Rate your Cable/Sat/ISP/Phone provider... - Blu-ray Forum

zachd73 · 01-21-2010, 09:37 PM

I'm currently with a company called Grande with is cable in the Southwest. I kind of liked supporting an 'underdog' versus Time Warner or ATT down here but I'm getting ready to drop them. Main reasons is they seem to be blocking my torrent traffic (on uploads) and also when my brother in law was here they shut off my service because he was downloading some Star Wars computer game and some movies. I'm not that big on downloading movies or tv shows or games so that isn't a huge deal for me, but the fact that they are watching so closely kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I mean if I WANTED to download a t.v. show (let's say a 30 rock torrent) I would hope that I could (yeah I know, it's not really LEGAL and all). I do torrent albums though so their blocking torrent traffic out is not good.

So I'm looking to see what other people go with.. of course I think Comcast is the biggest provider in the nation (and most poorly rated typically) and they aren't available here but I would esp. like to hear opinions on
Time Warner versus ATT (U-verse or other services).

I also get phone, t.v. and internet from Grande. I'd rather not get Sat. mainly because I don't think they do phone and I don't know how reliable sat. internet would be.

Also with Grande my basic cable (20 or so channels) does come with HD which I think is ridiculous. I don't want 300 channels, I just watch a few shows but I'd like to watch those shows in HD (30 rock, SNL, Etc.. just shows on the big 4 or pbs mostly)

Also since streaming is getting better with netflix, reliable speeds are good also. Haven't had too many problems with Grande, 30 rock usually streams in HD (pseudo hd) without any hitches. I think I have 7MBS internet, or maybe 12 I can't remember. I think I upgraded then downgraded when I found I had a problem with my router that was killing my streaming and it wasn't their fault.

I think you need 3MBS to stream netflix? But 6+ is probably much safer.

Honestly though I'm not that impressed with streaming quality, not quantity.
And I really don't think I need super high speeds like I used to.

So many options and factors... have cheap local phone since we have 2 iphones at the house. Probably don't even need a land line but it's almost free at $10 a month or so.

So I guess basically any input on service providers is appreciated (especially ATT versus Time Warner) .. especially as it related to home theater and HD options.

Mr. Joshua · 01-22-2010, 01:02 AM

If you are only wanting a few HD channels and they are the main 3 or 4 networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX I would go with a good over the air antenna. The HD is better than cable or satellite since it is not compressed. Since you have iphone and if it works well in your area, I would drop land line phone.

I have Time Warner internet. Works great. Just go with Road Runner high speed online. They raised the price on Road Runner Turbo which I had so i downgraded to just Road Runner high speed online and I can't tell any difference in speed. There is only 3Mbps per second difference but I don't see it.

zachd73 · 01-22-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsciv123

If you are only wanting a few HD channels and they are the main 3 or 4 networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX I would go with a good over the air antenna. The HD is better than cable or satellite since it is not compressed. Since you have iphone and if it works well in your area, I would drop land line phone.

I have Time Warner internet. Works great. Just go with Road Runner high speed online. They raised the price on Road Runner Turbo which I had so i downgraded to just Road Runner high speed online and I can't tell any difference in speed. There is only 3Mbps per second difference but I don't see it.

Good idea.. I tried this a few years ago by buying an old HD Sat receiver box (from that defunct HD sat network.. whatever that was called.. VOOM?) anyways they locked it out though and I could not program the channels even though I got a good signal.

I have a project so I need some sort of HD Tuner to connect to the antenna don't I?

Is there one that is recommended (and cheap) I do actually like this option and I forgot about it!

Steve · 01-22-2010, 03:20 PM

We have Dish Network and for all around service and customer service they've been really good for us. I would have to give them an 8 out of 10.

For DSL we have AT&T and for a while after we first had them I would have given them an 8 as well. However I lost my service and a technician had to come out to repair it and it's never been the same since. Now I couldn't give it more than about a 5. For customer service I give them an 8.

Rob71 · 01-22-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireman325

We have Dish Network and for all around service and customer service they've been really good for us. I would have to give them an 8 out of 10.

For DSL we have AT&T and for a while after we first had them I would have given them an 8 as well. However I lost my service and a technician had to come out to repair it and it's never been the same since. Now I couldn't give it more than about a 5. For customer service I give them an 8.

Did you have a U-Verse tech come out or a regular AT&T service tech look at it? In my experience, and I'm not trying to start a union/non-union flame war, the union AT&T service techs are usually better. Again, not trying to offend anyone.

Steve · 01-22-2010, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob71

Did you have a U-Verse tech come out or a regular AT&T service tech look at it? In my experience, and I'm not trying to start a union/non-union flame war, the union AT&T service techs are usually better. Again, not trying to offend anyone.

I don't even know. Everything was fine until one day I didn't have any internet service. A technician came out and traced the problem out into their lines somewhere down the street. He got everything working again, but the service has never had the same stability and consistency as it did before. I'm honestly thinking about switching back to Comcast for internet. I know their customer service is sub-par, but I never had any issues with their internet service when I had it before.

Rob71 · 01-22-2010, 03:24 PM

I had Comcast for awhile, and while the service was pretty good the customer service was horrible. I switched to AT&T U-Verse about six months ago and it's the exact opposite. Their customer service is amazing, but their HD PQ is baaaad! Lot's of pixelization and lately I've started having a dropout(screen goes black for a second or two) every now and then, happened 5-6 times during a movie the other night. I'm getting ready to make the switch to Dish pretty soon so I'll be able to give you a report on them in a month or so.

un4gvn94538 · 01-22-2010, 01:11 AM

uh, comcast for tv and internet. do i need to say? they suck! horrible cust svc regardless of the new 'image' thier tv ads are trying to give them. i bought my own modem years ago and its only NOW they stopped charging me a rental fee! total morons!

01-21-2010, 09:37 PM	#1
zachd73 Active Member Member since:Jan 2009	Rate your Cable/Sat/ISP/Phone provider... I'm currently with a company called Grande with is cable in the Southwest. I kind of liked supporting an 'underdog' versus Time Warner or ATT down here but I'm getting ready to drop them. Main reasons is they seem to be blocking my torrent traffic (on uploads) and also when my brother in law was here they shut off my service because he was downloading some Star Wars computer game and some movies. I'm not that big on downloading movies or tv shows or games so that isn't a huge deal for me, but the fact that they are watching so closely kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I mean if I WANTED to download a t.v. show (let's say a 30 rock torrent) I would hope that I could (yeah I know, it's not really LEGAL and all). I do torrent albums though so their blocking torrent traffic out is not good. So I'm looking to see what other people go with.. of course I think Comcast is the biggest provider in the nation (and most poorly rated typically) and they aren't available here but I would esp. like to hear opinions on Time Warner versus ATT (U-verse or other services). I also get phone, t.v. and internet from Grande. I'd rather not get Sat. mainly because I don't think they do phone and I don't know how reliable sat. internet would be. Also with Grande my basic cable (20 or so channels) does come with HD which I think is ridiculous. I don't want 300 channels, I just watch a few shows but I'd like to watch those shows in HD (30 rock, SNL, Etc.. just shows on the big 4 or pbs mostly) Also since streaming is getting better with netflix, reliable speeds are good also. Haven't had too many problems with Grande, 30 rock usually streams in HD (pseudo hd) without any hitches. I think I have 7MBS internet, or maybe 12 I can't remember. I think I upgraded then downgraded when I found I had a problem with my router that was killing my streaming and it wasn't their fault. I think you need 3MBS to stream netflix? But 6+ is probably much safer. Honestly though I'm not that impressed with streaming quality, not quantity. And I really don't think I need super high speeds like I used to. So many options and factors... have cheap local phone since we have 2 iphones at the house. Probably don't even need a land line but it's almost free at $10 a month or so. So I guess basically any input on service providers is appreciated (especially ATT versus Time Warner) .. especially as it related to home theater and HD options.

01-22-2010, 01:02 AM	#2
Mr. Joshua Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:153	If you are only wanting a few HD channels and they are the main 3 or 4 networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX I would go with a good over the air antenna. The HD is better than cable or satellite since it is not compressed. Since you have iphone and if it works well in your area, I would drop land line phone. I have Time Warner internet. Works great. Just go with Road Runner high speed online. They raised the price on Road Runner Turbo which I had so i downgraded to just Road Runner high speed online and I can't tell any difference in speed. There is only 3Mbps per second difference but I don't see it. Last edited by Mr. Joshua; 01-22-2010 at 01:06 AM.

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01-22-2010, 03:20 PM	#4
Steve Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Anna, TX 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:41	We have Dish Network and for all around service and customer service they've been really good for us. I would have to give them an 8 out of 10. For DSL we have AT&T and for a while after we first had them I would have given them an 8 as well. However I lost my service and a technician had to come out to repair it and it's never been the same since. Now I couldn't give it more than about a 5. For customer service I give them an 8.

01-22-2010, 03:24 PM	#7
Rob71 Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Florida Home Theater Gallery:13 Blu-ray collection:295 Trading Score:5	I had Comcast for awhile, and while the service was pretty good the customer service was horrible. I switched to AT&T U-Verse about six months ago and it's the exact opposite. Their customer service is amazing, but their HD PQ is baaaad! Lot's of pixelization and lately I've started having a dropout(screen goes black for a second or two) every now and then, happened 5-6 times during a movie the other night. I'm getting ready to make the switch to Dish pretty soon so I'll be able to give you a report on them in a month or so.

01-22-2010, 01:11 AM	#8
un4gvn94538 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Limbo (Bakersfield, Ca.) 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:811 DVD collection:54 Digital collection:1494 Trading Score:277	uh, comcast for tv and internet. do i need to say? they suck! horrible cust svc regardless of the new 'image' thier tv ads are trying to give them. i bought my own modem years ago and its only NOW they stopped charging me a rental fee! total morons!

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