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the dreaded ben

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:44 pm

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

calling all geeks, nerds, and dorks:

i need to hook up the high speed interweb at my new love shack and was wondering if anyone has any advice about what service provider i should use.

as far as i can tell the connection speed numbers mean absolutely nothing given the fact that my computer is currently connected at 11 mbps, but only downloads at 60 kbps.

i don't need to go any faster, but don't want to go any slower either.
and none of that dial up shit, i'll need this son of bitch always on.
oh and of course cheap is key.

thanks
ben

lieutenantsean

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 12:54 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

I've only ever used comcast. They aren't bad. Not great, but not bad.

Sometimes the service is really good, sometimes you'll think the customer service twit is actually the cleaning person who picked up the phone when they shouldn't have.

This may be a problem in my area (Bothell, up around Thrasher's Corner) but we drop the connection once in a while. It comes back up pretty quickly (usually less than a minute). But, since I'm frequently logged onto the NOAA computers, that means whatever computations I was doing get dropped (haven't tried the -nohup switch).

Also, they'll tell you how fast their connections are. Download speed depends on what's happening at the other end too. But, I downloaded a 12Mb mp3 file this weekend in about 15 or 20 seconds. That's about average for me.

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terrydean

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:16 pm

rocker boi Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 1535 Location: santa fe, i think

I enabled the DUN on my new fone (Shh, don't tell Verizon), so if I build my/buy a new puter with bluetooth I can totally use my celly as a sort of modem, and from what I can find online about it, it's free! It would only use my minutes, which I have a lot of.
Er, that didn't really help you any, did it?

the dreaded ben

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:21 pm

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

kingpenguin wrote:

i guess that means your neither geek, nerd or dork. but hey, there are worse things, we'll just have to work through it together as a group.

hello, my name is ben and i've been a ludite for 25 years now.
now it's your turn to share with the group.

lieutenantsean

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:26 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

With apologies to Joby, this renders you immune from the unofficial motto of Microsoft, viz:

Get them by the balls and their hearts and minds will follow

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jillita

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:41 pm

Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 744 Location: the westside

A coworker of mine has Earthlink DSL, which uses Comcast's hardware (whatever the terminology would be), but Earthlink makes it a faster connection than plain Comcast. He checked around with everything available and found that Earthlink was the fastest at about the same price as the others. I might change to it also.

derrickito

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:44 pm

now with 50 percent more EVIL Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 10566

if you want the easiest, fastest, and cheapest high speed option, get comcast.

higher download rates, and very easy to get up and working. dsl can be a bit of a nightmare at times, and isnt always the quickest to get hooked up

comcast also doesnt get you stuck in any service contracts.. you can go for as long or as short as you want.

only about 40 a month

langston

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:45 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 5547 Location: Columbia City

I've used Speakeasy for years, they are quite decent. They are sharecropping the existing DSL infrastructure so you are liable to the same traffic problems as Comcast, et al. Their customer service is top-notch and rates are market-average. They also do not charge for multiple ISPs, wireless, will give you a free modem and are a friendly local company. Local is what sold me, I'm a big fan of the little guy.

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lieutenantsean

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:46 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

a quick note about earthlink.

I used earthlink dial-up when I was in Oklahoma. It was my best option at the time.

1) Their customer service people seem capable and willing to help.
2) Their on-line tools are fairly useful. In particular, their spam blocker worked a treat. Their on-line scanners are ok. I picked up a virus from an e-mail I got through this account, but it was my own damn fault.
3) Installation and updates are pretty simple.

If comcast didn't make it financially more lucrative for me to use both their broadband and cable, I would probably go with Earthlink.

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jillita

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:51 pm

Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 744 Location: the westside

Oooooh good call about Speakeasy. I forgot about them. And they support KEXP. Support your local businesses.

the dreaded ben

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:57 pm

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

what in sam hell is the difference between dsl and broadband?

oh and comcast is 55.95 + 149.99 for set up.
you'll have to excuse me when i say, fuck those assholes.

lieutenantsean

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 2:02 pm

Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 1255

dsl is slower than broadband.

No way in hell I would let them near my computer. There are plenty of nerds around here who could hook up your cable modem and set your computer up for you.

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Aaron

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:00 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

harlot wrote:

Oooooh good call about Speakeasy. I forgot about them. And they support KEXP. Support your local businesses.

Yeah, Shop with Supergo, er, I mean Performance.

derrickito

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 4:09 pm

now with 50 percent more EVIL Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 10566

the dreaded ben wrote:

what in sam hell is the difference between dsl and broadband?

oh and comcast is 55.95 + 149.99 for set up.
you'll have to excuse me when i say, fuck those assholes.

that isnt normal. i pay 44 a month, and ZERO install fee. call them and tell them that everyone you know pays that much and has never payed for install and you should be able to get them down. they usually have specials for 19.99 a month for three months all the time

just call and pick at them until they give it to you. dont let them charge you for install.

ive had speakeasy and liked them plenty, but their speeds for their price isnt up to par. their tech support does rock, but i didnt like the year service contracts, having it tied to a phone line (im on cell 100 percent).

the dreaded ben

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 5:20 pm

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

does dsl have to be connected to a phone line? cause i don't have a land line , but i also don't have cable.

joby

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:11 pm

goes to eleven Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3899 Location: The Cloud

the dreaded ben wrote:

does dsl have to be connected to a phone line? cause i don't have a land line , but i also don't have cable.

Cable broadband uses the same physical cable as cable TV. DSL uses the same physical wires as land-line telephones.

Cable broadband is an all-in-one service. One company (Comcast) provides the modem, the physical cable in to your residance, the backend connection to the internet, and stuff like email addresses. Comcast will sell you broadband without cable TV service, but there is a discount of you buy both.

With DSL, service can be decoupled in to two parts. The phone company provides the physical wires in to your residence, but a third party provides the back end connection to the internet. This makes DSL conceptually a lot more like dialup. Of course, Qwest (the folks providing the copper wire) would be happy to also be your ISP (the back end part).

Qwest is legally obligated to provide the wires for DSL, even if you don't have voice service.
Qwest also offers a discount if you buy a bundle of services.

If you select a DSL ISP other than Quest, somebody has to pay Quest for the use of their line. Make sure that's included in the price.

I like local companies, but there's also somthing to be said for having one place to yell at, as is the case if you select Comcast or Qwest. If you go with Speakeasy and things go wrong, there's two companies to fight with.

I've got a cable modem.

lantius

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:38 pm

1337 Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 6705 Location: right over

if you are in a few different parts of seattle you can also get your cable internet through millenium cable.

for the record, i use comcast. i got grandfathered in on an older at&t annual plan that i'm going to try to keep paying every year for as long as i can keep it active. i've had scarcely any problems here, and neither have many of my friends. i have had issues at other places i lived at, particularly when i lived in an apartment and they kept putting a dumb filter on the line because my neighbors cancelled their cable tv.

Aaron

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 3:19 am

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

I have Comcast cable at home and Quest DSL at work. My work speed is supposed to be faster, but I share it with my landlord. Other reasons I am sure Joby could explain, make it slower. Anyhoo, they both seem about the same. Both rock super fast and no problemos. Both are big cororate companies with endless voice mail jail mazes when you call them. Both also offer email accounts but I use an online, free service (hot she-male).

SofaKing

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:59 pm

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Free Ballard

Comcast cable seems to be the most cost effective for most people. Though their upstream bandwidth is limited and their terms of service was written by Stalin, overall it's simple, fast, and affordable.

I currently use Speakeasy DSL. It's blazing fast and very reliable. Their customer service is the absolute best you can get, and they're local. Then again they charge more then most others. I host my business website from the DSL line. Their terms of service let you do whatever the heck you want with your line. They also offer One Link DSL service which lets you run DSL without needing a conventional phone line (with a phone number).

As for using a cell phone with the computer, it's called tethering. With pre-EvDO phones it's pretty slow, just a bit faster then dial-up. But it's generally not detectable by the provider so it's basically a free bonus. With Sprint and Verizon EvDO phones you can actually get DSL-like speeds, but they usually have a tethering cap and will charge you extra if you go over it.

Back to lurking...

Aaron

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:28 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

Ben, Where U been?

Miss you on the Thursday rides and talking "the industry talk".

the dreaded ben

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:46 am

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

Aaron wrote:

Ben, Where U been?

Miss you on the Thursday rides and talking "the industry talk".

moving to the queen anne, buried in work, and rejoicing over the birth of santa.

i'll be on thursday with my fancy new road bike.

lantius

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:51 am

1337 Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 6705 Location: right over

the dreaded ben wrote:

Aaron wrote:

Ben, Where U been?

Miss you on the Thursday rides and talking "the industry talk".

moving to the queen anne, buried in work, and rejoicing over the birth of santa.

i'll be on thursday with my fancy new road bike.

wtfpwned. i think he meant the other ben. not that we don't miss you too!

SofaKing

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:20 pm

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Free Ballard

Aaron wrote:

Ben, Where U been?

hibernating.

Aaron

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:45 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

Yeah, I meant Sofa King, but I always like seeing my Dreaded Ben. I want to be the meat in a Ben sandwich! Aw, I'm just playin' wicha, guyz.

Seriously, I forget that both of our Ben's are from the bike industry.

joeball

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:50 am

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 6037 Location: Ether

BtAH, What came of this? I know you have the hook ups to the Internet now. Who did you go with, how much did/do you pay.

I'm currently in a similar Luddite emergence situation. Comcast seems like the way to go for homes but I don't wanna pay 60$ a month + modem + install. (Which is what the "refer a friend offer" was Lee ) Who do I call to get it cheaper?

Also as far as installation will they bring the jack to which ever room I want, like where my computer is set up? Do they handle the internal and external set up? Or do I have to patch up the outside of my house and mount jack on the interior wall?

joby

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:04 am

goes to eleven Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3899 Location: The Cloud

joeball wrote:

Comcast won't do internal wiring (they run a cable along the outside of your house).

Comcast prices are really high, and throughput at my house (not very far from yours) has dropped a lot lately. I'm planning on switching to Qwest. I'd do clearewire, but I live in a weird little valley that's poorly served by most wireless services.

joeball

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:19 am

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 6037 Location: Ether

Hmm, I'm pretty close to the top of the ridge near cooper school but am on the western side of it. Do you think my clear wire reception would be adequate? Cell reception is fine at my house.

I just checked clearwire and they say we can get service on our 2nd floor.

Their "Clear Premium" plan looks pretty good,
1.5 Mps Down, 256k up, 36.99$/month regular rate
Should I lease or buy the modem?

henry

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:40 am

somewhat piggish Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 5415 Location: on porch with shotgun

Lease the modem.

They've said they'll upgrade leased modems for free when new hardware comes out which is supposed to be quite soon.

EDIT: and the reason this is a good thing is because the new hardware is supposed to provide faster upstream bandwidth.

Last edited by henry on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:43 am; edited 1 time in total
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Aaron

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:40 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

henry wrote:

bandwidth.

the dreaded ben

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:49 pm

Grumpy Greeb Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 5329 Location: flavor country

if not clearwire, go with earthlink. exact same service as comcast, but cheaper.

joeball

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:04 pm

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 6037 Location: Ether

I just ordered clearwire, i'll give it a go, who knows maybe being a longtime customer will get me grandfathered into something.

I get 15$ if I reference any of you so let me knwo if you are going to buy/switch but if you don't have internet how are you reading this.

I'll rant/rave her when I get the product and give it a try.

henry

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:14 pm

somewhat piggish Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 5415 Location: on porch with shotgun

joeball wrote:

I'll rant/rave her when I get the product and give it a try.

cool. i'm anxious to hear about their service.

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ripper

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:08 pm

evilmike Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 640 Location: Capitalist Hill

henry wrote:

cool. i'm anxious to hear about their service.

Yes indeed. While my comcast service as been quite good in my building, I'm tired of paying them $60/mo for service. I'm not so sure how the "wireless" service is going to go, but I'd sure like to stop giving my money to those rip-off jerks at comcast.

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lantius

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:12 pm

1337 Joined: 22 Jul 2005 Posts: 6705 Location: right over

i like comcast, but i only pay $500/year. grandfathered in annual plans ftw.

Aaron

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:24 pm

Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 4645

My landlord (Kenny) lets me connect to his T2 line for $25 per month!

joby

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 5:59 pm

goes to eleven Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3899 Location: The Cloud

Aaron wrote:

My landlord (Kenny) lets me connect to his T2 line for $25 per month!

joeball

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:55 am

Joined: 24 Jul 2005 Posts: 6037 Location: Ether

Back from the Future, just like the Terminator.

So Clearwire was easy to order and set up but the speed was a joke. In the evenings under presumably high use gmail would not even load.

So contract gone and time to switch.

2 years ago people were saying Earthlink some how used Comcast's cable but made it fast or didn't limit it. Is that true or does it still hold?

Comcast is looking cheapest at $19.95 for 3 moths then $42.95 thereafter.
Earthlink says $29.95 for 3 months then $45.95 there after.

These are for ~6Mbps connections

I plan on buying a modem and making one of you hook it up.

Any last minute reasons to turn away from Comcast?

joby

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:58 am

goes to eleven Joined: 25 Jul 2005 Posts: 3899 Location: The Cloud

joeball wrote:

Ben has earthlink over comcast. It works well (I steal it from him).

MyNameIsJeff

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:17 pm

BOOSH! Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 2042 Location: Nearest bar.

I didnt read this thread; I'm just jumping right into Fuck Comcast.

Comcast is against net neutrality, and basically wants to control what you do with your internet connect, and how much you do it. Basically, "delyaying" and throttling your internet traffic baed on whatever they fucking want.

Qwest DSL 5 to 7 mbps is about $40. If you don't do any serious downloading you can just get 3mbps for even cheaper.

Speakeasy is good, in fact better than Qwest but very expensive.

Seriously; do not get Comcast.

DO NOT GET COMCAST.

Edit: Ok I went back and paid closer attention to the post date, and realize I'm pretty far behind here.

Well I don't give a shit! You should cancel Comcast.

Last edited by MyNameIsJeff on Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:21 pm; edited 1 time in total

tehschkott

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:21 pm

daywalker Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 6108 Location: Hatertown

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