Internet providers

**zetta** · 04-15-2009, 02:42 PM

It should be possible to get your broadband from DSL without signing up for a phone plan or a cable modem without signing up for TV programming. Call your local companies and ask.

**jIM_Ohio** · 04-15-2009, 02:44 PM

Originally posted by zetta View Post

It should be possible to get your broadband from DSL without signing up for a phone plan or a cable modem without signing up for TV programming. Call your local companies and ask.

Local like verizon or what company names should I be looking for...

**zetta** · 04-15-2009, 03:52 PM

DSL would be through your local landline company -- after AT&T broke up, what is the local Bell that serves your area?

Cable would be the company that has lines in your neighborhood, ususally you don't have a choice.

**jIM_Ohio** · 04-15-2009, 04:18 PM

I cannot get DSL unless I pay for the phone line, and the phone line costs $35/mo and that to me is way too much overhead for something I don't use.

No cable because we have a dish... I am looking for hughesnet type competitors which are cheaper.

**Seeker** · 04-15-2009, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by jIM_Ohio View Post

Bouncing some ideas and costs for internet access...

There are 3 types of internet providers -

cable company
phone company
other (like Hughes net)

we do not have cable (use a satellite dish)
we do not have a home land line

what are the options and how reliable/ fast are the connections?

Hughesnet appeared expensive (around $100/mo for 2 computers when downloading frequently- I assume something like mafia wars fits into this category...)

How reliable is that type of connection? Could it run a bot? Not that I would run the bot, just wondering if it was possible...

If it's $35 a month + $20 a month for DSL tacked on, is that not better than $100 a month total?

We pay aprox $30 a month for a land line that we do not really use (and that minimal without long-distance), and have a $19.95 for DSL ties to that line.

If the costs total is lower even with not using a land-line, why not?

We have no DSL limits and have OFTEN used two and more computers simultaneously on the Internet -- all for $52 or so a month.

**Seeker** · 04-15-2009, 11:45 PM

Here's some info on Hughes Net...

HughesNet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Critisms make interesting comparisons. Hmmmm.

**tulsa_sr5** · 04-16-2009, 02:31 AM

Jim, assuming you are in Ohio, don't you have AT&T (used to be Ameritech) as the main phone provider there? They should offer *naked* dsl there but don't like to tell anyone it's available. We had it in Oklahoma through them for a few months when the cable was having issues. It should be under $40 a month.

edit: we actually had just inet through our cable provider for a bit too (Cox). They also didn't like to talk about it being an option, but were willing to do it. That was a little more than the naked dsl but also had more bandwidth available.

**noppenbd** · 04-16-2009, 06:12 AM

I recommend you look at Broadband and dsl availability - dslreports.com and enter your phone number. If you do go with your local phone company, you should ask for "naked DSL" or "dryloop DSL". If it's not available naked, you should sign up for "tariff rate" local phone service, with no long distance selected. It's around $20 for tariff rate service in MD.

**MonkeyMama** · 04-16-2009, 06:51 AM

Cable is fastest/best in my opinion (besides fiber optic anyway). You do not have to order cable television to get cable internet - do you? I am not sure it matters if you have satellite.

I was also under the impression you did not need a land line for DSL. We have AT&T and I Was quite sure they offered "naked DSL" as well. IT's only $20 per month with our land line (the land line cost like $15/month). We find the quality comparable to cable (though not quite as excellent). It depends. I have friends who live 15 miles away and say they can't get basic phone service for under $40 per month. But paying for the phone service and DSL can be a good deal.

We actually tried the lower DSL package expecting we would upgrade - my dh streams a lot of video. Overall we were pleasabtly surprised. No issues.

**sweeps** · 04-16-2009, 06:54 AM

I've had DSL and I've had cable. In my experience DSL is far and away more reliable than cable. After repeated slowdowns and outages, I will never go back to cable internet.

Cable is typically faster than DSL but DSL is catching up fast. AT&T just released an 18Mbps DSL version.

**feh** · 04-16-2009, 09:04 AM

We have dry loop DSL - I'd double check with your phone company to make sure it's not available. We pay $35/month thru Verizon for 3Mb service.

At my previous residence, I had cable internet, without cable tv service. While it was faster (5Mb), it was also much more expensive.

I have a friend that used to use a satellite company for internet access. It was a nightmare - very slow speeds and expensive. There are other technical issues that I don't want to get into that also plague such services. I'd consider that as a last choice.

**zetta** · 04-16-2009, 09:50 AM

Even if you don't have cable, you have cable lines running to your house. Just ask the company if you can get internet only.

With the phone service, ask what the lowest cost, measured rate service is. I pay $11, which gives me 300 local minutes, then something like $0.10/minute afterward.

**Seeker** · 04-19-2009, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by sweeps View Post

I've had DSL and I've had cable. In my experience DSL is far and away more reliable than cable. After repeated slowdowns and outages, I will never go back to cable internet.

Cable is typically faster than DSL but DSL is catching up fast. AT&T just released an 18Mbps DSL version.

As far as Cable versus DSL.... it's entirely dependant on location as to which is "better."

Cable is shared, and some cable services (in our area according to folks) tend to suffer during peak times. DSL can have different issues too. There's no one "best" solution.

Talk to your neighbors to find out which ISP they use and whether or not they've had problems. That's all I can recommend.

**jIM_Ohio** · 04-20-2009, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by MonkeyMama View Post

Cable is fastest/best in my opinion (besides fiber optic anyway). You do not have to order cable television to get cable internet - do you? I am not sure it matters if you have satellite.

I was also under the impression you did not need a land line for DSL. We have AT&T and I Was quite sure they offered "naked DSL" as well. IT's only $20 per month with our land line (the land line cost like $15/month). We find the quality comparable to cable (though not quite as excellent). It depends. I have friends who live 15 miles away and say they can't get basic phone service for under $40 per month. But paying for the phone service and DSL can be a good deal.

We actually tried the lower DSL package expecting we would upgrade - my dh streams a lot of video. Overall we were pleasabtly surprised. No issues.

this is good info- because outside of our local phone company I would not have thought to look at a long distance company for internet...

Internet providers