I hate to ask but who's got the best internet/cell/cable package?

[bull]

We're looking at a bundling deal from Verizon that's $120/mo for all three but I've heard a few bad things about Verizon, namely installation problems and billing. Anyone got something good to say about any of these companies that provide these three services?

[Old Moparz]

I have Verizon for my DSL service & my phone, both local & long distance. It's $79.00 per month not including FCC fees as well as Federal tax, State tax, town tax, village tax, city tax, sky tax, & the beer & cigarette taxes. I chose not to go with the TV service because I already have Dish Network & paid for the equipment that includes 2 receivers. Verizon offers Direct TV, but it would mean pulling apart all kinds of wiring that I routed myself & shelving the equipment that works perfect.

I also don't want anyone installing anything because it never comes out the way I want it, & I don't feel like taking off work to babysit the installer. The phone service I had prior was Verizon, which is fine, but my internet was dial up with USA Datanet. So far Verizon's DSL sucks with reliability compared to USA Datanet. If USA Datanet offered DSL I'd have kept it, or at least switch back. Verizon is offering FIOS right now, but it's more expensive, will require that I rewire all my stuff in the house, & I have heard there are lots of bugs & glitches in FIOS right now from a couple of people that have it.

I hardly ever see differences in monthly expenses (on just about anything, not just phone) change enough to warrant switching services & dealing with trying to resolve all the BS that goes with it. Billing is never what you're told, the glitches & bugs are always rampant, the actual service is never vastly improved compared to what you had, & the customer support rep's accent is harder to understand than calculus taught by a French deaf mute who only writes in Chinese.

[bull]

Thanks. Another thing I've heard is that the Fios wireless is not very secure; people can easily hack into your computer with a wireless laptop near your house.

[jb666]

I finally had to dump Verizon as my work ISP. Very unreliable, dropped service and difficult to reach customer service. We couldn't afford to go through problems like this when we rely on our service to bring in orders.

I've been with Comcast for 6 years, at home, and am now using Comcast for my work service. It's been GREAT. Not one minute of down time in 6+ months at work and I can count all of the times on one hand my home service has given me fits..

I don't care how Verizon sugar coats their promises of great service, and they can rag on the "cable guy" as much as they want on TV, but at the end of the day, they suck.



My home/Comcast service is the bundle.. Digital phone/cable/internet, and we love it.. It was $99/month for the first year then we added some premium channels and are in the ballpark of $150/month now.. Not too shabby for everything!! 

[bull]

Yea, I just wish Comcast did cell service.

[jb666]

Yea, I just wish Comcast did cell service.

I know, me too.. I'm held prisoner to AT&T anyways because of the IPhone..

[bull]

Is Verizon the only one that does all three?

[Brock Samson]

 I suspect it's partly a matter of geographic location,..
I have done alot of work and research and switched providers many times to get the optimum service and value..

Home phone AT&T lifeline service only.

Cell phone  T-Mobile no problems.

Internet service Viacom high speed  =  Download Speed: 20839 kbps (2604.9 KB/sec transfer rate) Upload Speed: 8035 kbps (1004.4 KB/sec transfer rate)

T.V. Direct TV Hi Def.

hope this helps.

[bull]

I suspect it's partly a matter of geographic location,..
I have done alot of work and research and switched providers many times to get the optimum service and value..

Home phone AT&T lifeline service only.

Cell phone  T-Mobile no problems.

Internet service Viacom high speed  =  Download Speed: 20839 kbps (2604.9 KB/sec transfer rate) Upload Speed: 8035 kbps (1004.4 KB/sec transfer rate)

T.V. Direct TV Hi Def.

hope this helps.

It does but do you mind saying how much you pay for all that?

[Brock Samson]

i'll pm you after i dig out all the last mos. bills...
                                                                     

[2Gunz]

Wireless isnt very secure in general.

If somebody wants in they will get in.

And I dont see how fios could make it worse as wireless access is controlled by a key and a router.

[chargerboy69]

I have had Verizon Fios for about a year and a half now and have never had any problems.  I believe we are paying about $120.00 a month for cable, phone and internet.  I did have Direct TV and hated it because every time it rained or snowed my cable went out.  I have never had my Verizon cable, internet or phone go out in bad weather.  As far as installation, if I remember correctly it took them about two hours, and they did not run into any problems.

[Old Moparz]

Thanks. Another thing I've heard is that the Fios wireless is not very secure; people can easily hack into your computer with a wireless laptop near your house.

I've always wondered what the wireless fear is, other than someone just being able to use your wireless signal to gain access to the internet for free. Is it actually possible for someone to sit outside your home & monitor what you do on your computer? If that's the case, then the raccoons & the deer are hanging around my place for more than just food.

I know my friend's teenage daughter can sit in one corner of their family room & use the neighbor's wireless signal when she's being punished & not supposed to be on line chatting with her friends. 

[Charger74]

If you are afraid of wireless, then you don't have your wireless router secured.   I know, I know, it a pro wants to use he will.  but if you use the strongest encryption on the router, meaning 128-bit encryption and use a really strong passphrase.  Another piece of advice is to make it so your router only accepts  those wireless devices you want connected.     That means getting the MAC address of the device and creating a "use only" list.

Read up in your user manual for this information if you have any questions.  Doing these simple steps will keep Joe idiot from using your wireless....  I have the steps done on mine and have never had an issue.

[Brock Samson]

 i am lucky in that my good buddy is a PC Desktop Support Expert, and loves this shit.. he don't mind spending several hours doing this crap, having him on the case is like getting a tuneup from Firefighter Ron,.. 
  But one thing about the fantastic internet speed is that San Fran Comcast has Fiberoptic cable which accounts for the speed, under my old AT&T DSL the number was less then three, now it's bumpin 20... Comcast TV Cable service blows though,.. And I have had no trouble with the Dish service like mentioned above but of course it doesn't snow here either. 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I just switched over to FIOS a few months ago from cable & have no troubles......Verizon OWNES me now

I have home phone, cell phones (4 lines), HD TV, and 20/20 internet

[bull]

That's one issue I had thought of; the lack of diversification from providers. In a sense it would be nice to pay just one bill for all of it but they kind of have you by the short hairs in another sense.