What - Who - do you use for internet connection?

[pll]

Right now the phone company is my internet connection. I also have a land line & it's expense & unreliable (older home, older wiring.)

Who or what do you use? Do you like them? My ISP is a local company and I really want to keep them, if possible, because when I call it's a real person who is actually helpful.

I was thinking about WiFi but I don't even really know what that is. I'm so technology impaired. I need a teenager!

Help!

If you are happy with your ISP and all you want is wi-fi (i.e. a wireless local area network) to connect your laptop, smart phones, tablets, etc, just buy a wireless router. I have a Cisco Linksys E4200 that the tech folks at school recommended to me. You just plug it to your modem box and then set it up: configure some security options, give the network a name and password.

The picture below shows the hardware behind a TV in my place (my ISP is my cable company, but I don't have a choice because my condo association was locked by the builder into a 10 year contract with said cable company). The wireless router is the box on the right of the picture. It connects to the box on the left (the cable modem) and the the latter connects to the wall.

[pll]

Dogmama: Just to better understand -- it seems you are reasonably satisfied with the internet service (ISP) but unhappy with the unreliable phone service, correct? If the internet service is unreliable, scratch my router comment...

Good internet and phone service is like the holy grail in this country... These are "unique" services in which customer loyalty is punished with increased charges and crappy service. All enabled by legislation that prevents competition at the local level.

[Dogmama]

I like my internet service provider because they are a local company that is truly interested in delivering good service. My actual hookup is through the phone company - those are the people who are a pain. Last time I called because I had no dial tone (becoming increasingly frequent) I got somebody with an accent who was just rude. Because I have phone & internet through the phone company, if I drop phone service I would probably drop internet because sometimes it, too, is really bad.

My house is almost 30 years old, so the wiring is getting decrepit. I have the wiring insurance policy, but they don't want to spend the time to come out & do it right.

[snapdragen]

I do not have cable, I have AT&T Uverse - internet only I do not have Uverse television. The Uverse modem is wi-fi and I bought a Sony Internet Media Streaming Device (that is the actual name) with which I stream Netflix directly to my hi-def television - and there are a lot of other services that I can stream to my TV from the Sony device - not all of which comes with a charge. I have rabbit ears for local channels which I rarely watch outside of the news and that suits my needs. I did bump up my internet speed to support the streaming video - but it is still far, far cheaper than having both internet and cable.

I didn't know you could do this! I need to check into it, I've got AT&T DSL right now.

[Crankin]

We have Comcast for Internet and phone (VOIP). Until about 3 months ago, we also had it for TV, but DH got pissed because they wouldn't negotiate a lower price for the cable. We only had basic cable, no HBO, etc. We mostly watch TV for the news, and a few shows we like on CBS. I haven't seen half the shows that are popular, because even when we had cable, we didn't have those stations, or I didn't know we had them! DH bought a fancy digital antenna and we get all of our local and some not so local (RI, NH) HD stations perfectly.
Then there was the issue of watching cycling. I also miss HGTV. We got 2 Apple TV devices, one for the bedroom and one for the kitchen, where we watch most of our TV. We probably will get one for the family room, where our big screen TV is, but we rarely go down there, as we go to bed early. The Apple TV streams things from the I Pad to our TV, so we have been watching the Tour of California each night. Do I know how to use this? No, but I'll learn if I have to.
We have no option but Comcast. Our town refused to put all of the wires underground and AT&T will not bring FIOS here because of this. THe Comcast service has been great, though. Our phone, Internet, and TV were back on within 6 hours after our big snowstorm/wind event last October.

[Catrin]

I didn't know you could do this! I need to check into it, I've got AT&T DSL right now.

I DID have the U-Verse TV at some point and simply dropped the TV portion of my package. I do not know if they will allow a new customer to do this, but it would be good information to post here if they do.

[rivergal]

Also did the full U-Verse package (TV, internet, voice) for a year at $99 for all 3, then dropped the TV and have internet and voice only. Got a good deal on the mid-range speed for a year. Would drop to just internet and keep my cell only, but can't until cell service improves at home.

We also use Netflix. I also have Amazon Prime, and get additional free streaming video there. Between these, Hulu, and broadcast channels (antenna) I have pretty much all the "TV" I need, and much cheaper than cable.

[Trek420]

I DID have the U-Verse TV at some point and simply dropped the TV portion of my package. I do not know if they will allow a new customer to do this, but it would be good information to post here if they do.

They won't. Or at least would not when last I was placing those orders. Might have changed since then. But what they probably won't tell you and your service rep is absolutely positively simply NOT allowed to suggest to you on pain of up to and including termination of my job was that you can sign up for TV/HSI/voice or TV/HSI and then if on a contract once that's fulfilled or if no contract whenever you want drop the TV.

I didn't know you could do this! I need to check into it, I've got AT&T DSL right now.

With many complex exceptions but usually if you're in a DSL area you might not have uVerse available and vice versa. But don't take my word for it call and ask a service rep. This also may have changed since I worked in a uVerse call center but with few and mind boglingly complex exceptions if you have DSL now, want to upgraded to uVerse you'll need to either order the uVerse TV and/or upgrade to one of the highest speeds. But again call and ask for current info. Might have changed. Hope so.

I was thinking about WiFi but I don't even really know what that is. I'm so technology impaired. I need a teenager! Help!

WiFi is simply any kind of wireless internet access whether in your home, at a business or location that provides it (coffee shop, airport) or anywhere you are (in the middle of nowhere) that let's you unleash from the cord regardless of whether the cord is to desktop, laptop, game stations, TV, iDevice, tablets, readers ...

To have Wifi in your home you need:
a) high speed internet connection whether through cable, uVerse or DSL. The DSL can be with a phone line or stand alone DSL sometimes called dry loop, or naked DSL, or high speed internet direct.
b) And you'll need wireless equipment aka a router.

Some routers are plugged into your existing modem or they can be one neat elegant classy little unit like AT&T's 2wire gateway.

If you're not wireless now make sure your PC is wireless capable before cutting the cord. If it's not, no worries. There may be an adaptor you can buy for the computer/laptop.

This is the set up let's me sit on the deck with my laptop, coffee and read TE.

Because I have phone & internet through the phone company, if I drop phone service I would probably drop internet because sometimes it, too, is really bad.

OK, so you like the customer service of your ISP. Does the ISP you like offer HSI direct? Then if your home is wired for 2 lines you could go for that. If it's not already wired for 2 ask me before you proceed.

That's who I have for landline and DSL and I pay over $70 Maybe I need to call & see if I can negotiate a lower price - but I doubt it. Maybe they'd prorate my bill for all of the times that my phone was out of service?

(I feel like I'm just b*tching about everything these days!)

That sounds steep. Call and see if you can get a better deal. Are you paying for a long distance plan that you don't need or would a new plan be better? Do you use long distance at all? Would removing it save you money? Do you have too many optional features (like caller id etc) or too few (as in add some and you get a better package) Are you paying for an international plan you haven't used in umpteen years or even flat rate when you could have a measured service?

I used to work in AT&T retention center and could almost always find a way to lower a bill

So call and ask them to go over it.

PS: what we have here is local home phone line, just a basic measure rate service, no features or long distance with a pretty fast speed of DSL on it and Netflix for TV. I also do a lot of iTunes downloads like podcasts.

Back in CA I had the same thing; measured rate for the land line, DSL and Dishnetwork for TV with the lowest cost plan (the one they don't advertise. Cost roughly like Netflix).

[Koronin]

We have Time Warner for internet. We had Century Link, but that was the most unreliable internet service and extremely slow. Dial up was faster than the DSL we had with Century Link, so we changed to Time Warner. We do still have Century Link for the land line and have Dish for TV. I actually need a land line because some of the work I do I need a fax machine.

[CenturyLinkHelp]

I like my internet service provider because they are a local company that is truly interested in delivering good service. My actual hookup is through the phone company - those are the people who are a pain. Last time I called because I had no dial tone (becoming increasingly frequent) I got somebody with an accent who was just rude. Because I have phone & internet through the phone company, if I drop phone service I would probably drop internet because sometimes it, too, is really bad.

My house is almost 30 years old, so the wiring is getting decrepit. I have the wiring insurance policy, but they don't want to spend the time to come out & do it right.

Hello Dogmama, this is B with the CenturyLink Help team. I'm sorry you've been having issues with your services. If you still need assistance, e-mail me at TalkToUs@CenturyLink.com, and I'll be happy to look into this for you.

Thanks,

B
CenturyLink Help Team

[snapdragen]

I DID have the U-Verse TV at some point and simply dropped the TV portion of my package. I do not know if they will allow a new customer to do this, but it would be good information to post here if they do.

Checked it out online, looks like you can get UVerse internet only. Way cool.

[Trek420]

Hello Dogmama, this is B with the CenturyLink Help team. I'm sorry you've been having issues with your services. If you still need assistance, e-mail me at TalkToUs@CenturyLink.com, and I'll be happy to look into this for you.

Thanks,

B
CenturyLink Help Team

I used to work in AT&T retention center and could almost always find a way to lower a bill

So call and ask them to go over it.

Yowie, wowza. Welcome to TE, CLH. Now that's what I call excellent service. And if you bike, stick around

Checked it out online, looks like you can get UVerse internet only. Way cool.

Good! I'm glad they made that change.

[maillotpois]

Yowie, wowza. Welcome to TE, CLH. Now that's what I call excellent service. And if you bike, stick around

Taking customer service to a creepy stalker-esque level....

[Irulan]

I used to work in AT&T retention center and could almost always find a way to lower a bill

Yeah cool I don't think Century Link has a retention center. When I last spoke with them a few months ago about my bill continually creeping upwards, I was told that FCC regulations prevented them from negotiating anything downwards. Too bad, as they are about to lose me as a customer because some of the other packages offered are looking a lot more appealing these days. You think they wouldn't want to lose a Qwest carry over customer who's had an account for over 25+ years of consistent on time payment.

[Dogmama]

Hello Dogmama, this is B with the CenturyLink Help team. I'm sorry you've been having issues with your services. If you still need assistance, e-mail me at TalkToUs@CenturyLink.com, and I'll be happy to look into this for you.

Thanks,

B
CenturyLink Help Team

Spooky - there is a big brother watching us.

Thanks CLH - I will be emailing.