[LUNI] Cable / Dsl

[Larry Garfield]

I may get lynched for saying it, but I've been reasonably happy with Comcast.  
I've been with them in two locations now (northwest side and Evanston) for 
over 4 years.  Originally I moved to them from RCN because DSL didn't exist 
out on the northwest side (Norridge area), and I haven't had cause to drop 
them.

I pay ~$54/month for Internet and basic cable.  The basic cable is only 
because it's only a few bucks on top of the line+Internet, and easier than 
broadcast, but I rarely watch TV.  The IP address is in theory dynamic but in 
practice hasn't changed on me in 3 years, so that's static enough for me.  
Speed is actually quite good, and uptime is acceptable.  (Maybe 2-3 outages 
per year, usually weather related and only lasting a few hours, although it's 
always the few hours when I need it most.)  

I haven't had any issues with Comcast blocking ports on me, either, which I 
also like.  

Plus, I have no land line.  I have a cell phone and Illinois doesn't have 
those "hill" things, so I have no need for a land line.  DSL would mean 
Having to install a land line, which I don't need, and then paying for two 
lines (phone and cable) or dropping the cable, for those rare occasions I 
watch something.

There may be a better deal out there now, 4 years later, but I haven't had 
cause to go looking for it.

On Thursday 27 September 2007, Mark Stuart Burge wrote:
> So from the 'Cable Modems' thread, it seems like a lot of people are a
> touch disgruntled with their ISP.
>
> So that begs the question..
>
> Why so many cable users ?
>
>
> I am interested to know what you all ultimately pay for the broadband
> connection of choice.
>
> Myself, I have been using sbc's dsl for about 4 years now and pay an
> average of about $40 / month inc the phone line
>
> Broken down, thats $10 line charge, $19 dsl and the rest split between
> call charges and taxes.
>
> I regularly download iso files without needing to use torrent and the
> modem that came with it was brand new and mine to keep.
> Down time I think was about 20 minutes one day (the only time it has
> ever been down in 4 years to my recall)
>
> On the negative side, I would say that I need to reboot the router now
> and then (maybe once a month max), possibly due to spikes or something,
> but I think that is just hardware.
> Oh, and their default dns is a little slow, but nothing that opendns
> can't remedy.
>
> Every time sbc(att whatever) decide to increase the price, I call them
> and start a new contract to bring the price down  to the new promo,
> which usually works out cheaper still.
>
>
> So,
>
> I am assuming there must be a good reason why so many people are using
> cable.
>
> Is it for a static IP?  for higher upload speeds ?
>
> (or maybe att can't scrape off the ameritech from their shoes and it is
> leaving a bad smell in the room)


-- 
Larry Garfield			AIM: LOLG42
larry at garfieldtech.com		ICQ: 6817012

"If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of 
exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, 
which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to 
himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces itself into the possession 
of every one, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it."  -- Thomas 
Jefferson