How to find broadband service?

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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I'm moving within the next month and I need to find a broadband ISP for my new house. From what I've been able to determine, Comcast seems to hold a monopoly in the area. It's too far from the CO for DSL from Verizon or Cavtel, Time Warner does not have a presence here, and I can't seem to find any alternatives. I tried the service locator at dslreports.com, but it just seems to return a bunch of random results, some of which are for companies that don't operate anywhere near me.

I've been paying $30 a month for 3/768 DSL from Verizon and Comcrap wants $60/month for 6/384.

Any suggestions?
 

lokiju

Lifer
May 29, 2003
18,526
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Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
I'm moving within the next month and I need to find a broadband ISP for my new house. From what I've been able to determine, Comcast seems to hold a monopoly in the area. It's too far from the CO for DSL from Verizon or Cavtel, Time Warner does not have a presence here, and I can't seem to find any alternatives. I tried the service locator at dslreports.com, but it just seems to return a bunch of random results, some of which are for companies that don't operate anywhere near me.

I've been paying $30 a month for 3/768 DSL from Verizon and Comcrap wants $60/month for 6/384.

Any suggestions?

I'm paying $33 for 6mb Comcast and have no issues with them.

Theres always specials with Comcast you can get.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: lokiju
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
I'm moving within the next month and I need to find a broadband ISP for my new house. From what I've been able to determine, Comcast seems to hold a monopoly in the area. It's too far from the CO for DSL from Verizon or Cavtel, Time Warner does not have a presence here, and I can't seem to find any alternatives. I tried the service locator at dslreports.com, but it just seems to return a bunch of random results, some of which are for companies that don't operate anywhere near me.

I've been paying $30 a month for 3/768 DSL from Verizon and Comcrap wants $60/month for 6/384.

Any suggestions?

I'm paying $33 for 6mb Comcast and have no issues with them.

Theres always specials with Comcast you can get.

Was that advertised or did you have to negotiate/ask for it?
 

giantpinkbunnyhead

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2005
3,251
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Where the heck do you live without broadband? Even rural Alaska is getting hooked up. Do you have cable service? My cable company has me on 7M Cable internet for a song, I haven't touched DSL for years since.

 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,952
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Originally posted by: giantpinkbunnyhead
Where the heck do you live without broadband? Even rural Alaska is getting hooked up. Do you have cable service? My cable company has me on 7M Cable internet for a song, I haven't touched DSL for years since.

The problem isn't that I don't have broadband, it's that Comcast seems to be the only provider. I live in the sub-rurals of Baltimore and I'm a few thousand feet too far from the CO for any DSL providers and as far as I can determine so far, Comcast is the only cable provider.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately all I seem to be finding is just more Comcast. The Amazon link doesn't let me get the good price unless I'm already a cable TV subscriber.
 

keeleysam

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2005
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Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately all I seem to be finding is just more Comcast. The Amazon link doesn't let me get the good price unless I'm already a cable TV subscriber.

Then get the basic cable package for $9/month.

Comcast blows the socks off any DSL.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,952
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Originally posted by: keeleysam
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately all I seem to be finding is just more Comcast. The Amazon link doesn't let me get the good price unless I'm already a cable TV subscriber.

Then get the basic cable package for $9/month.

Comcast blows the socks off any DSL.

That would work for me, I guess I'll just call Comcast and see what I can get out of them.
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
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Argh, this just gets more and more frustrating. I appreciate all the suggestions and links, but for whatever reason, they keep giving me results that aren't actually valid for my address. I called comcast and the best they offered me was $59.95 for standalone internet, or $55.95 for cable TV plus $19.95 for internet for the first three months, up to $42.95 after that. Maybe I can somehow get Verizon to install a CO closer to my house... any Verizon employees out there open to bribes?
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
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How to get cheap intarweb:

Go to comcastoffers.com
Sign up for "already a customer, 6 mb service"
Call Comcast and ask them for the basic, bobo-brand 15$/month cable 20 channels
Comcast technicians will, in all likelihood, connect you for all 70 channels, not realizing that you are actually the one person on the planet who asked for the basic broadcast channels.
Send in the rebates for the modem, so the modem is now free
Send in the $100 rebate.

First 6 months will be ~$40. It goes to ~$65 after that.

That's pretty much the best you can do. It's easier for me to take because my company is picking up everything after that first $15.
 

Zolty

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2005
3,603
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Originally posted by: keeleysam
Originally posted by: WhiteKnight
Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately all I seem to be finding is just more Comcast. The Amazon link doesn't let me get the good price unless I'm already a cable TV subscriber.

Then get the basic cable package for $9/month.

Comcast blows the socks off any DSL.



Wow talk about ill-informed, I am sure your comcast doesn't "blow the socks" off my 8mb down 1 mb up dsl. Fall for the cable advertising some more why don't you. I cringe everytime I hear "Cabe is better than DSL" or vise versa, they are differant and competetive technologies.

OP you might want to check to see if there are any wireless providers in your area.
 

MrFire8808

Senior member
Apr 13, 2005
239
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I would steer clear of satellite internet.. I paid 600 some dollars to get satellite installed when I lived out in the sticks. It was really slow.. I mean, for games it was slow, even starcraft. But for downloading stuff/browsing the internet it was fine.. But definatly not worth the money IMO..

But who knows, that was 2 years ago, maybe things have improved
 

WhiteKnight

Platinum Member
May 21, 2001
2,952
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Originally posted by: acemcmac
How to get cheap intarweb:

Go to comcastoffers.com
Sign up for "already a customer, 6 mb service"
Call Comcast and ask them for the basic, bobo-brand 15$/month cable 20 channels
Comcast technicians will, in all likelihood, connect you for all 70 channels, not realizing that you are actually the one person on the planet who asked for the basic broadcast channels.
Send in the rebates for the modem, so the modem is now free
Send in the $100 rebate.

First 6 months will be ~$40. It goes to ~$65 after that.

That's pretty much the best you can do. It's easier for me to take because my company is picking up everything after that first $15.

Wouldn't I need to call up Comcast and get the basic service before signing up at comcastoffers?
 

acemcmac

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
13,712
1
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Originally posted by: MrFire8808
I would steer clear of satellite internet.. I paid 600 some dollars to get satellite installed when I lived out in the sticks. It was really slow.. I mean, for games it was slow, even starcraft. But for downloading stuff/browsing the internet it was fine.. But definatly not worth the money IMO..

But who knows, that was 2 years ago, maybe things have improved

Latency issues are intrinsic to that kind of service. I'd recommend that the OP go with the Comcast offer I posted