At&T U-Verse Sucks...................

[heironymouspasparagus]

Pay only 65% of your bill.

As much as it pains me to say so, Cox looks like a viable alternative.  Yuck.

[Hoss]

As much as it pains me to say so, Cox looks like a viable alternative.  Yuck.

When it comes to internet, I'd tend to agree.  But I understand being mad about the billing; that's the reason I swore off AT&T for internet after I dropped their DSL services in 2000.  Never to go back.

While I do now have AT&T cell phone service, I didn't start that way.  When I started, it was Cingular.

Cox?  I haven't had any billing issues in the 10 plus years I've been with them, and I typically get rated or better speeds on the tier I'm on.  I also have landline service with them and have been pretty happy with them.

Contract?  Can't say that I know that they require it.  I didn't start with one.  Have one now, though, to keep prices lower.  It will expire however in December.  I also have their whole home DVR service, and while I had a few issues with it, they listened to me enough to correct the core issue once it was discovered.

[Red Arrow]

As much as it pains me to say so, Cox looks like a viable alternative.  Yuck.

Down here south of everywhere, we have BTC (formerly Bixby Telephone Co.) DSL.  I'm happy with it.  We didn't opt for the fastest speed since a knowledgeable friend said that almost no place we wanted to connect with could go that fast anyway.  It would be kind of like having an highway 180 mph speed limit and a 1960s VW Bug.  At least a few years ago, unless you were a gamer, you didn't really need the fastest speed.  The way I understand the system is that Cox type networks slow down with increased number of users on line at any particular time but DSL doesn't do that.

[heironymouspasparagus]

When it comes to internet, I'd tend to agree.  But I understand being mad about the billing; that's the reason I swore off AT&T for internet after I dropped their DSL services in 2000.  Never to go back.

While I do now have AT&T cell phone service, I didn't start that way.  When I started, it was Cingular.

Cox?  I haven't had any billing issues in the 10 plus years I've been with them, and I typically get rated or better speeds on the tier I'm on.  I also have landline service with them and have been pretty happy with them.

Contract?  Can't say that I know that they require it.  I didn't start with one.  Have one now, though, to keep prices lower.  It will expire however in December.  I also have their whole home DVR service, and while I had a few issues with it, they listened to me enough to correct the core issue once it was discovered.

Cingular was much better for cell.  When AT & T 'bought' them, I almost changed.  But when looking at the poor ratings the rest get, not sure it would be much better.  Verizon gets good opinions, but they play games with the 3g/4g.  So, I wait.  No big problem, since the phones I use are so old.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Down here south of everywhere, we have BTC (formerly Bixby Telephone Co.) DSL.  I'm happy with it.  We didn't opt for the fastest speed since a knowledgeable friend said that almost no place we wanted to connect with could go that fast anyway.  It would be kind of like having an highway 180 mph speed limit and a 1960s VW Bug.  At least a few years ago, unless you were a gamer, you didn't really need the fastest speed.  The way I understand the system is that Cox type networks slow down with increased number of users on line at any particular time but DSL doesn't do that.

3 mbps is plenty for what I do right now.  But I am planning to get netflix, new tv, and faster computers (2 or 3) for some software development I am doing.  So, I have been trying to speed things up.  Windstream came by and told me their wire could go 12 to 15 mbps and my wire was the hold up.  So last weekend, I re-wired the house phones with CAT5e cable.  Have one more run to complete the chore, then we will see.  I did see an increase from about 3.5 to almost 6 average.  (www.speedtest.net).  So, I know there is some improvement to be gained.

Looking at wired/wireless routers - Cisco EA4500 is leading contender so far.  Sometime back, there was a big discussion about the best - I can't remember all that was said - is there something better out there now/yet?? 

[Red Arrow]

Cingular was much better for cell.  When AT & T 'bought' them, I almost changed.  But when looking at the poor ratings the rest get, not sure it would be much better.  Verizon gets good opinions, but they play games with the 3g/4g.  So, I wait.  No big problem, since the phones I use are so old.

I had to get a new phone when TDMA (AT&T) service was finally discontinued.  I had to leave my $25/mo plan that I hardly used for a $40/mo plan that I hardly ever use.  I actually get a slight discount through my employer but by the time taxes etc are added back in, it comes out to about $39/mo.  I have in excess of 4500 roll-over minutes on a 450 min/mo plan.

[Red Arrow]

3 mbps is plenty for what I do right now.  But I am planning to get netflix, new tv, and faster computers (2 or 3) for some software development I am doing.  So, I have been trying to speed things up.  Windstream came by and told me their wire could go 12 to 15 mbps and my wire was the hold up.  So last weekend, I re-wired the house phones with CAT5e cable.  Have one more run to complete the chore, then we will see.  I did see an increase from about 3.5 to almost 6 average.  (www.speedtest.net).  So, I know there is some improvement to be gained.
Looking at wired/wireless routers - Cisco EA4500 is leading contender so far.  Sometime back, there was a big discussion about the best - I can't remember all that was said - is there something better out there now/yet?? 

We have expanded basic cable on the TV.  Nothing fancy.  This computer is a 2.93 GHz iMac.  Your speed test showed 4.15Mbps download and .93Mbps upload. We just have regular old TV coax, I forget the number.

[nathanm]

The way I understand the system is that Cox type networks slow down with increased number of users on line at any particular time but DSL doesn't do that.

Yes and no. DSL is shared once it hits the DSLAM, but your line is 100% yours. The pipe itself is shared with Cox, although they have something around 8 DOCSIS channels now. That's around 300Mbps per node, which tend to have a few hundred customers each.

If you're familiar with Ethernet, you may recall the olden days when it used coax. Cable Internet works on the same concept, just with broadband instead of baseband signalling. DSL is more like switched Ethernet with twisted pair wiring.

[Hoss]

Yes and no. DSL is shared once it hits the DSLAM, but your line is 100% yours. The pipe itself is shared with Cox, although they have something around 8 DOCSIS channels now. That's around 300Mbps per node, which tend to have a few hundred customers each.

If you're familiar with Ethernet, you may recall the olden days when it used coax. Cable Internet works on the same concept, just with broadband instead of baseband signalling. DSL is more like switched Ethernet with twisted pair wiring.

You do need to have a newer modem to take advantage of the DOCSIS3.0 spec which allows up to 8 bonded downstream channels (which, in essence, allows for better load sharing when the CMTS nodes are saturated with more users).

AT&T can't come close to the speeds Cox has.  I understand most people don't need blazing speed; however, I do work from home part of the time and speed definitely helps.

However, DSL suffers the further from the CO you are.  And that hasn't really changed much aside from those people who actually do have U-Verse.  When I had DSL, I lived it at 16th & Memorial; the CO was at 41st and Memorial.  It was about 17,000 line feet away, which restricted me to 384kbps (essentially about 8 times faster than the fastest dialup at the time and ten times slower than AT&T's fastest advertised speed).

The Cox tier I have is 28mbps down/6mbps up.  My actual speeds when I test are closer to about 34mbps down.

[patric]

The way I understand the system is that Cox type networks slow down with increased number of users on line at any particular time but DSL doesn't do that.

Think of cable modem as a fat water pipe coming into your neighborhood.  The pressure is great when you are the only house hooked up, but when all your neighbors jump on you have to share with them and pressure drops.
DSL would be like a smaller water line, yet it goes directly to the water company and isnt affected by your neighbors usage.

[DolfanBob]

Satellite Internet has finally come of age, sort of.
We now offer Excede by ViaSat. It was Wildblue but ViaSat launched a Satellite last year that has a very large capacity for subscribers.
When it started up in March. Downloads were moving at 28 Mbps and Upload at 3Mbps.
With more subscribers added on daily those numbers have already dropped to 17 down and 1.5 up.
The promised speed is up to 12 Mbps down and up to 3 Mbps upload.
$49.99 plus a $9.99 rental fee a Month will get you 10 GB allowance.
$79.99 plus a $9.99 rental will get 15 GB
$129.99 plus $9.99 rental will get 25 Gb

At this time they have not started capping Monthly usage but it will soon start sometime this summer.
The cost is $49.99 install and the first Month of service up front. So if you have family or friends living in the country side with slow dial up. Have them give me a call. 918-251-6002

[GG]

We have been very happy with Direct TV.   Happy we made the switch from U-Verse which totally sucked.   We have Direct TV for television, Cox cable for internet and AT&T for cell and land line, which we are still having issues with.  AT&T has become bloated and indifferent, their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. 

[Hoss]

Satellite Internet has finally come of age, sort of.
We now offer Excede by ViaSat. It was Wildblue but ViaSat launched a Satellite last year that has a very large capacity for subscribers.
When it started up in March. Downloads were moving at 28 Mbps and Upload at 3Mbps.
With more subscribers added on daily those numbers have already dropped to 17 down and 1.5 up.
The promised speed is up to 12 Mbps down and up to 3 Mbps upload.
$49.99 plus a $9.99 rental fee a Month will get you 10 GB allowance.
$79.99 plus a $9.99 rental will get 15 GB
$129.99 plus $9.99 rental will get 25 Gb

At this time they have not started capping Monthly usage but it will soon start sometime this summer.
The cost is $49.99 install and the first Month of service up front. So if you have family or friends living in the country side with slow dial up. Have them give me a call. 918-251-6002

I'd blow through 25gb in a week easy.

At the end of my current Cox contract I may dump TV with them and look to satellite, but that won't be until December, so you might hear from me then.  Probably keep internet and landline with them.

[DolfanBob]

Hoss. For my City friends I always tell them to keep Cox internet. I even have it at my house. It is the fastest and cheapest out there. That is why I said that Satellite internet "sort of" has come of age.
Give me a call when you are ready and I will get you the best deal you can get. That goes for all my TNF family.

[AquaMan]

Had to bump this thread since I posted about a year ago in it. I finally gave up on Uverse. Its expensive, the selection is dominated by informercials, which I hate paying for, and the final straw was an increase in rate with no explanation. Like they thought I might not notice.

We decided to keep the internet for now as they promised to double its speed. Might as well have promised to triple it for all I know. thats just sales talk. Also have phones through them and the service is getting worse. That's soon on the block too.

We're thinking of swearing off tube completely. The wife likes our ROKU for movies and favorite sitcoms but it doesn't have History, military, msnbc, local news and a few others I enjoy. It has Fox...go figure.

Anyway, can't I still get programming with an antenna through the air?