it would "cost" us - no Internet for 1 week. We called again and this time we were told that the Internet was out in our area. All-in-all, we made four phone calls to Adelphia that day and were told four different things.
Well, we've finally had it. Our bill is $115 each month between the cable TV and the cable Internet. For that kind of money we expect the techs to know what they are talking about and we expect our service to work - all of the time, not some of the time.
We have decided to go with SBC. For $88 a month we're getting our phone service (with caller ID and call waiting - something we didn't have before), a good deal on long distance, Dish TV (with just as many stations as we have now) and DSL. So, we are going from about $145 per month for cable, Internet and phone to $88 for Dish, Internet and phone.
Okay, here's the question. From what I understand, they have improved the DSL speed. Some comments on DSL would be appreciated. Also, does anyone else use SBC-Yahoo DSL? If so, have you had a lot of problems? Does anyone know how reliable the e-mail forwarding program is that comes with SBC-Yahoo? We are being connected on Saturday, so I have until then to change my mind (but, with that kind of savings I don't think I will).
On Monday, Ken and I plan on taking our cable TV boxes up to Adelphia, plopping them down on the counter and loudly exclaiming that we've had it with their rate increases and lousy service. Should be interesting.
posted on June 10, 2004 05:36:47 AM new
cblev65352,
I also use Adelphia here outside of Pittsburgh. And yes with full service it cost around $125.00 per month. The service works around here O.K. but I sure don't like the crooked family that own the company. I hope they all spend a lot of time in jail they earned it.
VOTE FOR CHANGE AND A NEW AMERICA BEFORE ITS TO LATE
posted on June 10, 2004 05:48:36 AM new
Cheryl, I pay about fifty per month for Earthlink DSL. The service is so outstanding that I wouldn't consider a change. The connection is always reliable, speedy and the tech help is wonderful! Recently, I had a problem with Zone Alarm which was really not their problem but they were so courteous and helpful anyway. After that episode, I was surprised to receive a follow up phone call from an Earthlink represenative to find out if my problem had been resolved.
I only have basic cable and basic phone service not associated with Earthlink and for that in addition to Earthlink DSL, I'm paying approximately what you are now.
posted on June 10, 2004 06:01:58 AM new
ATT has a package deal for you-39.99 all you can eat local and long distance calls,bring your own DSL or Cable.
I have dish for my tv viewing and when there is storm or heavy rain,it goes out,but i only pay 30 dollars per month
-sig file -------we eat to live,not live to eat.
Benjamin Franklin
posted on June 10, 2004 07:16:39 AM new
I also have Earthlink DSL and have had the same experience as Helen. Great service!
____________________
We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. -- John F. Kennedy
posted on June 10, 2004 08:25:21 AM new
I had SBC DSL and their system was balky and a problem to get set-up, losing it once for a month until a good CSR reset my password. It worked great once we got around the abysmal set-up ordeal.
I much prefer my cable connection now. I turned-down cable TV until I had to get it to get the computer on cable (promo deal). Still don't watch much TV.
With your problems, I would switch! Basically, with the state of technology, go with whatever works best in your area.
Earthlink? I would join Internethead Anonymous before giving them one thin dime.
_________________
You know...the best way to defeat a liberal is to let them speak.
posted on June 10, 2004 08:35:11 AM new
The problems with cable/dsl have been reversed. Initially when DSL was first offered none of the providers knew what the heck they were doing and it would take forever to get the line up. Now that DSL is common, install and use is greatly improved.
Cable nets usually have the computer people 3 states away and the idiot who comes to fix your problem is barely able to put an F connector on the end of a wire. It took me months to get my connection fixed.
Cheryl's problem sounds like they just took her existing cable wire and stuck the modem on it and the connection on the poll was corroded. She should have had none of those problems. On the 1st or 2nd visit they should have run a new tap from the poll directly to the modem. But this takes work, something cable workers try to avoid like the plague.
For performance/price DSL cannot match cable. Cable price is typically $50/mo., but when you sign up for that $39.95/mo DSL plan, you are not getting the same thing. Your DSL plan is probably 128K. A cable modem is typically 1500K and many are 3500K. You won't notice a difference just web surfing but downloading is another thing. Also a DSL connection of a given speed loses 10-15% of its rated speed due to DSL overhead.
You can test your cable/dsl speed at dslreports.com and others. It would be interesting to compare Cheryl's line with some of her neighbors who have functioning cable.
posted on June 10, 2004 09:51:20 AM new
I had SBC/Yahoo DSL for about a year and had no problems with the service until I went to cancel it because I wa s moving and could get a cable connection and package it up. The DSL connection went down one time in the year for about 20 minutes, and their customer service people were always very helpful. Canceling was a damn nightmare though.
I was moving 1 week before my 1 year contract was up so initially I went thru the conondrum of paying $80 to move the service for a week or paying $200 for early cancelation. Obviously I was going to pay the $80 until the rep realized that since I had already been billed for the period that surpassed the 1 year time I could just cancel it and be done. Unfortunately billing did not see it that way. They not only billed me for moving the service, they also billed me for early cancelation, oh yeah, and here's the best part... they charged me for billed me for the following month too. It took 2 months and over a dozen phone calls to get over $300 in charges removed from my bill. I was not a happy camper. If you become displeased with your service and decide to change, make sure you stay aware of when your contract ends. They automatically roll you over into a new one year contract at the end of the previous one and that roll over contract comes with the same early cancelation charges the first one did... or at least it used to.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Jun 10, 2004 09:52 AM ]
posted on June 10, 2004 04:34:00 PM new
We live about 30-45 minutes away from Coudersport, PA, where the Regis's (?) were buying up thousands of acres of land, building a world-class golf course, etc. However, we could not get Adelphia anything.
I can only get Earthlink, sans DSL. Any other outfit that comes in doesn't last a year. Cellular phones don't work here! We have very limited cable for $20 a month, without pay channels (only HBO available).
posted on June 11, 2004 06:07:09 AM new
I'd suggest that anyone who can't get dsl or cable, or who's unhappy with the big providers might look into what wireless service is available in your area. These are sometimes small ISP's that folks aren't necessarily aware of. I don't think any of the national ISPs provide wireless.You can look for service on dslreports.com, as desquirrel mentioned. Wireless service puts an antenna on your roof (mine's on the windmill ) which looks at a broadcast tower located somewhere within line of sight. The tower I get my signal from is 35 miles away. Cable brings the signal into the house to a cable modem, from there to your computer/s. It's my only option out here in the sticks, and I've been pretty happy with it. They don't charge for additional machines, currently I have 4 computers on my LAN. I pay 40 dollars a month for stated speed of 512 download and 128 upload speed, but my tests are usually much higher than that. Here's this morning's:
___________________________________
When a dog howls at the moon, we call it religion. When he barks at strangers, we call it patriotism. - Edward Abbey
) which looks at a broadcast tower located somewhere within line of sight. The tower I get my signal from is 35 miles away. Cable brings the signal into the house to a cable modem, from there to your computer/s. It's my only option out here in the sticks, and I've been pretty happy with it. They don't charge for additional machines, currently I have 4 computers on my LAN. I pay 40 dollars a month for stated speed of 512 download and 128 upload speed, but my tests are usually much higher than that. Here's this morning's:
